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Sunday Edition


03
Oct
2008
Listen To The Music


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Something truly amazing happened to me at this year’s National Quartet Convention. It was so truly amazing that it changed the way I look at everything.

You might think it was when the Booth Brothers were up on stage garnering their various awards at the Singing News Awards presentation and hearing Michael finally admitting in front of all those people that I was right about the song “Look For Me At Jesus Feet.” Way to go Michael! Yes that was great, but it’s not the really amazing thing that happened to me.

You might think it was the honor of being the producer of their recording of “Look For Me At Jesus Feet” which won Song of the Year.

You might think it was the gratification of a job well done when the album I produced for them, “Carry On” won Album of the Year. I’d be lying if I said these moments were not highlights of my week. I was honored and humbled, and grateful to the Booth Brothers for asking me to accompany them in accepting these awards and for giving me so much credit. They are wonderful friends and a great addition to the world of Gospel Music. It’s great to be associated with their career in any way. But winning those awards with them was not the really amazing thing that happened to me.

You might think it was meeting and hearing so many of you say that you agree with the things I say in this column every month, or the gratification I received in hearing so MANY of you tell me to my face that you are cheering me on as I speak the truth, as I see it, about SGM. And to be honest, I have no intention of relaxing my criticism of those who are hurting our industry. I will continue to speak the truth about the fact:

That we have companies that will lie to our artists

That radio promotion for newbies is mostly a scam

That we have many artists that know little or nothing about what they are doing

That SG radio stations are mostly fragmented from each other

That our industry has no true leadership

That if we fixed these things we would be further ahead

Yes it was great to discover that so many of you agree with what I say, and don’t want me to stop saying it. But that’s not the amazing thing that happened to me.

I’M AMAZED, ONCE AGAIN, AT THE MUSIC

The really amazing thing that happened to me as I sat there was the music. I was reminded of the real truth about Southern Gospel Music – it’s amazing. Sure, I saw and heard some flaws, but when all is said and done it’s the music and its harmonies and the message of the songs combining to reach people that is truly a thing of beauty. To me, there is nothing else like it. As I sat there listening to our artists, I had the same feeling I got the very first time I heard the Couriers, The Weatherfords, and the Blackwood Brothers on that day in 1962 when I decided to make Gospel Music my life’s call. And as I looked around at the faces of the people in the audience I could see my heart reflected in their faces.

When all is said and done, and all the highs and lows of the “behind the scenes” comings and goings of SGM have been discussed, and all the critics have had their say – when you listen to the music none of it really matters in that moment. It’s the greatest music in the world.

I left NQC this year even more determined to keep the music playing.
I have a renewed commitment to keep shining the light of truth on those areas of SGM that I feel must be improved, but I also have a deeper love for my calling of helping artists, especially newbies.

I saw once again that what I am doing in and for SGM and the artists I work with has, at its core, my sincere desire to help keep this music playing.

For example, here are specific problems I solve for the artists I work with:

What to do next
Finding bookings and keeping your date book full
Managing your finances
Moving up to another level
Marketing your group the correct way (getting your name out there)
The A to Z of recording, including helping you find songs

I do this for all my artists.

The result is that the artists I work with have:

Peace of mind
A steady stream of bookings
Top quality recordings
A clear path to success
Confidence

At my core I am a SGM fan. I have loved this music since the first day I heard it. I am also an artist and a teacher.

I do what I do because I believe it is my responsibility to pass on what I have learned.

I took some time at NQC to listen to the music.

The MUSIC is the reason we all do what we do.

As always, I welcome your comments.

God Bless You,

Nick Bruno
http://www.nickbruno.com

Reader Comments

Great article Nick as usual. Look for me at Jesus feet is the way it is supposed to be done. In fact I will hear that song tonight in person as only the Booths can do it. It is obvious from the way you write your columns, you like to see it done with class, style and dignity. In fact with the Booths, you can hear every word pronounced correctly and not with tracks blasting in your ears. Keep it up Nick.


Commented by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 10/03/2008
Great article AGAIN, Nick


Commented by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 10/03/2008
I am so glad that you were able to recharge at NQC. There are times when all of us wonder "Am I doing what the Lord wants in His will?" Then all of a sudden He washes over us a cleansing flood of blessings and allows us to see His joy that His word is still getting out to all who will listen, through music and song.
I too have thought at times pass "I wonder if anyone hears the message in this song?" And its not long before someone calls and tells me how a song has changed their life and brought them closer to Jesus, and putting into their heart the desire to make themselves into a better person that God wants them to be. Then that same flood of commitment to the work of getting out the music and songs by artist that sing God's message is renewed and the only regret I have is "Lord forgive me for getting comfortable in my work for You"
Again I am so glad that you were washed anew.
May God bless your each and every need.

Brother Gene
KMHM 104.1


Commented by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 10/04/2008
Elaine Harcourt's avatar Another great article, Nick. By the way, congrats on your SN awards. Well deserved, I'd say. I love the Booth Brothers. They are the sweetest bunch of guys around & deserve all the honors they received.

God is good all the time & all the time God is good. 

Elaine Harcourt



Commented by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 10/05/2008
WOW I have never seen someone attempt to name drop themselves. If the news was about Nick it would have been presented about him.


Commented by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 10/06/2008
Nick, Great article. And it's great to see that your AWARD winning efforts are being recognized by the industry you so love. And hopefully you'll ignore people like James who actually take the time to be small minded and mean spirited. God Bless you. Everyone who knows you well says you are one of the nicest guys in SGM.


Commented by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 10/07/2008
Great article Nick. I guess James need's to realize that it is not name dropping when you are stating fact. If anyone in this business has " been there, done that " it is Nick Bruno. Your passion to help the new artist is un-denyable. Yes James, it was Nick, who was helping 3 guys from Fla. just a few years ago, become a household name in S/G The Booth Bro's. Name drop all you want Nick. And by the way... Go Tiger's

Randy Lewis.

Keep looking up! Randy Lewis



Commented by thetenor On 10/08/2008
Jym Howe's avatar Congratulations on the well deserved acknowledgement of your talented hard work. I enjoyed the article.

Tommy Howe

Jym Howe

This is just my opinion ... and it should be yours.  LOL



Commented by Jym Howe On 10/10/2008
Interesting article as usual. I still have the same problem as always. As I agree with Nick in his many attemps to point out the flaws of our industry, I notice that he and many others have no real direction or NEXT STEP ideas in repairing these issues.
Lets face the real facts. We work in a socialist communistic powerhouse government that is SG industry. People do what the government tells them to do. Money moves mountains here. Its sad that so many great artists are considered amature or sub par because of their financial portfolio.
This has become a politcal thing, not spiritual or even a question of talent. I applaude the quest for change. But before I recognize Nick or anyone else as an advocate of change I will need to see something more than an advertisement.
The things posted here are meant to make folks feel as though Nick himself is standing up for the little guy or willing to tackle the powers that be.
I think not. True change will require guts and alot of them. Nothing has ever been posted here that would invoke the kind of change needed nor does it offend anyone who is guilty of the behavior mentioned.
If we want change we will ALL need to stand together to get it.
EXAMPLE:
Would we all be willing to sit out a trip to the NQC?
Would we be willing to all stop all manner of advertising and promotions?
Would we be willing to form a union to speak on our behalf inthese regards?
Would we be willing to submit our songs to a commitee driven to realese only top quality recordings?
I doubt it.
Thats just a couple off the top of my head, imagine what it would be like if we thought about it.
I believe in change. Be we dont just need change we ared talking about overturning everthing that is in place in order to form a more perfect union.
Face it, the SG industry is a sinking ship. If we all jumped off together we might survive. I for one am not moved by the suggestion that we put a bandaid on a gunshot wound.

Shane Roark/ Chapel Valley


Commented by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 10/14/2008
One thing that I feel needs to change in SGM, is that we need to get it back to being a ministry and not an industry. We need to get back to the focus of seeing people saved at every concert; no matter what the venue.


Commented by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 10/15/2008
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