DJ VERSUS CRITIC
ChristianityToday.com, perhaps the critic of Christian music with the largest audience, says these are the best "Christian" albums of 2005:
1. Switchfoot - Nothing Is Sound
2. Over The Rhine - Drunkard's Prayer
3. David Crowder Band - A Collision or (3+4=7)
4. Mae - The Everglow
5. Sara Groves - Add To The Beauty (No relation)
6. 4th Avenue Jones - Stereo: The Evolution of HipRockSoul
7. Jars of Clay - Redemption Songs
8. Andrew Peterson - The Far Country
9. Bart Millard - Hymned No.1
10. Eisley - Room Noises
(Go to ChristianityToday.com for the complete list and "near misses."
ThePDAdvisor.com (A website for those in the radio industry) polled its many reporting stations and compiled its radio play data to determine that these are the DJs' favorite artists (or his/her boss, Mr. Program Director) for 2005:
ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Casting Crowns
Jeremy Camp
Chris Tomlin
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Jeremy Camp
Chris Tomlin
Bebo Norman
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Nichole Nordeman
Natalie Grant
Joy Williams
GROUP OF THE YEAR:
Casting Crowns
MercyMe
Kutless
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
The Afters
Jadon Lavik
Joel Engle
So who impacted album sales the most in 2005? Do people buy records because they hear it on the radio or read about it in print or on-line? That list is coming soon. For now, which CD collection would you want for Christmas: The DJs' or the Critic's?
1. Switchfoot - Nothing Is Sound
2. Over The Rhine - Drunkard's Prayer
3. David Crowder Band - A Collision or (3+4=7)
4. Mae - The Everglow
5. Sara Groves - Add To The Beauty (No relation)
6. 4th Avenue Jones - Stereo: The Evolution of HipRockSoul
7. Jars of Clay - Redemption Songs
8. Andrew Peterson - The Far Country
9. Bart Millard - Hymned No.1
10. Eisley - Room Noises
(Go to ChristianityToday.com for the complete list and "near misses."
ThePDAdvisor.com (A website for those in the radio industry) polled its many reporting stations and compiled its radio play data to determine that these are the DJs' favorite artists (or his/her boss, Mr. Program Director) for 2005:
ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Casting Crowns
Jeremy Camp
Chris Tomlin
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Jeremy Camp
Chris Tomlin
Bebo Norman
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Nichole Nordeman
Natalie Grant
Joy Williams
GROUP OF THE YEAR:
Casting Crowns
MercyMe
Kutless
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
The Afters
Jadon Lavik
Joel Engle
So who impacted album sales the most in 2005? Do people buy records because they hear it on the radio or read about it in print or on-line? That list is coming soon. For now, which CD collection would you want for Christmas: The DJs' or the Critic's?
posted by Shaun Groves @ 12/19/2005
23 comments
23 Comments:
I gotta say DJ's list al though I'd switch out a few. Here's my DJ list in no real order ;) Sorry I'm not a fan of Jeremy Camp.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Shaun Groves
Nichole Nordeman
Michael Olson
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Shaun Groves
Michael Olson
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
Nichole Nordeman
Ginny Owens
Sara Groves
GROUP OF THE YEAR:
Third Day
MercyMe
Jars of Clay
Watermark
David Crowder Band
Switchfoot
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR:
The Afters
Critics
I'd have to go with the critic.
It would be interesting to see how similar lists compared among critics and radio stations in secular music.
On the little radio show I do, five of the artists on the critics' list get played regularly and three on the radio station list are played. But when it comes to regular personal listening, I'll choose those five on the critics list and only one from the radio station list.
n
I honestly have to say that I haven't heard of some of the artists. I definitely would be more in line with the critics list though. I like Casting Crowns, but talk about overplay! I'm glad I have a CD player in the car for when the radio is just too much to handle.
Beth
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Sorry, I deleted my original comment for clarity sake.
Shaun, I like the quotes around "Christian" music. Very apt, since as far as I can tell, there's no such thing as "Christian" music. Music is music, right? The artists might be Christians, but the music? I ask this of course seriously but playfully.
A friend of mine was talking to David Wilcox recently, at a show in Austin, TX. My friend stated that he "is a follower of the way of Jesus," apparently having decided to jettison the term "Christian". He then asked David about his faith. David said, unapologetically and with his usual big smile, "I'm just a plain ole' Christian."
Delicious irony here really, especially for those of us (like me) who tend to focus on language before life. Labels don’t determine identity. It’s just easier to say you are this than be that thing. David reminded me of that.
Related to this… on the one hand, you have an entire industry built on selling itself as explicitly Christian, with that word used as the sole means of distinguishing “religious” music from “secular” music. (Also, it’s “positive and encouraging” too.) And then, you have David Wilcox, who considers himself a Christian but uses a “secular” platform from which to broadcast his art. And though he is more obscure artistically with his “Christian” language, I don’t think he’s any less effective (maybe more so). Insert Sufjan Stevens here as well.
Again, I’m just playing with language here (and trying to live first), not casting a cynical critique. There’s some really good music on the lists. My two shouts, regardless of their monikers, go to the David Crowder Band’s A Collision and Sufjan Stevens’ Illinoise.
Really enjoy your thoughts, Shaun.
Cheers,
Chris
http://margrave.blogs.com
I'm not just saying this because it's your blog, but neither list has my favorite album of the year.
I found out just before I went on my all Christmas music diet in December that my roommate loves your new CD as much as I do. Which is a good thing since I listen to it once every couple of weeks for several days in the car and have since it came out.
As far as your actualy question, I guess I'd go with radio, but I don't listen to all of either list. I'm a rather eclectic music listener.
Nancy!!! I've missed your smiling face...I mean, words around here. You always take a vacation when pacifism rears it's ugly head. (Wasn't my fault this time, mom. Brant started it.) (Nancy, is not my bio mother, but does a good job of keeping me accountable, my ego small and my punctuation/spelling corrected in a way that brings to mind the best connotations of the word "Mother".)
Anyway, this sampling of poll takers is tainted! Mustard Packet Pelter (aka, Godzilla, aka. Amy) is a hard core street teamer for Rocketown - my label - very biased. Her list is littered with my label mates. And I'm pretty sure my actual mom posted the comment about my CD being her favorite. Why the name "Mark" mom? The roommate she spoke of better be my dad or Christmas dinner is canceled.
OK, new rule: No posting ego-enlarging comments about my music. That just makes more work for Nancy and she has a holiday coming up.
Alright. As you were. Resume SHLOGGING.
SG
That radio list looks like it might have been a GMA nom form.
I'm also going to go with the critics.
I'll take a little of both:
Switchfoot, Jaden Lavik, Sara Groves, Bart Millard, a little bit of Chris Tomlin, and a little less of Jeremy Camp and Counting Crows.. I mean, Casting Crowns.
I've downloaded a couple of Over the Rhine mp3s from paste music, so I kind of dig them in an experimental sort of way.
Hey now I am so not biased!! I just know good music when I hear it so there! :p
Definately with the critics. Pretty much the only person on the DJ list I like is Nicole Nordeman.
and speaking of biases, anyone who listens to the radio at all probably gets biased AGAINST the artists that are played forty thousand times a day. Too much of a good thing is still too much. But I guess everyone has a different place they thing too much is. Sometimes I'll listen to a CD for three solid days and nothing else.
If you'll click the link, you'll see I'm not Shaun's mom. And my roommate is not related to him, either.
But, if ego strips are what you want, I'm come clean.
I really hate your CD. I just buy new copies to burn it along with the dolls I use to stand in for you.
Feeling better now? :)
Sorry, but I'm with Amy on this one. No bias, just like what I like. I like Casting Crowns, especially live, but not well enough to listen constantly to on the radio. Love Chris Rice and Chris Tomlin too. Rice is an innovative writer like you Shaun even though the styles are different. I wish Rocketown did a better job of promoting all their artists equally. I saw almost nothing about Molsen's release, and I get emailed constantly about Ginny Owens latest. I like her too, but I think everyone deserves to be promoted by their label. Honestly wasn't crazy about Molsen's CD, but it's OK. Too mellow for me and very much like so much else that's already out there. BTW, Bruce's CD did arrive today so "Riverman" is heading your way soon. I think you should add it to your set!
Beth
We saw the DC*B/Robbie Seay/Shane and Shane combo 3 times during the Collision tour so those 3 groups are definately my top 3 favorites.
Male Artist-Chris Tomlin
Female-Christy Knockles
New Artist-Miguel Carabollos, You are going to love this guy.
And I am not his mom.
Dang, my own mom didn't bother to post in my defense. Sorry, Mark...if that is your REAL name.
Thanks for the CD, Beth!
You know Robbie is Brian's brother. Yep. We should play six degrees of Brian sometime. You'd be amazed at how well the man's connected. Coat tails + me + blog = soft rock star.
SG
Hmmm, I tend to disagree with the stats for Switchfoot. I though their new album was a step down. On the other hand…I heartily agree with marks for Eisley, Over the Rhine, Mae, and The Afters…I didn’t know that most of these were Christian bands. Wow.
Critics definitely- I was glad to see albums that I owned (I agree that the latest Switchfoot was a step down). I hope next year the two lists can be a little closer together!
I think I'd have to go with the DJ's. I don't know all that many people on the critic's list and I know EVERYBODY (and love them all) on the DJ's.
Definitely DJ's!
Groves! Missed you too. The timing of my blog vaykays is only tied to what's going on with me, not what you're writing about. And in six to eight short weeks I'll catch up on all 73 (and counting) pacifism-related posts. :)
Hey, did you forget to pay a bill? www.shlog.com ain't working.
n
SHLOG.COM is dead for now. But since you work for the feds, Nancy, maybe you could lean on someone for me...
The company I bought the domain from e-mailed me a renewal notice but said their on-line secure renewal process was not working right now. They asked me to e-mail them my credit card number etc instead. No way, I politely said, and explained that that was not something I was comfortable with. I asked for an alternate method. I didn't hear back but two days ago SHLOG.COM died. Weird.
SG
Now Shaun, you have a friend who's been working in a government consumer office for 15 years. Nothing has rubbed off on you? A name like Netwerk Sulooshuns and a price of a buck per URL should have tipped you off that you might not have been dealing with a reputable company.
Don't make me send you publications from Pueblo, Colorado.
n
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