BET is almost ready to premiere the gospel spinoff of its popular video countdown program, 106 & Park, called 106 & Park Presents: Generation Gospel.
Hosting the new show will be Angel Taylor (from gospel group Trin-I-Tee 5:7) and Jorel Quinn (from gospel group 21:03) with regular correspondents Tye Tribbett, Kierra Sheard and Jermaine Sellers (of “Sunday Best”). The network reports that the show will feature “a live studio audience, the hottest music videos sweeping the faith-based community, interactive choir battles, exclusive packages and much more.”
I have no idea what an interactive choir battle is, but I wanna go.
The first episode is set to air on Sunday, January 11, 2009 at noon (ET/PT) and will feature performances from Marvin Sapp, Kierra Sheard and others.
Are you tuning in???
OOH I'm FIRST Again! I'll only tune if they book artists like Damita Haddon or DeLeon Richards Sheffield. No just kidding. ALL Gospel TV Shows must be supported! We have to show networks, cable outlets and mainstream audiences in general the strength and value of a purely all Gospel show!
I agree, Chloe. The conversation has often been had concerning whether or not gospel artists should have videos. Often times, people say that there's no need because there's no outlet for them anyway. Well, we have the Word Channel, the GospelMusic Channel, and BET with a new show for... videos! Yay! I mean, we've had some shows in the past, but hooray for more shows to legitimize the expense. What does that mean for the budget of gospel record labels, though? And how do we think consumers will respond to this newfound availability of gospel videos?!
I don't really know how to respond to another crappy gospel video show. See .. the problem is: It seems as if gospel video shows let anybody purchase airtime if they have the funds vs. playing the most popular and recent videos... and guess what???? There aren't that many..lol!!! I cant take another rendition of "Lift Every Voice" on BET. Hopefully, 106 & Park Presents: Generation Gospel won't allow 7th rate artist to par-take! If not, they'll be a joke just like their ill-fated predecessor.("THEY HAVE A CHOICE") They're gonna have to hire knowledgeable professionals as gatekeepers to ward off any potential gospel amateurs. I guess I'll show my support and give it a try if it makes it to the big screens.
I see what you mean, Melody. I think, though, that the issue with gospel video shows has historically been an issue about the quality of gospel videos. Let's be real, they are not all up to par. Even some of the nicer ones are cheesy. I will say that the CCM industry tends to have nicer videos than gospel... most likely due to more funds, I believe. Anyway, how can we challenge artist and record labels alike to step it up with the videos as an investment--now that there's an outlet and all. And what does everyone think about making videos a marketing tool for gospel? Do we think it will have similar effects on the market as new pop videos in the 80's? Like Bill Cosby tap dancing..."Chall-unge!"
I agree with ya, Janice! And, I'll go far enough to say that 90% of em are cheeeeeeesy! I think they can be effectively used as a marketing tool if they kick it up a notch. But, to do that they're gonna have to change their approach. What I mean by that is....a lot of these gospel videos make a mockery of church, are silly, and normal people can't relate to em. And, I gotta admit church is funny! =)) These videos are gonna have to reach ordinary people which is highly unlikely because most gospel videos just show "saintz" acting a fool. I know I don't wanna see a video with the choir dancing in their new robes("Like: It's our time to show up and show out"), shouting, shaking and acting! That's just ridiculous, confusing, and they frighten people. (see video below) Ex. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pksav6SxsjY
I thought this one was kinda funny!
Sorry it didn't post... here it is... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pT5x77PWOI
I'm actually excited about it..I honestly being praying for something to happen like this!!! And of course, I agree with the MANY lame videos put out with gospel artist singing in the church pew alone and somehow a church choir appears behind them and all out of nowhere there singing in the grass... there are only a few artist who have great videos, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, Tye Tribbett and so on... But I believe this will (HOPEFULLY) wake the gospel artist up to start being creative and bringing out great music videos. Because if its going to be like 106 & Park theywill be playing current videos and viewers vote. They can't play a video from 2004 or 05 unless its flashback joint.. (I dont think it will be another Lift Every Voice) Thats if its like 106....So that means gospel will have to step there game up and keep coming with the new.
Zephaniah, I'm just sorry. You're just horrible!! Horrible! Horrible! Horrible! Other than the three artist you named, there aren't many other choices. That's not enough to make a 30 min. show. I have very low expectations on how creative a gospel video show can be. Considering the fact that only about 75% of Americans can identify with Christianity, It just seems a little impossible to find enough viewers to watch people sing about their lord.(I hate the way that sounds) Not to mention we're talking about BET here. So, even if we gave black people half of that percentage(37.5%), only about half(18%) of them care enough to break away form their regular programming to watch church folk be church folk!!!!!!!!!
I think this is a lost cause. BET should just shoulder the financial loss they've incurred producing this show so far and return to the drawing board. As the previous posts have stated, Gospel video programming has been a Lame Duck for BET in their attempt to adapt "church" to a broadcast television network that, by the way, explicitly manufactures secular entertainment for their base viewers. That said, pragmatically thinking, there is no way a typical BET viewer will be REMOTELY interested in watching "interactive choir battles." I give the show three to five episodes before it's canceled...
Wow, I have literally laughed until I can't breathe. Hilarious!!! Mel that video was hilarious. How did you find that? Well, well, well, well, well, duh duh duh duh duh duh duh LOL!! But any way I see a lot of what you're saying mel especially about the videos, and weeding out the amateurs. But you got to admit its hilarious, and I enjoy watching it, but if the gospel industry want people to take them seriously and really make profits on their investments they need to do more than step it up because we are behind. We need to be the trendsetters, and let everyone else follow after us. I have to be real. Lets stop writing different lyrics to the same music its ridiculous. Oh my God!! I can go on all night, but I won't I'm gonna just say lets do better. On the other hand, when I look at the gospel industry we have made some good advances like having our own magazines, award shows, and a few videos, but it's just not enough. We don't support them with our dollars, and when a song blows up its because secular audiences are supporting which is good cause we all need Jesus. But it would be nice if church people would support more. I think that 106 and Park could be a wonderful start in the process of making gospel music and videos accessible to a bigger audience. I want to be hopeful because I'm tired of how things are, so I'm like if you say so ok we will see. OMG sarah I can't believe how you picked out the part about chior battles I totally missed it. You are crazy!!!!!
Ok Mel, Per our conversation, I am upset with you that you didn't know that, that was well well well the song, and you said I should have put dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun. You are just suppossed to just get it. You know I'm HOTT!! So now, it can be funny.
Well, everyone, I will say we're asking the industry to step their game up, but Harmonie is right. We as consumers do not support gospel artists and their products. I've heard that it comes down to the fact that many hard-core gospel lovers don't have much disposable income. This means that they may not have the money to support, which means that gospel artists don't make money, which means that the record labels don't make as much as they would like to, which means that the budget for an artist is smaller than everyone would like it to be, which means that they have to make some decisions as to allocating funds, which means... how can we make this situation any better?
I think this is a start to making it better. Yes, finance is definitely an issue so the quality may not always be where we would like it to be. But, the content is another story. I just think there are a lot of people out there who don't have someone to really tell them that they have to step it up some notches. So, they release what they think is GREAT....nnnnot so much. That's why I like this blog, because artists should be able to hear real people who have real opinions out there, and people like 106 & Park need to hear the real thoughts so they can show good content.
I agree with Harmonie on the support issue..but to Mel....about there aren’t many other choices....its ALOOOOOT of underground independent artist killing it with the music and music videos...videos look better than the major artist signed..and I don't know why they don't get airplay... maybe because of being independent, I dont know....but i'm hoping that the show is gear towards the youth....i don't want to see the video to Ricky Dillards "One More Chance" LOL!!!! but like its up to the viewers ..so if you wanna see a good quality video on the show...vote on the video you want to see...this where the support comes in....Just like on 106.... the viewers vote by going online or thru texting..SO I dont think this is a good excuse to knock the show..the show should go well if we do our part...
I don't believe i'll be tuning in to this. I'm still growing on the Urban Gospel genre. It hasn't hit me yet...