Many aspiring singers dream of having a career in the Nigerian gospel industry but Popular gospel musician, Frank Edwards stated that the Nigerian gospel “ministry” is not profitable adding that musicians should desist from venturing into the gospel ministry with the sole aim of making money.
Frank Edwards made this known in a recent interview with The Punch where he discussed a number of pressing issues. The discussion came after he was asked why gospel singers are rarely used as ambassadors.
In his words:
“There are so many reasons. Firstly, you have to understand that the industry and ministry is not the same thing. Gospel music is a ministry, the other one is an industry, so it functions fully like that.
“The gospel ministry is totally different from the secular industry even though you might say that there is a business side of it which makes it similar. But in gospel ministry, the business aspect of it is never the focus. I tell people that if you want to make money, don’t do gospel music; you would have a lot of issues.
“Gospel music means one is reaching out to people through music; the others are strictly entertainment or at least 70-80 per cent entertainment. The company would rather give the opportunity to musicians who sing songs that all religions, including Christians, would dance to, either at a party or in a club.
“The companies are looking for numbers, and they would give the brand ambassadorship to someone who everybody loves their music. If the companies give it to gospel singers like me, people who don’t listen to gospel would probably not pay attention.
“Although I’m a brand ambassador, it is not everything that one must do as a gospel artiste. When you are not getting endorsements, think of how many souls you music has healed– that’s your reward.”