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Z Music Television

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Z Music Television
CountryUnited States
HeadquartersLake Helen, Florida (–1994)
Nashville, Tennessee (1994+)
Programming
Language(s)English
Ownership
OwnerGaylord Entertainment Company (1994+)
History
LaunchedMarch 1, 1993; 31 years ago (March 1, 1993)
Closed2000; 24 years ago (2000)

Z Music Television was a Christian-oriented cable television channel with a music video format similar to that of MTV, and, in its earliest days, direct marketing appeals similar to The Home Shopping Network.[1] Their programming, largely music videos with some documentaries, interstitial "Z Buzz" news updates, and media related shows,[2] was characterized as being aimed at "12-to 54-year olds."[3] Unlike style oriented channels such as Country Music Television, they were not limited to a particular musical genre; they played the full spectrum of Contemporary Christian music from reggae to country music.[4] Z Music Television closed in 2000.

Background

Founded in 1991 by David McQuade, Z's offices were based in Lake Helen, Florida.[2] Z Music Television first aired in March 1993,[5] by which time the channel was helmed by former HSN consultant Kenneth Yates, who sought to make the channel more profitable by introducing "sales jockey" segments marketing Christian music CDs and cassettes, bibles, and other lifestyle products, directly to viewers. The network was acquired by Gaylord Entertainment Company in 1994, which moved network operations to the Opryland complex in Nashville, TN.[6] Estimates of audience potential vary widely, but in 1996 the channel was available to between 20[7] and 35[1] million homes. The network was not part of the 1996 sale of sister GEC networks TNN and CMT to CBS's cable division. On June 30, 2000 Gaylord ceased the operations of Z Music and gave cable operators the option of replacing it with Video Rola music channel, which was then distributed by Gaylord. Also, Gaylord shifted their efforts toward the internet for Christian music with Musicforce.com and Lightsource.com.[8]

Programming

"We leave out the violence, raw sex appeal, and disrespect for authority."

Graham Barnard, programming manager, on Z Music's video content.[9]

Z Music sought to place itself in a market segment that would be visible, even inviting, to non Christians while maintaining a direct appeal to Christians.[5][10] For instance in advertising the network would downplay the word "Christianity;" sometimes the word would not appear.[10] Instead the channel would focus on the positive, uplifting, and "objection-free nature of Z Music programming."[10] The channel extensively partnered with record labels, its first partnership was a 1995 campaign with Benson Records.[7] Even while investing in videos, some record labels indicated that their airing had no measurable impact on an artist's performance.[7] In response, starting about 1996, the company began tweaking the channel's format, introducing shows dealing with lifestyle,[11] and including videos which could be classified as "positive mainstream." Potentially, according to Suzanne Holtermann (manager of marketing), this could mean playing music videos by groups such as Boyz II Men[7] and other mainstream acts alongside Christian market bands such as dc Talk, though such broad mainstream diversity was never actually realized.

Classification of videos on Z Music by content[5]

In the late 1990s two studies of Z Music's programming classified its music videos into three categories based upon their audible and visible religious characteristics.[5][10] As defined by their author these are:

  • Unequivocally Religious — 17%[5] (Green) — "explicitly religious lyrics and visuals"[10]
  • Moderately Religious — 52%[5] (Blue) — "While religious lyrics continue to be used, visual images are not explicitly Christian... If viewers were to turn down the sound while watching the clip it is unlikely that they would associate any religious qualities with it."[10]
  • Ambiguously Religious — 31%[5] (Red) — "Here spiritual imagery is downplayed even further... blending visuals that are not explicitly Christian with lyrics that are open to interpretation with regard to religion."[10]

The conclusion of the studies was that by showing a high number of videos with ambiguous spiritual content, the programming of Z Music Television was designed to make their Christian nature "apparent only to those willing to listen for it."[5] It also stated that this finding conflicts with a traditional view that Christian performers should be ministers first, then entertainers.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Katz, Michael (March 18, 1996). "Networks Have Faith in Religious Programming". Broadcasting & Cable: 48. ISSN 1068-6827.
  2. ^ a b Gascon, Ana (December 1991). "A Music Video Network That Needs To Be Zeen". CCM Magazine. 14 (6): 12. ISSN 1524-7848.
  3. ^ Bates, Patricia (May 24, 1997). "Christian Retailers Take Stock During CMVR Meet". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 21. p. 57. ISSN 0006-2510.
  4. ^ Calian, Carnegie Samuel (October 2, 1995). "Redeeming the wasteland? Christian TV increasingly uses entertainment to spread its message". Christianity Today. 39 (11): 92–103. ISSN 0009-5753.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Gow, Joe (Summer 1999). "Rockin', Rappin', and Religion: Programming Strategy on Z Music Television". Popular Music and Society. 23 (2). Bowling Green State University Popular Press: 17–27. doi:10.1080/03007769908591730. ISSN 0300-7766.
  6. ^ Bates, Patricia (March 16, 1996). "'Triple-Play' contest promotes Z Music, Word Distribution titles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 11. p. 78. ISSN 0006-2510.
  7. ^ a b c d Price, Deborah Evans (April 27, 1996). "Christian Vid Outlets on the Rise Labels Question Influence Of Growing Genre". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 17. ISSN 0006-2510.
  8. ^ Stark, Phyllis (May 20, 2000). "Gaylord Plans Global Country Cable Channel" (PDF). Billboard. p. 122. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  9. ^ Tobenkin, David (September 2, 1996). "The All Music Channels". Broadcasting & Cable: 38–42. ISSN 1068-6827.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Gow, Joe (Winter 1998). "Saving souls and selling CDs: the mainstreaming of Christian music videos". Journal of Popular Film and Television. 25 (4). The Journal, Bowling Green, Ohio.: 183–188. doi:10.1080/01956059809602765. ISSN 0195-6051.
  11. ^ Price, Deborah Evans (April 12, 1997). "Gaylord Buys Blanton/Harrell, Launches FVE". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 15. p. 6. ISSN 0006-2510.
  • Price, Deborah Evans (December 23, 1995). "From SoundScan to Christian Label Acquisitions, It Was A Notable Year". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 51. p. 55. ISSN 0006-2510.
  • Parker, Mike (October 1999). "Gaylord Entertainment to Beef up Z Music Television". CCM Magazine. 22 (4): 18. ISSN 1524-7848.
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