The Sower Project
I'm Eric Today with Clifford on the current state of CCM
Christian music has a bigger problem than bad songs. It may be built on the wrong incentives. Clifford, creator of I’m Clifford Today and the indie rock project Sherwood Forest, joins Eric Tuffendsam for an honest conversation about the state of Christian music: the good, the bad, and the ugly. From the rise of the CCM industry to the tension between ministry, money, popularity, and discipleship, they ask a difficult question: Is the system serving the mission, or has the mission started serving the system? They discuss the purpose CCM originally served, the difference between mainstream Christian music and the indie “gray space,” how fame and streams can distort a calling, the need for local church accountability, and why smaller, bivocational artists and communities may offer a healthier path forward. Eric also shares the thinking behind the Sower Project and its emphasis on collaboration, biblical faithfulness, and church-rooted creativity. Clifford talks about why he joined the collective, lessons learned through Sherwood Forest, and why spiritual grounding matters more than ever. If you care about Christian music, indie rock, church accountability, or how artists can pursue creativity without getting swallowed by the machine, this conversation is for you. LINKS I’m Clifford Today: https://www.youtube.com/ImCliffordToday Sherwood Forest: https://sherwoodforest.bandcamp.com Sower Project / Biblical Indie Rock: https://biblicalindierock.com
