In The Faith - A Chronicle of the Christian Faith

Billboard recently discussed the phenomenon that is Christian music. In 2003, Christian artists’ songs with obviously Christian lyrics were welcomed on mainstream radio.
A number of artists graced with this opportunity are noted including the sleeper hit, “I Can Only Imagine”, by MercyMe.

bq.. NASHVILLE (Billboard) – 2003 will likely be remembered for the blurring of lines that occurred between the Christian music industry and the general market.

Stacie Orrico’s self-titled sophomore effort on ForeFront got an additional push from Virgin Records, and the 17-year-old pop artist scored a major hit with “Stuck.” As the year came to a close, her latest single, ”(There’s Gotta Be) More to Life,” was in the top five on the Mainstream Top 40 chart and Orrico’s career was taking off internationally.

MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine” became a hit on mainstream AC stations and landed atop the Billboard Singles Sales chart.

With an overtly Christian lyric, the song became an unlikely success story that demonstrated the power of a great song to transcend boundaries. Other acts such as Pillar, Relient K, Natalie Grant and Steven Curtis Chapman also released singles that attracted mainstream radio play.

p. But of course we must remember that this was the same year of the Evanescence exodus. Did it really take a obscene interview with Entertainment Weekly to profanely state your case that you are not a Christian band? We got the point as did Christian retailers.

bq. One band made headlines with its desire to withdraw from the Christian market. Provident Music Distribution was distributing Wind-up’s Evanescence to the Christian market when band members gave an inflammatory interview to Entertainment Weekly stating in no uncertain terms that they did not want to be in Christian retail. The goth-rock group got its wish, and its product was pulled.

p. Although the success of the 2003 was mired by at 10.23% decline in sales by the conclusion of its first half, it’s been a good year.

p. [ Full Story @ Reuters ]

p(small). Source: Reuters/Billboard© 2003. All rights reserved.

Listen to this podcast

Filed under: Music and Movies