Indie labels multiply in gospel realm

Ed. Note: A Billboard article reprinted in The Belle Report:

NASHVILLE (Billboard) – Though mainstream corporations have become a major presence in Christian music as EMI, Warner Bros. and Sony BMG have staked claims on the Christian/gospel landscape during the past decade, independents manage still to enjoy a share of the pie. And even though the climate is difficult, new companies keep springing up.

The Crabb Family recently launched a new imprint, Clear Cool Music, which will issue the group’s March 28 release, “Blur the Lines.” Another new venture recently bowed in Franklin, Tenn., Union Street Records, which is launching an impressive new rock band, Roads to Rome.

On the gospel side, industry veteran Shawn Tate (left) has launched Univocal Records. Distributed by Central South, the label’s first release is Malcolm Williams and Great Faith’s live set “Walking in My Destiny.”

An indie already enjoying success on the gospel side is Icee Records, a Chicago-based company that is home to Dr. Charles G. Hayes & the Warriors. The group took home choir of the year honors at this year’s Stellar Awards. Icee Records’ Dianne Williams netted the female vocalist of the year award, and Icee also won in the music video category for Hayes’ “The Remix.”

“We were excited that we were able to accomplish those three wins because we worked very, very hard to accomplish our goals,” says Dr. Charles T. White, who heads up Icee Records.

The choir has been around for more than 40 years but enlisted producers Percy Bady, DeAndre Patterson, Darius Brooks and Adrienne B. King to work on its Icee debut. The result was one of gospel’s most-talked-about releases in 2005.

Before starting the label, White found success in real estate, and he notes the vast differences between the two fields. “I love the record label,” he says. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t make the money that real estate makes. One can hope that it will grow so big that it will take care of itself.”

White is negotiating with distributors and admits that lack of strong distribution has hurt the label, but he is optimistic about Icee’s future. They are working on a new project by Williams and want to sign additional artists.