I’m not sure I agree with your observations on modern Christian music being racially segregated–at least intentionally so. There is a divide between southern gospel and black gospel music, as you point out (again, I’m not an expert, but that is my observation). I remember in college, my black roommates–who became good friends–turned me on to groups like the Walter Hawkins Family–and I still enjoy black gospel music today.

I can see you’re a person who knows his music! Feel free to send me further thoughts you have on music, Christian or not. (Did you see BB King when he was here? That would be a great concert!)

It is time we see ‘Commercial Contemporary Christian music’ for what it is.

There IS an authentic tradition of contemporary Christian, racially segregated, the way churches tend to be in the south… of black gospel music and white or country/southern gospel. Black tradition includes Mahalia Jackson, Thomas A Dorsey; white gospel – often quartet or groups like the Statlers and Gaithers, shape-note singers of the AL “Sacred Harp” tradition. Crossing over, Elvis was one of the first white guys to sing in a black gospel style.

There are some that carry on these traditions today, but the most in today’s Christian music industry are simply using the Christian label to market a brand of pop / rock music that has no musicologically intrinsic identity, other than the lyrics, and not even that sometimes. It is a marketing ploy and niche that sometimes offers those success that would be unable to compete in the larger overall commercial music world. To me, this music is nothing more than a marketing brand aimed at a certain demographic. Often, if I were hearing this stuff I wouldn’t know it was ‘christian music’ unless someone told me it was. It’s nothing more than ’sellin’ it with Jesus,’ and we know, the ‘Jesus brand’ sells.