Dear Christian Music Industry,

It seems like I’ve been away from you for a while now.  It’s not really the case, but at least I haven’t been traveling with you for about 6 months now.  Do you miss me?  I didn’t think so.  Not that I expect for you to be paying attention, but if you’re wondering I have been traveling and working on the “Country” side of things.  You know them don’t you?  I’ve heard that you and them go way back.  Well, if you haven’t talked to them in a while, I’ll let you know.  They are doing good.  Selling records, touring, same old stuff that you would expect, but you know what’s funny?  I heard a conversation the other day that made me think of you, and I remembered I hadn’t written in a long time.

The conversation I overheard was a pretty simple one but it reminded me of conversations we have had.  Conversations about budget.  I know, I know, you’re not one to really want to bring that up are you?  Here’s the problem, Christian Music Industry, we have to talk about it.  Everyone does.  Even your more affluent cousin Country Music Industry.

The conversation went something like this, and forgive me if I’m paraphrasing.  I wasn’t really listening because there was a new episode of Cake Boss on TLC playing on the bus.

One guy:  ”Man, you know what’s cool about touring in the Pop world is the budgets are so much better that it frees you up to do different things.”

Other guy:  ”You’re not kidding.  Country budgets aren’t even close to Pop budgets.”

I told you I missed most of it, but you get the idea.  Anyway, this got me thinking.  We’ve had this same conversation about the Country Music Industry haven’t we?  I can hear it now.  ”Man, Christian budgets aren’t even close to Country budgets.”  Blah Blah.  Yep, the grass is always greener right?  I wonder who the “Pop” guys are wishing they were.

So here’s my deal.  It’s simple.  We’re all the same.  We’re all wishing we had just a little more to spend on different things we wanted to do.  Whether it’s touring, production, web, promotion, there’s never going to be enough.  I promise.  And there’s always going to be more buy then there is to spend.  And here’s where we have to adjust our thinking Christian Music Industry.  It doesn’t matter what you don’t have.  What matters is what you’re doing with what you do have.  Make it work.  And I’m saying this to your cousin Country Music Industry too.  There’s no reason to short sell excellence.  Don’t do something crappy because you don’t have the budget.  Do it right the first time and make it work for you.  If its important, it’s not a question of ‘can we afford it’, it’s a question of ‘how can we afford it’.  All it takes is a little work and initiative.  A little creative energy.  After all, it’s a job you know.

I know this letter is a little different than the others I have written you but I felt like it was something that needed to be said.  Stop crying about money and make it work.  You’re not the only ones out there affected by this jacked up economy, and there’s still a billion people out there willing to spend ten bucks on a record.  We just need to go at things a little differently and figure out what it is that makes us succeed.

Your Friend,
Brody

Read Dear Christian Music Industry Parts 1-10
Read But It’s Still Not Happening Parts 1-4