Cross Rhythms in new handbook production

IN WHAT Cross Rhythms public relations manager Dave Cross has called "One of the most important initiatives to help Britain's grassroots Christian musicians" Cross Rhythms has produced a Musicians' Handbook which has been mailshotted to every known Christian band and soloist in the UK

Explained Cross," The purposes of the handbook are twofold: a) To give all Britain's musicians information of the various ways Cross Rhythms can help them publicise their ministry - radio, festivals, magazine, tape promotion, internet, live gig promotion, advertising and the annual Cross Rhythms Directory and b) to alert Britain's musicians to the fact that the next Directory will be published and distributed free with the June/July issue of Cross Rhythms and there is only a small time left for every artist to ensure that their free listing in the Directory is accurate." Any UK band or soloist who has not yet received a Musicians' Handbook is asked to immediately contact Dave or Tina Cross at Cornerstone House.

Mark Goodge, the co-ordinator of the Cross Rhythms web site, reports that the site is currently being visited by approximately 600 users each month. The Cross Rhythms web site was recently awarded an Editor's Choice listing by Look Smart, a major Internet index site.

The Cross Rhythms site is divided into three main sections: magazine, radio and festival. The magazine pages include contact and subscription details, a brief guide to the current issue and a selection of reviews from past issues. The radio section lists the stations that currently carry the Cross Rhythms Experience world wide, as well as information on Cross Rhythms' work with UCB and the plans for a new, national Christian music radio station. The festival section contains the latest news on this year's festival, together with a booking form. There is also an extensive photo gallery from the 1996 festival.

Other contents include a "reader's links" page, where visitors to the web site can add links to their own, or favourite, web sites; and a feedback form where visitors can leave their comments and request more information. The address for the site is: http://www.message.org/cr

The June/July Cross Rhythms magazine will be publishing the first in a feature series which Editor Tony Cummings describes as "one of the most important and exhaustive series ever published in Cross Rhythms. The Inside The Business articles will examine all aspects relating to the financing of Christian music from grassroots missionary bands to America's multi million-dollar industry. Originally planned for the April/May issue it's been put back so the journalistic team compiling it can gather more original research material