The Future of CCM - A Dying Industry?

Interesting article by Shawn David Young at Patheos -The Future of Contemporary Christian Music. His conclusions are:

Many young Christian musicians now avoid being pigeonholed by the CCM category. As inheritors of the culture war, these are skeptical persons of faith (if even evangelical) who hope to offer their own voice in the midst of millions -- though not confined by what are viewed as the trappings of an industry built on false dualism and money.

CCM was once needed as young Jesus freaks set out to change the world -- one that would not offer them record contracts. The result was a parallel universe that has outlived its reason for being. In the end, the future of CCM is linked to the future of two monoliths: the music industry and evangelicalism. What we see developing are nascent models of artistic expression (inspired by faith) that may very well be classified by style and not worldview.

PETRA - Reunion Of Original Band Members Set For 2010

Fans of early Christian rock music from the 1970's certainly remember Petra, probably the first "hard rock" Christina band.  If that is you, you will be overjoyed to hear about the Reunion Of Original Petra Band Members in 2010, including original lead vocalist Greg X. Volz.

"With a new album and the Back To The Rock worldwide tour set to launch this Autumn, the official website of the reunited classic line-up of Petra has now gone live.

Bringing together Bob Hartman (guitars), Louie Weaver (drums), John Lawry (Keys), Mark Kelly (Bass) and Greg X Volz (vocals), the reunion of the classic Petra line-up is certain to the music event of 2010-2011, as the band returns to perform legendary tracks like ‘Bema Seat’, ‘Judas Kiss’, ‘Second Wind’, ‘More Power To Ya’ and many, many more.

The band will also head to the studio this summer for a new album in conjuction with the Back To The Rock tour.

As multi-platinum pioneers of CCM, Petra has released 24 albums, picking up numerous GRAMMY and Dove Awards and induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

dPulse Recordings/2DOT2 Music and Ovrtone Music Group are proud to count Petra frontman Greg X Volz among of family of artists. A complete catalog of Greg’s solo albums and singles, including The River Is Rising, God Only Knows and many others are available at iTunes and all other major digital music retailers.

For more info, keep it here or visit the Classic Petra Official Site."