Exposing the Dark Side of the Christian Music Industry | SHOCKING TRUTH

When I started making music, I was determined to make it in the Christian Music Industry. Eventually, I let go of that. In this video I share the shocking truth and 4 reasons why I left the Christian music industry.

0:48 - Introduction: Getting into making music and the Christian music industry
03:00 - Reason 1: Hypocrisy in the industry
07:59 - Reason 2: Limited Topics and musical expression
15:51 - Reason 3: Monetizing the message
19:55 - Reason 4: Labelling is no longer necessary

Socials

Video title ideas (for the algo!):
THIS is Satan’s ACTUAL Strategy for the Music Industry
Christian Music Exposed

#Christian #MusicIndustry #Entrepreneurship

[chimneyphish]

The world doesn't need any more "Christian artists"....the world needs more artists who are Christian.

[SeanHillofficial]

I also left many years ago because in private they do everything secular artists do. I'll remain independent because I can do what God's word instructs instead of the world.

[jackjones]

Having been a youth in the 80's - 90s I remember A LOT of solid, Scripture-based messaging in Christian music, thirty or more years later the general messaging does seem completely different. The focus is largely on the self, making money first and promotion with the goal of accommodating the world and modern narratives.

[estherkeeling]

I have been writing songs for 35 plus years and what I have learned IS WAIT ON THE LORD. I put a CD out in 2001 on my own i got good responses. But it was not time yet PEOPLE tried to push me TO do many things. I am NOT trying to BE a star or a million aire I am content with the things I have. I will continue to wait on the LORD. And ALWAYS CHECK WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT HE WILL LEAD AND GUIDE YOU INTO THE TRUTH. DONT let mankind deceive you.

[skrrskrr]

I know this is about 4 months ago and im only 16, but i'm literally going to school and writing music for the soul purpose of being seperate from that industry. Then i come across this video. This is a godsend Shopé, thanks for encouraging me, and may God keep you safe on this journey. You're doing God's work helping out new potential christian artists❤

[dawei]

I appreciate you making this video and will check out your music. Last year, shit got real. Being a disciple of Jesus is not easy or comfortable. No one can convince me that denying myself, taking of my cross, and following Jesus will be always happy, painless, easy. There will be times of great joy and great sorrow, but following Jesus will always be worthwhile despite the struggle.

[hopehinkson]

I appreciate the insight this young man has to share. I'm honesty on the fence, I mean from the heart all you should want to even DO is preach about God, so that people understand Him. And, whether or not that ends up catering only to a certain audience that crossing over would allow you to expand on, its still my duty to sing about God and the gospel. Again, yes you can share your experiences and how God brought you through, and that can tie into the Gospel without looking like you just want Christian followers. The end goal is sharing your life thru a GOD'S PURPOSE lens. You can't convert anyone, but all you can do is sing of God, and He'll let that reach the wider audience, without you needing to cater to them through adding to your message. At the end of the day, preach the Gospel and all that God Himself puts on your heart, no adding or subtracting from the Gospel, and He'll show it to the people He needs to show it to. God bless you for sharing your story and God bless His people.❤

[theretromillennial]

I got saved at 18 back in 2004. Loved all kinds of music but struggled with Christian music for the same reasons you talked about. It was like, “Oh, I want to worship or be encouraged? Put on the Christian stuff.” But when it came to dealing with stuff I was dealing with in my past or whatever I’d default back to groups like Linkin Park or Evanescence because they were actually singing about that kind of stuff. I love finding “mainstream” or indie artists that are Christian but who sing about more than just the typical things you’d hear on stations like K Love. Much respect for recognizing the conviction that the Holy Spirit laid on your heart and acting in obedience. I feel like we need more faithful believers making good non-typical music (if that makes sense). I’ll have to give your stuff a listen!

[joenowak]

Excellent video. In addition... many "Christian" songs are written, composed, and the music created and recorded by the same artists that work at the same secular studios. The Christian singer just adds the voice. It's the same "music business". - This man is an exception!!!

[OSoundTV]

"I could not reconcile my desire for financial gain from my music with using the Gospel message as a means of achieving it."... This has ALWAYS been my conviction! 

This video resonated heavily with me! Appreciate your transparency bro!

[cjadream]

You have proven what I've realized for many years now: there are a lot of hip hop "Christian" artists who are brand new Christians thinking they can immediately go out and evangelize in their own way like chickens w/ their heads cut off; end up experiencing truly non-Christians in the Christian music industry; and end up leaving the industry or the faith altogether. Others, like Lecrae, still have one foot in the industry and push false doctrines & heresies and get upset when their Christian base rejects them. People like yourself need a Christian mentorship source in that space. And when I say Christian w/o quotes, I mean a real Christian.

[cpjohnson]

Good for you brother! I spent 28 years as a Pastor’s wife. That’s a whole other “show”. People only want you to make THEM feel good and bring in money for THEM. They really don’t care what’s going on with you. Sad but true. Good luck to you!

[sherrelshepard]

But the message led to God in all their struggles and how we needed a savior in this life. If you only gave your struggles and never got the answer to the struggle, why do we need the gospel. That's why worship is called worship because it's all about God. When you have a relationship with Christ you know He wants you to use your struggles to point hurting people to God.

[chinasawhyte]

Most Christians are serving a God they do not know. May God have mercy on us all

[TheMidnightModder]

Where there is money, there are wolves. You can't trust anyone anymore simply because they say that they're a Christian. By their fruits we will know them. It's a dangerous world, especially in the music business.

8:49 That caught me wayyy off guard xD

[lettinggrace]

I write worship songs about things I have gone through in my life and I think it is so needed for people to hear songs from dark times and how God is there through everything and helps us through those times.

[AnuEletu]

I really love this bro I am a Christian artist and have been making songs you won’t typically hear in the church but it talks about the struggles in life and heartbreak. Love your breakdown

[MarquitaMaverick]

You knocked this out of the park. Hit every nail on the head. I hope this gives insight to others who aren't familiar with the music industry in general. I hope other artists that see this have the courage to speak up and find freedom in their messages. Great content!

[MaryMartinez-xteb]

Thank you for bringing this out to the light. I've had a variety of experiences. In my teens I was a musician in the pop world then I got a opportunity in my twenties to work in the black-gospel world. I moved into the rock world in my 30s and 40s. I've since retired but the thing that disappointed me is with the gospel world I hoped that my Christian faith would be strengthened and grow and this is why I went from singing pop and rock to singing gospel. It was eye opening. It was an disturbing duality. You could be on stage and feel the holy Spirit moving and have some amazing moments but "backstage" it was the same as in rock and pop. The underbelly of the Christian music world is just like the secular music world. I think when you try to make real money from the music and you want exposure and record deals etc the same types of people are required to make that happen. Record labels, promoters, managers etc are not always Christians. They may plaster a "christian" sticker on your work and may claim to be like minded but they are just company men and money men and you are a product that's making money so that everyone gets paid. That is the point. G-d comes last! You can't sing about reality if you want to fill venues (church pews). There is a huge machine behind popular music regardless of the genre and that machine will roll over you if you don't play the game. Since I couldn't see the point in staying with something I felt was deceptive I went back to my roots. It was less complicated since I knew what was expected and no one was trying to manipulate a message for their own benefit.

[DrDisinfect_TheWorld]

The fact that there's a "Christian Music Industry" IS the dark side. There's a difference in praising and creating an Industry to make profit.