By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.
XBN is one of the latest gospel Internet radio stations to enter a growing market.
TBGB recently spoke via telephone with Pastor Frank Henderson, CEO of XBN Network.
Henderson, a gospel artist and minister, is originally from Rocky Mount, NC. His wife, Shawanda, is from Oxford, NC, where sixteen months ago they planted the non-denominational Xcel Fellowship Church.
Three months ago, the Hendersons came up with the idea for the combination Internet station and social networking site to keep church members connected. A month later they launched XBN. Soon, more than Xcel Fellowship Church members were enjoying the new outlet. The station had an international followership.
Today, XBN counts thousands of listeners. “Last week,” Henderson noted, “we had 3,000 listeners and 22,000 page views.”
The station programs all genres of gospel, including hip hop, urban, AC, quartet, and praise & worship. It streams sermons from nationally renowned preachers and offers Christian comedy. The website also includes music videos. “I call it ‘no-format radio,’” Henderson explained. “We’re open to all styles because that’s how a family operates. Young people need to learn from the older people, and vice versa.”
Henderson especially encourages independent gospel artists to submit their music to XBN, and even cleans up the audio of their mp3s, if necessary. “Independent artists fund gospel music,” Henderson said. “They are the ones you see at your church on Sunday morning. And listeners love indie artists! They hear a song [on XBN] and say, ‘I didn’t even know it was out.’” Likewise, Henderson instructs indie artists to see that “life is bigger than the big [gospel radio] stations and not to overlook opportunities.”
In addition to gospel music, XBN offers individuals networking opportunities via its social networking component. Postings, comments and chat opportunities help artists promote their ministries and teach them about the business of gospel music, including how to move from a local market to a national platform.
The staff is small. Besides Pastor Frank and Shawonda Henderson, other members of XBN include LaShelle Crump who handles sales, and an autobot DJ that keeps the music flowing 24/7. XBN has also partnered with Pastor Arvetra Jones, Jr. and the North Carolina Gospel Announcers Guild.
Henderson envisions XBN as a community of artists and gospel music enthusiasts who can meet one another on line and share their mutual passion for ministry. “We’re not trying to push the Xcel Church agenda,” Henderson explained. “We just want to bring believers together. Our goal is to become the premier gospel Internet station.”
For more information, go to http://www.xbn247.com/.
4 Comments
Leave A Comment
Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
Visit Today : 660
This Month : 19415
I believe this is nothing short of AWESOME !! XBN is an outstanding website that we all need to encourage our friends and family to JOIN and participate. Websites that glorify and magnify the Lord and his message such as XBN is truly a benefitial to us all. Thank you Pastor Frank and Shawanda for sharing and spreading your Love for the Lord !! PLEASE pass this site to our younger generation. PLANT the SEED !!!
As an indie label owner with gospel artists, we have already incorporated XBN into our plans…and more activites are underway. As XBN rises we want to be one of the early adopters!
XBN is indeed awesome! I love everything about the site, the streaming music, the info about up and coming as well as current artists and labels, and meeting great people who love and serve the Lord outside of the box. I also love the way Pastor Frank features Pastors on the Move (my Pastor Apostle Mary McKoy of Healing Center Ministry’s is currently featured!!)You can create your own page and blog just like other social sites but one major difference…I believe XBN was created magnify God and bring God’s people together and show the love of God. Thank you for this great interview and we at the Healing Center Ministry’s Inc. are praying and expecting God to continue to do great things for Pastor Frank, Shawanda and XBN!
God Leads in the Truth!