Reflections

Reflections Post David McCollum Interview
November 4, 2011


Meeting with David yesterday was so interesting. I think I had a lot of presuppositions going into to the meeting. For example, that he would be some fiery, passionate, over powering, domineering manager who hated traditional Christian music. I was wrong! I was correct in my assumptions that David manages artists who are not the traditional, mainstream Christian artist, yet, he was graceful in his articulations that other types of Christian music serves a purpose and that his artists music serves a different purpose- particularly, reaching broken people and people on the fringe.

I was also interested by the fact that there did not seem to be a large drive or motivation for David to work in Christian music initially. He was basically “born into it” and it just seemed like he had the right opportunities and timing to get involved in it. I think I could have easily seen him working in Country or Rock music had that opportunity presented itself- thats my take at least. Yet, now that he has become involved I do think that he has found a specific purpose and passion for his position in the Christian music world. When I asked him what motives him to come to work each day, it was “10 different things”. Which really showed me that there are multiple motives for David to keep him where he is. So while initially the motives may have been non-existent, there are a handful of motives now keeping him in the business.

Also intriguing was his input on the business side of working in Christian music. One thing that stuck out to me was him saying that, “at the end of the day, numbers are numbers”. He was right! I sometimes feel like we over analysis this ideology that Christian artists have to be giving all their money they make away- yet- their families have to eat too as David pointed out. Concerts and promotion take money and its okay to make money off something that is providing “an avenue to Christ” as David put it.

Overall, I really was surprised by David and his vulnerability. He really knows his niche in the industry.