I Never Noticed My Heart Before
Probably the biggest music news of the week is that Mute Math has filed suit against Warner Bros./Word Records for their handling of their debut EP. You can read the Reuters story and the comments at Shlog.com for more information.
What I have to say is that I wholeheartedly support the band. Why? Because I think they have a point.
It has long been a point of discussion, but here's what I believe the "Christian" music industry is defined as:
- It is those that edify the church (aka. the Christian faithful) through their music. MercyMe, Chris Tomlin, Bill Gaither, Rich Mullins, Sara Groves and Apologetix do that.
- It is a haven for bands that aren't good enough to be successful in the mainstream. MercyMe, Sanctus Real, Building 429, and Jeremy Camp are good examples of this, in my opinion.
I guess, you could say, the third category is those who are stuck in the Christian music industry. They started in the Christian world, and since then, they've not been able to escape despite their great music. Recent examples of this include The Listening, The Elms, Mat Kearney, and Mute Math, while older examples include dc Talk, Jars of Clay, and P.O.D.
Thankfully, some of these bands were allowed to escape a little. If they weren't plagued with the "Christian" tag, though, they probably could have made it much farther. There are many who, maybe even subconsciously, associate Christian music with second-rate, not-worth-my-time music.
Some of the newer names on that list are getting the chance to escape. Switchfoot is almost known on its own without being labeled a Christian band. Mat Kearney and Mute Math are making it too, and it looks like The Elms may get their break with the May 2nd release.
But what about Mute Math? Well, I think they have a right to sue their label. The claim that they went into talks with the label under assurances they would not be on Word Records, the Christian arm of Warner Bros. Records. I think they had a right to demand this, because they've been in a Christian band and knew that their new venture, Mute Math, could be much bigger. They may be Christian believers, but that doesn't mean that their music can be only heard by Christians, which is what the Christian music industry is for.
Of course, how long did Mute Math comply with Word's requests? Eight months or so after their Word release, they hit some major Christian festivals and were fairly popular. Does that mean they were admitting to being a Christian band? Were they interested in being Christian then but are no longer? That, to me, seems to be the only hole in their thought.
Best of luck to you guys. I hope that the publicity goes well and that your new CD is well-received.
Comments
So let's say they're right: they SHOULD have been promoted as a band into the mainstream primarily. I'll go with that. Mute Math is a great band deserving of a shot at MTV and it's brotherhood of big media outlets catering to the masses - both Christian and non. And let's say Warner screwed them over, made promises to the boys in Mute Math to push them to the masses primarily and to LifeWay patrons last. Let's say even that Warner lied and that those lies cost Mute Math opportunity, credibility, and cash - lots of it.
Now, agreeing that all this is true for a moment (though we can't know for sure) does that mean 1 Corinthians 6 gets thrown out the window? Paul says clearly not to sue Christians (Mute Math versus Word Records). Partly because such suits get picked up by Reuters. Partly because such suits are evidence against our God, arguing that He isn't powerful enough to mend our differences, He no more powerful than our pettiness and "rights" in fact.
Even if Mute Math is "right" and Warner and Word were/are "wrong" Mute Math still seems to be disobedient to God's command through Paul to preserve unity - to be willing to be harmed rather than exact harm on God's name or God's people. In doing so we're not saying justice shouldn't be served; we're saying God does the serving. We're saying we trust that God is bigger than the enemies we have and that life is bigger (eternal even) than the length of this contract we're "stuck" in.
What do you think?
Great point. I'll have to think about that.
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