Author: Marcus Dyson
Published: December 31, 1969
Tool: [ email ]
Many people say that the gospel music industry is bent on selling records. Now, don’t get me wrong, but isn’t it called a music business? So if it is a multi-billion dollar business, then let’s not be so spiritual that we cannot see the truth. The truth of the matter is if you spent some money to sell something, wouldn’t you want to make a profit off of it? If you don’t agree then why don’t you go to work for free? Try working for two weeks for no pay and see how it impacts your life.
On the other hand I do agree that being a gospel artist, producer or musician is a ministry and they should not be swayed from operating in their ministry to be something they are not in order to sell records. If you sign an individual, you are signing them because you like them and not because you want to change them, right? I realize that is not always the case. Sometimes people do date people, marry people, become friends with people to make them something they used to have or something they want. (Oops, did I write that? That must be a typo. I have to get this computer fixed.) I believe such is the case with signing people to deals.
Then again, we as artists, producers and musicians need to be careful to study what you are getting into. The bible says, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed.” So, if you don’t want to be shamed or changed or told to do something other than what God has called you to be understand what and who you are getting into bed with and you won’t be complaining about the deal you are in and how bad they are treating you and how the industry doesn’t care about this or that.
After all is said and done the real deal behind your complaining is not so much the one you are complaining about but rather the one who is the complainer. The argument I hear all the time on talk shows that have to do with relationships gone badly is, “You knew I was this way before you got with me.” Or maybe they didn’t pay attention and had ulterior motives themselves. (I have got to call a tech to fix this computer of all these typos.)
I believe that there are several (and let me stress, several) gospel (yes, gospel) artists, producers and musicians who have gotten into contracts thinking they could make it big and they could really make loads of money without compromising their Christianity. But let’s look a little closer into this issue. If in fact you are going into it thinking of money then aren’t you comprising anyway? The bible states, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” It didn’t say money but it said the love thereof. If you are thinking about being famous and then you get a reality check after you have arrived that it’s not all you expected it to be, then aren’t you compromising? Compromise means settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions b : something intermediate between or blending qualities of two different things. Knowing that then before you sign a deal then you need to know how much you are going to give up or if you intend to give up any of yourself to get what you want. But the question is what do you want?
Who is to blame for gospel music industry deals gone bad? I would have to say both sides. Both sides need to be honest about what they want and intend to get out of the deal. And people, come on, realize there are some sneaky, conniving, cons out there even, I mean especially in the gospel music industry and check your motives at the door.
