I’m one of those Christians who are slightly embarrassed by the Christian music industry. I listen to worship and the occasional CCM band. But for the most part I avoid the shiny, happy stations on my radio dial.
I’m an artist! I have angst! I need my music to have angst too! I guess that’s the reason I avoid it. CCM isn’t my scene.
But every now and then I need shiny, happy. It’s encouraging. I can get so angsty with my music that I become morbid. And very few people appreciate morbid art. (None of my audience, at least.)
Are you embarrassed by CCM? Do you avoid certain types of music that aren’t your scene? I encourage you to keep yourself out of a box. Don’t limit yourself from inspiration just because it doesn’t match your vibe.
Open yourself to every emotion that music can offer. Get some angst in there. But also get some shiny, happy. Emotions are paint on your palette. Give yourself the colors you need to create something awesome.
Interesting article actually. For me, nothing get’s me going like news music themes or specific types of instrumentals that are underground or for movie and video game scores.
Interesting article actually. For me, nothing get’s me going like news music themes or specific types of instrumentals that are underground or for movie and video game scores.
I think embarrassed may be the wrong word. At lest for me it is. I’m not embarrassed by music that does nothing for me. I like rock music but not embarrassed by it. I like country but not the new country but it doesn’t embarrass me.
With that said, Christian music reaches a load of people. I personally know a lot of people who has grown closer to Christ through it so it shouldn’t be embarrassing. Even I was one of those when I first came to Christ.
I’m a musician and a Worship Leader and don’t listen to mainstream Christian music because it’s lame. Everyone trying to do the same thing, sound alike, and there seems to be no real musicianship in it. Now it’s a digital loops and computer trash with maybe a guitar. Not my thing.
Music didn’t use to embarrass folks. I guess that started happening when the internet kicked in and independent artists started getting their name out there. Personally I don’t like all the independent music because you have to shuffle through a load of crap to find one good band.
So, sorry for the book but music is obviously a love of mine, but it’s got to be good music, at least what I deem good, lol. But embarrassing? I think that’s the wrong word.
Unless you using it because this music is believed by some to represent your faith in Christ. Where they are badly mistaken to think a style of music represents someone’s faith. Music is lame, God is AWESOME.
Don’t be embarrassed. Ok, I’m done now.
I think embarrassed may be the wrong word. At lest for me it is. I’m not embarrassed by music that does nothing for me. I like rock music but not embarrassed by it. I like country but not the new country but it doesn’t embarrass me.
With that said, Christian music reaches a load of people. I personally know a lot of people who has grown closer to Christ through it so it shouldn’t be embarrassing. Even I was one of those when I first came to Christ.
I’m a musician and a Worship Leader and don’t listen to mainstream Christian music because it’s lame. Everyone trying to do the same thing, sound alike, and there seems to be no real musicianship in it. Now it’s a digital loops and computer trash with maybe a guitar. Not my thing.
Music didn’t use to embarrass folks. I guess that started happening when the internet kicked in and independent artists started getting their name out there. Personally I don’t like all the independent music because you have to shuffle through a load of crap to find one good band.
So, sorry for the book but music is obviously a love of mine, but it’s got to be good music, at least what I deem good, lol. But embarrassing? I think that’s the wrong word.
Unless you using it because this music is believed by some to represent your faith in Christ. Where they are badly mistaken to think a style of music represents someone’s faith. Music is lame, God is AWESOME.
Don’t be embarrassed. Ok, I’m done now.
For me it’s more frustrating than embarrassing. The Christian genre has a history of sounding the same. The lyrics are even less of an issue.
I’d love to see less Christian music artists and more artists that are Christian – by which I mean, have music that is your own and use it as a platform for your faith, whether that be in public when you talk to people or in your actual song lyrics.
I’m not sure I can agree with using a platform for publicly speaking ideals unless I know upfront that’s what I’m getting. I literally hate it when I go to a concert to listen to my favorite artist play their music and they get all political on me.
If I go to a concert knowing their Christians in a band then I expect to hear their music, not a sermon. But vice versa if I go to a Christian marketed concert, I expect to hear the word by some sort.
So myself, I don’t want them to use their platform to express their agenda unless I know what agenda that is up front.
For me it’s more frustrating than embarrassing. The Christian genre has a history of sounding the same. The lyrics are even less of an issue.
I’d love to see less Christian music artists and more artists that are Christian – by which I mean, have music that is your own and use it as a platform for your faith, whether that be in public when you talk to people or in your actual song lyrics.
I’m not sure I can agree with using a platform for publicly speaking ideals unless I know upfront that’s what I’m getting. I literally hate it when I go to a concert to listen to my favorite artist play their music and they get all political on me.
If I go to a concert knowing their Christians in a band then I expect to hear their music, not a sermon. But vice versa if I go to a Christian marketed concert, I expect to hear the word by some sort.
So myself, I don’t want them to use their platform to express their agenda unless I know what agenda that is up front.
Yes, I do get embarrassed but only when friends ask me about mainstream Christian personalities or Christian music that I’ve never heard of but should “obviously” be aware of. I also do not listen to our local “shiny, happy” stations 🙂 nor do I watch TBN or the like. Because I am a worship leader, I feel obligated to stay up on the CCM scene, but ugh! Do I have to, REALLY?! Please God, no! Give me some Jazz, Neo-Soul, or Funk even Blues any day of the week.
Yes, I do get embarrassed but only when friends ask me about mainstream Christian personalities or Christian music that I’ve never heard of but should “obviously” be aware of. I also do not listen to our local “shiny, happy” stations 🙂 nor do I watch TBN or the like. Because I am a worship leader, I feel obligated to stay up on the CCM scene, but ugh! Do I have to, REALLY?! Please God, no! Give me some Jazz, Neo-Soul, or Funk even Blues any day of the week.
Michael Gungor wrote a great blog post about the state of Christian music and how writting formatically is often the only way for CCM labels to take your seriously. There is a small box that the CCM world thinks Christian music should fit into and outside of that box isn’t CCM. Its so sad when a large percentage of the songs on most Christian radio stations are covers from other Christian bands. How many amazing songs have Hillsong written and performed with passion and yet they aren’t on Christian Radio. Hillsong songs are on the radio, but as performed by CCMm artists, often with much of the originall passion lost to a cookie cutter approach to what Christian music should sound like.
Support artists that work outside of the CCM bubble.
Michael Gungor wrote a great blog post about the state of Christian music and how writting formatically is often the only way for CCM labels to take your seriously. There is a small box that the CCM world thinks Christian music should fit into and outside of that box isn’t CCM. Its so sad when a large percentage of the songs on most Christian radio stations are covers from other Christian bands. How many amazing songs have Hillsong written and performed with passion and yet they aren’t on Christian Radio. Hillsong songs are on the radio, but as performed by CCMm artists, often with much of the originall passion lost to a cookie cutter approach to what Christian music should sound like.
Support artists that work outside of the CCM bubble.
I find CCM kind of embarrassing too, maybe because the music and lyrics both seem so cookie-cutter. Limited to soft-rock and soft-pop with a smattering of country. Sure there are some who are breaking out of the mould, but they’re in the minority, especially when it comes to ‘worship’ music (which really has become a genre all of its own). So although I’m a Christian, the majority of music I listen to is not CCM because I just find it so uninspiring. Even lyrically, a lot of it is cliched and doesn’t say anything new.
I wonder whether it’s really the fault of the industry though -at the end of the day they’ll produce whatever people want to buy. I guess the majority of the Christian population prefers that standard CCM sound!
It’s true. It’s the same reason spam exists. People CLICK on it!!! Haha
I find CCM kind of embarrassing too, maybe because the music and lyrics both seem so cookie-cutter. Limited to soft-rock and soft-pop with a smattering of country. Sure there are some who are breaking out of the mould, but they’re in the minority, especially when it comes to ‘worship’ music (which really has become a genre all of its own). So although I’m a Christian, the majority of music I listen to is not CCM because I just find it so uninspiring. Even lyrically, a lot of it is cliched and doesn’t say anything new.
I wonder whether it’s really the fault of the industry though -at the end of the day they’ll produce whatever people want to buy. I guess the majority of the Christian population prefers that standard CCM sound!
It’s true. It’s the same reason spam exists. People CLICK on it!!! Haha
I think the artists that end up on CCM radio are just like the rest of us musicians and artists. They love music and want to make music that moves them and moves others.
But the same machnie inflicts its destruction on their art as that which inflicts it on the art of secular songwriters: the almighty record industry seeking the almighty dollar via the almighty hit single. It’s a soul-sucking machine, a racket. Unfortunately it’s the best way to get your music to a mass audience. But the internet, social media, and sits like Kickstarter and Noisetrade are changing that.
I’m grateful for those changes. 🙂
I think the artists that end up on CCM radio are just like the rest of us musicians and artists. They love music and want to make music that moves them and moves others.
But the same machnie inflicts its destruction on their art as that which inflicts it on the art of secular songwriters: the almighty record industry seeking the almighty dollar via the almighty hit single. It’s a soul-sucking machine, a racket. Unfortunately it’s the best way to get your music to a mass audience. But the internet, social media, and sits like Kickstarter and Noisetrade are changing that.
I’m grateful for those changes. 🙂
Definitely hear you about the stigma with CCM music and the lack of “angst”. Not sure if I would characterize them as angsty, but I do like Future of Forestry a lot. You mentioned you listen to the occasional CCM band. Any you recommend?
Leeland, The Digital Age, Gungor, to name a few
Definitely hear you about the stigma with CCM music and the lack of “angst”. Not sure if I would characterize them as angsty, but I do like Future of Forestry a lot. You mentioned you listen to the occasional CCM band. Any you recommend?
Leeland, The Digital Age, Gungor, to name a few