Yesterday, I learned that Nashville’s got a gospel radio station. Actually, I knew that there was one, but until yesterday, I definitely was not getting it where I live. Maybe they got a stronger signal… *shrugs*
But there it was, VaShawn Mitchell’s “Nobody Greater,” Wess Morgan’s “I Choose To Worship,” and Hezekiah Walker’s “Grateful”… all on my dial over the course of 15 minutes. I even heard an older, dope track from Kevin Davidson called “Bounce Back,” which I thoroughly enjoyed.
And it occurred to me, if not for the fact that I run a gospel music blog, and I get press releases and new releases sent to me, I would have to work VERY hard to know what’s happening, especially if there were no gospel radio station in my area. Gospel and Christian music is my full-time job, so “knowing” is just about all I’ve got time for.
But many of you have gigs at schools, corporations and whatever else… you don’t get paid to “know,” but you still want to. So, I’m curious–
1. Do you have a gospel radio station where you live?
2. If so, how heavily do you depend on that station to give you info?
3. If not, how do you learn about new stuff in gospel? From the web? In church?
Just wondering… talk to me!
I live in Chicago and we have one major radio station geared to play gospel. On Sundays that shoots up to several radio stations playing gospel. However, the music played on it is like putting 3 cds on rotation in a cd changer. That's all you will hear. I like the jokes on the radio, however I like gospel music from my satellite XM33 as it has more variety than just the current Chicago top 10. As far as information I receive more from the web than radio stations. Radio stations do not announce local events unless they are being paid. Nor are radio stations in the know about new releases that come out. Chicago didn't start playing VaShawn Mitchell Nobody Greater until after its release. By the time the radio station was playing it, I had it in my car and wore out the single playing it over and over again on a cd. This is now the same case for William McDowell's I Give Myself Away.
1. I do have a gospel radio station...Praise 100.9 Charlotte, NC. 2. Well, I rarely depend on my station for information from the gospel music community because by the time they relay the info, I've already found out about it. They are a little behind in that regard. 3. I primarily receive ALL my information from the web (shout out to you EJ...you do a great job with keeping us abreast to updates/news!!).
Gospel radio stinks, lol. Seriously, I find out my info from the internet. Like @matthew5and9 stated, they play the same songs over and ove again and are usually late on gospel news. Even worse, most of the announcers and even program directors aren't even up on industry news like they should be. Only reason I will listen to gospel radio is if there is a particular radio personality that I like.
While I'm at work, I actually listen to a Chicago station rather than my local station. The reason I like it is because it has a MUCH better variety of songs than my local station. We have the same rotation of songs. That's why I listen to my CD's more than the radio.
I don't listen to radio of any kind, so I solely depend on music sites like this for the latest info.
Agree with the rest its folk like you Ej and others who keep alot of us including myself with gospel news/info Thanks for the great job you do
1. Do you have a gospel radio station where you live? Nope. Of all places--Detroit, MI--there is no one station playing gospel music 24/7. The one station I can think of is an AM station with little power so the reception is poor. Also, the announcer is a bit more "down home" in flavor/style than I prefer. Sunday mornings from 6 am - noon includes 2 major stations playing gospel, one station includes Pastor Marvin Winans as the DJ/announcer. Can't beat that with a stick. 2. If so, how heavily do you depend on that station to give you info? I do not depend on any of these stations for information about gospel music. Pastor Winans' show is the closest to getting musical insights but the playlists are repetitive. I understand it's a marketing/advertising/radio play thing so I don't blame him for that. 3. If not, how do you learn about new stuff in gospel? From the web? In church? I learn about new stuff in gospel from websites like this one, although I don't put too much weight in them because my perspectives about gospel music do not align with most of the social/political/musical perspectives of most of the similar websites. I respect what EJ is doing here that's why this website is a good place to find out what's new and hot on the streets in gospel music.
I live in Nashville as well. The part of town I live in i can get the Gospel station well but if you go to different parts of town the reception gets really bad. As far as the station being dependable to give gospel music news it is not really reliable so I look at your site along with gospelflava to keep me updated with what is going on in Gospel news.
I live in NYC. Although I have access to a gospel radio station, I get most of my information from internet stations and blogs. The radio gives me very little variety and ignores some of the new and independant artists.
1. Do you have a gospel radio station where you live? Yes. 2. If so, how heavily do you depend on that station to give you info? I don't. 3. If not, how do you learn about new stuff in gospel? From the web? In church? From you....of course.
We have Heaven 600 here in Baltimore (AM radio). There is a CCM station here as well (FM radio). There is a DC gospel station that comes through depending on where you are in Maryland (FM radio, I believe). And, for the record, my ears cannot take the SOUND of AM radio, period. As in most cities, the major stations play gospel music on Sunday mornings. And THE GREAT MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY (GO BEARS) plays gospel music on its radio station, 88.9 FM, on Sundays till the late afternoon. They play a nice variety of new and old music...not a lot of national gospel news is communicated though...mostly local events. All radio stations play the same songs too often for my taste. I prefer putting my iPod on shuffle...that's my radio. I also enjoy downloading Bonnerfide radio (free on iTunes)...good variety of new and old music. Since I rarely listen to the radio (just Steve Harvey/TJMS in the morning and sometimes Mike Baisden in the afternoon), I totally depend on the web, (Gospelpundit, Facebook, Twitter, word of mouth) for gospel news.
I guess I'm the odd one for the question. Well, I live in London.We have only one Christian Station in England- Premier Radio; that plays mostly worship music and UK based gospel music.They play a couple of US gospel music; probably months after I've already heard it. Because of my musical background which has been gospel music all my life and being a minister of music in my church/upcoming artiste, I'm always listening for the latest news/new releases from the gospel/christian music scene in the US. I follow American gospel music actively largely from websites like this one (gospel flava/bonnerfide radio/gospel according to torrence,etc) and by following many gospel music artistes/music industry folks on twitter/facebook/etc as well as lots of youtubing. U'll be surprised my church choir is as current as most US based churches..doing lots of Israel Houghton/jonathan Nelson/Donald Lawrence/Youthful Praise and many other current stuff including 'Nobody Greater', 'Souled Out', 'Expect the Great'....etc
1. Do you have a gospel radio station where you live? Yes, 104.1 2. If so, how heavily do you depend on that station to give you info? I don't depend on it. I only listen if I happen to be in someone else's car. 3. If not, how do you learn about new stuff in gospel? From the web? In church? The web is my biggest thing, inclusive of sites like gospel pundit, and even twitter and facebook.
1. Yes, there are 2 2. I don't. I listen if someone calls me & tells me that I may want to hear what's on. Be it a new song, artist interview, advertisement, etc. 3. I find out about everything concerning gospel music from the web. I really don't like the stations here.
There is no gospel music radio station here in Japan. However gospel is very popular here. Many Japanese choirs and directors rely on Americans to keep them abreast of what is current. I rely on blogs, youtube, and other internet sources. I also listen to internet radio occasionally.
1. Do you have a gospel radio station where you live? No. However, my area's major hip-hop/R&B station plays gospel programming for a couple hours on Sunday mornings. 2. If so, how heavily do you depend on that station to give you info? No. 3. If not, how do you learn about new stuff in gospel? From the web? In church? The web. This site's usually my first stop for information related to gospel music. ;-)
I love this response. Thanks for enlightening us about how gospel radio is doing over in the UK!
Are you in JAPAN?! Wow. Yeah, those Japanese choirs can actually give U.S. choirs a run for their money-- the discipline and excellence that they demonstrate in singing American songs is incredible!
1. Do you have a gospel radio station where you live? Yes. WELS 102.9 Kinston NC 2. If so, how heavily do you depend on that station to give you info? Not really. I mostly listen to Praise on XMSirius 3. If not, how do you learn about new stuff in gospel? From the web? In church? The web (GospelPundit.com).
Daniel why don't you tune into to urbangospelnetwork.co.uk. They're internet base possibly on DNB but they play a variety of UK and USA artist. I've been listening for several years.
Gospel Music in the UK is declining because of the increase of Muslim conversions. Premier Radio and Urban Gospel Network are the only sources and they're both internet base. There are NO Over The Air Station playing Gospel Music. They took it off the air! There is a station in Birmingham, England, but don't know if they're now off the air.
1. Do you have a gospel radio station where you live? 104.1 Praise DC serving the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) 2. If so, how heavily do you depend on that station to give you info? They only share tidbits through artist interviews and/or they have some insider knowledge because they know the artist. 3. If not, how do you learn about new stuff in gospel? From the web? In church? I rely on sites like this for my info. I also subscribe to some artists newsletters and follow them on twitter. I would say it would be great to have a gospel news show on the radio or even on BET but I'm afraid it would fall into tabloid territory in short order to keep it's ratings and I certainly wouldn't want that.
Yea...thanks...listened to it....Some good stuff
Yes, Philadelphia ,PA. We have Praise 103 FM in the evening with CoCo Brother Live. He always have surprise guests making uplifting comments like Israel Houghton and Kirk Franklin. Also, he plays songs from Independent Gospel artists on the air by alllowing the listening audience to decide by saying Yes or No called Make or Break Song. We are truly blessed to have a wonderful group of On-Air Talent which also includes Yolanda Adams, Niecey Tribett who is Tye Tribett mother ,Tiffany Bacon, and host of other Outstanding Christian talent.
I don`t listen to the gospel radio at all really, it is not my source. My source is often gospel websites like this one.