I really don’t like this ‘us versus them’ stuff, but sometimes I really wish I could hear Derek Webb’s “Wedding Dress” on KLOVE

“Love is Waiting” by Brooke Fraser.

(And girl.  You know I want to keep listing.  But I’m trying to play by the rules.)

Yep, I was just thinking “Wedding Dress” by Derek Webb too.

Well said, Keith (on both counts).

Lakes of Canada – The Innocence Mission

Priest by Laura Woodley

Oh, how I’ve been trying to tell these guys how few Becky’s there are left in the world! I’m thrilled I finally have a KLOVE station that comes in now. Less Rich Mullins and more Phil Wickham. Actually, come to think of it, I heard Jimmy Needham the other day. Anything of his is great: authentic and relevant without losing depth and urgency.

Oh. One song? Ooops. Uh, how about… Fight, by Ronnie Freeman

I’m suddenly thankful for my worship nut of a husband.  Just yesterday at church, the worship leader said, “Here’s a new song.” but I’ve been singing it for a year, because my man knows me and the music I’ll like.  Maybe program directors should be talking to my husband Bob and not Becky…

As the wife and sister of CCM artists, can I just say a huge

AMEN !!! to this post.

I don’t know if I have a specific song as much as I just want to hear ANYTHING NEW that’s not by one of five chosen artists!

Keith,

I listen to the show as a podcast.  That is an impressive list of stations, what’s that, 4 continents?  I’d like to chat with you off board sometime about adding new artists to my playlist..

Had to think a while about this one; it’s too hard to just pick one I wish would get radio play.  I decided to go with one of the indie artists I listed for a choice – Steven Delopoulos “She Held My Hand” from Straitjacket.

I would love to hear this great guy from the UK, now living on the west coast of Canada, named Steve Mitchinson.  He’s a doctor by day, and a thought provoking songwriter by night.  His voice and his message need to be heard. He’s encouraged my heart and motivated me on many occasions.  A three year old I know constantly requests “Dr. Steve!” when we’re driving in the car, and he rocks out to the music in his carseat, singing all the words.

Hey Lucy!

I can’t remember the artist though…

Also, “People Need The Lord…” THAT is one that would ROCK all the way to the top.

Euphrony,

I doubt you could find a nickle-psychiatrist, but perhaps if you went to a Five Cent Stand they could help you remember who sings “Hey Lucy?”

I don’t know. It might be a long shot…

(You knew I’d have something to say didn’t you?)

You’re almost right, Kat.  Well, you are right in everything you said but you left out one thing.  Radio is not the only place Becky hears new (to her) music.  The music Becky likes most is what she hears at church.  This is why Christian radio plays so much “worship” music.  This is why NEwsboys, Rebecca St James, Jeremy Camp, Michael W. Smith and on and on have all stopped recording original music (for a time) and recorded worship albums on which they cover Tomlin, Baloche, Redman and other fine congregational writers.

You see, radio stations test music on Becky.  And what tests best is what has been dubbed “familiar.” And what’s most familiar to Becky?  What she’s heard at church.

Oh, and Becky isn’t just a Christian woman 35-45 years old with kids.  More than half the time, she’s in the group labeled most conservative by Barna – the group that is less than 15% of all American Christians and more than 50% of Christian radio listeners.

Brilliant clear analysis, Kat. Looking forward to your solution.

Well, I’m not Becky because I don’t listen to Christian radio.  I stopped that long before moving to a country that doesn’t offer it.  But, I would like to say this is a great post and a great conversation.  I’ve run into a few Christian artist out here in the non-christian music world and I think Becky COULD like Robert Randolf and the Family Band (I think that’s their name).  That’ll be my entry.

Do they REALLY not play Hillsongs United on Christian radio?????  That’s surprising to me.

It’s difficult to pick one song, but I’ll say New Way to Live by Jason Gray from his Acoustic Storytime album.

Brooke Fraser: C.S. Lewis Song

Well…this is exactly the situation I’ve run into over the past 10 months while trying to get my friends music played.

Also, the lack of support for “one of our own” from church is sadening.

My friend Mark Lavey released his second CD, titled “I Pray”, almost a year ago.

He played a CD Release Concert in April. We’d set up for about 400 people at church. Fewer than 100 showed up. This was a FREE concert!

After deciding to help get the word out about my very humble friend (who will NOT do this on his own) I found this site:

http://www.christianradio.com

It’s a great search engine and lists “every” station in the country which is airing Christian oriented programming. I went through every state looking for websites of stations that are playing music similair to Mark’s (Contemporary Pop/Rock).

Out of over 150 stations that I responded to I heard back from…maybe sixty.

And out of those that Mark sent his CD’s to, guess how many added anything?

NONE

So yes…There is a ridiculous amount of incredibly great music out there that isn’t getting played on Christian Radio.

Here is where you can hear samples of Mark’s work:

http://www.myspace.com/marklavey

If you represent a broadcast or internet station which is truly interested in playing Mark’s music and would like a copy of his disc please let me know!

And if you are in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area you can see Mark quite often as worship leader at The Table…which is a contemporary service at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, Minnesota.

Thanks for reading and Blessings on your week!

Steve

Oh, and I forgot to add that I sometimes think “Becky’s” taste of music is just terrible.  So that makes me wonder if the quality of the music can be secondary to the worship song and the lyric when it comes to testing.

I also feel some amazing music is being done on the Christian CHR/Rock side.  Also by indies. 

For what it’s worth…..

Does anyone know why Hillsongs isn’t played on the radio?