Seattle megachurch Mars Hill launches music label

BY Josh Kerns  on June 13, 2012 @ 7:47 am (Updated: 8:19 am - 6/13/12 )

cedargrove

The band Citizens is among the groups set to release music on the new Mars Hill Music label. (Mars Hill Music photo)

Seattle-based megachurch Mars Hill is considered by some the punk rock of Christian congregations. And now the fast growing organization is launching a new music label to spread the word and attract even more followers to its ever growing flock.

With everything from roots rock to rap regularly being made at its 14 locations spanning four states, Mars Hill Music manager Jonathon Dunn says the goal is to capture the diverse offerings and share the gospel through music.

"The record label is focused on what's going on at our local churches. Each one is uniquely different, different based on the cities and communities and cultures they're engaged with," Dunn says.

Unlike other start up music endeavors, the label has a built in audience. Podcasts of Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll's sermons were downloaded more that 10 million times last year and consistently rank number 1 on iTunes, the church claims.

"It seems like a lot of the worship culture that already exists out there in the Christian market has been hitting a very specific group and what we'd like to do in some ways is broaden that," says Zach Bolen, worship director at Mars Hill's University District church and leader of the band Citizens.

>>Listen to the band Citizens

Bolen's band will be the first to release a full length album on the new label, with several EP's from various bands already available.

The offerings are as diverse as the churches, known for attracting younger, "hipper" followers. There's everything from indie pop to Motown. Citizens plays what Bolen calls more "blue-collar indie rock."

"We want to be able to fit into as many groups as possible. We don't want to alienate ourselves in any way, and so accessibility is huge. So especially with Citizens we're trying to do music that dudes would like," Bolen says.

It could be big business for the church that boasts upwards of 14,000 followers in Western Washington, Portland, Orange County, California and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Christian music was the second highest selling category in 2011, according to The Nielsen Company & Billboard's 2011 Music Industry Report.

And label head Dunn says while the target is Christian audiences, the goal is to reach well beyond that.

"We really just want to share music with everyone who enjoys music, and share the gospel through that, and not just be pigeonholed into a Christian cul-de-sac of influence. So I'd love to see the expanse go far beyond just Christian radio," Dunn says.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (19)


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  • Doctor Fronk wrote...
    Good Luck!
    June 13, 2012 7:43 am
    I attended a few times and purposely showed up late just to avoid their worship music! I'd walk in and think "Are we at a funeral service?" ... Their music was Gothic, so dead, not uplifting, not worshipful, just sad! But if it gets people on a path of community and thinking better, then great! I'll bite my tongue in regards of the cliques and cult-like atmosphere.
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  • artimus wrote...
    Church approved R&R
    June 13, 2012 8:35 am
    Woohoo!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    More Ego Boosting
    June 13, 2012 8:44 am
    And $$$ for Marc " Jerry Falwell" Driscoll.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Aaron in Sammamish wrote...
    Very interesting to see...
    June 13, 2012 9:42 am
    ...worship and entertainment blurring together these days. Even many of the denominational churches I've been into recently have had drum kits, keyboards, other band equipment, enormous flat-screen TVs, etc., up front. One has to wonder whether, if only for God, many people would attend. It's also interesting that, while being obviously extremely progressive with the implementation of their faith, those who attend these churches remain among the most socially conservative out there. So many oddball contradictions...
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  • Oly80 wrote...
    really good points...
    June 13, 2012 1:20 pm
    Aaron.

    "It's also interesting that, while being obviously extremely progressive with the implementation of their faith, those who attend these churches remain among the most socially conservative out there."

    and the church keeps growing, too! it's bizarre to me as to how.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Nervoso wrote...
    We'll see if they are really using their funds to promote the message
    June 13, 2012 10:27 am
    or using the bands to make a further profit, time will tell.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 1999thelastgoodyear wrote...
    Yay!!!
    June 13, 2012 11:36 am
    I am a fan of Mars Hill music and hope this means that more of it will be produced. Mars Hill's style isn't for everyone, but they definitely have something great to offer the right audience.
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  • Oly80 wrote...
    wwjd...?
    June 13, 2012 11:41 am
    didn't jesus kick out all the money changers and others basically trying to make money from the temple that one time?

    pretty sure he wasn't a fan of making money in the name of god.

    positive that's what this is.

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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Make a joyful noise unto the Lord....
    June 13, 2012 11:59 am
    I attend a church that features modern music. The musicians are talented and at least those with whom I am acquainted are very sincere Christians. They play for about 20 minutes at the beginning of every service, and they spend a lot of time practicing each week to ultimately perform with no pay. Hats off to them. They are great folks, with a lot of talent, and quite likeable. No problems with the musicians, none at all.

    The aspect that puts me off, just oh so slightly, is that the musicians are "on stage", and apparently have to constantly battle with the temptation to act like it. At my church, they are literally (but probably not metaphorically) between the congregation and the cross.

    I'm old enough to remember when the music, (not the musicians), was the focus. Choirs were often up in a loft someplace, maybe even behind the congregation. The organist or pianist would be off to the side of the building- certainly not the visual focus for large segments of the worship service. That's certainly changed.

    Why does a worship band (like those specifically named at Mars Hill) need a "name" or other marketing identity at all? These budding "stars" will find it more challenging than some to approach worship with sufficient humility and recognition of personal faults.

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  • dcnilsen wrote...
    Chuck...
    June 13, 2012 12:15 pm
    So all Christian music should be done away with? If they happen to play their music on a (gasp) stage as opposed to a room in the back out of site they should just stop? I do attend a Mars Hill Campus and honestly i couldn't tell you the name of any of the bands that go up before and after service, but i can tell you the people's names. They are not paid staff, but they do practice for hours each week they play. Their music has far more meaning than most church's music that i have gone to so i really don't understand your issue. We'll see how the music label does, but don't forget...it isn't like this is the first label to be of a Christian origin...they have been around for a while now.
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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    DC....Huh???
    June 13, 2012 12:24 pm
    You read my remark and concluded my position was that "all Christian music should be done away with"?

    Wowzers. Even if not perfectly expressed, my message wasn't that obscure.

    If you truly "don't understand my issue" then please allow me to restate. We might be well advised to keep the emphasis on the worship music more so than the musicians that create it. The act of worship should not be packaged and branded for resale on i-Tunes, at least in my personal opinion.

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  • dcnilsen wrote...
    CC
    June 13, 2012 12:52 pm
    That is my point...Mars Hill emphasizes the music and the meaning behind it...not the band. But under your example all Christian music needs to go away because they have a name. Chris Tomlin shouldn't have his name anywhere listed according to your argument...just doesn't make sense.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dcnilsen wrote...
    CG that is... :)
    June 13, 2012 12:53 pm
    :)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    DC, the worship band at my church doesn't have a "name",
    June 13, 2012 2:57 pm
    has a rotating group of musicians (except a core few), and I would be surprised to see them decide to record and sell their work. (Even though they play quite well).

    The purpose of praise music is to glorify God. There's a very tricky line to observe that when making Christian music, particularly for church purposes, a musician doesn't hope to be somewhat glorified as well. Giving your Christian Rock band a name to help your group sell more records is an example of an activity that certainly crowds the line, if not crosses it.

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  • Oly80 wrote...
    "Mars Hill emphasizes the music and the meaning behind it...not the band."
    June 13, 2012 1:15 pm
    clearly not, if they're ready to create a music label to sell the music.

    they're making the label to make money. that's the purpose of the label. if that's not what they're doing, they should just give it away for free. stream it on their website only to people who register. simple.

    i have friends who play in "church bands" and i really do feel like they're getting further and further away from "church" and more towards just a way to feel entertained and holier than thou at the same time. the messages of church are getting lost in the music, in my opinion. it's more about ego and self-importance.

    keep in mind this "church" has a leader that has some pretty extreme views on certain issues and seems to really like publicity, good or bad.

    i'm not sold.

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