The Industry Formerly Known As Southern Gospel, Monthly ArticlesThe Gospel Trut

Dec

2004

The Industry Formerly Known As Southern Gospel

Add this entry to Your Favorites | [0] Favorites

[135] Comments

THE INDUSTRY FORMERLY KNOWN AS “SOUTHERN GOSPEL”

I'd like to begin my article this month by letting you read a letter I recently received from a person whom I'll address as Mrs. Smith. She kindly granted me permission to reprint her letter but asked me not to use her name.

Mrs. Smith is a Christian lady with some honest questions that I believe need to be addressed. She has no ax to grind, and no one to impress, and her frankness is refreshing.

I'll reserve any further comment until you've had a chance to read her letter. Here it is in its entirety.

Dear Nick,

I recently stumbled (keyword) onto the Southern Gospel News.com website and was intrigued by your articles. It seems to me that you are someone who is interested in improving your industry and so I have some questions for you. I hope you are not offended and don't mean to be sarcastic, even though my questions may sound that way, my only motive is to give you an outsiders view, so here goes.

#1 why do you call it “Southern Gospel Music”?

This is an honest question…I'm not being silly. I hear the term “Southern Gospel Music and I'm confused. Is the name a description of the TYPE of music? Is it? Then I'm more confused. Which word is the adjective “Southern” describing – The Gospel or the Music? Obviously the Gospel is not confined to the South…there is no such thing as the Gospel of the South. Jesus came for the whole world, not just the South, so evidently you are describing the MUSIC as “Southern”.

So then I wonder, what is “Southern” music?… Is it “Country”?… Is that another way of saying “Country”? Then a more accurate name might be Country Gospel Music…no? But this is even more confusing to an outsider, because the music is not actually “Country Music” either. When I think of “Country Music” I think of Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, Martina McBride, Faith Hill. There are not many quartets in Country Music…a few here and there…but, Country Music is more about soloists…so then the type of music is not Country…which leaves me confused about what it really is. Is it Bluegrass ? Barbershop? Southern Barbershop? , Or I wonder if the obvious meaning of “Southern Gospel Music” is that you must be a Southern person who loves Gospel Music in order to feel part of this group of music? Is that what it means? Southern (people who like and perform) Gospel Music. Isn't the first rule of marketing having a succinct, precise name?

This leads me to another question.

#2 Why continue to describe yourselves as something that is so exclusionary? The name is very exclusionary.

Frankly, when I go to a Christian bookstore to buy a new CD, I don't even look at “Southern Gospel”. Honestly, I wouldn't know what to buy or whom I might like, which leads me to the third question:

#3 Where are y'all hiding?

Except for Bill Gaither and what he's done, nobody in Southern Gospel Music seems to care about reaching the mass audience. I never see an advertisement anywhere…and I'm a voracious reader… magazines, books, newspapers, etc. I read lots of Christian magazines…I never see an ad for “The Sunset Five and Bobby” or any other Southern gospel groups. It's almost like you guys are hiding yourselves… like a little club…that doesn't want any new members. I'm a Christian writer, heavily involved in Christian media, someone who loves music and the Lord, but the truth is that although I've spent thousands of dollars buying music in my lifetime, I realized a few days ago that I have never purchased ONE Southern Gospel recording. It surprised me to realize this. I was reading your column and it was another world to me. I don't know any of the artists by name, and I don't know any of the songs. I'm constantly in church, listening to radio, scanning the dial for Christian music, and I never stop at a station that has quality music on it that happens to be Southern Gospel. If I'm someone who is almost completely unaware of Southern Gospel Music, what hope is there for the rest of the world?

It's like you guys are an extended family – which is great – you know each other, you know about each other, you talk about each other, but the world is not something you seem interested in inviting into your little clique. If a person is not familiar with Southern Gospel Music, chances are they (like me) can live their entire lives watching TV, buying books, reading newspapers, shopping at Wal-Mart, and not even be AWARE that an industry called “Southern Gospel Music” exists. Why is this? Isn't the whole point of the Gospel to get it “out there”? Isn't there anybody in your industry who wants NEW customers, NEW fans, NEW blood? Evidently not. I'm being completely honest here, if I had not stumbled onto the Southern Gospel News website, I wouldn't know anything about Southern Gospel Music…it would be like Russian Folk Music or Himalayan Monk Chants…I would know that somewhere people were doing this music, but I wouldn't know where or why.

I've never had enough of an interest to purchase a Southern Gospel product. Could this be because there is never a moment in my daily life that anyone in Southern Gospel Music has ADVERTISED TO ME WHERE I MIGHT ACTUALLY SEE THE AD? Americans are used to being advertised to. Why do you only advertise to one another? It's worse than singing to the choir – you guys are paying to sing to the choir. Which brings me to my final perplexity…

#4 Are you interested in expanding your industry?

Maybe you aren't. Maybe you just like being a group of a few thousand people who know one another and sing to one another and advertise to one another. Some clubs want to stay small. Are you one of them? Do you honestly believe that the world is VERY excited about male quartets? Seriously, look at the media, look at TV, look at the record stores, there is a very small percentage of music being sold today by four men in matching outfits singing in harmony. Is it a sin to be a soloist? Is there something anti-scriptural about duets?

Look at the music industry. Not because we want to be like the world, but to see what the world likes. The world likes music. The world likes soloists…and duets…and on an occasion, a group. There are some POP male groups, but they don't last very long. The members soon branch out to solo careers. How many of the top selling CDs in America are four men singing harmony? Yet…Southern Gospel doesn't promote it's young soloists, or duos.

You'll be glad to know that I've read all your articles and I must compliment you on your writing. You seem to have a passion for your industry and for excellence. I pray that your peers will understand and be moved to action.

Please let me know if I can ever be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Smith

My friends, the recent national election proved that many times the decision makers THINK they understand the masses…but they don't.

Our industry's direction is influenced by a handful of people who refuse to let go of the past. They make silly rules about who can sing and who can't. They refuse to allow new musical ideas and cater to artists that have long since passed their prime. The time has come to begin pruning our industry. Pruning causes growth. We should realize that there is a great big world out there that would love our music, especially if they heard some of our newest, brightest talent.

Mrs. Smith didn't have to take the time to write me but I'm sure glad she did. I realize that many will not agree with her, but I think it's about time we started talking about some of these things.

Perhaps it's time to re-package our grand old art form and get it out to the world.

What do you think?

I welcome your comments.

God Bless you,

Nick Bruno

Reader Comments

As a retired "Gospel Music" (mostly Southern Style) DJ who grew up in a family with southern roots, I had a feeling of trepidation upon reading the annonymous letter from "Mrs. Smith."
I saw, during my years on air, Country Music change from something I called "From The Heart pain songs," to glorification of sex, etc. Now the Country scene has been taken over by Rock and Roll musicians and scantily clad females. This is what many would like to see happen to Southern Gospel. When one observes the "glitziness" of some of those on Gaither's programs one can see the trend beginning. Southern Gospel was considered a "Calling" at one time and now it is just another commercial genre. Even though retired, I have access to many through a retirement community TV channel on which I air DVD slideshows backed by the "Old Time Southern Gospel" groups and they love it. One music critic for the NY Times said, "The Road To Nashville Has Been Paved With Hypocracy" and we seem to want to emulate that in "Southern Gospel Music."

Thank You for making this comment possible

Gordon D French, Donna, Texas

Commented by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 06/24/2005

To Bob Nolen a big A-MEN to the fact that it is ministry and not industry. I also agree that you can understand the words in southern gospel and not noise. I also agree with him that southern gospel does just that " proclaim the gospel" not seek popularity. To those that want contemporary or the worlds sound listen to that style and let us enjoy the southern gospel style if that's what we prefer.

Commented by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 06/24/2005

well here goes my 2 cents worth.

I AM A SINGER A SONGWRITER AND A GOSPEL DJ AT TWO RADIO STATIONS IN ROANOKE VA. WE ARE PRIMARILY SOUTHERN GOSPEL. HOWEVER SINCE WE DO HAVE SEVERAL GROUPS IN OUR CITY THAT SING AND WRITE COUNTRY GOSPEL,CHRISTIAN COUNTRY,BLUEGRASS AND TRDITIONAL MUSIC ,WE PLAY THESE ALSO.

HERE IS MY POINT THE LADY HAD SOME VALID POINTS,
THESE BEING WHAT ARE WE IN THIS FIELD FOR,TO MAKE A LIVING LIKE SOME ORDINARY JOB AND WORRY ONLY ABOUT WHERE OUR NEXT CHECK OR FEE IS COMING FROM
OR WINNING SOULS FOR CHRIST. I AM AGOSPEL MUSIC SONGWRITER,MY NAME IS BUDDY DURRETT AND IF YOU WANT TO HEAR WHAT SOUTHERN GOSPEL SOUNDS LIKE DO A GOOGLE SEARCH ON MY NAME AND YOU WILL ALSO FIND THE OTHER GENRE I MENTIONED. DO YOU NOR KNOW ABOUT THE SINGING NEWS MAGAZINE AND THE USGOSPELNEWS. MY 2 CENTS WORTH IS OVER

Edited to remove advertising

Commented by djman65+ On 03/10/2007

Nick,
Thanks for posting this letter. I don't know the person that sent it to you but I have to say there's much truth here. I have always loved this genre of Gospel Music (I've invested much time & energy into it) however when the term "Southern Gospel" came to be, for me personally it represented medocrity due to the fact that many who were spearheading the movement were placing their stamp of approval on such poorly produced product. I'll never understand why other forms of music are represented by such a high standard while "Southern Gospel" too often is presented in such a mediocre light. Obviously this music should be ministry oriented but it's art too. This lyrical content deserves to be treated with the utmost dignity & respect but too often that's just not the case. I fully expect many to disagree with me here but this is my personal opinion. Letters such as this tell me that I'm not alone in my thinking. Thanks for your comment Deon and thanks again Nick.

Michael Sykes

Commented by Michael Sykes On 03/10/2007

How did I miss this article when it first came out?

The woman who wrote the article is a great writer, and her points are very well made.

You should re-run this article. And I say, "Mrs. Smith for President of the NQC"

Commented by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 03/12/2007

Page 14 of 14 Comment Pages « First < 12 13 14

Add Comments

If you are seeing this form you are not a Member or have not logged in. Why not consider becoming a Member? All comments must be made with a valid email address. Comments with invalid email addresses are subject to removal.

Membership allows you to have a prepared signature of your choice applied to every comment you make, as well as the ability to choose an avatar to display next to your name to help identify your posts. Members are also given opportunity to vote weekly in our Weekly Chart as well as special Members Only contests, polls and giveaways during the year. If you are already a member, login here, otherwise please register here.

**Note: Forums membership is a seperate membership.

By posting you agree to our Comments Policy

Name:
Email:
Location:
URL:
Comment:
	Remember my personal information
	Notify me of follow-up comments?
Please enter the word you see in the image below: