Check out this article (not mine) on why the FIF reunion may be one of the most momentous moments in the history of Christian music. Here are some of the talking points:

– “The Christian music industry and Christian record labels kill good Christian bands.”: insinuating that since record labels are a business, bands will sell out for the sake of profit

– Bands don’t have staying power – lose relevance in 5 years. FIF overcame this on their own.

– “Ministry” marketing that results in bands sticking around for a while despite not really having appeal or prowress as musicians

– FIF is changing this: hitting the ground running due to what a lot of you said in the comments to my earlier “case study” – loyalty, humility, creativity, and being themselves without conforming to an agenda; what many fans are looking for in a Christian band.

Reese Roper has more to say about all this in an interview he recently completed with Relevant Magazine.

Finally, I wanted to formally respond to the “case study” post I wrote a couple of weeks ago. Several of you left comments, both on the Facebook page and on the blog. Someone wrote that success of a band like this should only be attributed to God. While God probably did have a role in how blessed this band is, by no means do I believe this was handed to them on a silver platter. Each of us are fearfully and wonderfully made, and given unique talents so that God may use us as He wills. We can carry out His work because of how he made us, it is a two way street. That’s my two cents on that (Not addressed to any of you who wrote on the blog, just related to something I saw on the link FIF reposted on Facebook).

Do I think this is a new phenomenon? Well yes and no. Certainly new enough that it bears reporting and discussion. While I agree that independent bands have unique challenges about breaking into the market as opposed to those backed by labels, the fact remains that the music industry is completely different today than 8 years ago when FIF was last together. So, I believe its unfair to suggest that their unusual success today is solely because of the fact that they were one time on a label. Often, its the success of an independent band that attracts attention of labels (i.e., Wolves at the Gate). Ohio bands This Love and Twenty One Pilots are beginning to see success as independent bands in a regional, or even national basis. That said, labels do boost the popularity of bands, at least in the short run. With the advent of interactive apps (i.e., the new Spotify app platform) I believe we are coming toward some happy medium between independence and the traditional label – maybe just some sort of consulting platform? In any case, this is something I am researching, and hope to use this blog to bring developments in this area in a concise format to the lay music enthusiast, amidst my normal reviews and such. Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: I am NOT claiming to be a music industry insider, just a recent grad with a business major that is trying to sort out his inner geek!