The time was coming sooner or later in this morally eroding climate in which we find ourselves. Reuters reports, "Sony Music has launched the first major music label dedicated to nurturing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender artists. The label, Music with a Twist, is a joint venture with Wilderness Media & Entertainment, the company led by Matt Farber, who has founded MTV's new gay and lesbian channel LOGO."
"Only now are media and entertainment brands being created for the gay and lesbian audience following the success of brands for other minorities," Farber said. He also noted that "the success of brands dedicated to the African American and Hispanic audiences has helped talent in those communities cross over well beyond their core audiences."
Don't miss the point. Even though the label will cater to the gay and lesbian audience, the inevitable result will be a cross over to the mainstream. No genre of music has escaped such an evolution. Such is the subtly of the evil one.
Here we have another wake up call for parents. We dare not underestimate the persuasive power of music. The thoughts and mores of each generation are in large measure determined by the music to which they listen. Among other ways, we see this reality manifest in apathy, self-focus, rebellion, an anti-authoritarian spirit, cop hatred and killings, and a sharp rise in teen promiscuity and suicide. What one spends time thinking about is extremely important. That is precisely why Paul admonishes us thusly: "whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things (Phil. 4:8)."
This move is particularly frightening. As each new generation is conditioned by what's popular in music (how anyone could like what my father liked or what my son likes is beyond me), make no mistake, even Christian kids, nominal and otherwise, will be listening. Part of the problem lies in the fact that "Music With a Twist's roster will feature gay artists who have mass appeal and hit potential across all musical genres." It doesn't really matter if a teenager is into R&B, Grunge, Country, Thrash, or whatever else. All genres will be targeted. Of course, that means that all kids will be targeted.
In keeping with the biblical principle of putting off sin and putting on righteousness through the renewal of the mind (Col. 3:8f; Eph. 4:22f), if one is to defeat sin, he must not simply cease from sinful activity. Rather, he must deal with sin at the heart level and replace that sinful activity with righteous activity. Now would be a good time to develop an interest in music that glorifies God.
"The label also plans to release various compilations geared toward gay and bisexual audiences, featuring hit songs by established artists that have been embraced by gay, bisexual and transgender audiences, as well as tracks from emerging gay artists." The enemy is very appealing. What better way to appeal to the impressionable than through such an appealing medium.
With reference to the gay label, Farber said, "It's an idea whose time has come." Such are the times in which we live. Let's not forget about this move and fail to engage and protect our children. As an artist from my generation sang, "Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping, into the future." When is the last time you listened to what your kids listen to? Maybe that's an idea whose time has come.
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