@MyMusicBizThots. 2B1CADBD. My Opinion on Issues Making The Rounds About Gospel Music, Artistes & Competition 1. Is competition and lack of Church institutional support for Gospel artistes/musicians the real problem confronting Gospel Music and artistes? My candid answer to this question is a capital NO! This broadcast is based on the background of a series of broadcast started by Mr B on these issues, where he submitted that competition among Gospel artistes, and lack of Church institutional support from the different denominations for Gospel artistes is the main problem impeding the growth and development of Gospel music and artistes. Is this also the reason why some Gospel artistes are crossing-over to the secular music side of town? My answer again is a NO! Majority of the present day Gospel music artistes/musicians in my opinion are a confused specie, suffering from an identity crisis fostered by mediocrity, half-baked knowledge, and religious sentiments/dogmas! Gospel music in the context of this broadcast is different from Sacred music. I will define Sacred music as the music that is used solely for liturgical and worship purposes in places of worship, it is not often performed outrightly for recreational or commercial purposes out of respect for its sacredness. Gospel music however, is music performed under any genre by Christian/believer artistes&musicians for the purposes of edifying, inspiring and sharing the love and message of Jesus Christ with unbelievers and believers alike. It is commercial (gospel artistes/musicians make a living from it) because of its recreational value and the existence of a global market for it. It also cut across the controversial secular-gospular divide. Jesus Christ, our role-model said he came not for those who are whole and healthy, but for those who are sick and lost. Hence, he went after them to their communities, ate with them, spoke in colloquial lingua franca (street language) that they understood, rubbed mind with them without discrimination (you can call these actions Market Research if you like) and solved their greatest problem of sin with his unique value offering of salvation! Jesus won to his side the multitudes (the market/audience) which is still growing today in their billions by knowing what the problem is, creating a perfect solution to the problem, marketing the solution with innovation and adding value by meeting the needs of his target audience. Jesus said we are the salt and light of the world, the implication of this statement for the Gospel artiste/musician is that there is no dividing line between what we call Gospel music and what they call secular music in the market-place. If Jesus went out to the midst of the secular multitudes (market-place) to meet their needs, solve their problems and influenced them with Kingdom values and belief system on the basis of superior supernatural power and insight; then what is the problem of the Gospel artistes/musicians that they cannot dictate the pace musically and influence the secular with superior creativity in life-changing and trendy lyrics, compositions, grooves and infectious beats that will compel Satan to shake body! After all, we have the supernaturally creative and innovative mind of Christ. At the climax of the hiphop music movement in the US, Kirk Franklin (a music minister/pastor) brought the entire industry (secular and gospular) to a standstill in recognition and ovation for the success and influence of his music. Mary Mary, another gospel music duo got the speakers in every secular and gospular clubs all over the world booming to the groovy rhythms of their hit single Shackles. Amy Grant, a gospel act has sold over 30 million albums world-wide, a feat reserved for the very best of the exclusive few in the global music industry! All of these was possible because they refused to be boxed-in into the satanic theory of secular-gospular divide that confines Gospel artistes/musicians to the four-walls of the church building robbing them of their place as light and salt of the world! Please understand that it is about getting it right holistically speaking from the music business perspective. It is not about crying foul or whipping up mere sentiments about lack of support from the church or pastors or whoever that is the issue here; the point is that people regardless of faith or creed will always identify with excellence, superior value and good music! Did Jesus gave excuses about the lack of the Churchs institutional support (represented by the Pharisees and Sadducees) for his success or lack of? NO! He sold his salvation product & services successfully without the support of the Religious institutions of the time, as a matter of fact, the religious institutions were his number one enemy. He had mastery over his salvation product and services, he knew the value of his product/services intimately, he knew his market/audience inside-out and he knew how to reach his market/audience! So where is the room for excuses from Gospel acts? Competition in a positive sense is a necessary stimulus for growth and development in every facet of life. Without healthy competition, the world will become static and stagnated. The Award or Reward culture is created to promote competition naturally speaking. The conception of the human life during the fertilisation process is the origin of competition! The sperms had to engage in a race for the right to birth a new life, that is competition! So why should competition become a bone of contention within Gospel music and among Gospel acts as claimed? Gossiping, back-biting, back-stabbing etc is not part of healthy competition of course! Unity does not equal conformity. Unity is having the goodwill of others. The fact that one artiste/musician didnt show up for anothers concert, or re-broadcast a message does not necessarily mean he/she is against the other fellow. People congregate and relate along the lines of commonalities, so if we dont have things in common, and I dont have the time to give away does that mean that I dont have your goodwill at heart? No. You dont expect people you dont have relationship with to just barge in on you? Nobody makes withdrawal without depositing first. If you are truly busy with your call and assignment, you will not have the time to see who came and who didnt. Another perspective is offering the hands of friendship to people that you want to be friends with. If you see artistes/musicians that are getting it right and successful, try to connect and build an healthy relationship with them. There is no need to whip up religious sentiments as cover-up for musical ineptitude and music business ignorance. If your music is well put-together excellently in a manner and style in-sync with best global practices in the music industry, your intended or target audience will listen and buy your music. If your music becomes a mainstream hit in the industry, you will become the darling of all major promoters and agents. Its simple enough, there is no religious or sentimental abracadabra to it. Find Your Voice, Be Yourself. Adeniji Toyin. Principal Consultant @ Music Business Network Nigeria. 2B1CADBD.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 16:26:23 +0000
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