Norman Gyamfi, co-founder of Maverick City Music, criticized the gospel music industry for its sluggish adoption of the internet era. Gospel musician Marvin Sapp responds to his remarks.
Gyamfi stated that gospel music must change in order to appeal to the current generation of Black Christian youth, whose challenges are different from those of their predecessors.
He pointed to the success of Maverick City Music, which has five Grammy Awards and multiple No. 1 albums on Billboard, as an illustration of how gospel music can be performed in a unique way.
“The Gospel norms wasn’t working anymore, y’all sing too hard, y’all over sing,” Gyamfi said.
“Stop doing that, nobody wants to hear runs, people keep saying we want choir music, but choir music would’ve never died if people wanted to listen to it.”
While acknowledging Gyamfi’s worries on antiquated infrastructure and traditional gatekeeping, Sapp stresses the value of upholding tradition while modernizing.
In response to Norman, Marvip Sapp stated:
“Norman raised valid concerns about how slowly the gospel industry has embraced the digital age. He called out outdated infrastructures, traditional gatekeeping, and the need to prioritize data, streaming, and digital innovation.
“He’s not wrong in his observation. But here’s where I offer a perspective rooted in both personal success and historical context,” he noted.
“I’ve been a gospel artist for nearly four decades. I’ve witnessed and contributed to every major shift in our genre, from vinyl to cassette, from CDs to streaming. By the grace of God, I’ve experienced billions of streams on platforms that didn’t even exist when I released my first album.
“But let me be clear: I didn’t get here by rejecting tradition. I got here by respecting it, learning from it, and evolving beyond it without erasing it, the Never Would Have Made It.”
