(My random musings on relevancy of GR)
Gospel Rewind has become a bit of a misnomer. In a way it limits what this weblog is all about. At one time the name captured what I wanted to write. Now, in order to expand my subject matter I’ve considered a new blog entirely.
What is ‘Rewind all about? Well, mainly it captures my experiences in radio and music both as a participant and observer. The problem a lot of people see the term “Gospel” differently. Gospel to the mainstream media connotes the work of African American singing talents only, while ignoring the other traditions of the genre. With the exception of the Happy Goodman family in the 60’s and 70’s and some Nashville Network (on cable in the 80’s and 90’s) I can not recall any major television network coverage of Southern Gospel. The New York, Washington DC, and Los Angeles based news media are just unaware.
Playing the Southern format on radio has been for me an uphill battle. This form of music I learned to like as part of my job will probably never have the exposure of some better promoted artists. The one time I delved into a secular format in 1991 I was a fish out of water. I flopped and shortly left the station feeling that I betrayed the Gospel community.
The eclectic collection of music I listen to in my home and car would never work as a radio format. Most Disk Jockeys I’ve known have broad tastes just as I do and will tell you that they don’t necessarily groove to the same tunes you hear them air. It’s the same as a guy who works in a pizza place does not always dine on pizza. The problem with my career path is that I dined on too much of the same things and limited my options in radio. A lot of good Christian folks find the following notion taboo. My insistence on remaining in Christian radio limited me. When I left the business the first time 14 years ago I transitioned into retail. I didn’t sell “Christian” auto parts. I sold to people, without considering their religious leanings. Why then would I feel so guilty playing secular music? Retailing so long has given me a perspective on my former career that I never knew. Branding. Marketing. I can be a Disk Jockey and programmer who chooses to be a Christian working in a secular world. Re-branding this blog is a possibility due to the narrow focus of the name. By the way, when I was on traditional AM radio I never used it for personal music listening, only as a source for news and talk. My mix cassettes and later CD’s kept me entertained. Even then I saw myself as a hypocrite. How could I sell a product in which I did not believe? By the mid 80’s AM radio was mostly abandoned by music providers and was never the choice of audiophiles such as myself. With the exit to FM of most all Top 40 outfits all that was left on AM was religious and talk stations. Understand I love Christian music, just not amid the static and limited audio quality of AM. Plus brokered preaching shows are not my cup of tea. As a matter of fact most radio music lovers would be appalled to know the very common radio expression, “Music is just filler between commercials.” A lot of radio account executives don’t even like music! That indifference may be the cause of the recent (apparent) demise of my beloved radio.
A few have migrated to the Internet for music. I don’t think it spells the end of terrestrial broadcasting as I once thought due to the overwhelming choices and the ‘nets inability to reach the masses as AM & FM so easily does. Use the Internet as a complimentary technology when you want a VERY specific format, such as I attempted with the Classic Gospel on the GRIN.
I’ve rambled on too much in getting to the point that this blog will continue to present readers with my unfiltered views unlimited by the name. I’ll keep Gospel Rewind for now. I do promise transparency and honesty that I was never afforded before when sponsors controlled my world. More than anything, ‘Rewind is all about my coming to terms with maturity through reflecting on the past and how it affects the present and future. Many of the restrictions I learned in my developing years, often self-taught, are completely bogus and serve as an example of what not to do in rearing my own kids, for instance. If no one reads this blog but me it will have served a noble purpose indeed. My search for wisdom that transcends the temporal continues…
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