A couple of days ago, Fred Hammond (@RealFredHammond) made some very insightful and interesting comments about Gospel music artists and the state of the Gospel music industry on Twitter. I found his comments to be extremely thought provoking and necessary.
Depending on how many people you follow, it is pretty easy to miss posts on Twitter. Below you can read Fred’s comments in their entirety in case you missed them.
“The Gospel Music industry Lables. Artist, and Radio, have to raise the Bar for the fans.. The investment must be made.”
“The Gospel industry is the 90′s and we’re in 2010. The ppl who are fans of Gospel Music and Support it need it to be more exciting and Hot.”
“Or they’ll walk away.”
“There are some artist that believe it’s the message or the philosophy that has to change, I dissagree. Our change is Business.”
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years and I see the issue.. I was thinking about doing a Gospel music Summit for the industry but I realized”
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years and I see the issue.. I was thinking about doing a Gospel music Summit for the industry but I realized”
“After talking to my Counter parts it would be a waist of Time. I’m praying about doing something with and for the next Generation of”
“Artist but it will be hard without the leadership of the Vets or Generals.”
“Gospel artist.. We must give the people more then a good Hokamshe / telamoshonda for them to keep supporting, they want more.”
“GOSPEL ARTIST TALK LESS AND SING MORE!!! if you say GOD gave you those songs then they will do what they were Birthed to do.. U don’t have”
“To Preach between every lyric. Trust the music.. The industry has not given us all the tool we need BLACK GOSPEL MUSiC, we have to do more.”
“There’s so much more to this. We must be effective in the the earth .. Marvin Sapps joint was a perfect example that if u give the ppl”
“What they need they will support it.”
“People are Crying well it’s a recession,, a recession means that people spend money carefully, and on what they want.”
“The things that are affective in there life. Things that give them statisfaction. What ever gets them through the times in they’re life.”
“I’m not Claiming to be The Savior of the industry , I’m just trying to tell what I see. .. We must be more effective.”
“If Anyones Words were effective on this earth it was Christ Jesus, but He knew that He must meet Ppls needs in order for them to hear Him.”
“His Miracles paved the way for him to be able to Say ” The kingdom of God is like”. It was the WOW of that day.”
“He didn’t just Preach He was Effective.”
“I mean if He could’ve just taught from the Synagog and wouldn’t that been ok? But it was His WOW that made ppl listen. HIS WOW !!!”
“WHAT IS THE GOSPEL MUSIC INDUSTRY’s WOW!! and please don’t say the CD. even though it still sells.”
“ARTIST HERES A TIP.. GOSPEL MUSIC IS A PARTICIPATION EVENT. MAJORITY OF PPL WHO BUY ABD SUPPORT ARE NOT TRYING TO JUST SIT AND LISTEN”
“TO US PERFORM AND WRIFF ALL OVER THE PLACE, THEY WANT TO SING WITH US NOT JUST WATCH US PERFORM.”
“When I left commissioned I thought it was over for me. I love cool music and we were cool. But GOD!! told me to let ppl song with me.”
“When they sing they believe when they believe the Praise when they Praise HE COMES DOWN AND HANGS WITH US.”
“Thus from kool music to GLORY TO GLORY TO GLORY TO GLORY TO GLORY TO GLORY TO GOD.. And BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED How repetetive is that.”
“But those songs were born in 1994 I better not try and leave without doing them.”
“Or songs that have great messages and Melodies like Back to Eden, or I trust, or like I said Never woulda made it.”
“New artist !! Simplify your Melodies.. Make your Hooks Singable, if an 8 year old or A 72 year old mother can sing it while she’s cook’n”
“You got a hit”
“If A single mother who’s been up against stress and strife or brother going through can sing with you u got a hit.”
“I know the Words I wrote today won’t be for everyone.. But He that has the ear, Will hear and the seed will Grow”
“The one who rejects it the seed will Die and you can’t say you don’t know”
“Don’t Get me wrong it’s not just Artist fault but no one is gonna give us a shot then we must find away to make it work.”
“When I listen to the quality of production of Gospel music Be it contemp, hip hop or traditional I here Music that is 2nd to none.”
“But it’s more then that.”
“Like I said your trying to sell something to ppl that will only buy what they want. It’s a recession. But watch Philly and Dallas tomorrow”
“It will be sold out.”
“Ppl buy what they want to buy.”
“Here’s the Deal . We as a industry must be STRATEGIC…”
“New artist you must think this way, Business as well as Spiritual, why should someone give you $10 to $15 of there hard earned money?”
“With everyday expences kids food cost of living mortgages and housing market in the toilet car notes cut in pay cell phone competition”
“Cell bills, touition, insurances, hair and personal upkeep, gas, car upkeep, clothing , vacations, going out , dating , weddings,”
“Jewlery, shoes, movies, DVD rental, Bootleg stuff, and the list goes on, why should they give us $15, cause we talented?”
“Gospel is about serving ppl, not about watching us show how great we can riff. They need something from us.”
“We must ask ourselves what do ppl want and need want from Us, Gospel music ministries? Find out what they want and need and give it 2 them.”
“Don’t give them what you want them to have.”
“I don’t know who this was all for , but it was for someone, and the Revelation witll be the key to your Destiny.”
There you have it. When a leader and pioneer in any industry speaks out, it is in your best interest to pay attention. Please let me know what you think about Fred Hammond’s comments. Do you think he’s being unreasonable? What do you think an artist should use as his or her “WOW”?
