Publication date: 24 August 2007
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Over half a year overdue, YINKA AWOJOBI reflects on
the year 2006: an atypically quiet year that might have
sown the seeds of significant change in the industry...
the year 2006: an atypically quiet year that might have
sown the seeds of significant change in the industry...
This is the second in my review/preview articles on the UK gospel music scene.
If you're a regular UKG head you already know that I try and pack my industry review articles into the first quarter of the year.
...And yes, I know this is stretching the 'first quarter' thing a bit, but hey I've been writing (and annotating) this since January... :-)
If you're a regular UKG head you already know that I try and pack my industry review articles into the first quarter of the year.
...And yes, I know this is stretching the 'first quarter' thing a bit, but hey I've been writing (and annotating) this since January... :-)
STANDING OUT...
That was AGES ago...
That was AGES ago...
With this final review piece (following on from the stats-based, 'MOST
PLAYED 100% UK TRACKS OF 2006' feature I did, also back in January)
I thought I'd just highlight a few things that stuck out for me last year.
PLAYED 100% UK TRACKS OF 2006' feature I did, also back in January)
I thought I'd just highlight a few things that stuck out for me last year.
2006 - like 2005 before it - was very quiet in terms of the very obvious absence of the national, 'sweep-all-before-it' media operations we were treated to in 2004 (which I must admit is increasingly starting to look like a watershed moment in our recent history), when
RAYMOND & CO, SIANI and FOUR KORNERZ executed magnificent promotion campaigns.
2007 has only really now just started to kick in, with a few new release
campaigns bubbling just under the surface (by the time you read this
FOUR KORNERZ would have made their bid to get their single, GONNA MAKE IT, into the official UK charts via download, and their debut album,
SOULECTRIC, left, will be out), so we'll have to wait and see how
everything unfolds across the country...
Then again in a lot of respects - certainly in media and promotions terms - 2006 was a lifetime ago, before the power of DIY grassroots marketing (exemplified by online tools like MySpace, SoundClick and PureVolume), really took hold in the UK gospel marketplace and changed everything.
I'm guessing we'll probably start to see the fruit of all that development and seeding
RAYMOND & CO, SIANI and FOUR KORNERZ executed magnificent promotion campaigns.
2007 has only really now just started to kick in, with a few new release
campaigns bubbling just under the surface (by the time you read this
FOUR KORNERZ would have made their bid to get their single, GONNA MAKE IT, into the official UK charts via download, and their debut album,
SOULECTRIC, left, will be out), so we'll have to wait and see how
everything unfolds across the country...
Then again in a lot of respects - certainly in media and promotions terms - 2006 was a lifetime ago, before the power of DIY grassroots marketing (exemplified by online tools like MySpace, SoundClick and PureVolume), really took hold in the UK gospel marketplace and changed everything.
I'm guessing we'll probably start to see the fruit of all that development and seeding
activity in the next 8-12 months.
However the current situation (specifically in terms of the dearth of national campaigns in our industry) still does beg the question vis-à-vis the skill of our managers, promoters and talent in bringing new acts to NATIONAL attention.
I still don't think its too big an ask for the Black UK gospel music industry to be annually celebrating at least ONE nationwide breakthrough act PER GENRE, in view of the potential of the talent on offer.
Sure, it is arguably a somewhat fragmented marketplace. But its relatively compact size should also make it easier for independent acts to establish themselves fairly quickly (and solidly) off the back of some decent groundwork.
And - I know I moan about this every year - I certainly don't want to hear the same old quite tired arguments about our nonexistent infrastructure. UB1 MUSIC proved with
However the current situation (specifically in terms of the dearth of national campaigns in our industry) still does beg the question vis-à-vis the skill of our managers, promoters and talent in bringing new acts to NATIONAL attention.
I still don't think its too big an ask for the Black UK gospel music industry to be annually celebrating at least ONE nationwide breakthrough act PER GENRE, in view of the potential of the talent on offer.
Sure, it is arguably a somewhat fragmented marketplace. But its relatively compact size should also make it easier for independent acts to establish themselves fairly quickly (and solidly) off the back of some decent groundwork.
And - I know I moan about this every year - I certainly don't want to hear the same old quite tired arguments about our nonexistent infrastructure. UB1 MUSIC proved with
One of my (favourite?) rants...?
discovering and promoting FOUR KORNERZ that we certainly
don't lack the talent, imagination or media network (just to pick
three elements of the promotions and development machinery)
within that selfsame infrastructure.
With the UB1 skill in play, 4K went from promising young hopefuls
(like countless other quality acts around the country), to being part
of the top three contemporary gospel groups in the UK, now with an
increasing presence beyond the Black gospel market.
The initial launch process took no more than 12 months of smart planning on UB1's part, (less than that if you consider that April 11th 2004 was what UB1 called the official 'CLAP CLAP launch day'). By the end of that year pretty much everyone knew who they were...
I've absolutely no doubt the feat is entirely repeatable. Hopefully - and God willing - I'll be writing about other new act(s) achieving the same thing next year.
don't lack the talent, imagination or media network (just to pick
three elements of the promotions and development machinery)
within that selfsame infrastructure.
With the UB1 skill in play, 4K went from promising young hopefuls
(like countless other quality acts around the country), to being part
of the top three contemporary gospel groups in the UK, now with an
increasing presence beyond the Black gospel market.
The initial launch process took no more than 12 months of smart planning on UB1's part, (less than that if you consider that April 11th 2004 was what UB1 called the official 'CLAP CLAP launch day'). By the end of that year pretty much everyone knew who they were...
I've absolutely no doubt the feat is entirely repeatable. Hopefully - and God willing - I'll be writing about other new act(s) achieving the same thing next year.
More joining-up needed...?
And now - for some good news...
Fret not. Things aren't as grim as that picture suggests. Sure, there haven't been that many 'nationally huge' release events/artist(s)/music that immediately spring to mind,
but with highly effective marketing tools now accessible to virtually anyone with a bit of nous about them, we're living in the thick of a new promotions age.
The UK has pockets of great infrastructure throughout the country: you can market and put on good events at great venues in places like Birmingham, Manchester, Leicester, Nottingham and - obviously - London. What we probably need is a more 'joined-up' approach between all these regional clusters, but that's an issue for UKG Presents.com to explore sometime later...
Anyway, moving on: all around us, people are waking up to these bold new self-promotion
opportunities. Think ARCTIC MONKEYS, and even former SANCTIFIED CHOIR member SANDI THOM. And if these names don't ring any bells at all: as much as I'll admit to being
slightly disappointed, I'll hold my peace and help your research by suggesting you Google them.
And this isn't just about activity in the mainstream music sphere.
I'm sure TRYUMF will be happy to admit that the tremendously
but with highly effective marketing tools now accessible to virtually anyone with a bit of nous about them, we're living in the thick of a new promotions age.
The UK has pockets of great infrastructure throughout the country: you can market and put on good events at great venues in places like Birmingham, Manchester, Leicester, Nottingham and - obviously - London. What we probably need is a more 'joined-up' approach between all these regional clusters, but that's an issue for UKG Presents.com to explore sometime later...
Anyway, moving on: all around us, people are waking up to these bold new self-promotion
opportunities. Think ARCTIC MONKEYS, and even former SANCTIFIED CHOIR member SANDI THOM. And if these names don't ring any bells at all: as much as I'll admit to being
slightly disappointed, I'll hold my peace and help your research by suggesting you Google them.
And this isn't just about activity in the mainstream music sphere.
I'm sure TRYUMF will be happy to admit that the tremendously
successful GHETTO GLORY event (now in its second year) owed a lot
of its success to the powerful networking potential of MySpace.
And - casting my gaze Stateside - one of the industry's best recent
international success stories also came about via MySpace, as Leeds-
based SONS OF LIGHT inked a two-album deal with Universal's
AVISTA URBAN label. The US version of their debut album gets
released this year, and the UK version is available in UKG Shop.com right now. It comes highly recommended!
Yep, effective self-promotional tools abound, and they have never been as far-reaching in terms of potential impact as they are at the moment.
Again, hopefully during the course of 2007 and beyond, we'll see even more artists intelligently harness these opportunities, impacting the world outside the church, and presenting their music and the gospel in a contemporary and relevant way, instead of - yet
again - jumping on a bandwagon that the whole world and her dog seemed to have been
of its success to the powerful networking potential of MySpace.
And - casting my gaze Stateside - one of the industry's best recent
international success stories also came about via MySpace, as Leeds-
based SONS OF LIGHT inked a two-album deal with Universal's
AVISTA URBAN label. The US version of their debut album gets
released this year, and the UK version is available in UKG Shop.com right now. It comes highly recommended!
Yep, effective self-promotional tools abound, and they have never been as far-reaching in terms of potential impact as they are at the moment.
Again, hopefully during the course of 2007 and beyond, we'll see even more artists intelligently harness these opportunities, impacting the world outside the church, and presenting their music and the gospel in a contemporary and relevant way, instead of - yet
again - jumping on a bandwagon that the whole world and her dog seemed to have been
SONS OF LIGHT: significant
UK-to-international MySpace
success story...
UK-to-international MySpace
success story...
on for ages.
And the signs are very promising. With people like 1 QUEST, TRYUMF, FOUR KORNERZ, GREENJADE, KARL NOVA, JAHAZIEL, ADELAIDE MACKENZIE, COMMISSION, SAMMY G, FOUND SOULS FAM, RAYMOND & CO, NEW DIRECTION, L DUBZY, GUVNA B, TRIPLE O and
S.O.E garnering well over a quarter of a million MySpace profile views between them, it's very encouraging to see a new generation of very smart artist out there.
And finally, on to my actual piece (I've really got to sort out my long intros): you'll immediately notice that this year the article is different in that it takes on a 'list' format. There's good reason for that: this time around I'm only picking out a few personal highlights from last year.
The list is by no means definitive - there are more people grinding out there that I'm aware of, and I certainly don't claim exhaustive knowledge of the industry. To my mind, that's a good thing.
As usual, I welcome any feedback, suggestions and/or comments and (particularly) disagreements you may have. At the very least it will be interesting to see how my list
And the signs are very promising. With people like 1 QUEST, TRYUMF, FOUR KORNERZ, GREENJADE, KARL NOVA, JAHAZIEL, ADELAIDE MACKENZIE, COMMISSION, SAMMY G, FOUND SOULS FAM, RAYMOND & CO, NEW DIRECTION, L DUBZY, GUVNA B, TRIPLE O and
S.O.E garnering well over a quarter of a million MySpace profile views between them, it's very encouraging to see a new generation of very smart artist out there.
And finally, on to my actual piece (I've really got to sort out my long intros): you'll immediately notice that this year the article is different in that it takes on a 'list' format. There's good reason for that: this time around I'm only picking out a few personal highlights from last year.
The list is by no means definitive - there are more people grinding out there that I'm aware of, and I certainly don't claim exhaustive knowledge of the industry. To my mind, that's a good thing.
As usual, I welcome any feedback, suggestions and/or comments and (particularly) disagreements you may have. At the very least it will be interesting to see how my list
matches up against yours...
Yinka Awojobi
Content Development
UK Gospel.com
Yinka Awojobi
Content Development
UK Gospel.com
My UK Gospel Industry 2006 Highlight List
(presented in no particular order)
> OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE...
LZ7: Manchester-based LZ7's fusion of Hip-hop and Rock (plus a pin-
you-back-in-your-seat live show) saw them travel the length and
breadth of the country across genre, geographical and racial
boundaries, with a music style that - even now - still leaves many
not quite getting it.
SOULS REST - in a Liverpool scene where the general Urban music scene is both niche and
highly specialized, this Hip-hop group were comfortable enough in their Christian skin to partner with a URBEATZ, a mainstream collective, to get the gospel engaging with people at their own level...
29TH CHAPTER - 29 have been one of my favourite groups for quite a
while. Their racially-mixed line-up is consistently reflected in their live
gigs, a HUGELY difficult feat to achieve in the modern church (that's
what I think anyway. I'll be quite happy to be proven wrong...)
you-back-in-your-seat live show) saw them travel the length and
breadth of the country across genre, geographical and racial
boundaries, with a music style that - even now - still leaves many
not quite getting it.
SOULS REST - in a Liverpool scene where the general Urban music scene is both niche and
highly specialized, this Hip-hop group were comfortable enough in their Christian skin to partner with a URBEATZ, a mainstream collective, to get the gospel engaging with people at their own level...
29TH CHAPTER - 29 have been one of my favourite groups for quite a
while. Their racially-mixed line-up is consistently reflected in their live
gigs, a HUGELY difficult feat to achieve in the modern church (that's
what I think anyway. I'll be quite happy to be proven wrong...)
LZ7 - Hip-hop and rock fusion...
CROSS RHYTHMS should also be here, but see below...
CROSS RHYTHMS - for QUITTING the Sky satellite platform.
As many Christian organisations rush the apparent holy media grail of the moment - a channel on Sky - (I'm thinking mainly Black-owned organisations here) CROSS RHYTHMS RADIO have gone completely in the other direction and quit satellite. Find out why by following the link below.
My take? No use preaching to the converted...
(Now this can - and should - go to sooooo many people, and I'd really LOVE to hear from you if there's anyone you feel I've missed out..):
GREENJADE - The 'Jade do a lot of 'outside
church stuff', but this one is specifically for their
work on the anti-weapon campaign, the GUNZ
CROSS RHYTHMS - for QUITTING the Sky satellite platform.
As many Christian organisations rush the apparent holy media grail of the moment - a channel on Sky - (I'm thinking mainly Black-owned organisations here) CROSS RHYTHMS RADIO have gone completely in the other direction and quit satellite. Find out why by following the link below.
My take? No use preaching to the converted...
(Now this can - and should - go to sooooo many people, and I'd really LOVE to hear from you if there's anyone you feel I've missed out..):
GREENJADE - The 'Jade do a lot of 'outside
church stuff', but this one is specifically for their
work on the anti-weapon campaign, the GUNZ
> '...IT'S WEIRD, BUT IT MAKES SENSE...'
> ON THE STREET...
> ON THE STREET...
29th Chapter - and friends...
DOWN project.
Along with Christian charity XLP they went into
schools with a clever (and subsequently well-
received) anti-weapon multimedia show for
11-14 year olds in inner cities. By the end of 2006, they had seen just short of 10,000 kids. The whole thing has taken on more poignancy in light of weapon-related murders of 2007.
WITNESS - 2005 and 2006 were quiet for Birmingham's WITNESS on the gospel
scene. However, the scene's loss was the world's gain as an extensive tour saw
him take in trips around the world, a presidential invitation and appearance, and
a comprehensive, externally-funded school campaign resulting in an effective
propagation of the gospel...
OTR RECORDS: a quick poll round anyone who has been in this
industry for more than 5 minutes will probably reveal one of our
greatest shared frustrations is the lack of serious, targeted
Along with Christian charity XLP they went into
schools with a clever (and subsequently well-
received) anti-weapon multimedia show for
11-14 year olds in inner cities. By the end of 2006, they had seen just short of 10,000 kids. The whole thing has taken on more poignancy in light of weapon-related murders of 2007.
WITNESS - 2005 and 2006 were quiet for Birmingham's WITNESS on the gospel
scene. However, the scene's loss was the world's gain as an extensive tour saw
him take in trips around the world, a presidential invitation and appearance, and
a comprehensive, externally-funded school campaign resulting in an effective
propagation of the gospel...
OTR RECORDS: a quick poll round anyone who has been in this
industry for more than 5 minutes will probably reveal one of our
greatest shared frustrations is the lack of serious, targeted
> 'JUST DO IT'...
investment in Black UK talent.
OTR was set up by KINGSWAY MUSIC as a label supporting Christian acts that have a specific ministry outside the church. WATCHMAN, 29TH CHAPTER and GREENJADE are just three of the acts on their roster (which also includes LZ7 and BLUSH UK). These are acts that do a lot of schools and youth work, and OTR have seen fit to invest in that.
In an industry where wishful thinking (as well as private and public griping) frequently supercede direct action, OTR is a breath of 'put your money where your mouth is' fresh air...
OTR was set up by KINGSWAY MUSIC as a label supporting Christian acts that have a specific ministry outside the church. WATCHMAN, 29TH CHAPTER and GREENJADE are just three of the acts on their roster (which also includes LZ7 and BLUSH UK). These are acts that do a lot of schools and youth work, and OTR have seen fit to invest in that.
In an industry where wishful thinking (as well as private and public griping) frequently supercede direct action, OTR is a breath of 'put your money where your mouth is' fresh air...
> NEXT
