There is a Christian music subculture. However, there are also believers who are in the mainstream market making great music, i.e. - Nickel Creek, Mindy Smith, David Wilcox, U2, the Fray, Los Lonely Boys, Matt Kearney, and others. Some in the evangelical subculture may doubt how orthodox these artist are, but they are out there making great music.

The 77's [Michael Roe] had a deal w/Island in the late 80's that collapsed once U2 became the labels main band. However, they made and continue to make great music that can stand up to anything on the radio. I think Daniel Amos, The Choir, Steve Taylor/Chagall Guevara all fit into the same mold. They tried to make it in the mainstream - but couldn't get traction. Most of them make livings producing, writing, or running labels.

There are also folks competing in print media, in record labels, and on the web who are putting out content into the mainstream, shunning the Christian ghetto.

None of these people can do anything to rid the world of "religious nick-nacks" [vis a vis the Swirling Eddies], other than by generating material of superior quality so that Christians [and others] can compare it to "Living on Prayer" t-shirts and CCM magazine - and choose what is better.