[Dixielandjazz] Christian Instrumental Jazz

[Bigbuttbnd at aol.com]

"...they slap the word Christian in front of their name and create a new 
following and market for themselves primarily in Churches and church related 
functions."

I would have to go with Bill Sargent on this one...

I don't think there's any advantage, from a marketing standpoint, to tagging 
yourself "Christian" in the music industry unless you really are a Christian. 
The 'Christian instrumental Jazz' niche has got to be among the smallest 
niches in the music business (except maybe for the 'muslim polka niche!') and, if 
anything, is probably a hurdle to get over in selling instrumental jazz. Add to 
that the fact that the consumers for your music, presumably other Christians, 
pay more attention to the lifestyle and committment of 'Christian' artists to 
his/her belief than secular fans pay to secular artists... and you've got a 
tough 'row to hoe.' The audience is ALWAYS watching.

I admire Christian artists who tackle the dilemna of reconciling 
self-promotion, and even making a decent living with their talent, and the committment to 
devote their time and talent to serving God. It's a treacherous course at 
best. If they are too successful they could alienate their audience.... not 
successful enough and they can starve out there. That seems to be an even tougher 
strategy than that of the secular jazz musician.

I read recently that Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, one of the most 
successful jazz, bluegrass, jam band banjo artists, rarely begins to make any money on 
an album until the EIGHTH (8th!) year of distribution. His money is made from 
touring each summer. The article said he rarely sells more than 100,000 copies 
of an album. I don't know his religious orientation... he certainly would not 
be considered a Christian Instrumental Jazz artist. If someone of his 
stature, that most of us have heard of, who tours incessantly, can only muster 
100,000 sales... how much of a market can there be for Christian Jazz 
Instrumentalists?

Makes me think they're not just in it for the  money...

Rocky Ball
Banjo