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The Immigration and Naturalization service (INS) estimates that there are at least 10 million illegal aliens living in the United states, and the number is growing by about 500,00 per year.
Illegal immigration is a crime. Sneaking into the country (legally referred to as “Entry Without Inspection –EWI”) is a misdemeanor, but if repeated, becomes a felony.
The fact is that illegal immigration causes substantial harm to American citizens and legal immigrants, and it causes an enormous drain on public funds. It contributes to the dramatic population growth, overwhelming communities across America – crowding school classrooms, consuming already limited public housing and increasing the strain on natural resources like water and energy.
In California, pregnant illegal aliens sneak across the border to give birth in America. They are treated to the finest care (at our expense) and when they give birth their child is an American citizen, with all the privileges and rights that come with that honor.
In Tennessee, an illegal alien can walk up to the counter at the Department of Motor Vehicles and walk out with a drivers license, while an American citizen may have to produce up to 4 pieces of documentation to accomplish the same thing.
According to a recent poll (as reported by the Washington Times) 77% of Americans believe the government is not doing enough to control the borders.
There is a reason that most of us are opposed to illegal immigration that goes deeper than crowded classrooms, and over-burdened housing and natural resources. It has to do with our human nature and the pride we take in our accomplishments.
The “Truth” is…we don’t like it when others try to short circuit the system and gain entry without doing things the right way. There is always a correct and proper way to do things, and when we’ve done our best to play by the rules, our human nature flares up when others try to sneak in. It goes against our nature to accept those who are not willing to play by the rules.
THERE IS A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN AMERICA AND THE WORLD OF SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC.
The correct legal definition of Illegal Immigration is EWI –Entrance Without Inspection.
Currently in SGM we are over-run with artists that are classified EWI – Entrance Without Inspection. We are no longer a professional industry. We have become an amateur industry that also has professional artists.
Before I go any further I want to clearly state my position.
I am not saying we don’t need amateur artists. We need all the new artists we can possibly get, they are our future. My argument is that amateur artists should not be put forth as representing the professional SGM industry.
You don’t make the mail room boy the CEO. You don’t put a high school freshman baseball player in the major leagues. There are many mailroom clerks that have gone on to become the CEO of their company and plenty of high school ball players that have gone on to become stars…but not until they were groomed and trained for the position.
In the Singing News Top 80 chart for the month of July, 45 of the 80 slots are occupied by amateurs, in my opinion. What we are saying to the world is… “These 80 artists are the best we have to offer…45 of them still don’t know how to sing professionally”.
Does this make sense to you? First of all, we don’t need a Top 80 chart. It only fuels the fire for the ego driven amateurs that would do just about anything to see their name on the chart. Billboard has a Top 100, but their market is huge compared to SGM...about like the difference between a basketball and a dime. It makes sense for them, but not for us.
WE NEED A TOP 20….PERIOD.
Now, if you’re an amateur artist that wants to get in the top 20, I say…knock yourself out. There are 20 slots, if you’re good enough to earn one of those positions, more power to you.
THE FOUR LANE HIGHWAY
Imagine an unguarded 4 lane highway between Mexico and the United States. How do you think that would affect our illegal immigration problem? I can tell you how. We’d all be speaking Spanish!
Well we have one of those highways in SGM…it’s called custom recording, and it is the primary reason our industry is in trouble right now.
Custom recording is a service that is vital to our industry when applied as it was originally intended, as a method for amateur artists and others to pay for their recordings and sell them over the table. The artists can make a profit and grow their business. Some will succeed to the point that a major label will pick them up, others will not.
The majority of custom recording is done by amateur artists. Some of these artists are selling enough product to be noticed by the major labels, but most are not and never will.
I believe history will prove that one of our darkest days was the day one of these custom recording companies decided to make a compilation of amateur artists and send it to radio. That was the day we turned what was a needed resource for amateur artists into a money making scam for custom recording companies.
Today anyone with a check book can sneak into our industry, (EWI), make a recording and send it to radio. There is no one watching, and no one protesting (except me), and even worse, no one that seems to care.
Currently, the majority of recording in our industry is custom recording by amateur artists. Their main goal is to get a song on the charts and “get their name out there”.
Recently I received a SG magazine in the mail. The magazine is 24 pages. There are 27 ads on those 24 pages, all by amateur artists, and they all say exactly the same thing, “Thanks DJs for charting our new single, “Song Title”.
It makes me want to scream!
THE SOLUTION
You know I never leave you hanging, so here is my solution to the problem.
Illegal immigration can be stopped in its tracks by doing one thing:
Ensuring that illegal aliens will not be able to obtain employment, public assistance benefits, public housing, or any other tax-payer benefit.
You take away the carrot…the rabbit goes home.
Now, obviously we can’t go around to all these custom recording companies and padlock their doors, although the thought has crossed my mind.
The answer is to raise the bar.
First of all, we only need a top twenty chart. This would ensure that the chart would more accurately reflect the groups that deserve to be there.
Secondly, we need about 10 or 12 of our best radio stations to be computerized and make them our charting stations. Our industry is not big enough to have all the reporting stations we have. This would hopefully make the top twenty list more accurate.
Now, having done these two things, I believe the problem would take care of itself. The custom recording companies could keep operating and making their pitch to the amateur artists. The artists could keep taking out their ads and sending songs to radio.
Everybody would be happy.
Except for the fact….that, with the bar raised….only the artists that are truly worthy will make it on the chart. TAKE AWAY CARROT…RABBIT GO HOME.
Brilliant!
As always, I welcome your comments,
God Bless You,
Nick Bruno
http://www.nickbruno.com
Reader Comments
Because I certainly could not "put on a show". If the Lord leads me to speak before a song, then it is all Him... we don't do it to "entertain".
May God continue to bless your music ministry He has given you!
Tara
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Written: 08/01/2005 
Author: Nick Bruno
Category:
Monthly Articles
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The Gospel Truth
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