Cross Rhythms
Encyclopedia
Cross Rhythms is a Christian media organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent
, England
.
, a local radio station in Plymouth
, England
. Originally titled The Solid Rock of Jesus Christ, the programme aired every Sunday evening until 1996.
Meanwhile, in 1990, music journalist Tony Cummings
founded Cross Rhythms Magazine, the first use of the name Cross Rhythms. In 1991, publication of the magazine was taken over by Chris Cole's publishing company, Cornerstone House. The radio show was renamed the Cross Rhythms Experience in 1992 and became a syndicated show in 1993.
Also in 1991, Cross Rhythms took over the organisation and management of what had previously been the Umberleigh Rock Gospel Festival. The event was renamed to the Cross Rhythms Festival, and continued to be held annually until 2003. By 1995 the magazine had a readership of about 15,000.
A major change in emphasis occurred in 1998 when Cross Rhythms, in partnership with United Christian Broadcasters
, launched a satellite radio channel broadcasting to the UK and Europe via the Sky Television
network. At the same time, Cross Rhythms moved base from Plymouth
to Stoke-on-Trent
to share facilities with UCB
. The partnership continued until 2002, when Cross Rhythms was granted a pilot licence for a new form of local radio, then called Access Radio but now known as Community Radio
. Cross Rhythms City Radio
went on air in February 2002 and now has a full five-year licence.
At the same time as obtaining the FM licence for Cross Rhythms City Radio
, Cross Rhythms moved out of UCB's HQ and into Conway House, the former home of BBC Radio Stoke
.
With the focus of the organisation changing to a greater emphasis on radio, the last Cross Rhythms Festival to bear the name was held in 2003 and Cross Rhythms Magazine ceased publication in 2005. The festival was subsequently re-launched as a partnership with Gilead Foundations under the new name of the Arrow Festival. The editorial content of the magazine is now carried by the Cross Rhythms Website, one of the largest Christian media websites in the UK – Google analytics advise that almost 1 million individuals visited the site in 2008. In order to help finance the expansion of the radio aspect of the organisation, Cross Rhythms Direct was launched in 2003 as an online Christian music shop and is now one of the UK's leading Christian music retailers. It has a chart system and the highest selling artists include Chris Tomlin
, Lou Fellingham
, Soul Survivor
and Hillsong.
and the Cross Rhythms website, Cross Rhythms also provides syndicated radio programming for a number of other radio stations, mostly community based, and music review content for several publications including the UK Christian retail trade magazine Christian Marketplace
.
- officially launched on 29 March 2007 and Cross Rhythms Teesside, officially launched on 27 April 2008. Although using the name, these stations are under separate ownership as required by Ofcom regulations. The use of the Cross Rhythms brand is part of a franchise
agreement whereby the new stations will take syndicated programming from Cross Rhythms outside their own core broadcasting hours while retaining full editorial independence
.
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
The roots of what was to become Cross Rhythms go back to two separate sources which merged in 1991. In 1983, broadcaster Chris Cole started a 30-minute weekly Christian music radio show on Plymouth Sound FMPlymouth Sound FM
Heart Plymouth was an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to Plymouth in Devon, England.-History:The name heritage name Plymouth Sound was a pun on the popular meaning of sound and the bay of Plymouth Sound between Penlee Point and Wembury Point in Devon.In November 2005 it was announced...
, a local radio station in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Originally titled The Solid Rock of Jesus Christ, the programme aired every Sunday evening until 1996.
Meanwhile, in 1990, music journalist Tony Cummings
Tony Cummings
-Biography:His journalistic career started in 1973 as a writer for Black Music magazine. Over the next few years he interviewed such artists as Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson and hundreds more. He stopped writing for the magazine in 1976 and converted to Christianity in 1980...
founded Cross Rhythms Magazine, the first use of the name Cross Rhythms. In 1991, publication of the magazine was taken over by Chris Cole's publishing company, Cornerstone House. The radio show was renamed the Cross Rhythms Experience in 1992 and became a syndicated show in 1993.
Also in 1991, Cross Rhythms took over the organisation and management of what had previously been the Umberleigh Rock Gospel Festival. The event was renamed to the Cross Rhythms Festival, and continued to be held annually until 2003. By 1995 the magazine had a readership of about 15,000.
A major change in emphasis occurred in 1998 when Cross Rhythms, in partnership with United Christian Broadcasters
United Christian Broadcasters
United Christian Broadcasters is an international Christian broadcasting and media group. Through affiliates in twenty five countries, it operates radio and television stations and publishes and broadcasts Bob Gass's free daily devotionals The Word for You Today and word4u2day...
, launched a satellite radio channel broadcasting to the UK and Europe via the Sky Television
Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)
Sky is the brand name for British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite television and radio service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28.2° east and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite at 28.5°E. The service was originally launched as Sky Digital, distinguishing it from the original...
network. At the same time, Cross Rhythms moved base from Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
to Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
to share facilities with UCB
United Christian Broadcasters
United Christian Broadcasters is an international Christian broadcasting and media group. Through affiliates in twenty five countries, it operates radio and television stations and publishes and broadcasts Bob Gass's free daily devotionals The Word for You Today and word4u2day...
. The partnership continued until 2002, when Cross Rhythms was granted a pilot licence for a new form of local radio, then called Access Radio but now known as Community Radio
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
. Cross Rhythms City Radio
Cross Rhythms City Radio
Cross Rhythms City Radio is a UK community radio station broadcasting toStoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. The station was one of the original 15 to be granted pilot licences for a new form of local radio, then known as Access Radio. Following several extensions of the pilot...
went on air in February 2002 and now has a full five-year licence.
At the same time as obtaining the FM licence for Cross Rhythms City Radio
Cross Rhythms City Radio
Cross Rhythms City Radio is a UK community radio station broadcasting toStoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. The station was one of the original 15 to be granted pilot licences for a new form of local radio, then known as Access Radio. Following several extensions of the pilot...
, Cross Rhythms moved out of UCB's HQ and into Conway House, the former home of BBC Radio Stoke
BBC Radio Stoke
BBC Radio Stoke is a BBC Local Radio station in England, for the area of North and Mid Staffordshire, north east Shropshire and South Cheshire. The station began broadcasting programmes on 14 March 1968 as BBC Radio Stoke-on-Trent....
.
With the focus of the organisation changing to a greater emphasis on radio, the last Cross Rhythms Festival to bear the name was held in 2003 and Cross Rhythms Magazine ceased publication in 2005. The festival was subsequently re-launched as a partnership with Gilead Foundations under the new name of the Arrow Festival. The editorial content of the magazine is now carried by the Cross Rhythms Website, one of the largest Christian media websites in the UK – Google analytics advise that almost 1 million individuals visited the site in 2008. In order to help finance the expansion of the radio aspect of the organisation, Cross Rhythms Direct was launched in 2003 as an online Christian music shop and is now one of the UK's leading Christian music retailers. It has a chart system and the highest selling artists include Chris Tomlin
Chris Tomlin
Christopher Dwayne "Chris" Tomlin is an American Christian Contemporary Music artist, worship leader, and songwriter from Grand Saline, Texas, United States. He is a former staff member at Austin Stone Community Church and is signed to EMI's sixstepsrecords. Tomlin also leads worship at many...
, Lou Fellingham
Lou Fellingham
Louise "Lou" Fellingham , , is a Christian worship leader, singer and songwriter from Brighton in East Sussex, England. She is a founding member of the British band Phatfish and has also pursued a solo career....
, Soul Survivor
Soul Survivor
-Soul Survivor Festivals:At present, four separate Soul Survivor festivals take place every year within the UK:Soul Survivor A - A week long festival based at the Stafford County Showground in Staffordshire aimed at teenagers....
and Hillsong.
Current activities
As well as operating Cross Rhythms City RadioCross Rhythms City Radio
Cross Rhythms City Radio is a UK community radio station broadcasting toStoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. The station was one of the original 15 to be granted pilot licences for a new form of local radio, then known as Access Radio. Following several extensions of the pilot...
and the Cross Rhythms website, Cross Rhythms also provides syndicated radio programming for a number of other radio stations, mostly community based, and music review content for several publications including the UK Christian retail trade magazine Christian Marketplace
Christian Marketplace
Christian Marketplace is the UK-based trade magazine for the Christian retail industry, featuring news, product reviews and interviews. It is published monthly and is supplied to both Christian and general market retailers.- History :...
.
The Cross Rhythms Brand
The name "Cross Rhythms" is also used by two other UK community radio stations, Cross Rhythms PlymouthCross Rhythms Plymouth
Cross Rhythms Plymouth is a UK Community Radio station broadcasting to Plymouth, Devon. The station is operated under a franchise agreement with Cross Rhythms in Stoke-on-Trent , but has separate ownership as required by Ofcom regulations.The station first went on air on 29 March 2007.-References:*...
- officially launched on 29 March 2007 and Cross Rhythms Teesside, officially launched on 27 April 2008. Although using the name, these stations are under separate ownership as required by Ofcom regulations. The use of the Cross Rhythms brand is part of a franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
agreement whereby the new stations will take syndicated programming from Cross Rhythms outside their own core broadcasting hours while retaining full editorial independence
Editorial independence
Editorial independence is the freedom of editors to make decisions without interference from the owners of a publication. Editorial independence is tested, for instance, if a newspaper runs articles that may be unpopular with its advertising clientele....
.