I just want to quickly preface this article written by Charlie Peacock in what is the last issue to be printed of the age old CCM Magazine. I don’t personally know Charlie other than a few brief conversations back and forth via Facebook. But his thumbprint has been a part of my life since I was a young moron running around singing “In the Light” at the top of my lungs. Those of you who grew up sheltered in the realm of Christian music (myself included) may not know it but Charlie had a huge part of a majority of what influenced you as a kid growing up. From Audio Adrenaline to Amy Grant, dcTalk, Sarah Masen, Eric Champion, Out of the Gray, Margaret Becker and Switchfoot.

I will follow up this post at some point this week by sharing with you my perspective of it all from my days as a kid - til now, wondering where I fit into all of this. And will share a few encouraging words that Charlie gave me personally this week.

~Cory Basil

The following is Charlie’s article.

I’m a man with an opinion, and opinions are cheap. I’m riffing here—that’s what musicians do. Keep your eyes and ears open. See what comes true. 

The music business aspect of Christian music (labels, radio, touring, etc.) will continue to follow the pattern of the world, especially as long as baby-boomers and Gen-X people are in charge. The pattern is an increasingly unsuccessful business model run by people trapped in a system intent on slow, incremental change in the face of monumental cultural shifts. The music business, Christian and otherwise, has been a wealth-creation mechanism for a small, elite group of executives, songwriters, producers and artists. Those days are over. Still, the old guard won’t go peaceably. They’ll fight for control to the end. When they finally exit, the new music business will be underway. Continue reading ‘Charlie Peacocks Industry Perspective’