Does anyone know how the single, Feels Like Redemption has done in SG radio? While I love the cd and this song, it surprised me it was released to SG radio…

I haven’t heard how it’s doing - but I work at WEIC, a southern gospel station in Charleston Il., AND I’m a huge fan of anything Michael does.....but we won’t play it. I knew as soon as I heard it that it was too ‘contemporary’ for our listeners. That doesn’t mean ALL SG listeners, I just know ours pretty well and hear all the complaints when they don’t like something. I had really hoped it would be a little more southern so I could play it on the air, but.....
Oh well, at least I can listen to it at home!

Harmony - 09 May 2008 02:43 PM

I haven’t heard how it’s doing - but I work at WEIC, a southern gospel station in Charleston Il., AND I’m a huge fan of anything Michael does.....but we won’t play it. I knew as soon as I heard it that it was too ‘contemporary’ for our listeners. That doesn’t mean ALL SG listeners, I just know ours pretty well and hear all the complaints when they don’t like something. I had really hoped it would be a little more southern so I could play it on the air, but.....
Oh well, at least I can listen to it at home!

I know what you mean. I love the cd, but nothing on it really is southern gospel. I would love for him to release a southern gospel project though.

First off, it’s no big secert I am a HUGE Mike English fan. This CD is great. Probably his best yet. Now, as far as Southern Gospel playing it… Why not? I don’t see why they would not play it? That song is no more CCM than Crabb Family or some of the EHSS stuff.
In my opinion that is one thing that is wrong with SG music. Artist seem to be walking on egg shells when they record. Worried that a song will be to CCM & radio won’t play it. Yet, those same artist sing some “kickin” songs live. And people LOVE it! But radio stations say “I knew as soon as I heard it that it was too ‘contemporary’ for our listeners.” Open the box, what is everyone so afraid of? Play the song, let the listeners decide! If they call in & say “what were you thinking” then don’t play it!
Again, this is only MY OPINION! I am not saying that I am right, it’s just how I see things. Maybe I am missing something???

Sing4Rent - 09 May 2008 07:31 PM

First off, it’s no big secert I am a HUGE Mike English fan. This CD is great. Probably his best yet. Now, as far as Southern Gospel playing it… Why not? I don’t see why they would not play it? That song is no more CCM than Crabb Family or some of the EHSS stuff.
In my opinion that is one thing that is wrong with SG music. Artist seem to be walking on egg shells when they record. Worried that a song will be to CCM & radio won’t play it. Yet, those same artist sing some “kickin” songs live. And people LOVE it! But radio stations say “I knew as soon as I heard it that it was too ‘contemporary’ for our listeners.” Open the box, what is everyone so afraid of? Play the song, let the listeners decide! If they call in & say “what were you thinking” then don’t play it!
Again, this is only MY OPINION! I am not saying that I am right, it’s just how I see things. Maybe I am missing something???

I totally agree with you Rent!!! Sing what’s in your heart!! If you have the name, you can record just about anything and it will be played. I think what it is, Michael was SG and then went CCM, and you know once CCM, always CCM!! At least in SG eyes. If he would have stayed SG he wouldn’t have this problem. As always, it’s my opinion too.

Is there a double standard in Southern Gospel Radio?

“Can’t play Micahel English because his song is not Southern Gospel” yet we play:

The Primitive Quartet - not southern Gospel
Doyle Lawson - not southern Gospel
Isaacs - not southern gospel
Randy Travis - not southern Gospel
Oak Ridge Boys - not southern Gospel
....but all are played on southern gospel radio stations.

(I found it interesting that some stations wouldn’t play MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine” because it was CONTEMPORARY....but just as soon as Ivan Parker cut the exact same some without changing one word - its now a SG song)

So I think we need a definition of what is Southern Gospel?

Would you conisder the McKameys or Gold City southern gospel?
The Inspirations or the Crabb family?
Driven or the Dove Brothers?

Speaking as a long time employee of the southern gospel field, we really don’t have room to say what is and what isn’t southern gospel.  Because the truth is - when you look at all the groups in this industry - we can’t decide which style fits the bill.

Agree to disagree?

We don’t say what is or isn’t SG at the station where I work, but we know from experience what our listeners will accept. We are a small AM station, family owned -AND listener supported - and can’t afford to alienate our audience. Believe me, I wish we could ‘open the box’......like I said, I’m a HUGE fan of Michael - and MANY contemporary artists. I also love classical, jazz, pop, blues, some rock and a lot of other stuff - but at work, I have to play what the boss and his ‘advisory board’ approve for the playlist. The board was put together for the purpose of having trusted opinions from several listeners, of different ages, occupations, churches etc. - so he (the station owner/manager) wouldn’t be the sole ‘decider’. It seems to work for us.
By the way, we don’t play much by The Crabbs either. (except the older stuff) It isn’t a group thing - each song is judged on it’s own. We don’t play much bluegrass, or any country acts who decide to do a gospel song either. Our listeners do call and complain if they hear too much bluegrass - or soloists for that matter. They want quartets mostly, but love Greater Vision & Booth Bros. and most of the mixed family groups too. I wish we could broaden their horizons, but I love my job, and can’t afford to lose it - or push them to play songs they feel would cost us listeners - and financial support.
It’s true Ivan didn’t change one WORD of “I Can Only Imagine” - but the WORDS aren’t what makes a song contemporary. It’s the music for the most part.

newgroundfan - 10 May 2008 08:32 AM

Is there a double standard in Southern Gospel Radio?

“Can’t play Micahel English because his song is not Southern Gospel” yet we play:

The Primitive Quartet - not southern Gospel
Doyle Lawson - not southern Gospel
Isaacs - not southern gospel
Randy Travis - not southern Gospel
Oak Ridge Boys - not southern Gospel
....but all are played on southern gospel radio stations.

(I found it interesting that some stations wouldn’t play MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine” because it was CONTEMPORARY....but just as soon as Ivan Parker cut the exact same some without changing one word - its now a SG song)

So I think we need a definition of what is Southern Gospel?

Would you conisder the McKameys or Gold City southern gospel?
The Inspirations or the Crabb family?
Driven or the Dove Brothers?

Speaking as a long time employee of the southern gospel field, we really don’t have room to say what is and what isn’t southern gospel.  Because the truth is - when you look at all the groups in this industry - we can’t decide which style fits the bill.


Agree to disagree?

Many stations will play a combination of southern gospel, country gospel, bluegrass & progressive southern gospel. It’s all related in a type of genre....the common denominator being country. This same hold true for secular country radio stations. They play new country, traditional country, & bluegrass.

Michael English is releasing and recording music in the adult contemporary field. His music, by his own admission, is not southern gospel. At a recet concert I attended by Michael English, he admitted the song wasn’t really southern gospel, but wanted to share it with the many sg supporters he has had over the years.

We don’t have to say the song he released isn’t SG, he said it himself......