Christian Music Online

CCM Magazine

May 22, 2007 – 8:39 am

CCM Magazine, the publication known for its coverage of Christian music, recently decided to expand its reach to include independent and general-market artists who are Christians.

The monthly magazine, published since 1978, also has changed the meaning of its CCM acronym, from “contemporary Christian music” to “Christ. Community. Music.” It adds content culled from its online social networking community, www.myCCM.org.

Jay Swartzendruber, the 39-year-old editor of the Nashville, Tenn.-based magazine, recently talked about CCM’s change in direction and the evolution in music performed by Christians. Following are excerpts.

Q: Your magazine says it now covers “Christian worldview music” instead of “Christian music.” Why?

A: Historically, our industry’s definition of “Christian music” has been defined by who distributes the music. It’s been based on whether or not that album is sold in Christian bookstores. I’ve had a problem with that philosophy.

We need to stop propagating that myth that that’s what Christian music is, because you’re defining this based on where it’s sold, not based on the content, not based on who’s creating it.

Q: Are there other reasons you decided to move away from the term “Christian music”?

A: What has come to be called “Christian music” was born out of the 1970s Jesus movement. Our magazine helped brand this genre “Christian music.” In reality, you can’t really accurately call it a genre because it’s encompasses rock, pop, rap, hard music, hard-core punk. It’s many genres.

Q: Has the magazine ever covered artists who might be considered Christians in the secular realm as well as those who recorded with Christian labels?

A: We did, but it… wasn’t a level playing field. When CCM magazine first started out, it was very inclusive. You had Bob Dylan on a couple of covers, you had Johnny Cash, Donna Summer.

(After the early 1980s) more than 95 percent were distributed in the Christian market.

Q: Your announcement said your coverage will now include “general market Christians” such as Mary J. Blige and Sufjan Stevens. Blige has worked with Ludacris on a song that’s explicit about sexual abuse of young girls; and Stevens has sung a song where he compares himself to child killer John Wayne Gacy Jr. Where do you draw the line?

A: I’m not as familiar with Mary J. Blige, but read Sufjan Stevens’ lyrics. What you just described is nothing further than saying “I’m the chiefest of sinners.” I don’t have any problem with that. The Mary J. Blige song sounds like it could actually be a redemptive song lyrically. I strongly believe that the Holy Spirit can bring healing into those situations.

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