Apostles of rock

the long version

"One of popular music's fastest-growing genres, Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) outsells both jazz and classical music recordings. CCM receives airplay on more than 500 radio stations nationwide, and industry earnings are an estimated $750 million per year. Yet in spite of its remarkable success, little has been written about CCM Apostles of Rock is the first objective, comprehensive examination of the contemporary Christian music phenomenon."--BOOK JACKET. "As Christian stars Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, DC Talk, and Sixpence None the Richer climb the mainstream charts, Jay Howard and John Streck talk about CCM as an important movement and show how this musical genre relates to a larger popular culture. They map the world of CCM by bringing together the perspectives of the people who perform, study, market, and listen to this music."--BOOK JACKET. "By examining CCM lyrics, interviews, performances, web sites, and chat rooms, Howard and Streck uncover the religious and aesthetic tensions within the CCM community. Ultimately, the conflict centered on Christian music reflects the modern religious community's understanding of evangelicalism and the community's complex relationship with American popular culture."--BOOK JACKET.