All Three Sturgill Simpson Albums See Sales Surge After Grammy Awards
As to be expected, Sturgill Simpson saw a big sales surge after Sunday night’s Grammy Awards where he performed the song “All Around You” from his Album of the Year-nominated effort A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. The record also won the Grammy for Best Country Album earlier in the day. Though the surge would have likely been greater if Sturgill was able to accept the Best Country Album award during the primetime telecast (it was moved last minute), he still saw a big spike in sales.
After Sturgill’s performance of “All Around You,” sales of the song spiked 9,772% compared to the previous day, but that’s a little misleading since sales on the previous day were basically nothing, and the song still only sold just over 2,000 new downloaded copies total. Just like we saw with the sales spike for Sturgill after he performed on Saturday Night Live, the real ground gained was in album sales.
After the 2017 Grammy Awards, Simpson’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth rocketed to the top of the iTunes charts, landing at #1 in country, and #7 overall. And that wasn’t the only album that saw a sales spike. Sturgill’s sophomore release Metmodern Sounds in Country Music also shot into the Top 10, landing at #8, while his first album High Top Mountain came in at #12. Even more surprising, as of Wednesday morning, all three records held those same positions three days after the awards. A Sailor’s Guide to Earth still tops the iTunes country chart.
What’s also a bit surprising is how the country music industry seems to be ignoring the surge, while talking about the surge for other artists. Perhaps it’s because Simpson’s particular imprint of Atlantic Records is based in New York and not on Music Row, but one of the industry-leading country periodicals Music Row Magazine published a story about the post-Grammy sales surge for country artists, including Maren Morris, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, and Lori McKenna, and specifically used iTunes data to determine the surge, yet didn’t mention Sturgill Simpson at all, even though he was leading the iTunes Country Album chart at the time.
Music Row Magazine even mentioned the sales spike of other non genre acts such as Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, and Katy Perry. Also curiously absent from covering the Sturgill Simpson surge is HITS Daily Double‘s building weekly albums chart. This is the source for the industry to see how albums are fairing before the official weekly charts come out. Similar to when they ignored Sturgill’s Saturday Night Live surge, there’s no mention of A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. After SNL, A Sailor’s Guide landed at #3 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, and Metamodern Sounds also re-entered the chart. A Sailor’s Guide could hit #1 next week due to Simpson’s Grammy surge.
Other country artists who saw a post-Grammy sales surge include Maren Morris, who landed at #2 in country on iTunes and #8 overall just behind Sturgill with her album Hero, Lori McKenna’s solo album The Bird & The Rifle rose to #22 after her win for Best Country Song with “Humble and Kind,” and Keith Urban’s “The Fighter” featuring Carrie Underwood sailed to #6 in iTunes song sales after their Grammy performance. Kelsea Ballerini also saw a sales spike for her song “Peter Pan.”
Jim Bob
February 15, 2017 @ 10:28 am
Hadn’t seen that music row one. Left a stupid comment on her stupid little article
Jordan K
February 15, 2017 @ 11:28 am
Do I know you?
Jim Bob
February 15, 2017 @ 11:36 am
Doubt it. I might know like 2 people with good enough taste in music to visit SCM.
Jordan K
February 15, 2017 @ 11:45 am
Haha ok. Thought you might have been my fiddle player buddy, same name
Mongo
February 15, 2017 @ 10:36 am
Should have named the article Sturgill Simpson’s Album Sales Surge Past Beyonce’s Lemonade, just to piss Knight off haha
Mongo
February 15, 2017 @ 10:39 am
King*
Jack Williams
February 15, 2017 @ 10:39 am
What’s also a bit surprising is how the country music industry seems to be ignoring the surge, while talking about the surge for other artists.
Like O Brother. Deja vu all over again?
Brian
February 15, 2017 @ 10:55 am
It’s amazing how people connected to the industry still seem in the dark about him. Driving get to work the morning after Grammys and radio was on KVET, Bama, Rod and Heather. Not exactly sure on their spelling get, but they were going over winners and raved about Maren Morris and Humble and Kind. Then they said best country album went to Sturgill Simpson and there was like a five second pause and then they say “I have no idea who that is”, neither of them knew him. I was shocked they had no idea who he is.
Trigger
February 15, 2017 @ 11:03 am
I really like Music Row Magazine and think they’re great for reporting music news, and especially for keeping up with people in country who pass away, big or small. I regularly link to their stories in the news crawl at the top of the page, and there’s a couple in there right now. But how you write a story on Maren Morris’s Grammy sales spike, put her picture on the cover of it, and ignore Sturgill Simpson when he’s sitting directly ahead of her at #1 and #7 all-genre is really hard to understand. They didn’t even mention him, but the mention Ed Sheeran and Katy Perry. This isn’t conspiracy theory, just like Sturgill Simpson’s Best Country Album getting moved off the telecast. It really does look like there is a concerted effort going on to bury Sturgill Simpson’s success.
albert
February 15, 2017 @ 11:41 am
Here in the Great White North , SS gets NO airplay on the local country station …and , of course , that’s not surprising . It may be considered country music by the Grammys and by SS fans and others ….but not by commercial country radio .
FGL , Underwood , Urban gets played round the clock , as do other commercial ” country ‘ artists NOT because they are country aritists ….but because they are willing to pander . I don’t know if SS gets any exposure on country radio – or any radio – in the U.S. but very few listeners up here know who he is . Perhaps his label is failing in terms of a wider exposure to the mainstream …perhaps SS doesn’t want or care about mainstream ( his albums are indicative of that , certainly ). Even Chris Stapleton’s single releases got very limited airplay up here . I think the minions at radio and in the commercial game are keeping the chart VERY pop-country friendly . They KNOW the market their sponsors want them to pander to and that market is a youthful contingent and their moms . NOT exactly SS or Stapleton kind of listeners…although certainly folks are becoming more aware of Stapleton up here .
The young ‘ country’ DJ’s I’ve heard are way more aware of the Beyonces Katy Perrys and Ed Sheerans and are obviously Pop fans first , judging by their between song banter and completely pop culture-related references .
At the risk of raising the ire of SS fans again , the simple truth is that he is NOT commercial -sounding and would not serve radio that is designed as ear candy ….wallpaper for your work day . A lot of the shit commercial country radio plays ( Urban , Aldean , LB ) is VERY high energy and hook-driven melodically and lyrically . Again ….NOT SS ‘ wheelhouse . Pink Floyd had one ..maybe two songs that got airplay . Doesn’t seemed to have hurt their careers . The more ”adventurous ” ANY genre becomes , the less chance they will get commercial airplay on safe sponsor-compliant radio stations or networks . It has always been thus .
Perhaps the best thing for SS and radio is the ‘twain never meeting on any level where it might tempt or invite compromise by him . On the other hand , if SS feels that he has lots to express as an artist and wanted to reach as many folks as possible with his views , making his music even a tad more accessible could only help that cause .
Trainwreck92
February 16, 2017 @ 10:37 pm
I live in Texas and no mainstream country station is playing Sturgill Simpson here, either. Interestingly enough, down in Austin, KUTX, a mostly “indie/alternative/etc.” station plays Sturgill pretty frequently, and not just his less country stuff trom ASGTE, I’m talking about true blue country from Hightop Mountain and Metamodern. And Sturgill’s not the only country artist they play; I’ve heard Hank Sr., Kitty Wells, Willie, Waylon, Nikki Lane and a ton more on there. It’s shameful when most country stations are being outdone by a somewhat “hipstery” station in Austin.
Mike2
February 15, 2017 @ 6:02 pm
Sturgill said he would get blackballed. Looks like he was probably right.
Nope
February 15, 2017 @ 7:47 pm
Well you were listening to KVET or as I call it KASE lite, what did you expect? Bama and his ilk have been polluting the airwaves of Austin for years with their ignorance. I quit listening to KVET when they let go of long time staff and changed the format up to more contemporary fair.
Dan H
February 15, 2017 @ 11:08 am
I shit you not when I tell you im currently in a Starbucks and they are playing sturgill Simpson. I couldn’t believe it but I’m impressed.
Stringbuzz
February 15, 2017 @ 2:38 pm
my wife just reminded me, we were in maine eating at a Ruby Tuesday’s chain, Sturgill was played.. The next song (I remember this cause we were freaked out about Sturgill) was Elton John.
Weird Shyt.
Ryan
February 15, 2017 @ 7:47 pm
Weird, but awesome.
someguy
February 15, 2017 @ 6:40 pm
They played a Waylon cover the other day in mine
Stork
February 15, 2017 @ 7:36 pm
Walked into a bar the other night,not a honky tonk but a popular college bar and heard long white line while I was walking in. Guess I played it on the jukebox in there enough that it caught on lol
Mark
February 18, 2017 @ 5:33 pm
heard sturgill in a grocery store (safeway) in a small town in Manitoba a few weeks ago. The TV show theme that he wrote.
surprised me.
Kevin Smith
February 15, 2017 @ 11:12 am
Trigger, there’s an answer as to why country music industry may be ignoring the surge with Sturgill. It’s been said here many times. A Sailors Guide is NOT country music! Really it’s a rock record. I know it won a Grammy for country, I get it….I do….but in reality very little on the album really sounds like country. There is no way country radio would play anything off that record. Sturgill didnt intend it to sound country. That’s ok…
Why did it get a Grammy for best country album? A host of reasons….you could sum it up by saying that’s the Grammys…Is it nice that he won? Certainly. But if I were involved in country radio I might be more interested in his past work that actually sounded country. I am no Sturgill hater, believe me, IMO I’m just pointing out the obvious.
Now I’m bracing for impact ( pun intended) as I’m sure my remarks will incur the wrath of the Sturgill Superfans of which Trigger is the President. Fire away…( yes ..a Stapleton reference..haha)
Jim Bob
February 15, 2017 @ 11:16 am
Then why don’t they ignore 90+% of mainstream “country” for being even less country than ASGTE? There, just poked a huge hole in that theory 🙂
albert
February 15, 2017 @ 11:45 am
….see my post above Jim Bob. There IS a reason the other stuff gets played
Trigger
February 15, 2017 @ 11:48 am
I get what you’re saying, and even though I’m apparently the President of the superfans, I myself has said that “A Sailor’s Guide” is Sturgill’s least country project. But it’s more country than Maren Morris let’s say, and is literally right in front of her on both the iTunes chart. I don’t see that as a legitimate reason to ignore it, especially for Music Row Magazine when they’re also talking about Katy Perry.
Kevin Smith
February 15, 2017 @ 12:01 pm
Oh no..don’t say it…..Katy Perry gonna do a country record???? Sigh….why not…after all , the cool kids are all doing it. She’s in good company though…maybe this is really the future of country radio…a landing pad for pop stars to keep their career going and expand their bank accounts.
As for Dan’s Starbucks observation…I’m not surprised…a fair amount of hipster types like Simpson and NPR adores him. Starbucks projects that trendy cool vibe. But will you ever hear Hank Jr, Johnny Paycheck or Coe in a Starbucks??? You know the answer.
CCRR
February 15, 2017 @ 2:13 pm
Your comment about Hipsters and SS is exactly what I was going to say. I recently told my husband that it looked like the hipsters were going to ditch Stapleton soon…because they are all about Sturgill now. It was said as a joke…but really there is a lot of truth behind it…that’s why it cracks me up when people totally bash anything mainstream because it’s “trendy”….guess what, so is Sturgill and any of these other “outside the mainstream” artists…it’s the latest hipster trend, like a sudden interest in backpacking and the outdoors. Does that means it’s automatically a bad thing or terrible? No, but if we want to talk cliche…we can’t just leave this portion of the conversation out.
Mike Liao
February 16, 2017 @ 12:15 am
Who’s Kate Perry? O you mean Jay Low? The B. who is talking about some static about racism? And needin’ to bring the refugees in?
Jack Williams
February 15, 2017 @ 12:41 pm
…I’m apparently the President of the superfans…
About that…
I’ve pretty giddy around the house after the Sturgill Grammy win and performance. Been yelling out Sturgill songs to our new Amazon Echo and bragging about the no cover show I saw in 2013. I had this conversation with my third grade daughter.
“Daddy, are you the biggest Sturgill Simpson fan?”
“(Laughing) No, I’m not his biggest fan.”
“Who is?”
“Kyle Coroneos”
“Who’s that?”
Trigger
February 15, 2017 @ 12:53 pm
🙂
Robert St
February 15, 2017 @ 11:52 am
To me, the key takeaway is that radio isn’t the be all and end all anymore. The last two Grammy country albums did so without much radio support, and some of the other nominated albums weren’t played much on radio, either. Folks will find him on Pandora and so forth, and they’ll get his earlier work, too, plus artists in the same category.
albert
February 15, 2017 @ 11:57 am
exactly robert …….if SS starts pandering too much , he’ll risk losing the fan base that appreciates him NOT pandering. the folks that like him will find him .
jtrpdx
February 15, 2017 @ 12:17 pm
ASGTE is a country record more than it isn’t and definitely belongs in the country category vs. something else. Sturgill is undeniably a country singer, and there are many elements of the record that fit squarely into the country category from a song structure, instrumentation, and overall feel standpoint. It may be a little more progressive and less straight down the fairway from a classic country formula standpoint than his first two solo albums, but there is no denying that it is a country album moreso than it is any other category. But, of course, that is all a matter of opinion. What shouldn’t be a matter of opinion, is the idea that Keith Urban, etc. and all the other pop crap that country radio does play is more country than ASGTE, and using that as an explanation as to why country radio plays it over ASGTE.
Kevin Smith
February 15, 2017 @ 1:26 pm
As predicted I encounter the wrath. I have read numerous interviews with Sturgill.I have read magazine articles on him. I listened to the album, compared it to his back catalog, read hours of SS super fans debate the subject. And finally I have decades of listening to country music ….artists like Merle, Waylon, The Hanks, Johnny (Horton, Cash, and Paycheck.) Don Williams, Loretta, Patsy, Dolly, Dwight, Marty, Lefty, George and so on.
Here’s my point….Sturgill himself doesn’t claim the album is country. In fact he has admitted it ain’t ..more or less.He wasn’t trying to make a country record with this one. He wanted to do something different. He purposefully explored rock and classic soul with the horns. I HAVE NO PROBLEM with that!!! Ok???? I like horns!!!!!! I love Lucero and many artists who use horns. Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings is the greatest live show I have ever witnessed.
But calling it a country album isn’t even fair to Sturgill who intentionally tried to explore other genres. Some of you folks think if someone says the album ain’t country…then we are somehow diminishing his excellency in some way..GET REAL.
It’s a fine record on its own merits and it stands alone. Yes , his country southern twang accent comes through and perhaps that’s why some like you feel it’s country music. Don’t forget though that many southerners have made rock and roll records even with a southern drawl. Skynyrd anyone?
Simpsons earlier work was made with the goal of sounding country. This album was different. So I find it ironic and funny that it won the Grammy for best country album considering its creator was intentionally going in another direction. That said….still more country than Sam Hunt!
Jack Williams
February 15, 2017 @ 1:38 pm
You’re right. It’s not a particularly country record. I’d say Oh Sarah and Sea Stories are close enough to country. It’s a mix of southern soul, rock and country. It IS rootsy.
Robert St
February 15, 2017 @ 2:11 pm
You’ll get no wrath from me. Brandy Clark and Loretta Lynn were the only 2 of the 5 country album nominees I personally would’ve classified as country . That said, I have a ticket to Sturgill Simpson’s show in May that I’m looking forward to, and I enjoy Sailor’s Guide.
” But will you ever hear Hank Jr, Johnny Paycheck or Coe in a Starbucks??? You know the answer. ” Starbucks did enlist Chris Stapleton to create a Spotify playlist last year, and he included songs by David Allan Coe and Bocephus. I do recall when it first came out that someone who works at a Starbucks up north said they played the list in their store.
Greg
February 22, 2017 @ 8:16 am
Loretta’s “Full Circle” CD is Country.
albert
February 15, 2017 @ 2:17 pm
”But calling it a country album isn’t even fair to Sturgill who intentionally tried to explore other genres. ”
That just shows you how screwed up and confused the Grammy’s AND radio are
jtrpdx
February 15, 2017 @ 2:39 pm
Kevin – or, you can just link to some direct Sturgill quotes. Like this one that pretty much solves things: “Some people will say, and have said, that I’m trying to run from country, but I’m never going to make anything other than a country record. As soon as I open my mouth, it’s going to be a country song. . . but it doesn’t make the think pieces any less amusing,” says Simpson. “I thought it was hilarious when ‘Brace for Impact’ was released and people said I had abandoned country even though the song is dripping with pedal steel. If anything, that tells me I’m making progress.”
jtrpdx
February 15, 2017 @ 2:42 pm
Not saying that you can’t have your own opinions, but saying that Sturgill himself doesn’t view his music as “country” is not accurate. If fact, the exact opposite is true.
Kevin Smith
February 15, 2017 @ 2:55 pm
Uh huh….I can probably dig up some other quotes from him that show his interest in making other music styles. He contradicts himself depending on which mood he’s in.Read the Rolling Stone article for example.
You are gonna have your opinion and I’m gonna have mine. And we may never agree.And really that’s ok. Life goes on. You need to believe that Sturgill is 100 % country all the time and I clearly see somebody experimenting with different genres. Charlie daniels didn’t just make country music, he was a full blown rocker with dual LesPauls, dual drummers and a B3. Some of his music was a clear Southern Rock nod to Allman Brothers and some of it was pure country.Ultimately didn’t matter, people like it all. Same can be said with Sturgill. He doesn’t hem himself in to one genre.
Like I said, some folks like yourself have to believe every musical utterance from the great one must be labeled country. So more power to ya. Just know that not everyone agrees with you.
jtrpdx
February 15, 2017 @ 3:23 pm
I think we agree on the experimental aspect of ASGTE, and if Sturgill were to make a record that I didn’t feel was country, I would have no problem admitting that. Also, I never said that he hasn’t stated that ASGTE was an experimental album in many ways that was inspired by many different influences. The point is, in my opinion, I think that ASGTE is a country album when taken on the whole. That is all. Not saying it is the perfect classic country record by the greatest country artist of all time. Actually, there are a few songs on ASGTE that I could take or leave. Finally, this whole “super fan” thing or that people think he is “the great one” is a little out there…not sure where that comes from. The only reason I replied in the first place is point out that many people (Including Sturgill himself), think ASGTE is clearly a country album…one that pushes the genre no doubt, but still a solidly country album. I have also never seen him contradict the quote I posted above, including in Rolling Stone. Yes, he talks about his wide range of influences, but I don’t think he has ever said he is anything other than a country artist.
Cool Lester Smooth
February 15, 2017 @ 1:55 pm
I’d say it’s closer to classic Rock and Roll, like JD McPherson, than pure country.
albert
February 15, 2017 @ 2:15 pm
No one on that nominations list is more country than Loretta Lynn ( and NOBODY had a more COUNTRY record this year ) and she too is ignored by radio . A GRAMMY NOMINEE !!!!! So …….Sturgil is in excellent company in terms of who is ignored by radio .
Cool Lester Smooth
February 15, 2017 @ 1:54 pm
The Grammys is actually a hell of a lot better at nominating actual country for country awards than just about anyone in the industry.
Wheeler Walker Sr.
February 15, 2017 @ 12:49 pm
Hey trigg, let’s quit talking about this artist that sold out his country music roots for a goddamn trumphet and review ?-king from the true savior of country music, Wheeler Walker Jr.
jtrpdx
February 15, 2017 @ 1:12 pm
Kind of like Merle and others were huge “sellouts” for using horns. Got it!
Wheeler Walker Sr.
February 15, 2017 @ 1:18 pm
Poor attempt at humor. SS is a genius and deserves all the accolades he gets and is above any criticism from so called traditionalists. Also, The horn in “Daddy Frank” is one of my favorite parts of the song. Just having fun.
Robert St
February 15, 2017 @ 1:27 pm
Let’s see… Last year, “Who the HELL is Stapleton ?”
This year, “Who the FUCK is Sturgill ?”
Next year ? “Who in the _____ is Wheeler Walker ?”
Which word should fill in the blank ?
Jack Williams
February 15, 2017 @ 1:40 pm
How about:
Wheeler Walker? You’ve got to be shittin’ me!
Wheeler Walker Sr.
February 15, 2017 @ 1:45 pm
“Who in the FGL’s asshole is Wheeler Walker Jr.”
Corncaster
February 15, 2017 @ 2:05 pm
back to the 3 albums: I downloaded all three from iTunes a while ago, and the audio quality blows. like, noticeably and significantly shitey. has this been anyone else’s experience? is the uncompressed audio on CD much better?
Wheeler Walker Sr.
February 15, 2017 @ 2:11 pm
I’m not an audiophile so maybe my hearing isn’t super refined for this, but the iTunes versions I downloaded (High Top and Metamodern in 2014 and SGTE last spring) sound fine to me.
albert
February 15, 2017 @ 2:28 pm
Agreed Corncaster …Metamodern was not a good sounding record but I think that was a production choice.
ASGTE was a bit better , I found ….but still fell below the production standards of many , many other iTunes albums I’ve purchased including Sam Outlaw , Cody Johnson ( excellent ) , LeAnn Rimes newest and even Bruno Mars …although Pop music is generally cleaner with far more exagerated compression ratios for radio’s sake as . Miranda Lambert’s and Garth’s newest are also a bit muddier and not as well-produced sonically . But Garth always had inferior production . I have a small demo studio here in town so I’m more than a little familiar with sound .Again , though , I think with SS it may be a choice to keep things less ‘polished’ .
Convict charlie
February 15, 2017 @ 3:40 pm
In his heyday Garth recorded in analogue and transferred to digital. Not sure if he still did it recently or not? It was outdated then.
jtrpdx
February 15, 2017 @ 2:50 pm
Corncaster – not sure what you are listening to the downloads on, but I think the audio sounds great on the first two with a great mix across the board, and the vocals could have been recorded and mixed a bit better on ASGTE (yes, even taking into account that sturgill can be a mumbler especially when he sings softly). They could also do without as much reverb in places. I agree that Metamodern has a bit of a vintage feel, but I think that is just the way he intended things. The vinyls sound great (although I have a great turntable and a vintage Mirantz receiver), but the Itunes downloads from my phone sound pretty darn good in my rig (through the blue tooth feature on my head unit), and that is in an ’83 Land Cruiser with a sound system that is slightly upgraded but nothing stellar.
albert
February 15, 2017 @ 4:34 pm
One of the reasons radio doesn’t like some of this stuff IS in fact the reverb and ‘sloppy’ production . When you compress sound ( as radio stations always do ) it creates havoc when a track is soaked in reverb. You’ll notice that many of the tracks produced in the last 10-15 years kept vocals very dry and that’s partially the reason . Everybody compresses the mix-downs and mastering of this stuff so that it will play LOUD and in-your-face with a great kick to it but NOT create overtones and distortions and ‘ pumping’ due to the reverb and such . Commercial radio is very in-your-face from commercials to jingles ….songs have to compete with that sound . Even some of Stapleton’s stuff doesn’t translate well when its very wet . Sturgil’s stuff would be nightmarish UNLESS they did specific radio mixes for it .
Trigger
February 15, 2017 @ 4:17 pm
I said in my review of Metamodern Sounds that the audio could me more crisp. This is a specific concern of mine from many of the albums originating in east Nashville. It’s the Black Keys effect, and Dave Cobb’s influence.
albert
February 15, 2017 @ 4:40 pm
Exactly Trigger . I know the artists all seem to like that Dave Cobb thing ….and that’s fine . But it is a very different sound and , I’d argue , not as radio-friendly as the more polished stuff .
Corncaster
February 15, 2017 @ 7:31 pm
glad to hear I’m not crazy, and my hearing tests really well. I also love lo-fi sounds. I can’t believe a gear freak like Cobb mixed the shitty audio I have. maybe it’s compression artifacts. it sure as hell doesn’t sound like Merle’s records. I hope three things for the next SS effort: that S writes some honest sh*t, that he stops swallowing his voice, and that Cobb waxes some first-rate audio.
Stringbuzz
February 15, 2017 @ 2:17 pm
Go Sturg..
I can tell you presale tix went on sale this morning for Boston.
learned the lesson that you need more than one person to try to get tix.
My wife got in, we scored some decent tix front section, but not great, row hh, starts at A.
That was at 10:04.
I was offered tix 2 mins later and they were way back in the concourse obstructed view.. This was 10:06.
Many I know were left without tix. Nothing available.
I don’t know if there will be tix for what goes on sale tomorrow.
This show isn’t until freaking Sept!!
Let’s just hope he keeps his humility now that he is going to be a superstar and the biggest country star on the planet soon!! LOL
The record is country.. So many shades to the genre these days. Like Rock Music.
I don’t know how many times I’m told to get that country crap off the jukebox when I play Sturgill out at the bars on dart nite. LOL..
Jack Williams
February 15, 2017 @ 2:30 pm
I don’t know how many times I’m told to get that country crap off the jukebox when I play Sturgill out at the bars on dart nite. LOL..
Those Massholes! And I say that affectionately. Sort of. 😉
Stork
February 15, 2017 @ 7:46 pm
I’m in knoxville but I got on the charlotte pre-sale and snagged the last two tickets with assigned seating. How much was your convenience fee? Live Nation charged me 15 per ticket!
Still better than last year. I went on the moment tickets went on sale to the general public for the ryman shows and got beat out by botsc. Wound up dropping about 300 on some good balcony seats.
MH
February 15, 2017 @ 2:28 pm
There’s a reason why Music Row is ignoring and not reporting about Sturgill: he’s not one of them. He didn’t come up through The Row’s long-adhered to way of doing things, so to them, he doesn’t exist (see Gary Overton’s comments) The suits on Music Row like to toot their horns anytime someone that’s signed to them are successful and Sturgill discredits their system.
Reminds me of what Buck Owens told The Hag back in the day when Merle first started blowing up and was invited to play the Grand Ole Opry:
“You don’t need the Opry. The Opry needs you.”
colt
February 15, 2017 @ 4:34 pm
I took the chance of listening to the radio after the Grammys to see if they might be playing Sturgill or at least talking about him. I have 3 preset country stations on my radio and two of them were playing the exact same Blake Shelton song and the 3rd playing a different Blake Shelton song. when will they wake up and at least acknowledge Sturgill?
Gabe
February 15, 2017 @ 5:18 pm
To be honest I’ve given up listening to radio, I mean given all the forgettable ‘wannabe’ music they promote. My hat goes off to SS for not being a sellout, he has something Blake (and most of the folks radio promotes) doesn’t…
Jim Bob
February 15, 2017 @ 5:23 pm
A pre-telecast Grammy?
CountryCharm
February 15, 2017 @ 5:44 pm
The interesting thing to me is will he be acknowledged by the Country Awards or will the Grammys be it for him. I would loved to be surprised and see him nominated for album of the year tomorrow.
Boss
February 15, 2017 @ 7:09 pm
Trigg, I feel like SS and Dave Cobb fell out for some reason but have yet to see any evidence. Dave is all about Stapleton these days and I remember the early days when he and SS were bff’s. I think Sturgill needs Cobb to be the best version of himself which is why I also think they split. Sturgill has overthought things I suspect and convinced himself to get shed of Cobb and go it alone. The result was sub par but it got him a grammy i guess? Hope they make nice again and with Cobb’s touch SS does indeed become the greatest country music star alive!
Jacob W
February 15, 2017 @ 7:29 pm
The STURG SURGE, hahaha.
Dogit
February 15, 2017 @ 8:33 pm
This was a great pick for a Grammy. IMO, this is an example of evolving country music. Sturgill will save country music. Stapleton was supposed too. I will believe country music is saved when I can hear Whitey Morgan on my local country radio station.
Henning
February 16, 2017 @ 3:27 am
What I really like about this is that “Metamodern” and “High Top Mountain” were after all released on Sturgill’s very own label. So a proper percentage of the sales will actually go directly to him and not line the pockets of a huge operation. Considering the huge risks Sturgill took when he put his savings into these recordings it’s lovely to see it paying off. This is well deserved.
Another, totally different thing – as a German, i feel weird seeing the abbreviation SS used for Sturgill. You may know from your history lessons that SS (short for Schutzstaffel) was Hitler’s paramilitary squad. So the abbreviation SS is badly tarnished by being associated with pure evil and I hope it will not catch on as Sturgills fan code. I mean, there’s a reason Bruce Springsteen is not abbreviated BS and that one is harmless compared to the Schutzstaffel.
Gabe
February 16, 2017 @ 6:08 am
Interesting observation… would hate to turn off a fan or potential fans simply by expressing an opinion
Jack Williams
February 16, 2017 @ 8:40 am
I’m guessing that’s sarcasm? That a modern day German would have some sensitivity to the abbreviation SS seems normal to me. Holocaust and all.
Corncaster
February 16, 2017 @ 12:49 pm
hola Henning, if SS bugs you, don’t visit amplifier discussion boards where we talk about “SS amps” all the time (“solid state”). it may be that associations get lost in translation. cheers, CC
Randy
February 16, 2017 @ 8:29 am
Why is it impossible to find a copy of Sturgill’s music with Sunday Valley? I’d love to add that to my collection!
Jack Williams
February 16, 2017 @ 8:37 am
Tell me about it. Amazon used to have the mp3 copy of To The Wind And On To Heaven for sale, but it was pulled some time back. I wished I had bought it when it was available, but I was still a luddite with respect to digital music.. I was hoping he would have the CD for sale at some of the earlier shows I saw, but no such luck.
You can listen to it on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E80apyat2zg
Whiskey_Pete
February 16, 2017 @ 12:51 pm
What about Sturgill’s new video for ‘All Around You’ Thoughts?
He had to get all political..
Jtrpdx
February 16, 2017 @ 8:27 pm
I wouldn’t have gone that obviously political, but it doesn’t really bother me. And it’s not like he hasn’t been political in his songs in the past, so it isn’t really a surprise. Plus, it’s just a YouTube video (and just a few seconds of one). If he would have used the Grammy performance to so some trite blatantly political stuff, that would have been a little annoying. Or, if he starts giving political speeches in between songs on tour. I don’t think he has any desire to do that.
Whiskey_Pete
February 17, 2017 @ 1:32 pm
Well now I know where he stands on illegal immigration. So much for nuance.
Bear
February 16, 2017 @ 5:09 pm
I think they are ignoring it as a, “You will never work in this town again” message. Well more like they are pouting.
Sturgill is a cat who did it his way! He shirked Music Row and the whole Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way. And frankly they are having regrets about not taking him on as they should have. I felt this when Music Row latched onto Chris Stapleton while still ignoring Sturgill who open the door for Chris in some ways. They cannot handle somebody who won’t follow the old business model or who has integrity and will not compromise (not to dis Chris or anything I think he has integrity).
They are too proud to admit they made an error and also probably refuse to acknowledge the 100 ton train rolling into the country station that is Sturgill and will simply push the bro-country through the juicer until every last drop is done. But hey when grunge arrived Glam Metal gasped for air too, throwing everything at the wall hoping they would still stick the charts.
I remember when Madonna claimed she would rule the world. Well Sturgill has said the same thing basically and he OWES NOTHING to music row so they are really jealous, bitter, peeved whatever you want to add to it. Go Sturgill.
Chad Perry
February 16, 2017 @ 8:13 pm
I’m just surprised that some whiny douche hasn’t come on this thread and complained about how “OMG all you EVER talk about is Sturgill Simpson!”
Trigger
February 16, 2017 @ 8:33 pm
Funny thing is, I could be writing more articles about him and am abstaining. He just released a new video, and there’s all kinds of other stuff going on. Believe it or not, I try to curb my Sturgill posts.
Whiskey_Pete
February 17, 2017 @ 1:37 pm
He should go on tour with the Dixie Chicks and lecture us.
Ian Spence
February 24, 2017 @ 4:10 pm
A wonderful Sturgill Simpson special on BBC radio Scotland Another County with Ricky Ross. Includes interviews, sessions with Sturgill going back to 2014 and influences. Well worth a listen. I was lucky enough to catch a solo Sturgill show in Madrid, Spain and was chatting to him afterwards. An artist and a gentleman, he deserves all the success and more. You have a keen eye Trigger, you saw it coming.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07nrrgm