At first, I thought it was just me. Maybe it was just "old age" setting in. Those of you who have been reading my thoughts about Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) over the past couple of months, are aware that I am older than most of the readers of New Release Tuesday. I was impressed that the number of readers of NRT over age 35 was higher than I had ever thought, but I haven't seen 35 for a long time.

Since there are readers out there of NRT that are more mature adults, I have a hunch that some of what I am writing about today will reach home to you. And what's happening these days in the CCM business? Rock is in. And slowly but surely, pop (also called AC for Adult Contemporary) is becoming less and less heard over the airwaves, and in concert venues across the country.

When Sara Groves told me at an interview that Switchfoot was one of her favorite Christian groups, I decided that I was going to sit down and listen to two of their albums to get a sense of what this group was about. And Sara was right. Great lyrics, rock music.

Looking at the numbers, you can't argue with what they have done in terms of albums and singles sold (including digital) Nothing is Sound has been certified Gold (sales of more than 500,000 units, and two of their singles ("Dare You to Move" & "Stars" has been certified Gold (sales of more than 100,000), and their song "Meant to Live" has been certified Platinum (sales of more than 200,000 units) in the past year.

In fact, when you go over the Gold certified albums over the past year, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to see what is happening in the industry. Included in that list are the likes of Jeremy Camp, Casting Crowns, and Relient K. Michael W. Smith's Healing Rain is on that list, but after that, you have to look long and hard to find the AC Christian Music that some of us have come to love over the past ten years or so.

Yes, Amy Grant came up with a Grammy recently, and she is on the short list as a candidate for a Dove in the Female Vocalist of the Year. But one of the biggest indications of what is happening to the likes of Rachael Lampa, Jaci Velasquez, and Nicole C. Mullen, is that their label is coming out with a Best Of collection on Tuesday, May 9. In the past, one of the best indications that a career is nearing its finale is the release of a "Best Of" album.

I've never met Nicole C. Mullen, but I've spent time with both Jaci Velasquez and Rachael Lampa. Jaci has had a wonderful career, spanning back to when she was just a teenager, and about three years ago when I did an interview with her and her mom, her album sales had exceeded the six million mark. She still makes occasional appearances, and I should point out that the six million figure might be a little bit deceiving since it includes her Latin sales, where she was popular as both a Christian and as a secular artist. Jaci's had a great run.

Rachael Lampa has also had a good career, but I have no doubt that she is hoping it's far from over. Rachael is the "girl up the street that made good." She graduated from Monarch High School just up the road from my office, and she and her family attended Flatirons Community Church in Lafayette, Colorado. Her parents still attend Flatirons, and Rachael does when she comes back home.

On more than one occasion she has sung at Flatirons, and her "O Holy Night" on Christmas Eve a couple of years ago was one that I won't forget for a very long time. She sure can sing, and I personally hope that there's more album projects out there in her future. She has certainly given back to the church whenever possible. [EDITOR'S NOTE: NRT will have an exclusive interview with Rachel Lampa next week during GMA Week '06.]

Actually, the careers of Velasquez and Lampa followed similar paths. Both were Dove New Artists of the Year, and both came into recognition early in their careers. How many "pop" artists are being introduced this year? I can only name one from a major label, and that is Ana Laura. Laura came out with her new album on March 7th, and while she has a tremendous voice, she comes across as a "Rachael Lampa clone." It almost sounds like their projects came from the same production team.

This year's Dove New Artist of the Year? I'm guessing The Afters. I heard them for the first time in concert, along with Jeremy Camp and Bethany Dillon, and it was clear early on that The Afters were not my particular choice of music. I recently attended the BarlowGirl/Rebecca St. James concert, and I saw one couple, probably in their 70's, stand up and walk out after about thirty seconds of BarlowGirl. That's what I wanted to do after about thirty seconds of The Afters. Sorry, guys. You're not for me.

The trend is definitely heading toward the harder music, and while the likes of Joy Williams, Ginny Owens, Bethany Dillon, Steven Curtis Chapman, and others are very much still alive and out there performing, getting to hear (and see) them is tougher. Rebecca St. James put on one heck of a show recently, but the concert is almost identical to her new album, and the tone of her sound is much more to rock and much less on softer worship selections. When in Dallas recently, I took in Third Day and David Crowder Band. If there is one Christian "rock" band that I really like, it's the David Crowder Band. And Third Day? Their sound has changed since the early days.

So what are AC fans like us to do? Aside from playing Natalie Grant's Awaken over and over. And I'll just throw this in. Based on her album sales, her incredible voice, and after being skipped for the Female Vocalist of the Year for the past couple of years, that I'll be very disappointed if she doesn't get the nod. Grant has been nominated for seven Dove Awards, and while I don't think she'll get all seven (Nordeman actually did win seven in one year), she gets my nod for Female Vocalist, Pop Album, and Best Song. Since the Dove Awards are next week in Nashville, I don't have too much longer to see how it all plays out.

I have another serious concern when I look at the trend. Since I write a local column for a newspaper that takes me to many churches in the Denver Metro area, I see what is going on in the area of Contemporary Christian Music.

For the most part, the songs that are being played and sung by worship leaders are the same Praise & Worship Songs that have been out there for ten or more years. I love "Shout to the Lord", but the audiences, mostly adult in age, in those churches are still believing that what they are hearing on Sunday mornings in their church is 'contemporary". And when they go to their nearest Christian store to purchase more music, based on what they have come to love in church, they're staring with the likes of Plumb, P.O.D., and Sanctus Real.

So what are we fans of AC music to do? Besides listening to the music that we've already bought and come to love? One idea, of course, is to check in with New Release Tuesday each week. There you will be kept up to date on all the latest music that's out there. Including, by the way, Shawn McDonald's Ripen, which is an absolutely great album! I give it an "A" grade and recommend it to all of you.

My main plea has to go to the Christian labels and their apparent attempt to ignore an older audience that still likes the sounds of Avalon and Point of Grace. For every fan of the likes of Disciple, BarlowGirl, Skillet and GRITS, there's fans of MercyMe and Point of Grace. Don't forget us!

My other plea? That's to artists out there that are reading this. Don't give up on us "older fans." We still love you and want to hear you as we remember you. Remember, Rebecca, when you sang worship songs? I do. Fortunately, I have those albums and I can go back and listen to them when I want to.

So Christian artists and Christian labels? As I just said, don't forget us! We love you, we love your music (or at least as we remember it), and we love the message of God's love that your Adult Contemporary music lifts us with when he hear you through our speakers!

Where are you when we need you, Bebo Norman?