Creative Director at Power Fm Uganda, Mr Godwin Muhumuza says for the station to play music received from any artiste, lyrical relevance and content of a given song matters. He notes that their acquisition policy clearly stipulates that a song should not differ from the principles of the Bible in content and must be inspirational.
While the faith-based radio station might be able to clearly identify a gospel song, several bodies and Christians might today fail to authentically tell a gospel song from one secular.
Over the past century, gospel music commentators have urged that it has evolved into a hybrid between the sacred and secular space, something that comes with focus on sales over souls… the goal gets lower and lower.
If you look around, you will notice that the term “gospel” is used loosely in the sense that it can refer to the style of the song rather than the content of the song.
Artiste and Pastor, Brian Lubega urges that a worship leader should never expect to grow if all they eat are junk messages. Could this explain the content thickening?
Is today’s worship leader too busy trying to get that song that will simply excite, scoop a record deal or award, the applause, and that crossover hit?
Each step a gospel artiste takes away from the cross, music loses its affect on people. It doesn’t create movements like it did when he/she spent more time in God’s word.
If this “new” form of gospel music continues to grow and dominate the market, gospel may become endangered by losing credibility amongst current listeners at the risk of trying to reach a new audience.
American rapper, Lacrae says the greatest leader of all-time, Jesus, consistently went to his Father for counsel. Every major decision Lecrae talks about, he’s always speaks about who he has consulted with in making the decision: Pastor’s, other artists, folks at his label and even people in the industry.
The most important aspect of gospel would have to be the text. If the text doesn’t clearly reflect “the gospel,” Christian values, or inspiration then it will be criticized.
This is all about keeping music Christ-Centered. So it is important for gospel artists to make sure they are aware of the line between sacred and secular when they are producing a new gospel song.
By Evangelist Balagadde Samuel.
