If You Want To Make Money, Don’t Be A Gospel Artiste – Frank Edwards
Top gospel singer, Frank Edwards, in a latest interview with newsmen, opened up about the intricacies of his career, marriage and why money making and gospel music don’t go hand in hand.
According to the famous singer if one desires to make money, by doing gospel track, then the man or woman will have quite a few issues.
“There are so many motives. Firstly, you need to apprehend that the industry and ministry isn’t always the same thing. Gospel tune is a ministry, the alternative one is an enterprise, so it capabilities completely like that. The gospel ministry is totally distinct from the secular enterprise even though you may say that there may be a commercial enterprise facet of it which makes it similar. But in gospel ministry, the enterprise factor of it’s far never the focus. I tell human beings that if you want to make cash, don’t do gospel music; you will have numerous issues. Gospel song manner one is achieving out to people thru music; the others are strictly amusement or at the least 70-80 per cent entertainment. ” He stated.
Read excerpt from the interview:
What led you into gospel music?
I come from a musical family. My dad was within the church choir, so I accompanied him to rehearsals. I developed the affection for playing the piano at the age of seven. Initially, I didn’t love tune enough to come to be an artiste. As a count number of fact, my dad in no way wanted me to end up one but song simply beaten me. I wanted to be a pilot.
How some distance did you go with your pilot ambition?
To be honest, I didn’t move a ways at all but I nonetheless need to head for it. I may not paintings with an airline afterwards however I still want to be a licensed pilot.
Why are gospel artistes rarely used as emblem ambassadors or influencers?
There are so many motives. Firstly, you need to apprehend that the enterprise and ministry isn’t always the identical aspect. Gospel tune is a ministry, the alternative one is an industry, so it capabilities absolutely like that. The gospel ministry is absolutely special from the secular industry even though you would possibly say that there may be a business side of it which makes it similar. But in gospel ministry, the enterprise aspect of it’s miles never the consciousness. I tell human beings that if you need to make money, don’t do gospel music; you’ll have a variety of issues. Gospel song method one is accomplishing out to human beings through music; the others are strictly amusement or as a minimum 70-80 in keeping with cent amusement. The company could as a substitute deliver the opportunity to musicians who sing songs that each one religions, which include Christians, would dance to, either at a party or in a club. Because the businesses are looking for numbers, they might supply the logo ambassadorship to a person who every body loves their track. If the groups provide it to gospel singers like me, folks that don’t listen to gospel would in all likelihood no longer pay attention. Although I’m a logo ambassador, it isn’t always the whole lot that one ought to do as a gospel artiste. When you aren’t getting endorsements, think of what number of souls you song has healed– that’s your reward.
Are there contracts that one should no longer signal as a gospel artiste?
The answer is yes. You ought to recognise what you need to represent. Although absolutely everyone can pick out to represent whatever however observe that some thing logo ambassadorship one takes on ought to not be anti- what one believes or represents. That must be one’s first yardstick of taking brand ambassador deals. For example, my frame has zero tolerance for alcohol, so I can’t be a emblem ambassador for makers of alcoholic products, irrespective of the money involved.
Why do you observed younger humans, even a few who claim to have began inside the church, decide on doing secular music to gospel?
This is why I perform a little matters as a young gospel artiste. I actually have met a lot of youths who have opined that gospel singers are broke people. But one can’t say that, if as a gospel act, one is still seeking to perform with the enterprise’s law– it won’t work. So, one could be frustrated due to the fact android software can’t paintings on an IOS device. If one is inside the ministry and one applies industry policies, one might struggle or be frustrated but if one abides with the aid of the rules and laws of God, one would see things works for one with out stress. I’m a gospel track minister and I’m now not going to alternate anytime. I’m now not broke or hungry and I didn’t ought to cut corners. God blessed me due to the fact I targeted on the entirety that I ought to consciousness on and He added the whole lot that He promised me. As a count of fact, a few people desired me to compromise. They made me gives and promises however God instructed me if I omitted them, He might give me double of the whole lot they promised me. Most of the matters I do is to ship indicators to folks that suppose that gospel musicians are hungry people. It isn’t always true. For example, I don’t absolutely drive because I’m usually on assignments however I love automobiles and I love to assist people. I buy any automobile that I like. I don’t want to call myself a philanthropist due to the fact I’m much greater than that and I’m no longer just doing it because I actually have cash to do it; I love to help human beings. We aren’t hungry people. God usually brings imaginative and prescient helpers to make the work easier. If Pastor Oyakhilome didn’t teach me a few things, I might possibly be struggling now. I actually have studied a few matters approximately the music industry and I might nonetheless visit Harvard Business School to study extra. Some gospel singers hawking their CDs at bus stops might not have a enterprise recording a track yet but instead need a few basic education and basis to excel. As a gospel singer, one must get it proper and that’s quite a few paintings. If one’s track must be on demand, it must be meeting a want. When people need to worship, want encouragement, are down, broken or going thru hard phases, they have to discover recuperation and answer in one’s tune. But one wishes to have content, to have studied and been in a place of prayer for one’s songs to have such power on them. Alcohol would no longer deliver one that. Gospel tune isn’t always approximately shouting and entertaining, the words one says count but secular songs are all often approximately the rhythm. As a matter of fact, when people need real healing and solution, they arrive to gospel track. Imagine if one is sacked at work, or has house lease issues, I wager the person wouldn’t get home and start dancing to beats; the person could rather pass and search for track that could increase the spirit. When actual wishes arise, then one might see the significance of gospel track. Frankly speaking, it wasn’t usually rosy for me too. I had economic challenges but it passed because I turned into targeted and I chose to stay.
What has your music done that stunned you?
It is uncountable. People were healed of mind tumours. A barrister saw me on the airport and shared the testimony of our he was healed of brain tumour. He said he went in for the surgical treatment and changed into playing one in every of my songs, Mma Mma on repeat even as the operation became going on inside the theatre. This changed into about 3 years ago and until today, the person has been flawlessly okay. He sends me messages almost daily. There have been extraordinary tales like that. It’s just remarkable to understand that God honours himself thru one’s track.
What are the challenges facing the gospel industry?
One of the biggest challenges that I suppose is getting gospel singers to understand that they’re in a ministry and not in the enterprise. It is getting them to realize that they may be no longer the same with artistes within the secular enterprise. A lot of humans do things shabbily without putting a lot of paintings. Some gospel singers look ‘anyhow’ when they’re invited to minster, forgetting that the way one represents God matters. One doesn’t have to buy the most high priced matters, one must just get dressed neatly, take time to paintings on one’s track and make the right videos. Some sense that since it is gospel song, something goes. Young human beings have to relate to our sound, so we don’t lose out on them. Give them the sound they want with the proper message. However, in seeking to be lively, don’t be irreverent. Don’t infuse carnal phrases because it is what’s reigning.
Some human beings say gospel singers have to no longer sue for copyright infringement, do you agree?
The gospel is free however one still has to buy a Bible. On the problem of suing, I individually could never do that due to the fact I find it irreverent. Someone once informed me that a transport company had been using my songs for promotions and playing it in all their parks. When the employer reached out to me to ask what they may do to use my songs officially, the Holy Spirit directed me to tell them, “Thank you for the usage of my tune to extend the gospel.” But if God had advised me to gather cash from them, I would have; even though a person I don’t recognise had sued then on my behalf. But it might have been right if they got here to take permission before using it. However, we have legal guidelines in Nigeria and there are laws that cowl copyright, I suppose that should be respected. You must, as a minimum, write the proprietor of the tune earlier than using it. It’s no longer that I’ve by no means had reasons to sue humans however I pray approximately it and settle it.
How do you socialise?
I most effective socialise on social media. I’m an introvert, so it’s either I’m inside the studio recording or I’m studying. I discover social media very thrilling due to the fact that’s wherein I get to have interaction with other human beings, pay attention their perspectives and all.
How does your ministry affect you as a younger single guy?
In this ministry, if one desires to avoid scandals, one has to be strict. One additionally doesn’t need to offend God. With me, reason and ambition are greater critical than marriage. When one has a imaginative and prescient and cause, marriage enables these things. To be honest, I wish I turned into married earlier than now however I realize God might help me via it. I actually need to get over with it this year. I want to go away this club; it’s no longer amusing having to slide into the kitchen in the middle of the night to get some thing to eat. My ministry affects me every now and then and at times, it doesn’t. For example, before one marries a person, one wishes to understand the person and talk to the man or woman however plenty of times, I don’t discover myself inside the cycle where I meet human beings. Even if I find myself there, there’s constantly this gap. A lot of times, one is likewise being careful because one doesn’t recognise the one that one might talk to and might say, “Oh, guy of God.” There is a manner humans see us, forgetting that a man of God could additionally get married. How might a person of God get married if he doesn’t ask for numbers? However, this year, I have made up my mind to interrupt the jinx. I grew up in a very spiritual background however I had to work on myself and loosen up.
How do you get inspiration to your songs?
I don’t write songs. All my songs are 100 according to cent inspired. I begin to pay attention the whole song in my head and spirit and I select my smartphone to record what I’m hearing or jot down the chorus and lyrics, so I don’t forget, Then, I start to work on them. It’s a supernatural thing that one can’t explain to every other human being; one has to experience it.