Rocking to the converted
Christian musicians aim to capture a mainstream audience
Rachel Sa
National Post
Saturday, August 20, 2005

Can Christian music ever go mainstream in Canada? Organiz-ers of the Encounter Ontario festival have faith that it will.

"Christian music makes up 6% of the market share in entertainment in Canada," festival organizer Michelle Dunk said. "The fate of Canada's Christian musicians will depend on whether or not Canadians are willing to give them a chance," she said.

Encounter Ontario, the largest Christian Music Festival in the country, runs today in Toronto at Ontario Place and features 23 bands on three stages, with music styles ranging from hard rock and adult contemporary to gospel and hip hop.

Christian music is a billion-dollar industry in the United States and Ms. Dunk says its popularity is poised to explode north of the border. Christian music is already popular in Western Canada, but she is confident it can break into the East.

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