Posted on 03/25/2002 9:19:56 AM PST by southern rock
Do you not find it ironic that the two who sang these words are two of THE most commercialized country performers today? I mean, Alan Jackson changed the name of a song for a car company to use. He did "www.memory"(BARF!) Geore Strait seems like he will prostitute himself for whatever sponsor pays the most. Yes, they are more "traditional country" than most, but those two should take a look in the mirror when they are talking about a "murder on music row".
It's fun to go back and look at Billboard charts from the past. Folks remember the few talents, and forget all the other stuff. I don't have any handy, but if you look, you'll find a lot of names that aren't getting much praise on this thread. Anyone want to sing the praises of BJ Thomas, Freddy Fender, Tanya Tucker, or Ronnie Milsap?
Well, I think it goes back to this:
"Contemporary country radio is targeting young adult females," said Paul Allen, the executive director of the Country Radio Broadcasters, a trade association. "Now, why would you want to target them? Because that's what advertisers want. The young female adult is oftentimes a mom. She influences 90 percent of all the buying decisions in the household; she's a generation X or Y consumer, and not brand loyal. That's a very influenceable and key demographic to go after."
That marketing excuse is B-F-S. Does NASCAR or the NFL market to women? Like television and movies before it country music has become a politically-targeted media genre. This NYT hit piece reinforces that impression. In the old days Bubba would just tell her to "turn that #Q$@ off" and she'd just listen to what he did. But for 5+ years now the industry has promoted Femmbo-country music while virtually ignoring traditional music. Now they're trying to promote 'reparations' music and people aren't buying it. What's the cover of ...Where Art Thou like? Does it have a picture of Birmingham, AL watercannon martyrdom?
Country music is now simply another front in the Left's culture war against the Republic, it's history and it's culture. Don't buy crap country and don't patronize establishments that play it.
Randy Travis is nothing but boilerplate shlock. Garth Brooks should be beaten and deported. Ricky Skaggs, thankfully, is confining himself to what he does best, bluegrass. George Strait made some decent records in the late 80s. Vern Gosden, Keith Whitley and Allan Jackson are bubblegum crooners.
You want some real country? Check out Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Buddy and Julie Miller, Hank III, Robbie Fulks, Alejandro Escovedo, The Gourds, Uncle Tupelo (even though they broke up in '94), Lucinda Williams, etc. etc. Trouble is, unless you're in a college town, you ain't gonna hear them on the radio.
EXCELLENT station; I listen to it, too.
Bet they're not making much money, though. I just hope they stay on the air a while.
RASCAL FLATTS=MURDER ON MUSIC ROW! And don't forget: Brooks & Dung, Mindy McCready and all that crap, etc. etc....
Fine analogy but bad bad comparison.
The 70's and 80's arena rock sound was and is the equivalent of this bland commerical country music today -- except this bland commerical country is still 100 times better than 70's rock.
Play the music, introduce others to it and it will indeed flourish.
Ah man, I LOVE all of those guys. None of 'em are PC enough to the suburban soccer mom demographic the country stations are going for, however.
Arbitron, not long ago, issued a report on what women want from country radio. And, according to the ratings service, most women do not what to hear radio programming that is not family-friendly. In addition, it continues, "even though women are heavily pressured for time and responsibility, they remain optimists. So, don't play to the negatives."
What the??!!!???!!! This is the exact OPPOSITE of everything country is supposed to be about!!!
This is why the music industry is dying. The music is nothing, selling toothpaste is what it is all about! I bought the OBWAT soundtrack when it first came out and also Down From The Mountain, Allison and Union Station and other bluegrass artists but still have NEVER heard any bluegrass played on a "country music radio station"! The corporate interests have a death grip on the radio and are running country music right into the ground. They don't give a damn what the fans want to hear. I can only hope that ways are found to go around these roadblocks. There are many bluegrass festivals around the country and if these cd's keep selling the powers that be will have to pay attention someday.
Great point, very much so.
We've moved this way in the discussion but it is straying from the actual topic at hand.
In the current case the country music being ignored by radio is hugely commericially popular.
That is the strange thing.
It makes no sense.
The only thing that makes this an issue is that best selling actual country music is not played on country radio.
I think that the fans for this old stuff aren't necessarily country music fans or in that demographic. Those listening to country music stations may well think the old type stuff is strange sounding.
g
Faith Hill is horrible. Her first album was real country, but then she became a VH1 "diva". BLEECH.
That's what propaganda is like. It's designed control opinion not reflect it.
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