This post is about commercial Christian
Radio that is available to listen to and enjoy with the internet.
Religious radio has a long interesting relationship with commercial
radio. In days of old some musical content on radio was decidedly
religious. Many popular songs were hymns and songs of faith. Country
music artist still have hits with religious music today. Travis' “3
crosses”, Long Black Train” by Josh Turner, and Carrie
Underwood's “Something in the Water” are examples of this type.
Many radio stations in 30s to today allocated time to religious
broadcasters who would buy time on a secular stations. 24/7 specific
programming has stopped a lot of this broadcasting. Many teaching
stations are still commercial outlets. Various broadcasters simply
buy times on those stations. Thus, when somebody listens the station
is rarely asking for money but the various ministries are asking for
help to stay on the air. Gospel music in the south found various
stations who still are commercial in nature and they do well in
various markets. Contemporary Christian Music which began to evolve
in the 70s and 80s found its way onto various outlets as a format or
something that was played at a certain time of the week. My home town
had a several commercial ccm stations that lasted a few years. Very
quickly a large part of the ccm listening community realized to make
a station that would not change formats quickly as needed to survive,
they needed to have a non commercial station. Christians in Houston
would form www.ksbj.org that still
broadcast Christian music today. Dallas, some would say the buckle of
the bible belt got KLTY over twenty years ago. WWW.klty.com
is still quite active and is the leading Christian music station in a
market loaded with non commercial religious broadcasters. I have
found some commercial outlets of Christian music if you do not mind a
commercial or two instead of pleads for donations.
http://www.1faithfm.com/channel18.html
is a service that plays a few formats of Christian music.
The mother of all Christian
broadcasting is Salem Communications. This California Christian Based
company owns conservative and religious broadcasting and publishing
services all over the United States. http://www.christianradio.com/
This site has lots of online music and teaching.
As a Christian writer I have to ask
the question is this a case of tables of trade in the temple. I am
not sure. I do know when the commercial outlets are owned by well
meaning Christians, things tend to be run well and content is pretty
good. Salem has even raised funds for Christian ministries.
Most music services have a ccm or
Gospel choice. I'm thinking of XM radio or Direct TVs music channels.
Also online services like Pandora, or even I Heart have ccm choices.
Try setting up an Imperials channel on I Heart. Do they have respect
for what they are playing? I do not know.
Contemporary Christian Music has
always been a strange blend of commercial interest and people wanting
to reach other people by any means possible. Most large Christian
artist work for multi-national labels who's sole motivation is making
money. Even famous christian writers are carried by commercial book
companies. On the same theme most Christian book store chains are
owned by churches or christian groups. I just see the commercial or
non commercial route as a way to get a message to an audience.
