Webb shakes up recording industry with free CD

A decade ago, the Houston band Caedmon’s Call was attracting thousands of young people to their weekly show Monday nights at Houston’s First Baptist Church. A few years later, the band would go on to become one of the most popular bands in Contemporary Christian music.

Derek Webb was the songwriting force behind the band for their first few albums. Several years ago, he decided to leave the band to focus on writing songs the way he thought they should be – which many times has gone against the grain of conservative Christian radio.

He's also going against the grain with marketing his latest CD, Mockingbird: he’s giving it away for free. The critically acclaimed album (which focuses not only on religion, but also politics, social justice, and war) has been available for free at freederekwebb.com since September. Webb explains why he decided to give it away for free on his website:

as an artist (and often an agitator), this is something i am keenly aware of. my most recent record ‘mockingbird’ deals with many sensitive issues including poverty, war, and the basic ethics by which we live and deal with others. but i found that music has been an exceptional means by which to get this potentially difficult conversation going. and this is certainly an important moment for dialogue amongst people who disagree about how to best love and take care of people, to get into the nuances of the issues.

Derek Webb returns to the city that made his music popular tonight. The free download of Mockingbird ends December 1st.

Derek Webb (with Andrew Peterson)
Tonight, 6 p.m.
Grace Presbyterian Church
10221 Ella Lee Lane
Tickets: $8