Petra: Recording 21st album this year?

[Shell]

Thank you MJ.

[Michael]

BTW, I wanted to mention something, in case it doesn't come across clearly: my "grow up" advice was for the hypothetical petty radio programmer, not for you, BillDD.

Just didn't want to start an unneccessary flame war... I've been in the middle of a couple lately and I prefer to avoid them if possible!

[Shell]

Flame wars? Here? Hahahahahaha.

Well, thank you for telling whoever you were talking to they needed to grow up.

[Michael]

How users of the Zone seem to see me:

How I really am: (or often or )

[LexingtonPethead]

Michael, I always thought the term "flamer" meant something else...

Hehehe... it is hard to communicate nuances with written text. Although those smileys are hilarious, and they do help!

[ctwomn]

I know I don't post a lot...but I thought I would chime in here. Michael really is a very honest person and sometimes that comes across rather harsh in text. If you could talk to him you would know exactly what he is saying! Anything that sounds a little harsh usually is just him sharing his true beliefs. He has no agendas....he is just himself.....and that is what i like about him. I on the other hand am someone who sometimes tries to escape hurting others and end up only hurting myself. Opposites attact!

[BillDD]

Here's my problem Mike, you just can't stop making excuses. To you, it's all about how everyone is out to get Petra, and how they are victims. What did you expect from the radio stations? "Oh sure we'll play petra for you, even thou we know you will never hear it, and are just trying generate fake buzz." I agree that stations have an obligation to their LISTENERS, not to someone making long distance phone calls to a station they don't get.

If there was a great interest in petra being played on the radio, they would play them, there just isn't. If people don't want to hear petra, how is that a stations fault?

[Petrapraise]

Here's my problem Mike, you just can't stop making excuses. To you, it's all about how everyone is out to get Petra, and how they are victims. What did you expect from the radio stations? "Oh sure we'll play petra for you, even thou we know you will never hear it, and are just trying generate fake buzz." I agree that stations have an obligation to their LISTENERS, not to someone making long distance phone calls to a station they don't get.

If there was a great interest in petra being played on the radio, they would play them, there just isn't. If people don't want to hear petra, how is that a stations fault?

Sounds like someones on a soapbox to me....

I just want to know if you like Petra.

[BigD]

Trust me on this one PetraPraise, he isn't a Petra fan.

As for the subject matter:

Do not feed the troll.

You know where to find me if you want to discuss things reasonably, Profftripp.

[Kirkman]

I agree that stations have an obligation to their LISTENERS, not to someone making long distance phone calls to a station they don't get.

I would agree with that, too.

If there was a great interest in petra being played on the radio, they would play them, there just isn't. If people don't want to hear petra, how is that a stations fault?

See, this is what really gets me... How can there be a great interest in Petra being played on the radio if nobody knows they have a new album or has heard any of the songs?

It's the chicken-and-the-egg dilemma. I think people *would* want to hear Petra if they only knew they were making new music.

If these AC stations would get off their high horse about not playing music made by "old people" and throw Petra into the low rotation, I think they would see a huge response. (this problem is not unique to Petra, though they've been at the wrong end of it for more years than most)

--Josh

[ctwomn]

It totally is a catch 22 situation. Whenever I have told people (many) that Petra has a new album they are like...wow really...I did not know they were still recording...I never hear them on the radio. Then when they hear the new stuff they are stunned! I think that radio has really been falling down on the job and not being open to ALL the fans of christian radio! Yes lots of people enjoy Michael W and Amy...but a lot of those fans also enjoy Petra as well and it really is not fair to those fans that already listen to christain radio. I am a 27 year old female, mom who grew up on Petra! All my gal friends who are my age did too and they are a target audience in most CHR markets....so why not play Petra for them! Yeah most women don't run around saying..."I am hard rock fan"...but they will admit they are still Petra fans! So anyways...yes this discussion is getting old...but it still is a subject that needs some closure too. I wish that someone could really pinpoint the true reason for this problem...but it looks like the true answer may still take some time to be revealed!!!

[Shell]

Don't get me started on chick rockers. You're only 27 Cat? How disgusting, LOL. I have days I wish I was 30 or younger again.

Yep, it's pretty sad Petra doesn't get more support from radio.

[LexingtonPethead]

Not that this will make any difference, but here's what I think...

First, there has been a big influx of new talent in the 18 - 25 age bracket. It's no longer Sandi Patti Inspirational for the sanctified few. A lot of what even the AC stations are playing sounds much more mainstream than it did 20 years ago.. even 15 years ago. The CCM industry, regardless of format, is looking for new talent in that age bracket. Petra simply is not in the age bracket that most music directors are looking for, and right now, there is a lot of playlist competition.

And, there are CCM mainstays who have had success in the secular market, like AG & MWS. They embody what most people think of when they think of CCM. They too are becoming "old timers" like many others who have come and gone, but CCM will forever embrace them for as long as they record music.

Getting back to the new talent 18 - 25 age bracket. The magic words continue to be *new talent*... CCM has proven there is profit to be made, and the big recording companies want a bigger piece of the pie. That's why you see bands in the CHR and rock formats, who are not overtly Christian, like Lifehouse, 12-Stones, etc... making their appearances on many Christian radio playlists. They are young, have the modern rock sound, and don't step on anyone's toes with their lyrics. There are a few, like Jeremy Camp and Kutless, who stay true to form with gospel-oriented lyrics, but they are becoming less prevailant.

Ok... now here's where I will likely dig myelf into a hole. In order for Petra to be "marketable" in a young band's world, their image needs to be more appealing to younger people. As much as I love these guys, seeing a chubby John Schlitt and a graying Bob Hartman is not going to get them added to playlists with radio stations who are used to seeing groups like Seven Places. Petra simply does not look like what the younger masses will want to hear. So they're not getting played. Sadly, it's because marketing trumps music.

I think BillDD has been totally way off the mark. The truth is, people who have listened to CCM for a while know who Petra is. Young adults who listen to the new bands know who Petra is because their parents listened to Petra. Young adults want to listen to groups with whom they are peers, groups THEY identify with, not whom their PARENTS identify with. I think radio stations understand this, and that's why Christian rock and CHR stations don't play Petra. Petra still has that "older crowd" look. And as long as they do, Christian radio stations that target rock-oriented, younger audiences are not likely to add Petra to their playlists anytime soon.

As far as Petra being played on AC stations... let's not kid ourselves here... Jekyll & Hyde really does not have any AC material. "Til Everything I Do" is not an AC release. It's a rock release. Sure, it's an awesome song. But does anyone really think K-Love would play it even if it was recorded by Third Day? If Petra wants to recapture airplay on AC stations like they did with No Doubt, then they need to follow the same recipe as "No Doubt" and "Sincerely Yours" for at least a couple of songs. Then, we might get some airplay.

And lastly, I agree with Josh... people listen to and buy what radio stations decide to play. In essence, radio stations dictate what becomes popular and what doesn't. And sometimes they make mistakes, either by playing something that people really don't like, or by dissing something that people really would like if they were given the chance to hear it.

[Shell]

You seem to have a good understanding of how that works David.

And I'll withhold commenting on the remarks about John and Bob.... Just kidding. You do make some valid points.

The business world stinks.

[LexingtonPethead]

Thanks, Shell. I have my moments. I think the business world stinks too. It's a shame that it is the way it is. And once again, I am SICK of not hearing Petra on the radio!!!