I wonder why it is the average age of people who attend Southern Gospel concerts is around 57 ½? If you take out the group members that are there singing, that average age jumps up to somewhere around 65 or thereabouts. What’s going to happen when all of these faithful supporters of the Southern Gospel industry pass off the scene? I’m so glad you asked.
I think we are seeing some of this already. Crowds are dwindling because many of these faithful seniors are either at a point in their lives where they can no longer travel and attend, or have passed on. But the real problem here is the fact that there is not a younger generation of Southern Gospel Music lovers out there ready to jump in and take their place. A few groups out there have realized this and are trying some new and innovative things to try and draw in a younger crowd. Signature Sound with their spiky hair, choreography, and “weird” looking ties; The Crabb Family with their trendy dress; The Gaither Vocal Band wearing jeans on stage and having long hair; and The Isaacs with their country music and allowing Ben to wear a cap on stage while playing and singing gospel music. What ever is this industry coming to? The next thing you know my favorite quartet is going to stop wearing their matching bright red suits and white shoes (or is it matching white suits and bright red shoes? I can never remember).
The number of negative comments and complaints over these things is just amazing. We wonder why Southern Gospel is not at the height it was in it’s heyday but we want to continue to run things the way they were run 30 or 40 years ago. It is this kind of small thinking that is pushing people away from Southern Gospel. If all people want to see is 4 guys standing in front of microphones and singing to tracks with no emotion, style, or stage presence, then that is who they need to go see. There are plenty of groups out there that will continue down that road until they are forced to change and do something else to survive. Signature Sound, The Crabb Family, The Gaither Vocal Band and The Isaacs all realize that in order for this industry to survive, a younger audience has to be reached and drawn in to our music and I, for one, applaud and support their efforts.
All of these “you can’t do that” or “we’ve never done it like that before” kinds of comments are exactly why groups are disbanding or downsizing and why so many churches are dying. People still want to run things the way they were in the 50's and wonder why people won't come. To reach new people, we MUST be ready and willing to change our methods. Not our MESSAGE ... just our METHODS.
Author: Jim Hollis
| Author's Website: http://www.gracebaptisturbana.com
Written: 09/01/2005
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Category: Monthly ArticlesJim's Perspective
Comments: 21
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You are so right, my brother. Southern Gospel needs a NEW, younger, image. I applaud the groups mentioned as well for being brave enough to realize what they must do and for having the fortitude to forge ahead, no matter what people say about them. Perhaps the Southern Gospel Music Guild should hire some good consultants to help re-image the industry from the top down --- artists, magazines, radio imaging, etc. There's a lot of talk about part of the problem is there are so many groups out there who aren't very talented and doing it the way it's always been done. Not to worry. In the years ahead, only the groups willing to change their methods, radio stations who aren't afraid to sound more contemporary in their approach, record companies who get a clue will have audiences amd sales in the coming years. My prediction and feelings only, but it seems a lot of people share these thoughts.
I know that some changes have to be made, but what changes? If you change the "type" of song very much, it is not southern Gospel. That is the one constant that has pretty much remained. "Southern Gospel" has varied styles within it, but, when someone asks you to name a SG song, it will more likely be "The Lighthouse" or "This Old House" than it is maybe "Through the Fire" or "He Came Down to my Level" (both great songs, BTW).
It is always funny to me to hear that SG is dying out because our audience is dying out. I'm sorry, but I don't see that as being the main reason for declining attendance. Crowds have been on the decline for many years now, and there is a simple reason. There are too many entertainment choices out there now! Back in the "good ole days" there really wasn't much to do for entertainment in a large part of the country except go to a singing. The groups back then realized this and capitalized on it. These days, it is another kettle of fish entirely!
If you ask me, though, SG does need to change the message, or at least the depth of the message. The one thing that keeps me from supporting Southern Gospel more is that the lyrics are often too shallow. While CCM artists are often signing about the ills of the world -- which I don't really want to listen to, either -- SG generally just touches the basics of the Gospel. After being a Christian for 25 years, I need to hear something more than the basics. Even the Apostle Paul said that we need to move on past the basics to the more meatier things of the kingdom of God.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit
- Galatians 5:25.
Keith,
Yes! Please! Give me some meat to chew on! I love the Southern Gospel culture. I would love to buy some Southern Gospel music. I can overlook the bland music if you give me something deep to think about. Please! Someone! Sing about Romans 8, or 1 Corinthians 2, or 2 Corinthians 3 and 5, or Colossians 3, or anything in the book of Ephesians. Please! I'm hungry for more!... And I'm sure there are lots of people out there who would say the same thing.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit
- Galatians 5:25.
Thanks, Keith. You've given me some good songwriting ideas. Actually, I was recently re-reading the entire book of Romans, and I thought,"I should write an entire CD worth of songs based on Romans." Maybe a double CD. Concept album, anybody?
Could it be because there is no sg radio stations
I agree with Dan Keil, we need more SGM radio stations..(excluding internet radio) Where I live I can sometimes get one SGM radio station that plays more preaching more than music. We can't buy what we don't hear.
Why is it that when change is suggested, that the very first thought is "they're wanting to change our music"? I never hear anyone wanting to change the music or the message. Updating the instrumentation, updating the appearance, and updating the delivery would make a huge difference in SGs popularity.
I agree with many of the comments made here. I am in the over 50 crowd, but I was introduced to this music as a small child. When I hear people say there in nothing fit to watch on t.v. or at the movies, do they ever consider taking the children to a SGM concert/event. This is a very inexpensive family night out. I think part of the problem with attendance in some areas is over saturation. I often have to make very difficult choices to decide who I will see. Recently, I had a choice of Brian Free and Assurance with the Anchormen or The Perry's - all within 30 minutes or so of my home. Later this year, SSQ will be 15 minutes from me and First Love will be 5 minutes from me on the same night. In June, Gold City had their homecoming and the Diplomats had their homecoming on the same weekend - these venues were about 1 hour apart. This area supports both of these groups very well. People at each of these venues were wishing there was a way to do both. These scheduling conflicts are not rare - they are constant. It is great to live in an area with lots of SGM, but unfortunately, there are not enough fans to support all these groups. I am not blaming anyone for these scheduling conflicts, just trying to point out that attendance is often down because there are too many things happening at the same time.
Here's a change that somebody should suggest to the people who run the NQC. Why in the world do they have the "biggest event" of the year in September? No one with kids can attend this event! I know plenty of younger parents who would like to attend, me included, but I can't pull my kids out of school for three days to a week. Why not have NQC in the summer and make it possible for a "younger" audience to spend some vacation time and attend. I don't get it.
As far as the way groups dress, present themselves on stage, and the style of music that they play, if it looks like the world, sounds like the world, and smells like the world, it must be of the world. Sing about the Grace of Jesus, and you will attract all the audience that you NEED to attract.
first of all if its all about sounding
Sometimes a style of music become archaic. I don't know why. Styles come and go. I doubt spiked hair, cowboy boots, or faded jeans will have much effect on the natural order of things.
I agree with Jim Hollis about this situation. I live in Louisville and attended my first NQC a few years ago when The Crabb Family first came on the scene. As a former professional musician, I instantly connected to SG because their sound (along with Gaither Vocal Group). Why? Because as a 30 something Male who was a Babe in Christ, their brand of SG was familiar yet fresh.
Great post. My group is technically "progressive southern gospel," but we do it all...contemporary, traditional, a capella...
Yes it is a real shame that SG seems to take a back seat. I got a letter from a pastor that told me,we don't do that kind of music here.So he wouldn't book me at his church. It seemed he was speaking for his whole church, which is a real shame because I have found the older folks really do love it
My father was in a gospel quartet in Winchester, TN. Having been raised listening to it cultivated my love for it. It's much the same as being raised on the great hymns of the church. Those too are in danger of being lost to the next generation, because so many churches have "outgrown" them. It all comes down to exposure. We need to be sure the music is being heard, and that is the responsibility of the home!!!
First of all, there will always be 57 year old people and there is nothing wrong with that. The older you get the more you think about heaven. I believe SG grew very fast in the 90's and is now adjusting based upon economic conditions and entertainment options. There will always be SG music and those who panic thinking that it will die are wrong because the message in the songs is still there. Compare the message to contemporary music. I enjoy the 6 hours each eve at the NQC and am not bored. I appreciate the singers who are devoted to this lifestyle. All is not perfect and there will be some variations in music along the way.--and, this discussion will go on until the Lord comes.
I think you might have missed the point here. The message is that SG is not dying.....yet. But rather, how do you attract the next generation of people to carry the torch?
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