In the first of a new series we look at different aspects of the Christian music industry.



Continued from page 4

Even Australian motorbike evangelist John Smith another regular who will be contributing a cutting edge to each programme, will be hanging his spiritual thoughts around the themes he finds revealed in the lyrics of Top 50 pop songs.

So how will this fast-moving mixture of pop culture and serious editorialising reach the great radio public? Says Chris "We are shortly to begin recording the first batch of 'Cross Rhythms' programmes and these will then be offered to every radio station we identify as a potential taker. I think when programme controllers hear the completed programmes, a number of stations will take the series on".

Chris Cole is no newcomer to radio, his credentials include work in two European stations in Belguim. Radio
Capitale and Brussells Internationale while for the last eight years he has presented a weekly Christian programme for IBA station Plymouth Sound.

As for as production quality Chris promises "the quality will be excellent" - programmes being mastered onto DAT (digital audio tape) in state-of-the-art studios in the Midlands and Plymouth. "Our forte", Chris says "has been in presenting a good F.M. programme that contains biblical truth - we're not going to be using any deejay jargon nor Language Of Zion. Instead we'll be talking sensibly about issues that need to be addressed."

As for us marketing the Idea goes, Chris has just been informed by Plymouth Sound Radio that he can run advertisements for Cross Rhythms magazine on their station - a "breakthrough" as he sees it. The whole concept is to use existing resources available in radio - especially given the current restrictions on religious broadcasting in Britain.

"I'm not saying that Christian Radio is not a good idea" says Chris, "We've just got to be careful not to throw away a lot of resources that are established and already available to us." To put it bluntly there will be little or no financial return for Christians involved in Christian broadcasting."

1991 may yet be the year that sees Christian Broadcasting 'boldly going' where it should have gone years ago. Stay tuned. CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.