The Petra Zone

Did I miss something? I thought this was being released on sony records. Now Petra is fronting the money for this project?

The days of labels fronting money for music are all but gone, unless you are a big artist NOW. $100k advances don't happen anymore, especially in CCM. That is not how it is done.

They did try to get a label deal. Word from some of my friends in Nashville was management was asking for LARGE old school deal, with an advance. No takers. Now we live in an age of the 360 deal. That is where the label fronts SOME money, and they get to take your touring and merch sales as repayment, as well as the rights to your masters. Most artists do not like this, because they cannot hardly pay the bills as it is. They view this as a rip off. They had offers for 360 deals from what I was told, but chose to do it indie style, with distribution. I don't know who they have for distribution, but it isn't hard to get. Anyone with a sales history and some money can get distribution. Heck, if you distribute through CDBaby you can get Sony. PDC was on Sony, Word Intl, etc, etc. We could have gone with the Sony religious branch for a cool $125k. Forget that. Up yours Sony. Good thing we didn't sign with KOCH, they went belly up.

Anyway, it costs a bunch to make a record, to get it out there. Christian music is still (for the most part) physical sales oriented. The internet is not a replacement for an industry anymore than a telephone was a replacement for secretaries. CCM is behind the trends, but that is no new news there.

For me this is not a surprise; these five band members have not been together in 25 yrs, why would any label take that chance? I'm hoping this does not turn out to be another Vertical Expressions.
I'm sorry to say it but most people in the market don't even know this incarnation of Petra.

Heck, the largest segment of the current buying public doesn't even know Petra period. Again, this is not something for the masses. This is something for the older people that probably don't listen to CCM radio or buy modern CCM music.

All I know is, they will have to try something new to reach those people. TBN and other Christian media are not going to cut it. It doesn't even make sense to try. Petra should focus on where their audience hangs out, shops and listens. They should drop ads on Christian talk radio, sports radio, secular classic rock radio. Christians will not care much for old people playing old music. This is not a slam, just the truth. You don't see Gaither selling his stuff to the teens and twenties. It's silly.

Long time reader of the board, had to say something about the whole thing.

Classic lineup was announced too early. Interest is waining, sales will be aimed at die hard Petra fans that have everything from the franchise. Greg X Volz's solo career wasn't a high in any form and it was 25 years off and on. He got no awards, accolades nothing. He is only just known for his early Petra years and even then it's a faint memory. Greg X Volz isn't a rock singer, pop/hacky sack peace music is more the description I would use.
When heard that Petra was coming back with the Beyond Belief lineup I was excited. This reunion is still cool, but I find it hard to believe they will do a world tour that is fantasy world. I hope my gut feeling is wrong.

Jekyll wrote:Long time reader of the board, had to say something about the whole thing.

Classic lineup was announced too early. Interest is waining, sales will be aimed at die hard Petra fans that have everything from the franchise. Greg X Volz's solo career wasn't a high in any form and it was 25 years off and on. He got no awards, accolades nothing. He is only just known for his early Petra years and even then it's a faint memory. Greg X Volz isn't a rock singer, pop/hacky sack peace music is more the description I would use.
When heard that Petra was coming back with the Beyond Belief lineup I was excited. This reunion is still cool, but I find it hard to believe they will do a world tour that is fantasy world. I hope my gut feeling is wrong.

I agree with you Jekyll on just about everything you said. I do hope this thing is more successful then I think it will be. When Greg was the lead I enjoyed the style but always felt like there was something missing, and then JWS came along and I believe the final piece to the puzzle was in place; He took Petra to another level.
Don't get wrong people I really like the Greg years and I'm hoping this Album and Tour are hugely successful, but I just have my doubts.

Here we go again.

Preacherman777 wrote:Here we go again.

Why are you bringing Whitesnake into this?

Whitesnake....now that's a band with an owner/singer with Lead Singer Disease. He crapped on all of his players. Too bad.

Preacherman777 wrote:Here we go again.

BTW its just my opinion, and you will find a lot of fans feel the same as Jeckyll and l. If you choose to be offended by it, so be it. My opinion won't change nevertheless.

executioner wrote:

Preacherman777 wrote:Here we go again.

BTW its just my opinion, and you will find a lot of fans feel the same as Jeckyll and l. If you choose to be offended by it, so be it. My opinion won't change nevertheless.

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Great to find fans who feel the same way I do.
I agree with Jekyll and executioner.

Jeckyll mentioned Beyond Belief lineup coming back?

executioner wrote:

Preacherman777 wrote:Here we go again.

BTW its just my opinion, and you will find a lot of fans feel the same as Jeckyll and l. If you choose to be offended by it, so be it. My opinion won't change nevertheless.

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All I know is that I am going to go to the show. I am going to leave a few bibles around TBN for someone in management to pick up and read. Judging by the crap they put on TV, I don't think they read too much of it.

And here YOU go again. Preacherman, I am honestly curious--Are you the only one here allowed to have an opinion or express your views? You appear to be doing the very same thing you have complained everyone else is doing. This is just their opinion, why does their opinion matter so much to you? This is a discussion board, aren't you supposed to discuss stuff on message boards? If you don't want to discuss it here you can send me a private message. I'm not trying to be nasty. I'm really trying to understand where you're coming from.