Comments on: Riffs: 07:28:07: Brant Hansen and Celebrity Sinners

By: Whipsnard

Whipsnard — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:48:24 +0000

Stepped into this mess by chasing Kamp Krusty through RevJeff. Shaungroves is so right about the Christian media market today. It’s all about the dollar. “Who’se name can we use today? Who is hot right now?!?” We all want our cake, don’t we? When the final horn sounds, we will be looking around saying, “Really…him?!?!?” Can’t remember the last time I heard a Margaret or Michael tune… oh yea, off my WD Notebook. P.S. Bookmarked your site for the future too.

By: BrianW

BrianW — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 01:47:06 +0000

At the risk of offending fanboys throughout your readership, do the ten or so feeds I received today that link to Piper's post on the bridge collapse count here? Well, except Kinnon's, of course.

By: Ross

Ross — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 20:54:05 +0000

Michael,
Thanks for turning me on to Brant’s blog! I clicked through to get the back story on Smalley and found myself reading old posts. I nearly pissed myself a couple of times & co-workers are looking at me funny.

By: Black Angus

Black Angus — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 23:12:13 +0000

I was in a lecture by a well-known reformed Old Testament scholar. After making sure the taping was off, he told us what happened after he wrote his first commentary. He was approached by a publisher asking him if he would like to write another book, on another topic. He replied that he had no expertise in that area and couldn’t write it. ‘No problem’ the publisher said: ‘we’ll get a ghost writer to put it together and we’ll publish it under your name.’ When the scholar expressed his shock, the publisher said it happens all the time with the big names. Sadly that made me cynical of all our current ‘celebrities’, good and bad. But it made me realise I have to buy a book for its content, not for the name on the front.

By: Bene D

Bene D — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:20:39 +0000

I didn’t think I was asking an impossible question.

Thanks Brant, appreciate you responding.

By: Ron Shaw

Ron Shaw — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 19:33:17 +0000

If I’ve never heard of some of the people you’ve mentioned should I feel proud or uninformed?

By: Shawn Bashor

Shawn Bashor — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:41:23 +0000

I suppose if I knew who James White was I may get more of the gist of what you said about him picking you apart.

I can say though I do enjoy what I have read on your blog and the number of people who read/visit your blog is impressive that is for sure.

So tell me how it feels to be a blogger superstar. This is being a celebrity in it’s own right and even more so you are a celebrity to the celebrities.

By: Michael Spencer

Michael Spencer — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 17:57:26 +0000

There are BHT shirts, but they are sold at cost.

The first time I knew anyone was reading me was when James White spent three longs posts taking me apart as a human being.

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 17:52:57 +0000

So are you saying you don’t have any iMonk t-shirts for sale???

By: shaungroves

shaungroves — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 17:47:53 +0000

I am assuming that it’s the PUBLISHERS who tell CCM stars to write a “book.”

You assume correctly…sort of.

I’m a “CCM star” I suppose. Not my motivation, but it’s happened. If it helps you like me any more, I’m not a very shiny star and I’m fading out quickly.

BUT, when I was shinier and and rising publishers met with me to get me to write a book – any book – about anything. They didn’t care. They ran the numbers and realized that if a tenth of my music audience bought my book they’d sell more than their average release does. Pure math.

Most of them wanted to put me with a ghost writer. “Just tell them what you want to say and they’ll write it out for you.” This was proposed without reading my writing samples or getting to know me. It was assumed I couldn’t write.

But I can, well enough to sign a book deal recently, not on the basis of my musical sales (I don’t sell jack anymore) but on the strength of the ideas. It’s a book that paints a broader portrait of salvation than the one I grew up with in evangelical America – what we’re saved FOR, not just what we’re saved FROM.

So, yes, you’re right. Managers, labels, and artists want exposure and so often, but not always, “write” books to throw gas on the fire of their musical careers. And, yes, publishers provide that gas by asking singers to “write” books about anything. And yes, “fans” buy these books just because of the name on the cover.

BUT, guys like Michael Card and ladies like Margaret Becker are singers who have stories and ideas to share too large for two verses and a chorus. These people don’t look at books as gasoline but as one more way to communicate with the church. And they use celebrity if it happens but their motives are not to become celebrities. I suppose this because they continue to do what they do even when their celebrity wanes.

Would you blog if twelve people read, Michael? I suspect you would. You’re a communicator. But because you communicate so well you’re marketable, you draw a crowd – dare I say you’re a celebrity? I’m glad you clarified that your post is about motivation and that celebrity is not inherently evil – though dangerous. I agree wholeheartedly. Thanks for articulating what I think better than I can. I suppose that’s something you and celebrity authors/singers/preachers have in common huh?