Transparent Christian Magazine

In a little over a week, on March 25-28 the Sixth annual CIA Summit is taking place at the historic Foundry in Nashville, Tennessee. From the Summit Website:

WHAT IS THE CIA SUMMIT?
The CIA Summit is a conference focused on providing accurate and truthful information to independent Christian artists who are pursuing their God given calling in music ministry. Other independent based conferences focus on how to break into the Christian Music Industry. The CIA Summit focuses on breaking artists out of the mindset that the only way to succeed is by being signed to a record label. Times have changed, the music industry is struggling to survive. At the CIA Summit, we will share info on the changes taking place, and how an artist can fulfill their calling without being dependent on others for their success. For more information, click HERE. If you are ready to register, click HERE

I had a chance to catch up with a very busy Keith Mohr and talk to him about his super popular conference, and the Christian Music Business.

Transparent: What’s new in the Christian music business that a fan would want to know?

Keith Mohr: Its a great time to be a fan of new music! It’s the time of discovery, with so many emerging artists who are looking for fans and fans looking for unique and compelling artists to enjoy.

Transparent: What’s new in the Christian music business that an artist would want to know?

Keith: Now more than ever, an independent artist must do more than simply write songs and play shows. It’s time for artists to be transparent, compelling, and based in service. If artists serve people with their art, and do it well, people will want to be a part of their world and support their music mission. That is the change in the music business. Commerce is being stripped out of the music business for a reason. However, provision can come if an artist has professional vision. People will engage artists who have professional vision.

Transparent: What do you suggest for an emerging artist that has great talent, but is just getting started?

Keith: The term talent is subjective, what one thinks is talented, the other thinks is lacking talent. We all posses talent, the issue is not how much talent we have, but what we do with the talent.

First and foremost, make sure your heart and your motives are pure. If you base your music on a mission to enrich the lives of people, serve them, and also work hard at it and pray hard for it, watch what God will do with it!

Think global but act local. Cultivate relationships online in moderation and engage people, but do not forsake your local community. Do not spend too much time online trying to influence the world, invest your time into those who are in your world. Start from the inside out, not from the outside in. Go above and beyond in serving others. You do this, and they will tell others about you. God will also do His promotion, which is far superior to anything we can conjure up. He is the master promoter.

Create for the love of creation, not for what you think you may get out of the creation. Play catch with God, he’ll throw you inspiration, you catch it and throw back to Him worship. He’ll throw back more inspiration, and so on. When you create not for commerce but as an act of worship, a new level of creativity will come upon you. You see, God will not release creativity that truly impacts culture until His chosen minstrels release the desire to create for commerce. You cannot love God and money. Choose one or the other.

Transparent: What do you offer at Indieheaven, and why would someone want to have a paid membership there vs. putting their music on cdbaby?

Keith: CD Baby is a fine service if all you are concerned with is selling your music through their vehicle. What Indieheaven represents is a movement of creative Christian independents who are individually changing their worlds. Together, these artists are changing the world. We are truly being independent, together.

Indieheaven offers a world class website where artists can safely and confidently display their content, offer their music for sale or for free, and receive valuable feedback from surfers to their profile. Indieheaven does not post advertising that is contrary to the standards and morals of a believer in Christ.

Indieheaven draws artists who desire to be a part of a new wave in Christian music. Indieheaven is a tool for artists to use in building their music mission. I personally engage our members through personal correspondence, or on an active forum where we discuss topics pertinent to the Christian independent musician/artist.

Since I was in ministry for a number of years, a recording studio owner and producer, and a believer of Christ for over 20 years, I speak their language. Artists can get a profile in many places for free, however, they will not get myself, which is someone who is genuinely concerned for their Christian music mission and is there to help.

Fans of Christian music can discover new artists who are on the site, and participate in our Fan Favorite Chart, Top 20 Chart, and listen to our Power Praise Radio show, which features the best songs from our members. Fans can also engage our members without needing to sign up for an account. Fans can also support our members by purchasing their music, with 100% of the proceeds going to the artist.

Transparent: What has been your biggest challenge during the last year?

Keith: The challenge has been to accurately communicate the mission of Indieheaven to artists, and provide enough value for artists and fans to engage Indieheaven. There are many choices for people to discover new artists and for artists to be discovered. I constantly invest my time and resources to build value into Indieheaven. I have learned better brings bigger, so that is what I constantly work on.

Transparent: What is the economy doing to the music business? What about the “independent music business”?

Keith: Obviously, the economy and our media have people very concerned about their futures. As believers in Christ, we should be aware of these concerns and make wise choices in how we spend our money, but we should not be consumed and fall into despair.

People are not buying as much music these days, yet music has never been more popular. Smart artists know that now is the time to seek improvement in their craft, practice, create new songs, cultivate strong relationships with fans, and other artists.

Artists who come together to share what is working for them is extremely powerful. We stress this on Indieheaven. It is a challenge for independent artists to engage other artists in a manner that is deeper than social networking, but we see this happening in our community Network. Artists are making friends for life in our community and serving one another. I believe God sees this goodness and multiplies it.

Transparent: How is God blowing your mind lately?

Keith: Well, He hasn’t been blowing my mind lately, Jason. What I have learned in my time on earth is moderation. When things get tough, I do my very best to trust that things will get better soon and know that God is with me. When things are going great, I know it’s only a matter of time before I come off the mountain. I prefer not to get too high on the mountain, the air is thin up there! Conversely, I prefer not to go into the valley as well, as floods can consume me and wash me away. Moderation is the key to perseverance. And perseverance is the key to completing this mission we call life.

Transparent: Talk to me about the CIA Summit. Where is it, what is it all about, who’s going to be there, and why do you work so hard every year on this event??

Keith: The CIA Summit is a conference that is in its 6th year. We’re holding it this year at a place called “The Foundry,” which is located in a warehouse district in Nashville, TN. The Foundry is an inner city mission and church run by Scott MacLeod. Scott has been working for the past 15 years faithfully serving people in that community who are challenged in many ways. Scott came out of the Christian music industry frustrated with the way the music industry operated and decided to serve others and change their lives. He has not wavered from the call and willingly gives of himself. He is one of my personal heroes!

I am excited to partner with Scott and The Foundry to bring independent artists from around the globe to Nashville to learn of Scott’s awesome mission, and provide an event that encourages, educates, equips and empowers artists to go back into their communities and do what Scott is doing. We hope attendees get a bigger picture of what being a Christian musician is all about. It’s not about getting a “deal,” it’s not about being on a big stage and traveling in a shiny tour bus. It’s about serving people.

6 years ago, I was new to Nashville, having moved here from Central Pennsylvania. I wanted to do a Christian music conference that was not based on talent contests, or breaking artists into the commercial music industry. I am not anti-industry, but I felt it was important to teach independent artists how to succeed as an independent before they approached the industry looking for a record deal. Many artists spend too much time playing to people in the back of the stage (ie: managers, record company execs, booking agents) in a mediocre manner, when they need to learn how to engage people in front of the stage professionally. If they do this, they may find they can succeed in their calling without needing to be dependent on others and giving up control over their careers. Most times, an artists time in the music industry is fleeting, and many artists quit their missions after engaging the industry. Reasons for this are numerous, and not all the fault of the industry. I want to teach artists what to expect if they pursue the industry path, and the challenges they will face as an independent. Neither path is perfect, nor easy.

Over the last 6 years, I have stayed true to the mission, and bring in people I know and trust to share information they have gathered in their fields of expertise. Some of these people are former CCM artists, like Margaret Becker, Bryan Duncan. These artists know the ins and outs of being signed, and being independent. Others are former CCM executives, who now find themselves being creative independent entrepreneurs, and a few have worked with indie artists for years. it is a good blend, which provides balanced information from all sides.

I work hard on the CIA Summit because I want to model what I preach to artists, which is go above and beyond in service, under promise and over deliver, and do everything you can to deliver a positive, enriching experience. I desire to lead by example. I take value very seriously.

Transparent: I read your Indieheaven boards, and this comment sums up the atmosphere at the Summit:

I think I’m about as excited that I can finally make it to the Summit this year after missing the past 2 years as I am about being nominated for an award! I have to say that the Summit has totally changed my ministry and life since I attended the first 3. I have learned so much and applied so much and it just keeps on growing and growing! Can’t wait to re-connect with folks again.

How do you keep such a great vibe, when other award shows and events like this have a bad reputation?

Keith: Good question, I don’t worry about the vibe too much, I just do what I do. Our Momentum Awards are not based on commerce, who sold the most albums, or who has had the most fans voting for them. I simply get to know our members of Indieheaven, and learn about them, review their content on their Indieheaven profiles, and select artists I think are doing a great job creating Momentum in their music missions. It’s a wonderful event, because we’re not basing it on hype or pride. It’s simply a way to recognize our members, pat them on the back, and give them some recognition.

We really stress community and comradere on Indieheaven and at the CIA Summit. The reason the Summit has a good vibe is because of those who attend it. These are great folks with great hearts for God! It really is a wonderful community and I am honored and humbled to serve our members, pray for them, work hard at it, pray hard for it, and watch what God does with it!

So far, so good!

Thanks Jason for this opportunity to share with your readers. It has been a pleasure for me personally to watch you nurture and grow your mission! Way to go! Keep up the excellent faith-work my friend!
keith Mohr
President
Indieheaven