Christian music invades secular-market genres Christina Vos If you thought the world of Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) consisted of only Amy Grant and Sandi Patti, think again. In this past ten years, the industry has rocketed into fourth place in market standings, according to the August issue of CCM Magazine. Not only have the names and faces changed, but the target market has also developed a new focus: teens. Though not extinct, the sounds of “church music” have taken a back seat to popular music in the industry. Christian music now exists in every genre: ska, alternative, metal pop, you names it. A number of Christian groups enjoy secular air play. One obvious example is Jars of Clay. Their self-titled debut album not only topped the Christian charts but appeared on the secular charts as well. This album reached platinum status within a year of its release, unheard of for a rookie band, fresh out of college. Their sophomore album, Much Afraid, hit the streets in September. Jars purposely made this album different from the first; though there has been much criticism, I think this album is an achievement in that it contains the depth and intensity of the first without succumbing to the temptation of being extensively crowd-pleasing. Bob Carlisle, who has been in the business for about ten years, is another artist benefitting from secular air play. Few people who heard “Butterfly Kisses” on the radio this summer knew that the very same song topped the Christian charts the summer before. The album was re-released with the name Butterfly Kisses by a secular label earlier this year. Already it has produced enough income for Carlisle to pay off his house and buy the family’s first new car. Carlisle even made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Another band that is making its mark is the Supertones. Probably the most popular Christian ska band, their songs are quickly climbing the charts. A fan of any certain type of sound can find its equal in CCM. Whole lists of Christian and secular artists exist for this purpose. Now, my point is not, “You shouldn’t listen to secular music because it’s sinful.” Many songs in the secular realm I have no problem with. I believe these songs have as much value as CCM. But after a while I get tired of having to mentally sift through the obscenities, sexual allusions, or references to violence that one is bound to come across in the secular industry that offend me as a Christian. Some days it is just easier to pop in a CD and hear the words of Jesus in Love Song by Third Day: “Just to be with you, I’ve done everything/ there’s no price I did not pay/ . . . I gave my life away.” I know that some will accuse me of avoiding the “real world,” but for me this is my real world -- to enjoy surrounding myself with the reassurances of God’s love for me. Not that I am saying all music has to be a worship experience -- it is fun too. (Check out Audio Adrenaline’s cover of Veggie Tales’ The Hairbrush Song!) Some critics of the industry accuse artists of only being in the business for the money. I will not deny that this is true for some artists. But in the past few years I have had the opportunity to meet numerous bands and singers in whose eyes I could truly see the desire to spread the Word of God. They are using their spiritual gifts to serve the Lord as much as anyone else. I have often wondered why people mostly in the music industry are accused of being in it for the money. No one ever questions the motives of Billy Graham (you don’t think he gets paid to speak?) There are so-called “Christians” in every industry under the sun who only want to personally profit. I do not think it is fair to decry CCM to the extent that we have. We need to focus on the positive, not the negative, of the industry. For those of you who are happy with secular music, you may disregard this. But for others who, like me, enjoy secular music but feel a need for something more, there has never been a better time to check out CCM.