Hi. My name is Sam Chappell. I’m a music business executive from Nashville, Tennessee. My background has been in Christian music for over 30 years. I’ve ran two record labels, Integrity Music and 40 Records, and I’ve managed multiple artists, and two different management companies. During my years of experience, in those capacities, I’ve learned different lessons. The greatest lessons to me come from the Bible. Probably the greatest lesson I’ve learned that I apply not just to the music business, but other businesses as well is, “A man without vision goes unrestrained, and happy is he who keeps the law.” How does that apply to the music business? Many times I see young people go into the music business and if they’re recording artists and they don’t get a record deal, they get dejected and give up. My challenge to you is if you are called to ministry, if you’re called to Christian music and you don’t get a record deal, that should not stop you from moving forward in what God’s calling is.
Having a record deal is just another aspect of helps for you, but it doesn’t define your calling. You’ve got to hear your vision very carefully. The verse in Proverbs says, “A man without vision goes unrestrained.” What that scripture means, the word Vision, in the Hebrew actually means a prophetic Oracle from God, which is your blueprint. What is God’s blueprint for your life? I see young people going into the music industry, and if they’re focused on their God given vision, they’re successful. When they lose that vision, they go unrestrained. They become men and women of lawlessness. They don’t have guidelines. They’ve lost their vision. I’m saying be secure in your calling. Be secure in what God’s called you to do. Don’t let any person discourage you from that calling. Stay focused on your God given vision and have people praying for you, walking alongside you that believe in your calling and that are always praying and interceding and pushing you to fulfill the vision that God has given you – for your artistry. being a songwriter or being an artist.
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