Nov 10 2008
An Open Letter to Christian Music Stations…
I love Contemporary Christian Music. (CCM) I remember staying up late when I was in high school to hear “Bread & Jam” on WDJC in Birmingham on Friday nights so I could hear Daniel Amos, Phil Keaggy, Rez Band, Degarmo and Key, and others. It was music like those groups and others to come that gave me my love for the guitar. I also play the keyboard. I try to keep up with CCM because I do love the music.
But here is my problem. Christian radio stations are not geared for men. I try to listen because the language is clean but the DJ’s and hosts are…well, wimpy! I traveled a lot before I entered the ministry so I listened to the radio for 6-8 hours a day. But I got hooked to Talk Radio because it made me feel like there was someone with me. I longed for Christian stations to do the same but I can only stand to listen for so long.
It isn’t just in one city either. Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham, Mobile and Dallas/Ft. Worth have similar formats. The DJ’s and hosts in the Christian stations gear their shows for women. Now I love women. I’ve been married for over 20 years. But men can only handle hearing about cooking and some of the other stuff that these stations talk about for so long. The family name game does not make me want to listen–in fact, I turn the station. John Tesh is a great guy but his show is aimed at women. The morning show DJ’s in every city I’ve heard talk to women. After a while, I turn to ESPN radio.
I’m asking that someone in the Christian Radio Station industry to syndicate a show geared for men. Why can’t there be a show that plays edgier music and has DJ’s that talk towards men. I suggest a show from 12-4 EST that mixes music and conversation. Have 2 or 3 men as well as a woman who balances them out. Talk about things men struggle with like being a Godly husband, father and businessman. Talk about the fears men have trying to provide for their families. Talk about struggles with pornography, women, bosses, employees, tempers, etc… Have celebrity guests like athletes, businessmen, actors, and every once in a while a pastor. Let men know that all men struggle. Just be real!
Christian radio is ….boring. Now maybe it is just me, but I mentioned this a few weeks ago on an Twitter update and had about 10 men comment. So I know I’m not alone. Some would say, Kevin start your own station or show. Well, I’m not a DJ or talk show host and certainly don’t have the money to pull it off. I realize Rick and Bubba are believers and I’ve listened to them and they are good. But, not all of us are “good old boys.” But they don’t play music either. I’m talking about a Talk/music show that would be attractive to men. Maybe I’m crazy but I think this format would be successful.
What do you think?
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24 responses so far
Oh my goodness, I never thought about that but you are right — those insidiously smooth monotone voices that betray little evidence of gender. Is it really a man at all? Or just women who have perpetual colds? I used to listen to SOS out of Las Vegas and the guy on their, his voice was surreal. I guess the stations want a calming voice, nothing the slightest bit challenging (becasue you know Christians love to complain) and his laugh was scary, it never really sounded like he was enjoying himself. It was like a laugh carefully crafted to not sound mocking, annoying, or even happy. Maybe it wasn’t even human……
Dang it, now I am gonna have nightmares, darn Joel for sending me here!
Tyler Dawn’s last blog post..Dear Anonymous
Hmmm. I really like KLOVE. I don’t find them boring at all and I’m the stereotypical man (or at least my wife tells me so). Are you listening to local stations or what?
Michael’s last blog post..A Little Note To Myself
Hi, Kevin! The reason you don’t hear anything really geared for men on Christian radio is because the industry targets most of its programming towards “Becky”, their ideal listener. You can read more here in a post I did about a survey done on the average Christian radio station listener:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/gospelsoundcheck/2008/07/are-you-an-average-christian-r.html
I think that you’re more likely to find Christian radio programming for men via podcast or internet radio.
All the best!
Joanne Brokaw
host of the Gospel Soundcheck blog at Beliefnet.com
DITO!
Stephen K.’s last blog post..the confines of my heart
Hey - try WDJC again when you are back “home”. I really enjoyed the morning show there and he was definitely a man’s man! Since I lived in Bham, I’ve always wished Mobile would listen to WDJC and maybe pick up some pointers!
Wish I’d said that.
Men like to triumph. To rise to a challenge. To strive for greatness (not glory). There isn’t even much praise or worship music slanted toward men, either. Most of it has words like men wouldn’t use excepting in the bedroom.
Bob Cleveland’s last blog post..Why Should The "Good Guys" Win?
I have an addition to your observations Kevin. Christian radio needs to play a wider variety of music. We have 4 different Christian stations here in Louisville and they all play and replay the same songs over and over again. I noticed one day several weeks ago that every time I was in my car during that day the same song was played. I made a lot of short drives that day between home, school, work, etc. totaling 7 or 8 trips of 20 minutes or less during the day. Every single time I was driving that day I heard Casting Crowns’ “Slow Fade”. Now I love Casting Crowns. I think they have some of the greatest music out there right now, but I have reached the point at which I cannot stand to hear that particular song because it has been so overplayed. Anybody else got an opinion on this?
Rob’s last blog post..the final countdown
Rob…you are dead-on target…It’s almost, “Well, it’s 9:45, time for Slow Fade…” or insert the song your station plays at the same time…
I leave for work and leave for home at the same times each day…it is amazing how the same songs are playing on the way to work and then how the same songs from the previous day are playing on the way home at the exact same time!
Kevin, I’m with you about Talk Radio…that is man stuff…drives my wife crazy, but I can’t take the phony “radio-voiced” announcer day in and day out…just can’t do it…
Someone would get rich if this did a Christian station just for men! Where are the Promise Keepers when you need them!
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..Crazy Like A Fox, Literally
I’ve been tuning out from our local CRSes the last few days, and — heaven help me — listening to the rock of my youth (which is now relegated to the “oldies” and “easy rock” stations.
While we’re at it, though, let’s also remember that we have a tendency to gear our worship to the more feminine congregants–and then why their men don’t come.
Benjie’s last blog post..Essential Reading for the Essential Church
Kevin,
You are on to something, definitely. I can’t remember when I have listened to Christian Radio regularly…and WMBI is practically in my back yard.
Phil Hoover’s last blog post..Congratulation, President-Elect Obama!
You still listen to the radio?
Wow!
I like Rick and Bubba in the morning but if you’re looking for music, they aren’t your cup of tea. Of course, that’s why I do mixed CD’s of music I either owned or downloaded (they are for MY USE ONLY) and rotate those in my CD player. I can’t stand radio for the most part because of the constant barage of silly commercials.
Tyler,
Hope you come more often.
Michael,
I’m glad you enjoy it. I just get bored.
Tammy,
I’m sure I will listen to WDJC when I get there but I will also switch to WJOX.
Bob,
Great points. I never thought about it that way.
Rob,
that is a whole other post.
Steve & Benjie,
I read that book “Why Men Hate Church” and this is part of it. I’m not saying have a crude show, just one that speaks to men.
Phil,
sad isn’t it.
Keith,
I try. But I like your site.
Angie,
I listen to a lot of CD’s too but when you are out on the road, like I will be when I move to Bham, I would like some interaction. I guess Paul Finebaum will have my ear.
Joanne,
Sorry your response got into my anti-spam. Thanks for your insight.
Kevin, Paul Finebaum is an idiot. There are better shows on in the afternoon talking about sports.
I used to listen to Finebaum…but, just couldn’t get over the arrogance…he just thrives on being a jerk most of the time…and I don’t have time for that attitude…
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..A Wing and a Prayer
The problem is not the dj’s. The problem is the music. Christian music blows. I was right there in the 80’s listening right along. But christian radio was horrible then too. It was the albums we had to listen to get the good stuff. Same thing today.
There are only a few decent bands and they dont get played on radio. Air 1 is the only halfwaylistenable station-and it’s only halfwaylistenable.
dm
davidbmc’s last blog post..Cal Thomas Nails It!
Let’s face it, most of radio is boring, whether Christian or secular. Why? Because they are marketing to the least common denominator. In attempting to garner the largest possible audience, they’ve created a medium that is as appealing as a cold bowl of cream of wheat.
What you are asking for is a specific niche in an already limited niche…Christian music. Sure, it’s a multi-million dollar industry, but still small compared to the music industry universe.
If you want interesting niche content, you’re going to have to delve into the wonderfully diverse podcasting space. You are bound to find shows there that you like…or you can create your own!
Please excuse the plug, but one place you might start looking is http://music.LifespringMedia.com.
Ditto what Joanne said. That article was good. A couple of minor differences between that and the station I used to work at were that we were a “Christian Hit” station (not Adult Contemporary), so our target listener was a female aged 18-32 rather than in her 40’s, and also her name was “Jennifer,” not “Becky.” LOL.
In our case, “Jennifer” was someone who listens to both Christian radio and other mainstream pop stations. EVERYTHING is done to target Jennifer and keep her on our station. From the way the DJ’s relate, to the music, to the way the promos sound, etc… everything was geared for Jennifer.
To sort of address what Rob said about a wider variety of music, “Jennifer” does not listen all-day-every-day. Rather, she listens for short amounts of times at different times of the day, mostly when she’s in her car. That’s why the current hot songs, that are in a ‘heavy’ or ‘medium’ rotation, are played so often. It’s to make sure she hears them when she listens!
In short, you can’t please everybody, but in order to make a station work, you have to set a target and aim for it at all times. If you aim for “Jennifer,” you will get her (and all the “Jennifers” out there), and you will also manage to get a few other listeners as well. But if you try to aim for all the others, by playing a wider variety, you will miss “Jennifer” (the core listening audience), and the station will not be able to stay alive. It’s a simple but sad fact of the business.
The station I worked for had at one time played a large variety of music, in the 80’s. D&K, Sandi Patty, Stryper, Leon Patillo, Petra, Amy Grant, etc, etc. It just couldn’t be sustained that way, and it went off the air for two years. When it regrouped, it began a much more focused, consistent strategy of music play, and for the most part it was successful that way.
Joel B’s last blog post..Grace and Love
Steve,
Thanks for the link. I’ll check it out.
Joel,
Thanks for your knowledge. Sandi and Stryper? Wow! Quite a difference.
WMBI is the flagship station of the Moody Broadcasting Network…WMBI is more than 80 years old…but it holds absolutely NO attraction for me…and that is sad.
I loved WMBW (Moody Broadcasting affiliate in Chattanooga, TN) when I lived in Cleveland–and was a faithful listener.
It was a completely different format though.
Phil Hoover’s last blog post..Congratulation, President-Elect Obama!
I wonder if satellite radio has such a thing. Too often I don’t bother with Christian music stations either all for these reason. At least it is Christmas season now and there are secualar and Christian stations to listen to for it!
I might be friends with “jennifer” or “becky” but I’d ask them to turn the station after a bit.
I like the idea.
But NO music, just TALK!
In fact, I’ll do it.
I’m perfect for the job because I am always right.
AMEN!
Stuart’s last blog post..Veteran’s Day Out