Got this from Tucson Weekly because it was the closest thing to a source that wasn't complaining that they were suing. Thought some of you would be interested to read this:

*sorry if someone posted about this already*

WHAT WOULD JESUS LISTEN TO?
Not long ago in these pages, we published an article by Annie Holub, about the band Mute Math. In the article, the group's singer, Paul Meany, complained about how Warner Bros., the band's current label, was attempting to market Mute Math as a Christian band, after someone at the label learned that Meany's former band was a Christian band.
In the article, Meany said, "I used to be in a very overt Christian band, and I think once we started Mute Math, and there were spiritual undertones in the music--and we'll openly state, yeah, we're Christian--we watched how the Christian division of Warner Bros. just ran with it. And they ran with it faster than Warner Bros. ran with it in the general market."

Since we published that article, Mute Math has filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros., claiming breach of contract and negligent representation, because Warner intended to release the band's latest album on Word, its Christian imprint, which had previously released an EP by the band. Never mind the fact that Mute Math built their fan base by touring with Christian band Mae, and by playing in Christian music festivals. "We're a normal band here; we're not trying to be the Christian version of a real band," Meany said in the Weekly article. (Meanwhile, the band has managed to alienate mainstream music buyers who flee at the mention of the term "Christian rock," while also pissing off Christian music fans who feel betrayed. "It's not Christian to file a lawsuit," one poster on a Christian music Web site wrote.)

Which raises the question: What exactly is a Christian band? Is a band a Christian band if its members are Christian, or must the music itself address Christian issues--or contain, in Meany's words, "spiritual undertones"? And how much of what determines whether or not a band is a Christian band depends on the way it's marketed? The Christian music market is a large one, but it's certainly no match for the kinds of sales a band can have if it reaches mainstream success. Are the labels trying to have it both ways, marketing these bands to the Christian market while attempting to downplay the religious aspect to mainstream music buyers, in order to maximize a band's sales?

Yeah I heard about this. They've been selling their CD independently for the past 6 or so months. Which probably wasn't a bad idea. As for the Christian thing...that EP of theirs came out in 2004 on Word. So I'm not sure why they only just decided to make a big stink about this a few months ago. MuteMath are a good live band, although I'm still not completely sold on the keytar. That full length record of theirs is fine...the lead singer may have listened to a Police record or two. I put them in the same camp as Keane and Coldplay, only MM are a little more aggressive and electronic.

Christ rock is funny.

We played this big skatepark complex in Nashville that had a serious religious background - Michael W. Smith (right?) backed it. There was a huge concert hall and we sneaked in to witness a band in full flight. It had all the trappings of a generic ROCK show with each song making brief and obligatory allusions to Jesus.

It's like if you throw in a "Jesus" or two it gives you a license to make shit music. No one involved mentioned how great a certain song was - just that it was all given up to God.

I guess I misunderstood it. I thought they were upset because the new album that was going to come was being marketed by Word as a new hot awesome Christian band without any real consent by Mute Math themselves.

I mean, I think bands that market themselves as christian bands are stuck in that word that fuse described. It's hard to separate from it after it starts. It's almost as though Christian artists who are personally christian are corraled into being a "christian band". They can't just be an artist. Not by their volition necessarily but once word gets out that a member or all are christians it's all over for them. They can't just be artists. There are obviously exceptions, but the exceptions I can think of are still pretty low-key and most people christians and not would not be likely to recognize the name.

To be a Christian band, the music must suck.

The EP really isn't that bad. I enjoy probably 2/3 of it.

There is an instrumental triphoppy type song on it. I listen to it on repeat.

I used to discuss with a buddy of mine how if he'd only throw a couple Jesus references into his songs, we could probly get rich playing the Christian rock festival circuit AND bang lots of confused young women.

Or very confused young boys!


Sorry, Dave Attell.

MuteMath signed to Warner Bros with the understanding that Warner Bros was not going to shift them to the Word Records imprint, which was exactly what happened. I remember them saying one thing they did not want to see was a big "W" (Word logo) on the back of their record.

It's called Rockettown aka "Rcktwn". Coincidently, look who is playing there:
[img][324:500]http://www.rocketown.com/flyers/maeAug9copy.gif[/img]

I thought Rocketown was owned by Michael W. Smith and was some sort of venue that was exclusively for Christian based shows. After all, it is named after one of his songs. I just checked the site and they have Lacuna Coil and Atreyu playing there. Funny.

I saw Death Cab for Cutie there about a year or so ago. Terrible show. Social Distortion played there last year as well. They have emo-core bands there all of the time. I don't think they have a problem taking outside promoter money.

And, ironically, they're getting sued. former guitarist.

I agree with the "marketing without consent" statement. Shouldn't happen.

Also, ask people like Sam Phillips, Tonio K, Steve Taylor and Sixpence None The Richer about the soul-sucking horrors of being part of Christian media. Many artists have painfully disentangled themselves from long-built careers because of the hypocrisy, tunnel-vision, pigeonholing, prejudices and ruthlessness of the industry. It's not just execs who are difficult, it's also certain other artists, fans, church organizations, critics. It's very hard to be a Sufjan in a Mandy-Moore-in-Saved world. Many Sufjans don't even try anymore to build in Christian media.

Haha

yes. I laughed at that too. It's not even close to true. haha.

There are several biblical warnings against one believer suing another believer, but technically they're not supposed to charge interest on loans either.

But some of the most serious interest rates and ferocious lawsuits stem from "biblical" companies.

But is the lawsuit against a major corporation that marketed without permission suing another "believer". I am familiar with that "rule", but my understanding was that those warnings were like jumping to suing like a family member or someone you're really close with in the church without trying to resolve conflict and remedy the situation prior to instigating the litigating.

Yeah, the original edict was along the lines of "Jesus would prefer you try to frickin' work this crap out on your own, dudes."

That's the place. Not solely Christian, but heavy on the JC. They have some sort of no-cussing from the stage stipulation.

There is a LOT of money sunk into that place.

from their myspace page (I think):

THE LAWSUIT IS OVER!!!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the lawsuit is officially over. All issues are settled. Our label Teleprompt has just inked a new and improved deal with Warner Brothers that enables us to keep making and selling music exactly as we want. It feels incredible to finally have this legal crap out of the way. So now for the next step: everyone's been working frantically to get the LP available in stores and on line as soon as possible. It is with great pleasure that I can announce that our record will be released nationwide September 26th, which, by the way, is also why we dropped off of Warped Tour last week. Sorry about any inconvenience, but we were back in the studio remastering the record, which now will include some additional tracks from the Reset EP.

May I take a moment and point out that none of this would have been possible without the overwhelming support all of you have given us over the past year. We took our best shot to get our music out in spite of a label deal gone sour it was those of you that went along with us that gave us the power to make things right. We couldnt ask for better fans; were extremely grateful.

As far as the new release, I wanted to also mention that we'll be including a bonus live EP in the first pressing that goes out this fall. Please consider this to be just a small token of thanks for helping our music get the chance to be heard on the world stage.

Well be heading out on tour this fall with some of our favorite bands. The show will be colossal. Well see you there.

Much Love

Paul

it's weird, i didn't know much about the christian rock world before i moved to nashville but have been kind of immersed in it here. and it's been interesting. some really cool folks (jars of clay are the nicest people i've met in a long time), and some really frustrating practices.

my current band has some members who were in christian bands, prior. it's been funny to see how quickly people who took interest based on their former bands slink away when we say we're not marketing ourselves as a christian band. no new news there i guess, it's just weird to see first-hand how secondary the music is. i can definitely understand why mute math didn't want to be part of that.

i like that mute math record pretty well, too.

rocketown related: a friend in arkansas somehow got a hold of a michael w. smith bobblehead dredged up from the place. apparently was made as a promotional thing for rocketown but smith wasn't havin it. it's hiiiilarious.

are you THE nico? If so, man, I haven't seen you in probably just under forever.

sums up the entire topic