Business of Christian Music

rockerclb · 01-14-2006, 02:33 PM

if christian bands were in it for money and fame they wouldnt exist because they make next to nothing as far as money goes. Unless they are really popular and getting attention from the secular industry that is.

Insane Drummer · 01-14-2006, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockerclb

if christian bands were in it for money and fame they wouldnt exist because they make next to nothing as far as money goes. Unless they are really popular and getting attention from the secular industry that is.

If anyone is in music for the money. They are a complete idiot. Plain and simple.

rockerclb · 01-14-2006, 04:52 PM

yes but they still make more money

Insane Drummer · 01-14-2006, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockerclb

yes but they still make more money

How do you know this?

Or are you just guessing?

**thesteve** · 01-14-2006, 07:25 PM

wow...uhh...

it's an INDUSTRY...

the only difference between "secular" and "christian" music industry is the label...either way there's an agenda of somebody making money and somebody selling a product.

SmileAndFollow · 01-14-2006, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockerclb

if christian bands were in it for money and fame they wouldnt exist because they make next to nothing as far as money goes. Unless they are really popular and getting attention from the secular industry that is.

The artists might not be in it for the money, but the labels probably are. Christian book stores are definitely in it for the money. Their prices on CDs are rediculous.

Why do they only make a lot money if they are getting attention from the secular market?

Is there anywhere that shows how much Christian musicians make? I would be curious to see how much Third day charges for a concert. Probably a lot. Plus with all the kids who have been duped into buying only christian music eating up all the talentless rehashes of secular artists there has to be money in it.

**Skeeter** · 01-15-2006, 03:59 AM

Just had a conversation related to this with a friend who used to work in a Christian bookstore and now works at HMV. According to him, the mark-ups for CDs at the Christian bookstore really weren't that much because the suppliers sold them at ridiculous prices. The suppliers would sell them at 18C$ and the bookstores would sell them at 20-22C$. Compare to HMV where they get them for around 10C$ and sell for 18-22C$ or more.

**thesteve** · 01-15-2006, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeeter

Just had a conversation related to this with a friend who used to work in a Christian bookstore and now works at HMV. According to him, the mark-ups for CDs at the Christian bookstore really weren't that much because the suppliers sold them at ridiculous prices. The suppliers would sell them at 18C$ and the bookstores would sell them at 20-22C$. Compare to HMV where they get them for around 10C$ and sell for 18-22C$ or more.

that actually makes alot of sense...because Christian bookstores probably don't buy the bulk that other places (Best Buy, FYE, etc.) do.

SamR · 01-15-2006, 12:14 PM

As far as the CD prices go, it's just like how no other company can compare with Wal-Mart. Because they buy such large quantities of everything, it costs them less (comparitively) and thus can charge less than others. Christian book stores can't carry the kind of inventory as larger record stores do so they have to make up for it somewhere, and that's the price.

As far as money, don't be thinking Christian artists are on the breadlines. Almost a decade ago when Rich Mullins was so popular, he was making millions. I saw a story on Third Day on 60minutes last year and they're carted around largely on private jets. Granted, that could be by donation of some wealthy benefactors or most likely owned by the record company. Of course there are Christian artists out there driving their minivan w/ all their equipment and CDs in the back to sell personally, but you'll find a relatively similar spectrum of success/poverty that the secular industry has.

funkStrat_97 · 01-15-2006, 07:00 PM

I doubt that most Christian artists are in it for the money. In fact you want to make money, don't do music for a living...Christian or secular. The labels, lawyers, producers, and everybody else gets to pick over what ever money you may make in sales leaving you with whatever is left over. But mainstream businesses are recognizing that there are potential profits to be made from the the Christian community and music is one avenue by which that profit can be exploited.

ttwcia · 01-15-2006, 07:09 PM

I wouldn't necesarrily say that christian artists are in it for the money because they usually only get about 50 cents for each CD sold, divide that up amongst band members and you each get 10 cents. Even from shows they usually only get about 5-10 dollars out of the profit of each ticket divide that up and they get a dollar or 2 a piece. Largley in part it's not the artists and bands that are getting money it's the record company. Christian labels = big bucks.

**thesteve** · 01-15-2006, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttwcia

I wouldn't necesarrily say that christian artists are in it for the money because they usually only get about 50 cents for each CD sold, divide that up amongst band members and you each get 10 cents. Even from shows they usually only get about 5-10 dollars out of the profit of each ticket divide that up and they get a dollar or 2 a piece. Largley in part it's not the artists and bands that are getting money it's the record company. Christian labels = big bucks.

what venues pay 5-10 dollars a ticket to the band? I want to play those shows!

Normally, (at least starting out) you're getting a dollar a head, if you get paid at all. We actually got a sweet deal when we played at the Hard Rock Cafe. They take 100% of the profit on the first 15 heads, and you (the band) takes 100% afterwards. We had 23 people show up and ended up taking home $56, which really isn't that bad.

and you're right...most people don't do music for the money. it's like the old saying goes, "how do you get a drummer off your doorstep? pay him for the pizza"

Mattlock · 01-15-2006, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockerclb

yes but they still make more money

No... Not quite. Look at the White Stripes. Jack White graduated from Grosse Pointe North. Grosse Pointe is stereotyped as filthy rich snobs. (Which it mostly is, I should know, I live here.) Now he lives in Detroit. The ghetto. About the poorest city in the nation right now.

People in the secular music industry make just about as much as those in CCM.

ttwcia · 01-16-2006, 01:53 PM

I wanted to go to a Casting Crowns concert and the show was gonna cost $45 a ticket! they have to be getting a nice slice of that. Why charge so much for a ticket if you're wanting to get God's word out? I say charge what it will cost to do the show and take a love offering, my friends did a show at a small church where about 25 people showed up and they got 50 bucks for doing the show from a love offering.