Customer Reviews

Christian Radio: The Growth of a Mainstream Broadcasting Force

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Most books concerning Christian broadcasters are either Christian authors heralding its triumphs or critics' warnings of barbarians at the gates of the secular city. Bob Lochte's Christian Radio falls into neither category. Lochte, a professor of communications, has noticed some of his students graduating to work into what once would have been considered a dead-end segment of the market but now is one of the fastest growing fields in the media. In this careful examination of the history of Christian broadcasting and the contemporary Christian broadcasting field, he suceeeds in explaining how this industry grew from a marginalized regional concern to a mainstream broadcasting force.

Beginning with the fledgling efforts of Christian radio pioneers, he describes how the Christian presence on mainstream radio - barring a few more mainstream representatives - was gadually eliminated by commercial concerns and policies put forth by the major radio networks. Enterprising evangelists responded by beginning to patch together their own "networks" from airtime purchased on independent stations.

The advent of completely Christian radio formats is covered extensively including one of the more unique cases with Aimee Semple McPherson and her Church of the Foursquare Gospel founding its own station - KFSG in Los Angeles. A flamboyant persoanlity and preaching style carried on to her services which Lochte describes as "pure theatre with staged reviews, outlandish costumes and skits, a full orchestra, and of course the star of the show, Aimee Semple McPherson, healing the sick and preaching the gospel." Apparently the showbiz theatrics of modern prosperity preachers and megachurches are not as "novel" and "groundbreaking" as they claim.

Lochte then concentrates on the rise of contemporary Christian music and the effect it has had on the industry. Many who would tune out services, sermons, or Christian information programs will listen to a Christian message cloaked in the latest stylings of pop, rock, or rap music. Of course, this whole concept of matching Christianity with contemporary secular musical styles is not without controversy and Lochte covers some of the issues raised within the Evangelical circles where it originated.

The remainder of the book is a survey of the contemporary scene. Lochte discusses noted Christian radio personalities, the wide array of Chrisitan radio formats, and the important ministries and broadcasting giants that have arisen in the Christian radio format such as Salem Communications.

Lochte restricts his comments mainly to these men and women as broadcasters and does not concern himself with their message or controversies surrounding their ministries. He is concerned here with Christian radio as a broadcasting phenomena and not with the message it conveys. Although the book is probably aimed more at those in the media, it contains no techincal jargon that would exlcude a general reader. Although a little dry reading at times, for its purpose as a look back and assessment of the current state of Christian radio, it is highly recommended.