Gospel music has been loved for generations, but like other cultures, it is changing speed and tone to appeal to younger people. In the same way that the music business changed its outlets, finance adopted cryptocurrencies, and the internet made contact easier, gospel artists have updated their sound, business strategies, and channels of distribution to appeal to Gen Z.
By being open to new digital venues, modern influences, and business models, gospel can reach younger people around the world who may not have been able to be reached before. This forward-thinking method keeps the spirit of gospel alive and will inspire future generations by changing to fit their tastes, similar to how disruptions in the creative landscape affect other fields.
The way music is changing
The way people listen to music has changed a lot because of Gen Z’s tastes. Streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify have surpassed traditional album sales. In 2022, Spotify said it had over 195 million premium users. Music finding has changed a lot thanks to apps like TikTok. Harry Styles’ “As It Was” and Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” are just two examples of how popular the app has become.
The internet has made it easier for anyone to get music, so independent artists don’t have to count on big labels to get fans around the world. This change fits with Gen Z’s ideals of being against the establishment and wanting to be real. Digital platforms make music easy to find and share, which has helped new artists become famous quickly and become well-known.
Gospel artists are using these digital venues to bring their sound up to date and reach more people outside of churches. Gospel music has been mixed with pop, R&B, and hip-hop by various artists.
How crypto and Web3 are becoming more popular in music
Blockchain, crypto, and Web3 technologies are also shaking up the roots of the music business. Crypto is being used by new platforms to help artists get paid properly for streams, fund new projects with fan money, and sell royalty rights as NFTs.
This is a part of a larger move away from centralized methods that put middlemen and industry gatekeepers out of the way. That way of thinking, which is decentralized and against the system, fits with what Gen Z values.
Even though gospel music has been slower to adopt these new tools, new artists are definitely coming up with new ideas. Dante Bowe, a Grammy-nominated artist, released the first Christian NFT music project in 2022. He sold NFTs that gave users access to special songs, videos, and tools.
It’s easy to see how things could get better for gospel music as these tools get better and more people use them. Artists could make songs or whole albums available as NFT collectibles. This gives fans a real way to own the music and gives artists a new way to make money besides streaming. You can get audio files, artwork, behind-the-scenes content, and special events like virtual concerts or meet-and-greets with NFTs. The blockchain makes it clear who owns what and automatically sends royalties to the artists.
Crypto platforms that help people understand this new technology better by giving them tips and offering strategy backtesting could also let gospel music fans invest directly in their favorite artists’ songs by buying an NFT for a share of the royalty rights. This way, artists can use their fans as investors to pay for new projects instead of depending on record labels or advances.
Bringing the church sound up to date
Gospel singers are not only using new ways to market and run their businesses, but they are also changing the music itself to appeal to younger audiences. The sound of modern church includes parts of pop, rock, hip-hop, and electronic dance music.
The words stay spiritual but talk about things that are important to Gen Z, like identity, mental health, and social justice. The style is more modern, and the visuals and production level are on par with big-name acts.
There has been some disagreement about this modernization because some traditionalists see it as giving in to secular society. But a lot of church leaders say that the art form needs to change in order to stay relevant in today’s culture and reach the next generation.
To become popular, gospel singers like Tori Kelly, Maverick City Music, and Kirk Franklin have mixed gospel with pop, R&B, and hip-hop styles. Adding trap beats to worship music helped Maverick City’s “Old News” reach #2 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs list.
The way forward
New technologies and changes in generational roles are causing church music to change, in the same way that the internet changed how we access information and crypto is decentralizing finance. To keep Gen Z interested, it’s important to keep the tradition’s holy roots while updating the sound, business models, and ways of getting the music out there.
In order to connect with younger listeners, modern gospel acts are adding pop, rock, hip-hop, and EDM to their music. To get rid of the middlemen in the industry, they are using decentralized business methods like NFTs and fan funding. They’re also using digital tools and social media to reach people all over the world.
This renaissance will make sure that the spirit of gospel music lives on for many years to come, inspiring young people with its strong messages. Gospel is being brought back to life to entertain a new generation with its powerful art by changing with the times while staying true to its roots.