Describes the current Christian rock music festivals, including their history, the famous musicians that have played there, and how to enjoy the festivals.

A COMPLETE, PRACTICAL GUIDE TO DEVELOPING AND PRESENTING YOUR MUSIC MINISTRYDeveloping a career in Christian music can be a daunting task. What are the most important aspects? Where do you focus your energy and efforts? You attend industry showcases and seminars and learn that you should develop your ministry and key relationships within the industry, you should develop your press kit and stage presentation, and you should learn as much as possible about the Christian music industry, but how?The Artist?s Guide To Christian Music answers your most basic question; ?How do I develop and grow my music ministry?? This book answers that question in specific detail and provides a step-by-step guideline for you to follow. It is a road map for the development, growth and refinement of your music ministry.The Artist?s Guide To Christian Music is loaded with nothing but essential information to grow your ministry and enhance your career. It will ensure your best opportunity to succeed in this highly competitive industry. This informative guide will show you in clear, logical steps how to:? Develop and fund your music ministry? Troubleshoot your career and make your music better? Develop a marketing plan & effective press kit? Effectively promote yourself and your music? Develop a stage presence and connect with your audience? Use MP3 & the Internet to develop your personal distribution channel? Submit your music and whereThis book is the resource for every independent Christian music artist. The Artist?s Guide To Christian Music gives you the tools and information necessary to pursue the ministry God has called you into. ?Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see? (Hebrews 11:1).

Apostles of Rock is the first objective, comprehensive examination of the contemporary Christian music phenomenon. Some see CCM performers as ministers or musical missionaries, while others define them as entertainers or artists. This popular musical movement clearly evokes a variety of responses concerning the relationship between Christ and culture. The resulting tensions have splintered the genre and given rise to misunderstanding, conflict, and an obsessive focus on self-examination. As Christian stars Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, DC Talk, and Sixpence None the Richer climb the mainstream charts, Jay Howard and John Streck talk about CCM as an important movement and show how this musical genre relates to a larger popular culture. They map the world of CCM by bringing together the perspectives of the people who perform, study, market, and listen to this music. By examining CCM lyrics, interviews, performances, web sites, and chat rooms, Howard and Streck uncover the religious and aesthetic tensions within the CCM community. Ultimately, the conflict centered around Christian music reflects the modern religious community's understanding of evangelicalism and the community's complex relationship with American popular culture.

Body Piercing Saved My Life is the first in-depth journalistic investigation into a subculture so large that it's erroneous to even call it a subculture: Christian rock. Christian rock culture is booming, not only with bands but with extreme teen Bibles, skateboarding ministries, Christian tattoo parlors, paintball parks, coffeehouses, and nightclubs,encouraging kids to form their own communities apart from the mainstream. Profiling such successful Christian rock bands as P.O.D., Switchfoot, Creed, Evanescence, and Sixpence None the Richer, as well as the phenomenally successful Seattle Christian record label Tooth & Nail, enormous Christian rock festivals, and more, Spin journalist Andrew Beaujon lifts the veil on a thriving scene that operates beneath the secular world's radar. Revealing, sympathetic, and groundbreaking, Body Piercing Saved My Life (named for a popular Christian rock T-shirt depicting Christ's wounds) is a fascinating look into the hearts and minds of an enormous, and growing, youth culture.

I swear -- No more LSD for me (I met the man from Galilee) -- Christian rock lifers #1: Doug Van Pelt -- More than just a song -- The baffled king composing hallelujah -- Christian rock lifers #2 : Steve Taylor -- Clarity -- Drinking blood out of skulls, living high in the kingdom of death, and a new way to be Christian -- Christian rock lifers #3 : Jay Swartzendruber -- Salt and Life, Inc. -- If we are the body -- Christian rock lifers #4 : Bill Hearn -- Black and white in a grey world -- Christian rock lifers #5 : Mark Salomon -- To be mad for my king -- Just like heaven.

An insider's look at the birth, evolution and growing popularity of Christian rock music. Unprecendented sales for music groups such as DC Talk and the Supertones, as well as the recent successes of crossover artists such as Jars of Clay, MxPx and Sixpence none the Richer have inspired interest and further investigation in this very underrated area of Rock.

Chronicling the amazing rise of this genre from its gospel roots to today's diverse musical sound, this guide offers a complete capsule encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian artists as well as an introduction to the music form. 40 illustrations.