From: jmstreck@carson.u.washington.edu (John Streck)
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian
Subject: Re: MUSIC
Date: 26 Jan 1993 08:44:49 GMT
Organization: University of Washington
NNTP-Posting-Host: carson.u.washington.edu

jpurcell@vax1.umkc.edu writes:

>> but now I think it's a good idea. I'm telling you, ia lot of the ..bands
>> would release just one song, it would be great. Whitecross, Whiteheart,
>> Guardian, Petra, DTalk, Barren Cross, SCChapman, etc. Why can't we get
>> those big "Christians" out there.. in the music business to do this. I

>Probably because those bands are a little more committed to God's work than
>ol' amy and MIkey!

>JP

Strong words there, JP. Do you have evidence to back this up or are you
arguing that mainstream success evidence of a lack of
committment to God's work, and thus the lack of mainstream success is
evidence of a committment to God's work? 

I don't want to tear into you, but I feel you are oversimplifying just a
bit--actually, quite a bit. Let us not forget some of the alternative
explanations:

1) Music is claimed to be an art; therefore, there are questions of artistic
merit. Personally, I would argue that there are artistic reasons for the
lack of success seen by the bands you mention. (Of course, I would also
argue that there artistic reasons why Amy and Michael shouldn't have the
success they do.)

2) Music is definitely a business. Consequently, there are business
reasons why these bands are not successful. To oversimplify, they cannot
produce the audiences necessary to garner big league attention. The media
want assurances that they will reap from the money they sow. A&M has
given a number of CCM artists a shot (including Petra), but only AG and
MWS have proven themselves capable of getting the audience. It's not as
simple as this, obviously, but these issues are worth thinking about and a
good place to start.
   In a related manner, it is worth noting that AG and MWS are represented
by the same managers. They may be partially responsible for the success of
these two as well.

3) Finally, maybe they are more committed to God. Maybe AG and MWS have
sold out to Satan, turned their backs on God, and as parting gifts, He is
giving them platinum records, fame and fortune. To His faithful servants,
on the other hand, he is offering a life of unfulfilled dreams,
bankruptcy, and ghetto-ization. This is meant in jest, of course, but the
point is that one cannot very well measure  either the presence (or lack
thereof) and action of God, nor the committment of His followers, based on
the number of records they sell. 

God may work in mysterious ways, but the music industry does not: all
you've gotta do to understand it is follow the money.

And look on the brightside, if the bands you like were as popular as AG
and MWS you'd never be able to see them. One of the nicest things about
liking obscure groups is that rather than watching them through binoculars
from row ZZZ (fourth balcony section), you can stand with your nose on the
stage. I'd be willing to bet that a lot of my neighbors here in Seattle
wish the world had never heard of Nirvana.

john streck
jmstreck@u.washington.edu
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian