Many gospel artists begin their career in the church choir.
Texas has long been a hub for gospel music, beginning with outdoor gospel teachings and concerts in the late 19th century. Today, popular gospel artists like Yolanda Adam, of Houston, and Kirk Franklin, from Fort Worth, represent the state's importance in the gospel music industry. Following the careers of those two artists plus connecting with local resources is a good guide to break into the industry in Texas.
Instructions
Get Into the Gospel Music Industry in Texas
1. Start singing gospel music. Both Yolanda Adams and Kirk Franklin began singing gospel music at a young age in their respective congregations. Joining the church choir is often the first step to a gospel career in Texas. Some churches will provide more exposure than others. In the Dallas/Fort Worth area, The Potter's House has a choir that gets a lot of exposure by hosting concerts at their large congregation and also through their Pastor, Bishop T.D. Jakes, who is a national media figure. In the Houston area, Lakewood Church, headed by Pastor Joel Olsteen, is featured on worldwide broadcasts and thus their choir receives a lot of attention.
When seeking to join these choirs, however, be prepared to audition for a spot, which is a different process from smaller church choirs that accept everyone. To find out more about the specific audition process, contact the church directly.
The Potter's House
6777 W. Kiest Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75236
800-247-4672
thepottershouse.org
Lakewood Church
3700 Southwest Freeway
Houston, TX 77027
713-635-4154
joelosteen.com
2. Connect with local producers. Yolanda Adams worked with an unknown producer before signing to a small label. Kirk Franklin assembled and produced his own team of Fort Worth singers to record his self-written songs. In the gospel industry, starting small is the way to go, so look for local producers who can help you record a few initial songs and help you sign a record deal. Some producers visit local churches to scout talent, but others do not. Attend local industry events, like the Songwriters & Producers Series that rollingout.com hosts in Houston. Listen out for local names on radio stations, as sometimes they alert listeners when an artist or producer is local.
Classified ads might also be a resource to find listings for producers, particularly in newspapers and magazines geared to African-Americans, including Fort Worth Black News, The Austin Mirror and the Houston Defender.
3. Record a demo. Once you've hooked up with a local producer, you will need a demo disc that you can circulate to gospel record labels. Demo songs can be covers of other gospel songs or original lyrics and music that you and the producer have created. They should show what you are good at; be it harmonies, a high-octave range or a unique voice.
4. Get noticed. With a demo in hand, try circulating your music to both local radio stations and local gospel labels. There are many ways to do this. You can send a physical package to the station or label with a disc of your demo along with photos of yourself and perhaps short biographical information. You can also try to email similar documents, which might be preferred. To find out if the station or label prefers email or snail mail, call the individual station to find out the preferred method. Address this package to the station manager or the artist and repertoire (a&r) manager of a label. Local labels to try are Dialtone Records in Austin and Chris Christian Music in Dallas.
Dialtone Records
P.O. Box 684822
Austin, TX 78768
512-442-1384
dialtonerecords.com
Chris Christian Music • CC Entertainment LLC
P.O. Box 7809
Dallas, TX 75209
214-350-0600
Also, online radio shows, usually hosted on sites like blogtalkradio.com, are a great way to get noticed by a niche audience. Consider also sending your materials to these types of stations. Local stations to try are KHVN Heaven 97 in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and KWWJ Gospel 1360 in Houston.
Heaven 97
5787 S. Hampton, Suite 285
Dallas, TX 75232
214-331-5486
khvnam.com
KWWJ Gospel 1360 AM
4638 Decker Drive
Baytown, TX 77520
281-837-8777
kwwj.org
Tags: Fort Worth, Kirk Franklin, with local, Chris Christian, Chris Christian Music, Christian Music, church choir