Comments on: AGM and the NQC malaise http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/ Criticism and commentary on southern gospel music Mon, 21 May 2012 21:13:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: fareed http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-6584 fareed Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:58:00 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-6584 This is an excellent one.Its true that "The <a href="http://www.guitarcontrol.com/" rel="nofollow"> musicals </a> performance ability ranged from extremely poor to excellent during the showcase offering" This is an excellent one.Its true that “The
musicals performance ability ranged from extremely poor to excellent during the showcase offering”

]]> By: Grigs http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-209 Grigs Fri, 08 Sep 2006 21:07:03 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-209 I'm with you, Chuck. I’m with you, Chuck.

]]> By: Chuck Peters http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-196 Chuck Peters Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:26:44 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-196 I like the carnival atmosphere at NQC.. It's a circus.. I like the circus. Quit trying to fix SG.. It is what it is. ..and some of us like it. Many of us are still proud to say we like it. I would be suprised if this CMP/AGM venture is barely visible in a year. I like the carnival atmosphere at NQC.. It’s a circus.. I like the circus. Quit trying to fix SG.. It is what it is. ..and some of us like it. Many of us are still proud to say we like it. I would be suprised if this CMP/AGM venture is barely visible in a year.

]]> By: CVH http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-195 CVH Thu, 07 Sep 2006 22:44:10 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-195 For over thirty years I've enjoyed (for the most part), participated in and at times cringed over southern gospel music. The AGM endeavor sounds like just another back-room attempt to gain credibility and create a 'Good Housekeeping' type seal of approval for its 'certified artists'. I doubt it will succeed, not that I don't think there shouldn't be some kind of winnowing process to separate the good from the marginal and the truly bad. But that will only come when fans and supporters learn to differentiate between good art and bad art; want the odds on that happening? As the old adage goes, 'there's no accounting for taste'. Just look at the proliferation of relatively inexpensive electronic musical equipment for both playing and recording. Now any idiot can produce a CD, host a website and fancy themselves an 'artist'. The problem isn't limited to the SG genre, but it's certainly prevalent there. Truly there are some outstanding writers, performers, producers and musicians in the field; they naturally rise to the top. And there will always be mid-level and low-end artists. To me that's a given. You can't stop people from creating bad art (especially if they don't realize they are or have the good sense to stop). Nor can you stop people from listening to it and buying it. That's why a concept like AGM, while it may sound like it's designed to address real issues, is laughable. What group is going to consider themselves qualified to render artistic and/or spiritual judgement on anyone in the business? What statistical norm are they going to use to do a comparative analysis of a group's music? What is going to be the objective standard for stage performance measurement? And spirituality? Are they going to question family members? Plant spybots on their computers to track what websites they visit? Are tongues ok or not? "What? In 1998 you sent a donation to Robert Schuller in a moment of non-fundamentalist clarity? Sorry, you're not going to get the stamp...or maybe you will". It's preposterous. Others have already posted excellent comments on the subject. All I would add is that credibility is earned, not bestowed. Spirituality is not something that can be measured as succinctly as one can measure musical talent. A group is not like a cleaning product from Proctor & Gamble; and a seal of approval has only as much worth as those awarding it. In this case, for all these reasons and others, that worth is questionable at best. SG is comprised, as are some other genres of music, of a ragtag assortment of the good, the bad and the ugly. And in that, it is a reflection of all of us. Rather than embrace that, AGM is attempting to create an aura of respectability where it may not be warranted or deserved. For over thirty years I’ve enjoyed (for the most part), participated in and at times cringed over southern gospel music. The AGM endeavor sounds like just another back-room attempt to gain credibility and create a ‘Good Housekeeping’ type seal of approval for its ‘certified artists’. I doubt it will succeed, not that I don’t think there shouldn’t be some kind of winnowing process to separate the good from the marginal and the truly bad. But that will only come when fans and supporters learn to differentiate between good art and bad art; want the odds on that happening?

As the old adage goes, ‘there’s no accounting for taste’. Just look at the proliferation of relatively inexpensive electronic musical equipment for both playing and recording. Now any idiot can produce a CD, host a website and fancy themselves an ‘artist’. The problem isn’t limited to the SG genre, but it’s certainly prevalent there.

Truly there are some outstanding writers, performers, producers and musicians in the field; they naturally rise to the top. And there will always be mid-level and low-end artists. To me that’s a given. You can’t stop people from creating bad art (especially if they don’t realize they are or have the good sense to stop). Nor can you stop people from listening to it and buying it.

That’s why a concept like AGM, while it may sound like it’s designed to address real issues, is laughable. What group is going to consider themselves qualified to render artistic and/or spiritual judgement on anyone in the business? What statistical norm are they going to use to do a comparative analysis of a group’s music? What is going to be the objective standard for stage performance measurement? And spirituality? Are they going to question family members? Plant spybots on their computers to track what websites they visit? Are tongues ok or not? “What? In 1998 you sent a donation to Robert Schuller in a moment of non-fundamentalist clarity? Sorry, you’re not going to get the stamp…or maybe you will”. It’s preposterous.

Others have already posted excellent comments on the subject. All I would add is that credibility is earned, not bestowed. Spirituality is not something that can be measured as succinctly as one can measure musical talent. A group is not like a cleaning product from Proctor & Gamble; and a seal of approval has only as much worth as those awarding it. In this case, for all these reasons and others, that worth is questionable at best.

SG is comprised, as are some other genres of music, of a ragtag assortment of the good, the bad and the ugly. And in that, it is a reflection of all of us. Rather than embrace that, AGM is attempting to create an aura of respectability where it may not be warranted or deserved.

]]> By: Tara http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-194 Tara Thu, 07 Sep 2006 22:36:48 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-194 This whole set-up reminds me of stuff I got in the mail when i graduated from high school and stuff in college. The "you've been selected as the best of the best of america's high school students, so buy this book with your name in it." And people fall for it and send money in because they think they are special, but they really aren't. You can now put the AGM "Seal of Approval" on your albums etc....come on, give me a break. This whole set-up reminds me of stuff I got in the mail when i graduated from high school and stuff in college. The “you’ve been selected as the best of the best of america’s high school students, so buy this book with your name in it.” And people fall for it and send money in because they think they are special, but they really aren’t. You can now put the AGM “Seal of Approval” on your albums etc….come on, give me a break.

]]> By: Tim G http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-192 Tim G Thu, 07 Sep 2006 15:08:31 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-192 You mean Traci Stuffle and Tony Peace are attractive, and Charlotte Ritchie and Sherri Easter are not? Wow! Wonder what bar those reviewers stumbled out of. You mean Traci Stuffle and Tony Peace are attractive, and Charlotte Ritchie and Sherri Easter are not? Wow! Wonder what bar those reviewers stumbled out of.

]]> By: judi http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-190 judi Thu, 07 Sep 2006 04:52:45 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-190 In addition to the flaws that you and others have pointed out, it strikes me that the anonymous author (or summarizer) of this research report is not all that credible if he/she is going to use words like "tambour" for "timbre." Wouldn't a knowledgeable researcher know how to spell a musical term if critiquing the musical style? There's also a weird sociological cast to the whole thing. And, forgive my feminism but the misogynistic condescension of this observation: "for the most part the males were attractive and the women were not" leaves me speechless. In addition to the flaws that you and others have pointed out, it strikes me that the anonymous author (or summarizer) of this research report is not all that credible if he/she is going to use words like “tambour” for “timbre.” Wouldn’t a knowledgeable researcher know how to spell a musical term if critiquing the musical style? There’s also a weird sociological cast to the whole thing. And, forgive my feminism but the misogynistic condescension of this observation: “for the most part the males were attractive and the women were not” leaves me speechless.

]]> By: Trent http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-189 Trent Thu, 07 Sep 2006 02:38:06 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-189 In many ways, this whole AGM concept mirrors a college fraternity ("AGM" even sounds like a fraternity name). People in college fraternities hang out together, run in the same circles of friends, exclude others from their activities because others are not in the "club", and just generally get to be snobs all the way around. It's so elitist and condescending to those artists who are just as talented and anointed as they are who will not be invited or counted worthy of being in the club. There almost certainly will be a feeling of one-upmanship between one artist or group who is in the club and the artist or group who wants to be in the club but cannot get in for whatever reason.. Also, let's welcome back the '50s & '60s competitive spirit between groups and the political jockeying that many groups will employ to get into the club. In many ways, this whole AGM concept mirrors a college fraternity (”AGM” even sounds like a fraternity name). People in college fraternities hang out together, run in the same circles of friends, exclude others from their activities because others are not in the “club”, and just generally get to be snobs all the way around. It’s so elitist and condescending to those artists who are just as talented and anointed as they are who will not be invited or counted worthy of being in the club. There almost certainly will be a feeling of one-upmanship between one artist or group who is in the club and the artist or group who wants to be in the club but cannot get in for whatever reason.. Also, let’s welcome back the ’50s & ’60s competitive spirit between groups and the political jockeying that many groups will employ to get into the club.

]]> By: Greg Crowe http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-188 Greg Crowe Wed, 06 Sep 2006 19:35:50 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-188 NQC/AGM will not work because the buddy system willcome into play.They will enlist mediocre talent because they are attached to the board or invest and leave out others who would help further the quality of the organization. Any way you look at it, mainstream churches nor concert venues will except some of the SG artist.No matter how professional are qualified they might be. NQC is searching and this will not be the answer..How many marginal acts does Gaither carry? NQC/AGM will not work because the buddy system willcome into play.They will enlist mediocre talent because they are attached to the board or invest and leave out others who would help further the quality of the organization.
Any way you look at it, mainstream churches nor concert venues will except some of the SG artist.No matter how professional are qualified they might be.
NQC is searching and this will not be the answer..How many marginal acts does Gaither carry?

]]> By: SM http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-187 SM Wed, 06 Sep 2006 17:20:35 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2006/09/06/agm-and-the-nqc-malaise/#comment-187 Don't let the aliens read this...they'll put you in charge of their colonies (unless, of course, your dream is ruling an alien colony). Masterfully said, my friend. Don’t let the aliens read this…they’ll put you in charge of their colonies (unless, of course, your dream is ruling an alien colony). Masterfully said, my friend.

]]>