Trent Bryson Dean. (Image by Trent Rouillon)

The Perfect Genre... -

Trent Bryson Dean* ponders just what is the 'perfect genre' and questions the role and responsibilities of Christian radio... A brave man indeed!

On the face of planet earth today there are thousands of bands and individuals who sing and play their chosen instruments to the One and Only God, playing what the majority would term, ‘Christian music’. This term, however has arguably birthed some misconceptions -- deeply rooted concepts that urgently need to change if, as Christians, we are truly to move forward to claim for God what He already owns.

Firstly, however, it must be said that, on a global level, the Christian music industry is more than just alive and well, it is absolutely exploding! Christian music festivals rank among the most highly attended events in their respective continents; Christian album sales continue to defy sales figures in the secular music industry and, most importantly, Christian music is simply being used by God in a mighty way to help facilitate heart-felt worship and to touch lives around the globe.

Vinnie Colaiuta, who ranks among the greatest drummers of all time and who became a Christian in 1997 had this to say: “The stuff I’m hearing in the Christian music scene is better than secular music - composition, production, everything.” Strong words from a man who is one of the most recorded drummers in history... But the question remains: Is Christian music God’s ‘chosen music’?

I would like to explore a common misunderstanding that seems to exist in the minds of many Christians I have come across.

Stylistically, I believe there is actually no such thing as ‘Christian music’. The world (and many Christians) have undoubtedly put ‘church music’ in its genre box and created the cultural ‘classic’ Praise and Worship, but there are many - and extremely varied - genres that all produce in the heart of a man, woman, boy or girl the inner urge to thank God and sing or speak praises. The teenager can just as validly praise to hip hop, for example, as another person can to a hymn or modern Christian anthem. Put simply, I believe music is God’s, and the key factor that will make it ‘Christian music’ by definition is if the heart of the player/singer or worshiper is pure and sincere before the Lord.

Thankfully we have definitely moved past the ‘rock music is of the devil mentality’ in the majority of denominations, however there is a wider, more corporate understanding - or misunderstanding - that needs to be challenged. I see that there are things that need to change within the larger framework of the Christian music industry to truly make her a light to the world like she is called to be.

I would firstly like to discuss the area of Christian radio. Radio is an incredibly significant medium, as it shapes the musical listening lives of the majority of people and, in turn, this majority will then shape a station’s future and format. No doubt this relationship between a station and its listening community can be a tough one, as there are official constraints (such as percentages of Australian music that can be played), and the fact that community Christian radio stations have to please both their target audience and the secular licensing authorities. Sadly, however, at times there seems to be very little that separates the functioning of Christian radio from mainstream secular radio, in that there seems to be a ‘slavery to the dollar’ mentality that prevents Christian stations having a real influence on the broader music industry and more importantly, on their listeners.

A vast amount of genres are not seen as acceptable -- the term commonly used is ‘marketable’. And in Australia, in our current radio climate, the music approved of as the most ‘marketable’ is mainstream pop. In Australia, people who listen to radio almost exclusively, have metaphorically had their ears cut off because the majority of Christian stations do not therefore present a complete musical experience to their listeners. The argument from radio stations is that they are simply giving people what they want, but how can people know what they want if they haven’t been given all the options to have their musical palettes shaped properly? Is it actually part of the responsibility of the radio medium to also educate and be more pro-active or directive in its musical relationship with its listeners?

Arguably, as far as Christian radio stations are concerned, there are more significant outcomes here than just playing music to a listening audience -- Christian stations provide wonderful opportunities for moral debate, Christian teaching and counseling, advertising and ‘radio church’ -- but all of these programs still centre around the musical content of the station. There is just something ‘plastic’ about having your obligatory hip hop hour every week and the occasional jazz-like tune amongst all that pop! Is pop more valid because it’s popular?! (Most of us know what Jesus has to say about popularity…) The fact is that there are huge swathes of Christian music that never get played because of the perceived risk of playing it, but I strongly put forward that all diversities of music can and should be played on Christian radio without threat of implosion! And, in fact if they are not played, there is a huge slice of God’s people who are not served (as listeners) or utilized (as artists) by Christian radio.

Another unfortunate by-product of mainstream radio culture and its lack of musical diversity, is that this unfortunately condones an average level of musicianship amongst Australian Christian musicians. There is a great ignorance that exists within the church and her musicians, beginning simply with a lack of knowledge as to the plethora of genres of music that even exist! Christian radio could do much to change this, but disappointingly the greater the technicality and musicianship, the less likely it seems that an artist will get airplay, as their style will often be in a more ‘esoteric’ vein (ie Jazz!). Yet we are talking here about artists who are displaying an undeniably greater discipline and level of commitment to their music than the pretty pop divas who are manufactured into a ‘product’ that are then saturated into the market by the major Christian record companies.

The counter to this from the standpoint of many Christians is that God is not at all impressed with talent, but that it is only the anointing that is imperative – we have established already that this thing is about heart. While it is obviously true that the state of the Artist’s heart is paramount, this needs to be maturely balanced with the truth that God loves excellence. Like it or not, there is a multitude of Christian musicians in churches across the globe who are frustrated by what they perceive as an inability to truly express themselves musically because of a lazy ‘let’s rely on the anointing attitude’. These artists feel constricted by the perception that technicality equals self-indulgence, and are therefore discouraged from pushing their limits artistically. Excellence on musical lines is just something that is seen to interfere with the ‘heart’ and even ‘spiritual’ nature of their vocation...

Similarly, there are imbalances within the Christian music festival scene where popularity is paid more -- often over anointing -- and that success is about numbers through the gates. Unfortunately, some festivals take the line that it is an artist’s honour to simply get to play and minister and that to ask for the wages due their work is presumptuous. (Of course, you don’t take that line with the ‘name acts’ -- we do want people to show up you know!) The God we serve is into equality and if we want to see His name honored, this will also have to change.

Certainly music is a tremendous gift from God that can be used by Him to shape our hearts, lives and words. I, for one, am very passionate about seeing God glorified through its use in and by the church. However, it is the structures that are there to nurture and promote this music to a wider audience, which are operating on principles and with methodologies that I think counter the growth of real Christian music.

I have only touched on these issues and concerns lightly, however it is obvious that as musicians, radio programmers and presenters, radio listeners, festival organisers and those who purchase and support Christian music, we’ve all got some work to do. As we dialogue honestly, support each other and are prepared to change, I have no doubt that together we can do it in the Name of the Lord we love and serve!

*Trent Bryson Dean is a father of two precious boys, married to a captivating woman, and a full-time youthworker. He also play drums for CP3 and SCAT.

www.myspace.com/chrispoulsentrio
www.scatjazz.com