Why does so much Christian music tend to be soft?

[sadastronaut]

It seems like the more popular Christian music (Christian Contemporary, mostly) is very soft. It's not that up tempo and there is minimal guitar and instrumentation as one would see on a secular channel, and it seems to be that's what most Christian listeners prefer, and I wonder why that is.

Many stations that used to play Christian rock eventually become more of a Christian contemporary or praise station, such as WayFM or Air 1. There used to be a SiriusXM station that had Christian rock, but only the softer stations, such as The Message, remain. Bands like Sanctus Real have admitted to making their music softer to appeal to a larger audience.

So my question is why is this a phenomenon seen only in Christian music? I would think that if a lot of people like soft Christian music then a lot of people would like soft secular music, but I don't see that. If one was to listen to many of the secular pop stations, they'll typically have pervasive dance beats, more instrumentation, and just generally be more up tempo. Additionally, there's more genre fluidity with secular stations. A mainstream pop station will play a hip-hop song or a more aggressive rock song if they're extremely popular. Most Christian stations will rarely play a Skillet song because it doesn't fit into their format, even though they are one of the more popular artists of the decade. Some Christian stations will only play a Toby Mac song if it's an acoustic version without the electric guitar.

I would think that Christian music would somehow parallel the secular music industry, but that doesn't seem to be the case. The only match I can find for most Christian contemporary music is basically 70s soft pop love songs.

The only thing I can think of is, many were taught Christian rock (and by extension, anything too up tempo) was evil in the 70s and 80s. Is that belief somehow still persistent today? Or is there something else going on?

Keep in mind, there's nothing wrong with liking soft music (although it's not what I prefer), I just wonder why it's so popular among the Christian community when similar secular music isn't popular in the secular community.

 

[Landon Caeli]

My take is that it's mainly vocals, with only instrumental backdrops, because they're trying to link it with prayer... And without the heavy instrumentals, it becomes soft.

 

[Landon Caeli]

Another thing I notice is the rhymes. I find rhymes to be a cheapening effect about 90% of the time, because more precise language could be used without that restriction.

 

[atpollard]

Statistically, are most Christians older than the general population?

 

[David's Harp]

It seems like the more popular Christian music (Christian Contemporary, mostly) is very soft. It's not that up tempo and there is minimal guitar and instrumentation as one would see on a secular channel, and it seems to be that's what most Christian listeners prefer, and I wonder why that is.

Many stations that used to play Christian rock eventually become more of a Christian contemporary or praise station, such as WayFM or Air 1. There used to be a SiriusXM station that had Christian rock, but only the softer stations, such as The Message, remain. Bands like Sanctus Real have admitted to making their music softer to appeal to a larger audience.

So my question is why is this a phenomenon seen only in Christian music? I would think that if a lot of people like soft Christian music then a lot of people would like soft secular music, but I don't see that. If one was to listen to many of the secular pop stations, they'll typically have pervasive dance beats, more instrumentation, and just generally be more up tempo. Additionally, there's more genre fluidity with secular stations. A mainstream pop station will play a hip-hop song or a more aggressive rock song if they're extremely popular. Most Christian stations will rarely play a Skillet song because it doesn't fit into their format, even though they are one of the more popular artists of the decade. Some Christian stations will only play a Toby Mac song if it's an acoustic version without the electric guitar.

I would think that Christian music would somehow parallel the secular music industry, but that doesn't seem to be the case. The only match I can find for most Christian contemporary music is basically 70s soft pop love songs.

The only thing I can think of is, many were taught Christian rock (and by extension, anything too up tempo) was evil in the 70s and 80s. Is that belief somehow still persistent today? Or is there something else going on?

Keep in mind, there's nothing wrong with liking soft music (although it's not what I prefer), I just wonder why it's so popular among the Christian community when similar secular music isn't popular in the secular community.

Unfortunately I think a lot of it comes down to marketing and trying to make music that is more appealing to the widest variety of folks, just as you said.
It would seem obvious then, that the harder/rockier stuff just doesn't draw that big of a crowd.
I do actually think that a lot of CCM now does reflect the 'format' of the secular music industry. I inadvertently came across this fairly recent video that highlights just how much some CCM sounds like what you would hear on any kind of mainstream radio station.

 

[RDKirk]

It seems like the more popular Christian music (Christian Contemporary, mostly) is very soft. It's not that up tempo and there is minimal guitar and instrumentation as one would see on a secular channel, and it seems to be that's what most Christian listeners prefer, and I wonder why that is.

Many stations that used to play Christian rock eventually become more of a Christian contemporary or praise station, such as WayFM or Air 1. There used to be a SiriusXM station that had Christian rock, but only the softer stations, such as The Message, remain. Bands like Sanctus Real have admitted to making their music softer to appeal to a larger audience.

So my question is why is this a phenomenon seen only in Christian music? I would think that if a lot of people like soft Christian music then a lot of people would like soft secular music, but I don't see that. If one was to listen to many of the secular pop stations, they'll typically have pervasive dance beats, more instrumentation, and just generally be more up tempo. Additionally, there's more genre fluidity with secular stations. A mainstream pop station will play a hip-hop song or a more aggressive rock song if they're extremely popular. Most Christian stations will rarely play a Skillet song because it doesn't fit into their format, even though they are one of the more popular artists of the decade. Some Christian stations will only play a Toby Mac song if it's an acoustic version without the electric guitar.

I would think that Christian music would somehow parallel the secular music industry, but that doesn't seem to be the case. The only match I can find for most Christian contemporary music is basically 70s soft pop love songs.

The only thing I can think of is, many were taught Christian rock (and by extension, anything too up tempo) was evil in the 70s and 80s. Is that belief somehow still persistent today? Or is there something else going on?

Keep in mind, there's nothing wrong with liking soft music (although it's not what I prefer), I just wonder why it's so popular among the Christian community when similar secular music isn't popular in the secular community.

I think your survey must be very shallow if you haven't run across harder or edgier Christian contemporary music.

But the function of genre is something to discuss and consider. Pure music, the melody and tempo and rhythm, even devoid of lyrics, in itself has the power to affect listeners, emotionally and even physically. Some of these effects are not useful to the Holy Spirit's purpose, some are only very narrowly useful, and some are useful only if accompanied by strongly Spiritual lyrics (which may not necessarily be evangelical per se, but should be in accord with the Holy Spirit's evangelical message).

Some music is so malleable to the Holy Spirit's message that it's useful even if not intended by the author. An example of that is Gustav Holst's "Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity." Christians have adopted sections of that movement because of its grace and majesty, befitting an image of Christ the King. OTOH, Holst's other movements in the same symphony are far less useful...if useful at all.

My family spent a few years in a congregation of retired farmers in rural Maryland (all white...except for us). I discovered that the Holy Spirit could make good use of country music...which I'm still not a great fan of, but I definitely felt the Holy Spirit as those old folk sang their country gospels.

 

[FenderTL5]

CCM's target audience is women 25-54.

Some stations take the idea of a target audience even further and create a profile of one listener .
When I worked at way fm, and the christian hit satellite network, the target was Jennifer, age 34. She's married and attends church regularly. Her husband grew up in the church and considers himself a Christian. However, most Sundays he's at the golf course with work colleagues.
They have two children... Etc

 

[David's Harp]

CCM's target audience is women 25-54.

Some stations take the idea of a target audience even further and create a profile of one listener .
When I worked at way fm, and the christian hit satellite network, the target was Jennifer, age 34. She's married and attends church regularly. Her husband grew up in the church and considers himself a Christian. However, most Sundays he's at the golf course with work colleagues.
They have two children... Etc

Lucky Jennifer, eh?

 

[FenderTL5]

Lucky Jennifer, eh?

Well, everything that went on the air was intended for "her" and no one else. World series score from last night? Nope, the only sport she's interested in is her youngest's soccer team...

 

[David's Harp]

Well, everything that went on the air was intended for "her" and no one else. World series score from last night? Nope, the only sport she's interested in is her youngest's soccer team...

Wait a minute...are you saying that Jennifer was someone within the operation of the business?!

 

[FenderTL5]

Wait a minute...are you saying that Jennifer was someone within the operation of the business?!

Yes and no.
Jennifer was part of the operation but was a fictitious character representing the target audience based on market research.
Everything we did was supposed to appeal to that one fictional listener and no one else.

 

[sadastronaut]

I think your survey must be very shallow if you haven't run across harder or edgier Christian contemporary music.

Oh, I have. It just isn't played in KXOJ or The Message.

 

[sadastronaut]

Jennifer was part of the operation but was a fictitious character representing the target audience based on market research.

The industry I'm in - consumer electronics -does something similar.

 

[RDKirk]

Oh, I have. It just isn't played in KXOJ or The Message.

I didn't realize we were discussing only a particular two stations.

 

[Jamdoc]

Christian music focuses on giving a clear praise/gospel message, which means the lyrics take precedence over the music, and they want clear understood vocals.

as a result, most of it sounds like the soundtrack to a coma.

I pay more attention to music itself than lyrics, as a result.. I find Christian music almost entirely lacking. I'd like to be proven wrong, but.. nothing has popped up that does so.

 

[Sophrosyne]

Oh, I have. It just isn't played in KXOJ or The Message.

KXOJ has always leaned heavily towards CCM. I've collected music on CD that is edgier and some more rock orientated it was more popular around 2005-10. I think the audience has aged and sadly some of the artists have either retired or fallen away that were more rock orientated.

 

[RDKirk]

Christian music focuses on giving a clear praise/gospel message, which means the lyrics take precedence over the music, and they want clear understood vocals.

as a result, most of it sounds like the soundtrack to a coma.

I pay more attention to music itself than lyrics, as a result.. I find Christian music almost entirely lacking. I'd like to be proven wrong, but.. nothing has popped up that does so.

If you acknowledge that the lyrics take precedence over the music, then if you're not getting anything from the lyrics, you're doing it wrong.

 

[RDKirk]

KXOJ has always leaned heavily towards CCM.

I haven't listened to KXOJ in maybe thirty years. Do they still carry the tagline of the XOJ meaning "Excited over Jesus?"

 

[Landon Caeli]

If you acknowledge that the lyrics take precedence over the music, then if you're not getting anything from the lyrics, you're doing it wrong.

Sometimes, it just seems too "happy", or "cultural" or something... I tend to need something a little darker or mysterious in my life.

I would actually prefer straight Chant on some days.

 

[Sophrosyne]

I haven't listened to KXOJ in maybe thirty years. Do they still carry the tagline of the XOJ meaning "Excited over Jesus?"

Nope... haven't heard that for a long time. The trend lately is pseudo country/christian music and more worship like music. They stream over the internet from their own site and I think have an app and iHeart radio etc. Their website says they have been broadcasting for 45 years now.