Christian Contemporary Music (CCM for short), including Christian Rock, is centered in the Evangelical Protestant tradition that is heavily present in the United States and the UK. The rise of Evangelical Protestantism, particularly within the last fifty years has shaped the direction and form that modern society has taken. The Jesus movement of the 1960s greatly influenced and essentially initiated the present day CCM genre and its multiple subgenres. The Jesus movement was a reaction to both traditional church practice and the hippie movement, although it was birthed through the counterculture environment of that period. This movement was truly a grassroots campaign, having communities all over the country. From the Jesus movement, Jesus …show more content…
However, these artists were not in any position to secure great venues or charge exorbitant prices, increasing the appeal to a degree. This sentiment is shared by Silvia Giagnoni who notes that Florida Atlantic University invited Switchfoot to perform because “the band was asking for less money compared to similar rock groups. As a matter of fact, the Student Board found out that Switchfoot was a Christian band only after they came to a decision” [sic] (Giagnoni 282). The availability of the band and similar crossover artists reinforces their ability to reach people who otherwise would not be in contact with such messages. The performance in front of an auditorium full of university students would have been impossible had Switchfoot remained a solely Christian act. It is in context of the history of the Jesus music movement and the subsequent birth of contemporary Christian music that crossover bands such as Switchfoot can have such an impact. In fact, I attended a concert featuring Switchfoot, Jars of Clay, another band that has enjoyed crossover success, and Third Day, a Christian rock band. None of these bands pocketed any money from the tour; all the proceeds went to charity, which just happened to be Habitat for Humanity. The low prices for concerts like this, featuring bands not solely focused on profits, help spread the music beyond what would normally be