Bob confirms it: Petra WILL retire this year

[lucianotaz]

Guys,

Everything changes .... but God remains the same !!!


It�s a sad day for us. I know Petra is our favorite band and so many years that this ministry has helped us. Petra is part of our lives in good and bad moments. We�ll never forget these songs and this moments ...

But maybe this is the time of retire, even I think this decision can be changed too !

Take your Petra albums and listen to ...... God will use them even if they really retire !

I am hope that Petra can return working in studio albums and I BELIEVE THAT JOHN SCHLITT WILL NOT RETIRE !

[epdc]

Dennis (BigD).- I just want to tell you that miracles come in many shapes and forms, I know God can make possible:

that Petra make a reunion concer of something and you be able to see them (it happens, believe me).
OR that you get to see them in concert separately. With this I mean seeing John solo (I gotta say that John and the ANDBAND is as good as petra), seeing Louie performing in Viktor, etc. and you be able to talk to them.

I know this might not be VERY encouraging right now but I wanted to tell you this. I got to see John TWICE and God gave me more of what I expected. I told God I wanted to meet the band, and so far John is the first one. I know God will make a way for me to know someday Louie, Bob, Ronnie and John Lawry (that`s the ones that touched my life for the firdst time ya know).

I won`t meet them as a "band"maybe but I know God can make a way for me to meet them separately.

Brent.- PLEASE DON`T LEAVE THE ZONE!!!!!!!!!!

gosh guys, I read the news yesterday and got SOOOOO SAD!!!!!!i feel frustration for moments ya know, like "this can not be happening, it has to be a joke, please make Josh commits a mistake for first time in his life (lolol)", I mean, i was like in denial, like "no....no...no..."

Though it hurts me SOOOOO much, i kinda feel peace too. It makes me sad that Petra is retiring because they are not getting the attention but I feel peace in my heart that maybe this was God`s will, not that petra would not get attention but that it was time for Petra to retire. And I loved sam`s post, only because Petra is retiring it doesn`t mean God will stop using each member. I`m praying I can see John solo again and that He provides me to see Louie in Viktor too. I don`t know what is gonna do Bob but if he performs somewhere or something, I wanna be there

I know!!!!!! it would be like losing an old friend.... but ya know what, we are not losing anybody, or friend is just changing of shape, but will still be there. We will have to get used to the change that`s all.

I`m so hurt like you guys, and believe me, I share your pain and tears, completely...*hug*.


yeah CCM this, CCM that, but as Sue said, it has a good side and a bad side.

[PetraFan007]

It's about God, not about Petra. That's why I'm at peace.

[LexingtonPethead]

And watch for this. Today is the day that the press release is supposed to go out, right? Listen to the stations. Make note of how many do not run the story this week. On those stations that DO NOT play Petra, see if they run the press release. Of those that run the release, see how many play some old song behind it, say pre-Word or pre-InPop. I believe that it will be eye opening. Here, all that they played up until the Legends concert in 98 was The Coloring Song, and then they stopped cold.

BTW, I haven't gone off of the deep end.

Surely you guys can see, Bob and John would validate (John did yesterday on the phone), that radio killed Petra. Bob was burned out from trying to get ignorant, self-serving people to play the best album in years, so that the tour demand would increase, so that they could make a living. Radio wouldn't play it, so Petra had to play low-pay festivals (and paid to play in Europe) to captive audiences. Once the people heard it, they loved it. But the band that once made radio around the world looks of goolosh, now is run by kids with their heads in a very dark place.

I would still recommend calling or going to visit the radio stations in your towns, to tell them what is imprtant to you. They will listen if you hit them in the wallet. They are low-grossing usually, and need every penny to operate.

K Love, Air1, etc are big machines. Not quite as big as a Clear Channel or Cox network. They are very formatted. Air1 is a bit more hip, and maybe offers some flexibility here and there. But for the most part, these are owned by publishing companies. KLove is in with CCM Magazine, etc. If you are not in their family, it is hard to get in. If you are in, you are IN. I actually listen to Air1 every now and then. So don't think that I am a complete radio fascism spokesman.

I agree with you that radio pounded the largest nail in Petra's coffin (okay, maybe that's not that best analogy, but it's all I can think of at the moment. It's been a long day. ). Air1 would have had by far the largest impact of all on Jekyll & Hyde had they decided to play it. With a single spin, a multitude of cities across America would have heard J&H over the air and around the world online. What a shame it was for them to diss the band that made Air1 possible.

[charl]

Why does Christianity have this tendancy to over-feminization?! Anyone else notice that? (re-the fact that radio stations market to women) I'm even in that demographic for the most part and I hate the music they play...

The radio problem is real, and not just Christian Radio. I was just discussing on another forum how many older bands play commercials and the like. Some were doing the old 'sell-out' argument. But for many of them it is the only way to get 'airplay', as they are all but locked out of the radio and video market.
One of my other favorite bands finally called it quits awhile ago after one of their songs got no airplay because-get this-it had the word ALBERTA in the chorus. That was the last straw for them.
We need a reformation of the music industry.

I do wish Petra would have decided to do an Abbey Roadesque swan song studio album. You know the one created to say goodbye. I had also kind of hoped they would stick around till 35. Ah well.

I know they won't be coming to dump-hole Sask on this last tour, but at least I got to see them and retain permanent ear damage twice. Good times.

[LexingtonPethead]

Why does Christianity have this tendancy to over-feminization?! Anyone else notice that? (re-the fact that radio stations market to women) I'm even in that demographic for the most part and I hate the music they play...

For commercial stations, having sold advertising for a Christian AC station for 5 years (albeit, a very long time ago), I'll take the honor of answering this question.

For years, the most sought-after demographic is women between the ages of 25-35 and 35-54. This is because most purchasing decisions are made by women. If an advertiser can reach a maximum number of consumer decision makers (women) with their message, they can increase response, resulting in greater sales and revenue.

Christian radio has always boasted a higher percentage of women listeners in these demographics than most other formats. Of course, the actual numbers are often substantially smaller than with secular AC stations, so Christian stations have always been less expensive to advertise on. They are the medium for small and mid-sized businesses because the rates are low enough to buy the frequency of repitition they need to generate response.

Anyway, the reason comes down to profit earned through advertising sales.

For listener-supported stations, the motivation is the same: money. Women are perceived to be more likely to financially support a station that they enjoy listening to. Usually (but not always), women like a softer sound than men. Just as women are more likely to make purchase decisions, they are more likely to make "support" decisions because in exchange for support, they get the presence of the radio station in their community. In a way, supporting a non-profit radio station is a lot like making a purchase decision. Women usually control the purse-strings.

[Jonathan]

Maybe AV1611.org was right after all?


For real though.


Fuh - Ruhl.

[LexingtonPethead]

Maybe AV1611.org was right after all?


For real though.


Fuh - Ruhl.

I don't know about that. I'm just trying to explain the marketing approach taken by AC stations in general and Christian AC specifically. There's nothing inherently wrong or evil with what they do or with how they do it. They have to have cash flow to survive and to continue to broadcast, and convincing a business owner to advertise on a Christian radio station is a tough sell. Reaching their target demographic represents a lucrative customer for business owners. It also represents a dependable income stream for non-commercial stations.

[Michael]

Here's the stupid thing. It's not like Petra didn't throw a nice fluffy ballad on the JAH CD. Those women... the ones in the 25-35 age bracket... they grew up listening to Petra. There's a nostalgia aspect that the CCM broadcasters aren't realizing. If they heard a nice sweet ballad on the radio and then found out it was Petra, they'd be so happy they would freak. I think the whole thing is silly... half of the CCM world saying that Petra is too loud to play, half of them saying they're too old to play, and their manager saying both. Which is it?? Too youthful, or not youthful enough??? The whole thing is ridiculous.

[seichu kaisho]

Do we know when the official break-up date is, or has it already happened?

[Petrapraise]

rock on wrote

I don't know about you guys, but Petra has been a mainstay in my life since 1981 or '82. I can't help but feel like I'm losing one of my best friends. I had such high hopes for them after the release of J&H and Bob's return to touring. I wish things would have turned out better as far as support and appreciation for the ministry are concerned.

This is how I feel. I don't really blame the music industry. Yes, their music deserved play, but not every band can last forever. There's a lot of secular music band that were icons but just don't get their new cd's played as much either (ie. Rolling Stones, etc).

I grew up with the radio/ music as companion in life. Both Christian and secular. But, PETRA was my only constant. I always bought, listened, went to the concerts, and wore out their music. I usually have at least 1 cd in the changer all the time. So this really hurts. I was hoping for one more cd before I thought this inevitable would occur.

God bless them and many thanks for years of excellent music I will NEVER forget and NEVER stop listening too and plan on continuing to pass it down many generations.

[Mountain Man]

I just saw the news this morning. It is a sad day indeed. I discovered Petra in the early-80's, right around the time I started to become interested in rock music, and I will be forever grateful that they kept me away from secular music. My first concert of any kind was a Petra show in Elizabeth, New Jersey during the 1985 Beat the System tour (that was 20 years ago!).

I knew this day would come, but I hadn't expected it quite so soon. I thought we would get at least another album or two before Bob and Co. hung up the guitars, but I suppose its good they're going out on a high note with a truly excellent album.

I only wish they would rethink their retirement as retiring from the Christian music industry rather than retiring for good. Surely there are enough of us fans to support private releases if Petra decided to go that route.

Whatever they ultimately decide, I have nothing but gratitude and admiration for the Godly men that have been my constant musical companions for over 20 years of my life.

[LexingtonPethead]

I only wish they would rethink their retirement as retiring from the Christian music industry rather than retiring for good. Surely there are enough of us fans to support private releases if Petra decided to go that route.

That's exactly it, Mountain Man. I wish they would only semi-retire as opposed to completely retiring. There are still many more songs for Bob to write and for John to sing!

Whether they decide to do that or not, I think God will lead them in that direction. Hopefully, sooner than later. I have to believe J&H is not the last "new" Petra CD we will ever see.

[Shell]

To answer Dan's question...I believe the announcement on Josh's site said they don't plan any more touring after the first of the year, so I would assume they have concerts planned through at least November, maybe into December.

[gman]

I'm going to go off the deep end here and say that I don't think Christian music necessarily turned its back on Petra. People seem to want to say that as if Petra is alone in their predicament. Not so. A large number of once popular Christian artists have found themselves in this same position over the decades that CCM has been around. It's just an unfortunate reality.
CCM, like the mainstream industry, is partly about money. Ministry is a factor, but it doesn't trump the bottom line which is make money and stay in business or collect unemployment. Radio can play Petra all day long, and many people will just turn it off because Petra is not what they want. The mainstream music industry is very large and the fan base of the artists is much larger than CCM. There are many more labels, and many smaller labels where music veterans can find a home. Because of the larger fan bases, those labels can stay afloat. The Christian music industry just isn't big enough for that. It's sad, but that's just reality. When a Christian band no longer brings in enough money for a major label to keep it, that label has to make a hard choice. There really isn't anywhere for that band to go, because the industry is small, and it's tough to try and continue as an independent band funding and making albums yourself.
Sure, CCM has its problems, but in a situation like this, I think it is doing what it has to do. There is room for CCM to pay tribute to and honor its veterans, but there just aren't many profit making labels where veterans can hang out and continue to make albums and do tours. Again, partly because the fan base isn't big enough. Unless you want to pay $50 a CD and $150 for a concert ticket.
The industry has to pay tribute and move on. In a way, making money by giving people what is popular and what they want is part of the ministry aspect. If a majority of people are not into the style of "Band X", but the record company puts Band X out there anyway, that is not smart or effective ministry.
I want to see Petra keep going as much as anyone else, especially because they rock my face off. But, they need a record label to do that. The label would have to make enough money to be able to put the albums out, and Petra would have to at least make enough money to continue doing live shows. If they could do a big national tour, maybe they would get somewhere. However, I don't think they can afford the startup cost to make that happen, and it might be an uphill battle to get sponsorship.
Capeche?