I've been out a while and have only put in a rare appearance at a memorial or brief visit at a convention/assembly to keep people off my back, so I haven't kept up on the songbook. But one thing I've noticed that the org. has been doing that they never did when I was in is all these "supplemental songs" that keep appearing. Atlantis has a recent post regarding some more. In it they reschedule the song singing in Feb. and Mar. and then there is this strong instruction to practice these new songs and really get them down before singing them:
When the music, lyrics, and choral arrangements become available in your language on jw.org or JW Broadcasting, follow these four steps: (1) Listen repeatedly to the music or choral renditions of the songs until you know them well. (2) Analyze the lyrics, and try to memorize them. (3) Sing the melody together with the lyrics until you have mastered each song. (4) Rehearse the new songs a few times during your Family Worship session until your family is comfortable with them.
In the bigger picture what in the world is going on here? Since the appearance of the new songbook, the org's actions totally break the protocol that they used to have regarding the songbook. It used to be that they'd come out with a new one every couple of decades. In other words, it didn't occupy their time much. It wasn't high on their list of priorities. Now they seem obsessed with constantly wanting to tweak the songbook, add this song (delete that?), etc.
It cannot be just that technology that is making this easy to do. Some back at HQ must either be putting a bug in the GB's ear, or the GB themselves must be on this kick, to constantly give attention to the songs/music. They seem quite unsatisfied with what they used to be satisfied. Furthermore, they've got these pretty awful music videos they've been throwing on the end of the monthly broadcasts, here probably in an effort to reach out the young.
Since we know that the org leadership never gives their true motives for such administrative changes, and if on rare occasion they do say something, it's always BS, does anyone with some ties inside the secret walls of the org have any insight into what's really going on here?