comes on the scene and how amazing that history can change in 33 years, that now, it’ s“ we will worship Him in grace and truth.” So anyway, so I think those principles have never, never changed.
But of course, in the last 30, 40, 50 years, you, more than anyone, have seen lots of change on the industry side. We have this thing called the Christian music industry or the business, and it is a business, and it sells what the Levites create. So, the Levites bring the songs, and the industry takes it to the people. And our industry’ s full of some amazing people. But I think that is the thing that has evolved, changed over the years that we’ ve been involved. I’ m sure even the fact that now most of the record companies are owned by shareholders and hedge funders rather than family businesses, which is where Sparrow started. Right? So, I think you could argue that it’ s more monetarily driven. There are no bands left, there are no groups of musicians. It’ s all solo artists. And it’ s all about songs, isn’ t it?
[ WM ] That’ s right.
[ Martin ] It’ s all about songs and publishing, because publishing is where people make the most money. So, the whole focus of the industry is, it’ s not about necessarily people’ s art, creativity. Hey,“ Make a new sound unto the Lord.” It’ s about what song can you bring that the world is going to sing, which is not wrong. But of course, songs can become idols. I mean, it’ s not all about songs, it’ s about the presence of Christ manifest in our lives, in our churches … communities. And then getting back to that song among the nations, that’ s our primary calling. It is to bring the presence of Jesus to the world.
[ WM ] That’ s right.
[ Martin ] And sometimes we use songs, sometimes we use a drum kick, sometimes we use a piano, sometimes we don’ t have any instruments. That’ s the primary calling of the vertical priesthood. But at the moment, probably we are obsessed with songs. And so again, there’ s a balance. Songs are great. We need lots of songs, and I love writing songs, hence this new song. But we must never forget that that isn’ t the calling.
[ WM ] That’ s a really great word, Martin. And you made me go back in my memory. What really comes to mind is when Delirious played Wembley Stadium for the Champion of the World gathering. As a professor, I always contrast that in my commercial music class with what happened just 10 years earlier with the Live Aid concert at Wembley. Students just love it when they see Queen at that event. But then I say,“ Well, look what happened 10 years later in this same stadium”. And then I show
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