SIMPLY GOSPEL NEWSLETTER Editor: Lin. French Volume 6 September 2013 Simplygospel.tv Gospel Music-A Half Billion Dollar Industry Industry? The Gospel Music Association reported in 2009 that Gospel music was a half billion dollar industry. Billboard said that in 2010 Christian /Gospel music sales were much better than the broader music market sales. In 2008 the industry shifted and sales rose 38%. In 2011 gospel music sales grew 4.4 percent over the previous year, and during the first half of 2012 the sales remained steady. This was considered a positive sign for the $500 million dollar industry, because other genres of music sales were declining in the same time period. Thus, the gospel music industry is reported to be performing well in today’s economic market. It is believed by many gospel music insiders that the current troubled economy is the reason. Industry sales are a sharp contrast to its experience of the last decade. Prior to the robust surge of 2011- 2012, 2008-2009, the sales of gospel music were considered to be in a steep decline. It is believed by many gospel music insiders that the current troubled economy is the reason for increased sales of this genre of music. Anita Wadhwani of “The Tennessean Publication” quoted Bishop Albert Jamison Sr., chairman of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, injecting that, “With the economy doing so poorly, it is causing people to return to their faith.” Ms. Wadhwani’s article also stated that “during that same time period (the first six months of 2012) R & B sells fell nearly 9 percent, classical music sales declined by 18 percent, and Latin music sales dropped 20 percent. The only other genre of music besides gospel music that remained strong during that same period of time was country music (Nielsen SoundScan). Change In Consumer Buying and Listening Trends Help Boost Gospel Music Sales Moving from mostly all “AM” format to “FM” formats in major U. S. cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore and Washington, D.C has given gospel music increased exposure, leading to increased sales. Social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube provide easy access to gospel music to a younger demographic. Digital music, which gospel listeners have been slower to embrace (gospel is still 80 percent concert driven), is making inroads into a younger generation with eclectic taste. Increase in online music shoppers: Internet Stores includes itunes, Amazon, Real player, Soundcloud, and Spotify. Shift in the style of gospel music from less beat driven music, less repetition to more music lyric Centric/Praise& worship (Example: artist Vashun Mitchell), and Less spiritual and more motivational /self empowerment (Example: Marvin Sapp, Donald Lawrence, and James Fortune. The 2013 Update: The present state of the gospel music industry as of January 1, 2013, according to Nielsen Soundscan statistics, based on Billboard chart eligibility, the Christian/Gospel physical /electronic album sales were down 0.5% in 2012 from 10.7 to 10.6 million units sold. However, there was a significant increase in single track downloads with Christian /gospel up 8.8% from 20.3 to 22.1 million tracks.
Transcript
SIMPLY GOSPEL NEWSLETTER
Editor: Lin. French Volume 6 September 2013
Simplygospel.tv
Gospel Music-A Half Billion Dollar Industry
Industry?
The Gospel Music Association reported in 2009
that Gospel music was a half billion dollar industry.
Billboard said that in 2010 Christian /Gospel music
sales were much better than the broader music
market sales.
In 2008 the industry shifted and sales rose 38%.
In 2011 gospel music sales grew 4.4 percent over
the previous year, and during the first half of 2012
the sales remained steady. This was considered a
positive sign for the $500 million dollar industry,
because other genres of music sales were declining
in the same time period. Thus, the gospel music
industry is reported to be performing well in today’s
economic market.
It is believed by many gospel music insiders
that the current troubled economy is the
reason.
Industry sales are a sharp contrast to its experience
of the last decade. Prior to the robust surge of 2011-
2012, 2008-2009, the sales of gospel music were
considered to be in a steep decline.
It is believed by many gospel music insiders that
the current troubled economy is the reason for
increased sales of this genre of music. Anita
Wadhwani of “The Tennessean Publication” quoted
Bishop Albert Jamison Sr., chairman of the Gospel
Music Workshop of America, injecting that, “With
the economy doing so poorly, it is causing people to
return to their faith.” Ms. Wadhwani’s article also
stated that “during that same time period (the first
six months of 2012) R & B sells fell nearly 9
percent, classical music sales declined by 18
percent, and Latin music sales dropped 20 percent.
The only other genre of music besides gospel music
that remained strong during that same period of time
was country music (Nielsen SoundScan).
Change In Consumer Buying and Listening
Trends Help Boost Gospel Music Sales
Moving from mostly all “AM” format to “FM”
formats in major U. S. cities such as Atlanta, Chicago,
Baltimore and Washington, D.C has given gospel
music increased exposure, leading to increased sales.
Social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and
YouTube provide easy access to gospel music to a
younger demographic. Digital music, which gospel
listeners have been slower to embrace (gospel is still
80 percent concert driven), is making inroads into a
younger generation with eclectic taste.
Increase in online music shoppers: Internet
Stores includes itunes, Amazon, Real player,
Soundcloud, and Spotify.
Shift in the style of gospel music from less beat
driven music, less repetition to more music lyric
Centric/Praise& worship (Example: artist Vashun
Mitchell), and Less spiritual and more motivational
/self empowerment (Example: Marvin Sapp, Donald
Lawrence, and James Fortune.
The 2013 Update:
The present state of the gospel music industry as of
January 1, 2013, according to Nielsen Soundscan
statistics, based on Billboard chart eligibility, the
Christian/Gospel physical /electronic album sales were
down 0.5% in 2012 from 10.7 to 10.6 million units
sold. However, there was a significant increase in
single track downloads with Christian /gospel up 8.8%
Show Minister Deborah Williams The show provides an uplifting message at World of Wisdom Ministry. Learn about a God that provides unconditional love - strengthen your spiritual self by tuning into http://www.simplygospel.tv/
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