A Breakdown of the NASH Icon Playlist (AKA Merle’s Back on Radio)
“What will NASH Icon be, and will it make a significant improvement to country radio?”
This has been the question on the mind of many country music fans ever since the joint venture between Cumulus Media and the Big Machine Label Group known as NASH Icon was announced. Now that there are actually radio stations broadcasting the new NASH Icon format, we can listen in and hear just exactly what NASH Icon is. Though the rollout is still in its infant stages and there’s sure to be changes and tweaking happen before it’s ready to go coast to coast, the insight of a detailed playlist gives us a good starting point of what we might expect, what may need to be changed, and what should stay the same.
READ: Cumulus Media: “It’s Time For Country To Fragment”
Saving Country Music took a 3 1/2 hour segment of the playlist of NASH Icon 98.9 station in Atlanta and broke it down in between artists, eras, songs, and decades. Though the formula and ratios are very likely to change once the NASH Icon record label gets up and running and new music from older artists begins to be featured, this is an analysis of what NASH Icon listener is hearing right now. The breakdown also includes all the “legend” or “classic” artists played on the station between 8:00 AM and 11:59 PM on August 27th, located at the very bottom to the analysis.
Biggest Takeaways
”Legendary & Classic Artists Back on Mainstream Radio: Regardless of anything else, including the ratio of plays compared to new artists, legends like Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam, Alabama, and the The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band are back on the radio once again, and so are many classic country artists like Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, and Mark Chesnutt. For traditional and classic country fans, this is a strong victory, and one that has been a long time coming.
”NEW Singles and NEW Artists Are Featured More Than Anything Else, BUT: Without question, as a percentage, new singles and new artists make up the lion’s share of NASH Icon at the moment. However, the principal idea behind NASH Icon is to feature new music from older artists, especially from artists like Garth Brooks who is about to release an album, and from artist who will sign to the NASH Icon record label. Since none of these things are up-and-running just yet, they may be replacing those slots with new singles from new artists. According to Cumulus Media COO John Dickey, eventually new music will make up only 25% of the format. We’ll just have to wait and see.
”Bro-Country is Currently Featured On NASH Icon: On August 25th, Cumulus Media COO John Dickey said, “You won’t hear a lot of what we affectionately term in the business today as ‘Bro-Country.” But according to this analysis, this is a completely incorrect statement. Bro-Country artists like Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, Chase Rice, and Cole Swindell all showed up in the playlist. Whether they will disappear once the new singles from old artists are released, we’ll have to see. At the moment though, the argument could be made that Bro-Country makes up the biggest pie piece of the NASH Icon playlist. Remember though, it’s still early.
”Not Just The Big Names: Some have been concerned we’d only see the usual suspects of artists featured, but NASH Icon has been playing lesser names that had big hits like Tracy Byrd, Doug Stone, and Ricochet. The NASH Icon playlist shows decent diversity when it comes to the older artists.
”Not Just 1989 or Newer: Early on, NASH Icon was sold as being only songs from 1989 or after. In the 3 1/2 hours Saving Country Music listened in, there were two songs from 1980, and eight songs from before 1989. Though this isn’t a huge amount, the playlist did show they would reach well past 25 year pole to play Merle Haggard’s song from 1980, “I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink.”
”Lee Ann Womack’s New Single and an Independent Label Artist Played: Maybe the most important insight, Lee Ann Womack’s “The Way I’m Livin'” was featured during the 3 1/2 hour block. This would be the very first example of a mature artist (no offense meant Lee Ann!) who would never be played on mainstream Top 40 country having a featured single from a new album played in the rotation. Lee Ann’s single is so new, the album has not even been released yet. This hypothetically is the whole point behind NASH Icon, is to give artists like Lee Ann the radio play they deserve.
What else is interesting about this play is Lee Ann is not signed to the NASH Icon label, meaning they are willing to feature a non NASH Icon artists that still fits the NASH Icon mold. Also, Lee Ann Womack is not on a major label; she’s on Sugar Hill Records. What this opens the door to is the possibility that other independent label artists could be featured on the format. Of course it helps that Lee Ann is already an established name in mainstream country, but this may be the window to see someone like Sturgill Simpson, or Old Crow Medicine Show show up in the playlist in the future.
”Only Singles Were Featured, No Album Cuts.
”Only One Song Played Twice in the 3 ½ Hours. It Was Florida Georgia Line’s “Dirt.”
Suggestions for the NASH Icon Playlist
”Mitigate the Bro-Country, and Now: We know that Cumulus already sees Bro-Country on the format as being a problem, because COO John Dickey said so. Whether the underlings that are programming NASH Icon didn’t get the memo, or they’re simply saving the slots for the new singles from old artists soon to come, Bro-Country is on the format, and in a big way, and it is ruining the experience for potential listeners. NASH Icon is creating a big buzz in the country music community, but if listeners tune in and hear Florida Georgia Line twice an hour, they’re probably going to leave and never come back, and potentially they may tell their country music buddies about the negative experience. Take the Bro-Country off, and add more older stuff, or other newer stuff that’s not Bro-Country, like more Dierks Bentley (sans “Drunk On A Plane”) and Kacey Musgraves, for example. The Bro-Country on NASH Icon right now could kill it forever with certain listeners if it is not removed quickly.
”Balance Out The Playlist With A Few More Older Songs, and 1 or 2 Independent Artists: Let’s face it, many classic and traditional country fans are bound to not like NASH Icon even if they play one new song. NASH Icon is still not going to be for the die-hard traditionalists. Pragmatism is what is needed to make NASH Icon work. If a few more 80’s and early 90’s songs were featured, it might help to balance out the ratios and create a healthy country music environment for all country music fans from all generations to enjoy together. Also, if NASH Icon featured even one or two new current independent artists in a given content block, they would broaden the reach and appeal of NASH Icon even more, and make it a place where even more labels could promote singles and offer greater support to the format.
”Add More Legends With New Music: Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton all have new albums out that charted at the very top of the country charts, and released singles that are very worthy of radio play. These albums were also released through major labels. This would be an excellent source of content to add new songs from older artists, and broaden the appeal of the format. Johnny Cash’s American Recordings-era material could also be a great source for NASH Icon, and one that could add younger, and cross-genre appeal.
THE PLAYLIST BREAKDOWN
NOTE:
” ‘X’ denotes an additional play or plays for an artist or song. So if there’s two ‘X”s beside an artist’s name, that means they were played three times.
”Artists were broken down into four categories. When an artist could hypothetically fit into multiple categories, the date of their first charting single is included for added detail. PLEASE don’t bog down or obsess over the eras. It is the best that could be done.
”’New’ artists are artists currently being played, or recently being played on mainstream country radio. “New’ songs are songs currently on mainstream country radio.
” This is just from a 3 1/2 hour span; not NASH Icon’s complete playlist. There is a complete list of other “legends” and”classic” artists that were played during the entirety of the broadcast day at the very bottom (not including the artists features in the 3 1/2 hour analysis).
***Artists Featured on NASH Icon***
Legendary Artists (Before 1989)
- Dwight Yoakam X
- Merle Haggard
- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
- Alabama XX
- George Strait X
- Ronnie Milsap
- Reba McEntire
- Diamond Rio
- Buck Owens (via a Dwight song)
Classic Artists (Around Class of 1989)
- Alan Jackson X
- Aaron Tippin
- Vince Gill
- Mark Chesnutt
- Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Travis Tritt
- Garth Brooks X
- Tracy Byrd
- Tim McGraw (1990) X
- Doug Stone (1990)
Contemporary Artists (After Class of 1989)
- Rodney Atkins (1997)
- Ricochet (1995)
- Blackhawk (1992)
- Deana Carter (1994)
- Lee Ann Womack (1997)
- Toby Keith (1993)
Newer Artists (Still Mainstream Relevant)
- Kenny Chesney XX
- Florida Georgia Line XX
- Luke Bryan XX
- Jake Owen
- Kip Moore
- Miranda Lambert X
- Lady Antebellum
- Cole Swindell
- Brett Eldredge
- Chase Rice
- Joe Nichols
- Sara Evans X
- Brad Paisley
- Blake Shelton X
- Trace Adkins
- Big & Rich
- Josh Gracin
- Lee Brice
- Billy Currington
***Songs Featured on NASH Icon***
80’s Songs
- Dwight Yoakam “Honky Tonk Man”
- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band “Fishin’ In The Dark”
- Ronnie Milsap “Stranger In My House”
- Alabama “40-Hour Week”
- Alabama “Mountain Music”
- Dwight Yoakam & Buck Owens “Streets of Bakersfield”
- Alabama “Tennessee River” (1980)
- Merle Haggard “I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink” (1980)
90’s Songs
- Alan Jackson “Little Bitty”
- Reba McEntire & Vice Gill “The Heart Won’t Lie”
- Reba McEntire “The Greatest Man I Never Knew”
- Mark Chesnutt “It’s A Little Too Late”
- Doug Stone “A Jukebox With A Country Song”
- Mary Chapin Carpenter “Down At The Twist & Shout”
- Travis Tritt “Help Me Hold On”
- Garth Brooks “The Thunder Rolls”
- Garth Brooks “Rodeo”
- Ricochet “Daddy’s Money”
- George Strait “Blue Clear Sky”
- Tracy Byrd “Watermelon Crawl”
- Deana Carter “Strawberry Wine”
- Kenny Chesney “How Forever Feels”
- Blackhawk “Every Once In A While”
- Diamond Rio “Unbelievable”
2000’s Songs
- Aaron Tippin “Kiss This”
- Rodney Atkins “If You’re Going Through Hell”
- Sara Evans “Suds In The Bucket”
- Toby Keith “My List”
- Alan Jackson “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”
- Brad Paisley “Little Moments”
- Tim McGraw “Real Good Man”
- Josh Gracin “Nothin’ To Lose”
- George Strait “Give It Away”
- Trace Adkins “You’re Gonna Miss This”
- Sara Evans “A Little Bit Stronger”
New Songs
- Kenny Chesney “Come Over”
- Florida Georgia Line “Dirt” X
- Florida Georgia Line “Get Your Shine On”
- Jake Owen “Beachin'”
- Miranda Lambert “Mama’s Broken Heart”
- Tim McGraw “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s”
- Joe Nichols “Yeah”
- Blake Shelton “My Eyes”
- Blake Shelton “Doin’ What She Likes”
- Kenny Chesney “American Kids”
- Cole Swindell “Chillin’ It”
- Kip Moore “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck”
- Luke Bryan “Play It Again”
- Luke Bryan “Crash My Party”
- Luke Bryan “That’s My Kind Of Night”
- Lady Antebellum “Bartender”
- Lee Brice “Hard To Love”
- Miranda Lambert “Automatic”
- Chase Rice “Ready, Set, Roll”
- Big & Rich “Look At You”
- Brett Eldredge “Beat Of The Music”
- Billy Currington “We Are Tonight”
- Lee Ann Womack “The Way I’m Livin'” (new song from older artist)
Other “Legend” or “Classic” Artists That Received Radio Play On 8/27 Between 8 AM – 11:59 PM
- Don Williams
- Willie Nelson
- Hank Williams Jr.
- Randy Travis
- Charlie Daniels
- Dolly Parton
- Keith Whitley
- Gene Watson
- Mel McDaniel
- Pam Tillis
- Eddie Rabbit
- The Judds
- Johnny Lee
- Clint Black
- Brooks & Dunn
- Lorrie Morgan
- Faith Hill
- Jo Dee Messina
- Joe Diffie
- Collin Raye
August 28, 2014 @ 9:12 am
It’s a small step in the right direction, but a step nonetheless. All of your suggestions are spot-on.
August 28, 2014 @ 9:23 am
Needs some work done still, clearly, but it’s a good start. If nothing else this playlist is a lot better than any of my local stations are playing
August 28, 2014 @ 9:42 am
I see a lot of room for improvement, but this is considerably better than what mainstream “country” radio is at the moment. It strikes me that this is what I loved so much about certain radio stations I was listening to back in Southeast Texas a decade-plus ago ”” they played the new stuff and a good chunk of older stuff too.
August 28, 2014 @ 11:54 am
I STRONGLY advise EVERYONE ON HERE to go onto the Facebook pages of the different NASH Icons stations and tell them WHAT YOU REALLY WANT! Here are the links of some of the stations:
98.9 Atlanta
https://www.facebook.com/989nashicon
92.5 KJJY Des Moines
https://www.facebook.com/KJJY925
95.5 WSM Nashville
https://www.facebook.com/955wsm
93.7 Bloomington, IL
https://www.facebook.com/937nashicon
96.3 Albuquerque
https://www.facebook.com/963NASHIcon
Even if you don”™t live where these particular stations are at, email them anyways. Tell them the EXACT artists you want to hear on their stations, the lesser known artists you want to hear, and the classic songs you”™d like to hear as well. I believe that the squeaky wheel gets the grease and every opinion will help!
August 28, 2014 @ 9:47 am
The biggest problem I see with this new format is it excludes most women just like regular country radio. Some of the men have 2 or 3 songs each and only 15.7% of the New Artists list and 17% of the New Songs list are female voices. 90”²s Songs is a little higher at 25% but I listen to radio for the best new current female country songs. So I won’t listen unless they add recent songs from the “new” female artists radio isn”™t playing (Saving Country Music Album of the Year winner Kellie Pickler, Kacey Musgraves, Ashley Monroe, Brandy Clark and more with the best, most critically acclaimed country music topping the best country albums of the year lists). I’ve been going to Pandora’s Women of Country station but it’s kind of a hassle because it seems to be based mostly on who radio plays so you have to program the feed or make new stations to get more songs from women they don’t play. I like turning on FM radio and hearing them.
August 28, 2014 @ 3:13 pm
I agree there could be some more female representation here. I also think we have to be careful in trying not to place our on personal preferences on this format and when it doesn’t deliver, being disappointed when are expectations were unrealistic to begin with. Cumulus is doing this to make money, and they will do whatever they think will make them the most money. To get more women on radio, we need to broaden the appeal for their music, and figure out smart, innovative ways of how to do that.
August 28, 2014 @ 5:20 pm
Millions of people love and really want to hear those and more women on the radio because they offer today’s best country music so it’s not just my personal preferences. The problem is there’s no FM radio that plays their current or recent material. I’d much rather hear them on the regular FM format where they belong than on a much smaller format that may never reach me and most others but anything is better than nothing. For new songs on this new format, many people don’t want to hear too many of the same men regular FM already plays instead of the women they don’t. This is mostly just another revamped overplayed men sausage party. Since most people will listen to anything radio plays it’s up to radio to change and increase airplay or make more room for women. They should at least have a 50/50 male/female balance or as close as possible on this new format plus substantially increase room for women on the regular format.
“To get more women on radio, we need to broaden the appeal for their music, and figure out smart, innovative ways of how to do that.”
Ok but nothing I’m aware of broadens appeal for anyone’s music as much as radio playing it a lot and radio knows this, and the streaming services also seem to base their main playlists on what FM radio plays. TV performances broaden appeal but the problem is they are few and far between and most go to those radio plays to top 10, for example the recent CMA Fest with just 1 female headliner. Radio is stuck in a sausage party and the barrier is getting them to care and listen and play more than 3 solo women no matter what we or the women do. I think many more people asking or complaining for radio to play more would get their attention more than anything, and even then they still might not change.
Maybe some of radio could try a third format that plays all or mostly women, but radio will just say “that will never work” and it might not. What has worked and will work is radio playing more solo women. Keeping at least 6 instead of 3 in the top 10 (or keeping at least 3 top 10 slots filled with solo female songs at all times) and more in the top 20 and 30 would be great.
August 28, 2014 @ 10:08 am
To be honest , I’m happily surprised this concept has even reached THIS point . Little victory , perhaps , but a big step in addressing valid concerns by long time country fans AND outlets who’ve been voicing their disappointment about the state of modern ” countr”‘ radio for too long . Let’s hope some newer ( younger ) fans will get a taste of something different ans LIKE it enough to support it in the long run . The overlap of indie artists is a huge plus in this scenario and cannot be underestimated as a driving force for exposure and possible change in listener’s tastes
Great article Trigger .
August 28, 2014 @ 11:41 am
As long as Fla-Ga Line, Luke Bryan, et al are on the playlist, I’m out.
August 28, 2014 @ 11:53 am
I STRONGLY advise EVERYONE ON HERE to go onto the Facebook pages of the different NASH Icons stations and tell them WHAT YOU REALLY WANT! Here are the links of some of the stations:
98.9 Atlanta
https://www.facebook.com/989nashicon
92.5 KJJY Des Moines
https://www.facebook.com/KJJY925
95.5 WSM Nashville
https://www.facebook.com/955wsm
93.7 Bloomington, IL
https://www.facebook.com/937nashicon
96.3 Albuquerque
https://www.facebook.com/963NASHIcon
Even if you don”™t live where these particular stations are at, email them anyways. Tell them the EXACT artists you want to hear on their stations, the lesser known artists you want to hear, and the classic songs you”™d like to hear as well. I believe that the squeaky wheel gets the grease and every opinion will help!
August 28, 2014 @ 3:15 pm
You and many others that could find NASH Icon appealing. At the moment, this of critical importance for Cumulus to correct. The future of the concept could be riding on it.
August 28, 2014 @ 12:50 pm
Some of starting years are wrong on this list. Deana Carter should be 1996, Tim McGraw 1992, Blackhawk 1993, and Alabama 1977.
August 28, 2014 @ 12:52 pm
and Hag 1962
August 28, 2014 @ 1:20 pm
Well first off, I didn’t even offer any starting dates for Merle Haggard or Alabama, so I’m not sure how they could be wrong. Second, I tried to give my best estimate for the artists that I did include a starting date for based off of their first charting single. If you made categories and tried to place these artists into them, you probably would have come up with a different result, just as a third person would probably come up with a third result. It doesn’t mean any of them are wrong, it’s just there’s some personal judgement that has to be made in these cases. This is why I said I hope we don’t bog down in discussions about it and miss the bigger picture. I think I did a fairly intuitive job of grouping these artists, but I admit in certain cases you could possibly move an artist from one era to another.
August 29, 2014 @ 1:07 am
No Trig, I wasn’t criticizing or arguing with your categories or eras, I thought you did a good job. I was just simply informing you that factually, some of the starting years are incorrect.
And yes, you have 1980 listed for both Alabama and Merle Haggard.
August 29, 2014 @ 8:45 am
In case I still wasn’t clear, you have the actual years of the first charting singles wrong for the artists I listed. No biggie I guess. I just figured you’d want them to be correct.
August 29, 2014 @ 12:55 pm
I’ve checked them three times. I’m not saying Merle Haggard or Alabama started in 1980 with the title of that category. I’m saying they are before the so-called ‘Class of ’89’ that has been so touted with this format. As for the other artists, I felt I gave a good approximation of their rise to commercial prominence. Again, different people might look at it differently.
August 30, 2014 @ 1:12 am
Trigger,
Again, I’m not criticizing your categorization of artists, or your opinions here. I’m just informing you that you have a few minor facts incorrect. For example, you have the year 1994 typed beside Deana Carters’ name. Her debut single was in 1996. That’s not my opinion, its fact. You say in the article that the years beside the names are the years that each artist had their debut charting single.
August 28, 2014 @ 1:09 pm
Great article Trig, thanks for breaking all of this down. As someone else said above, I’m pleasantly surprised things have made it this far. Hopefully this spreads to other cities, I could definitely make this station a pre-set on my radio (here in Pittsburgh).
But I want more, I want 60’s and 70’s era stuff thrown on there while we’re at it.
Maybe this will be enough of a success to make the powers that be see there’s a market for older country in the same way there’s a market for classic rock.
August 28, 2014 @ 5:55 pm
What were they thinking when they put L.A. bartender on that playlist…… Disgusting.
August 28, 2014 @ 6:50 pm
thanks for doing this TM. this looks like it was a chore at times, lol. honestly though, until the blatent misogny in country music radio changes, who cares about this shit..fuck these people. i get that this article isn’t an endorsment for Icons but it’s far more attention then it deserves.
August 29, 2014 @ 1:02 pm
In my opinion, we have one opportunity to help influence the path of what NASH Icon and this potential new country music format will be. This is a “speak now or forever hold your peace” type moment. That is why I’m doing everything I can to help influence this in a positive direction, while also trying to be as realistic and pragmatic as possible.
August 28, 2014 @ 7:10 pm
Great write-up, Trigger. I noticed some of the same things as you, from flipping on the station occasionally. It is really cool to see some of those old-timer’s names on the list.
Anyway, I have a couple thoughts about this Nash Icon thing, but this is probably gonna be a really long comment, so proceed with caution:
All things considered, I can’t help but think the development of this format is a really good thing. It wasn’t long ago that we thought the current wave of bro/pop-country had deep sixed traditional, substantive country music for good in the mainstream, and that guys like George Strait and Alan Jackson were going to ride off into the sunset and never be heard from on the radio again. And seriously, up to this point, if I was flipping around the radio dial and heard a Haggard song blaring from a mainstream country station, I would have clutched my chest in trepidation at the thought that he had passed away, because up ’til now that’s what it would have taken to get his music to get back on the radio again.
Don’t get me wrong, it is reprehensible and deeply regrettable that the fate of mainstream country is in the hands of the bean-counters at Cumulus in the first place, and of course it is important to remember that they are creating this format strictly to make money off of new (old) demographics, not out of an abiding love for country music. But when the state of country music is as catastrophic as it has been recently, you forget about what’s ideal and start thinking merely in terms of the genre’s survival: If the majority of kids today grow up without having an inkling who Willie Nelson or Merle Haggard even is, or without even recognizing country as a genre that’s supposed to tell stories and have substantive content, where does that leave the genre and the culture it represents in the coming years? Dead as a doornail, I expect. And perhaps not even “dead,” in the sense of rock music, which has disappeared from the mainstream, but still lives on as a robust musical subculture. As restrictive as classic rock radio playlists can be, I would bet the fact that there’s a radio format out there which still regularly plays AC/DC cuts ultimately contributes to kids becoming rock music fans, even if their tastes in rock music eventually change or broaden. (Of course, It sucks this format won’t reach as far back as classic rock radio does, which is really shame, but on the plus side, the incorporation of new music from classic artists will hopefully keep things fresh at least.)
I don’t think we can expect the Nash Icon format to satiate all of our interests as dedicated independent country fans (I’m not holding my breath to hear “Turtles All the Way Down,” etc), but my hope is that this might extend “real” country music’s shelf life in the mainstream, by turning back the clock to a time when country music at least had a place for traditional country, and had more substance in general. The idea that there are warehouses full of quality songs that haven’t been heard which could find a home on this new format is especially encouraging, as previously it had seemed like Garth Brooks would be the only potential vessel to get some of those songs into the mainstream. (Nothing against Garth per se, but come on.)
As long as the current restrictive mainstream media environment persists, I don’t personally expect to ever see country music return to what it was in its glory days, but it seems to me that up to this point, country has gotten the short end of the stick even among mainstream genres. Currently, when it come to genres like pop and rap, most people have come to expect that there will be a certain percentage of crap out there in the mainstream, but between the independent music world, and the best of the what the mainstream has to offer, there is enough good music for those genres to at least carry on and remain relevant as forms of music. With country music, I get the sense that the independent stuff is still invisible to most people (thought hopefully that’s changing,) and obviously the mainstream of the genre is utterly abysmal. If this format actually does what John Dickey says it will, it sounds like it just *might* push mainstream country back to where is at least respectable again. And hopefully, the online country community that has sprung up in the last few years, partially in reaction to the horribleness of bro-country, will remain robust, which I hope will continue to grow the visibility of the independent stuff.
So I am cautiously optimistic about this, while keeping in mind that Cumulus could probably go belly up tomorrow, which is actually what I was kinda hoping for previously. But Trigger is totally right, Cumulus needs to put the bro-country stuff on ice, pronto. As far as I know, the market research shows the middle aged folks don’t even like those kinds of songs, so I don’t know what the hell they’re thinking with that. All I know is that there’s a heaping ton of country music fans who thinks bro-country royally sucks, so the more quickly and decisively this format can distinguish itself from kind of stations which played “That’s My Kind of Night,” the better.
August 29, 2014 @ 1:00 pm
Cumulus is betting its future on country music, period. So country and this new format goes, so does Cumulus. The next big question in all of this is if or what Clear Channel’s move is.
August 28, 2014 @ 8:33 pm
they need to quit foolin a round an play sum more blate shelttan sugarland luke brian brad pasley tim mcgraw rascle flats. sum more stuf like that. now thatd be a good station.
August 28, 2014 @ 8:46 pm
Wish we had a station like this in Cleveland. I NEVER hear Dwight Yoakam or MCC on the radio hear. It seems they are playing some artists I’d love to hear on the radio again.
I’ve been tuning in to Louisville’s 104.9 The Hawk and it’s a cool station to listen to. There’s no real classic legends receiving airplay, but there’s a good variety of some good 90s country there.
At least there’s very little to no bro country being played.
August 29, 2014 @ 12:58 pm
“The Hawk” is the other case study of how the format split could transpire. What they do moving forward could also dictate the flavor of this new format moving forward. Though there were other stations before them, they were the first to officially make this format change based off of Edison Research’s radio studies.
August 28, 2014 @ 9:53 pm
Somehow I get the feeling that this is all part of Garth’s comeback scheme, in case his new music doesn’t play on mainstream radio.
August 29, 2014 @ 6:12 am
I don’t think this has anything to do with Garth since he’s signed with Sony, other than the fact he’s the biggest selling solo artist. I don’t have a Nash station near me, but when I listen to the radio its WHOK, all oldies country. I can’t stand the current rap hybrid that is on offer at the Clear Channel station and I would welcome hearing ‘my’ music on mainstream radio again.
Good article Trig, thanks for your efforts to shine a light on radio programming.
August 29, 2014 @ 11:46 am
I have been reading this site for quite some time, but I have never commented.
Trigger, first let me thank you for what you have done with this site. I cannot imagine what it takes to keep this going. The impact you have made is incredible. Words cannot express how thankful I am for what you are doing, and what you have done.
After reading all the comments on this site for so long, I have picked up that pretty much everyone (I know I am generalizing, but please stick with me) dislikes most kinds of pop-country.
I am different in that I don’t mind pop-country. I dislike what I call “image country.” To me “image country” is that of the Taylor Swift type that relies on an image to sell music. Music is secondary to the image. The same is true for Luke Bryan, FGL, etc. These “artists” are little more than actors playing an image. This is what sells, not the merits of the music.
I grew up on pop-country of the 80s and I absolutely love it. And I realize most here despise it. But think about this for a moment; listen to the pop-country of the 80s that is disliked here, and compare it to today. There are elements of COUNTRY in the 80s pop-country. You can see the foundation. The music was REAL instruments. The vocals were not auto-tuned. The music was intricate in chord structure. The production was intricate, also, although I realize that is why people here don’t care for this music. It is “over-produced.”
I never commented in the past because I was afraid I would get blasted because I defend pop-country of the PAST.
Please know this – I do not mean to offend ANYONE here on my next statement. I am unique in that I don’t think music has to be “stripped down” to be artistic. I see and hear artistic merit in music that is produced. That is “slick.” Perhaps I will give examples in another post.
I say all this (if anyone is still reading) to say that I think this NASH Icon concept is good, and I am especially happy that they have expanded it to before 1989, because I thought that using that year as the cutoff was insane. 1989 is when everything started to change, and “image country” became important. Think of the “hot young country” of the 90s.
But this brings me to my main point.
I see one major problem here, and that is there is no Kenny Rogers on the playlist.
And that is absolutely absurd.
I realize that many here don’t like Kenny for the reasons stated above. Yet I suspect that Trigger, you don’t dislike Kenny based on things you have posted in your Hall of Fame posts and such.
I could go on for days on why I believe Kenny is artistic and deserves more credit and respect. Yes, I realize that he took country pop. But he also did traditional country too. He should have been in the Hall LONG before 2013!
It shouldn’t have taken into his mid-70s to start getting respected as an artist.
I guess I had to give the background for all this to make sense. So I focused on that instead of arguing why Kenny should be on the list. Perhaps I’ll post again sometime on just Kenny.
I did read somewhere that NASH Icon radio was playing “The Gambler,” and that it was played repeatedly and was requested. But I don’t see that in this time frame above.
More than anything, they need to get past just “The Gambler.” Yes, Kenny is The Gambler. But he is FAR more than that.
For example, right of the top of my head I’m thinking play “Make No Mistake, She’s Mine” by Kenny and Ronnie Milsap. The song was a number 1 hit in 1987, and won a Grammy. It is perfect for this.
Or “Love Will Turn You Around” which still sounds great when put in the mix with other music. It doesn’t sound outdated or out of place. In fact, most of Kenny’s music doesn’t. He was ahead of his time. Some of his 80s music may have elements of dated sound, but all 80s music does. They still play Henley’s “Boys of Summer” on the radio for example, and it is “dated.” I realize that is not country, but you get my point.
I am sure I’ve lost everyone by now. But Trigger, I hope that you have read this. I have respect for you, and everyone who posts here. I am sorry if I have offended anyone, because I truly did not intend to. I hope to get the chance to post again. Thank you all.
August 29, 2014 @ 12:11 pm
your my new favorite poster Tommy. keep fighting the good fight, Kenny needs us…
August 29, 2014 @ 1:07 pm
Thanks, Lunchbox! Kenny does need us. Although he is finally in the HOF, and is finally getting some credit and respect, it isn’t enough.
And he should be a big part of this NASH experiment IMHO.
Thanks again, Lunchbox. Hope to post more now. 🙂
August 29, 2014 @ 12:50 pm
Hey Tommy,
First off, thanks for all the kind words about the site, and I hope you and others feel completely free to share your country music opinions, even if they go against the grain of either my opinions, or the majority opinions of commenters. It takes everyone’s opinion to create a healthy comment environment.
As for Kenny Rogers, my guess is if you listened to NASH Icon for long enough, you would probably hear “The Gambler” or maybe “Love Will Turn You Around” or “Islands In The Stream.” With the way NASH Icon is set up right now, anything before 1989 is played in a pretty moderate rotation, meaning you may only hear two or three of those songs an hour. That’s one of the reasons I think they should include a few more of these 80’s songs, so that they can include a few more 80’s artists like Rogers and broaden the appeal.
August 29, 2014 @ 1:09 pm
Thank you, Trigger, for the welcoming email. I really appreciate it. I feel honored to be a part of your community, and will probably post more now.
You really have something going here, sir. Your site is awesome. It is the only music site I read every day.
Thanks again.
August 29, 2014 @ 1:24 pm
I got to thinking about something else I didn’t post in my original…
This has been the biggest problem with “Classic Country” radio. They don’t play the NEW music by classic artists. They should! It should be “Classic Artists and their New Music Too!”
Kenny and Dolly’s “You Can’t Make Old Friends” should have gotten airplay. And it certainly should on this new format.
There has been much talk on this site about new albums by classic artists that did well on the charts. Kenny’s “You Can’t Make Old Friends” album also did well on the charts. It didn’t do as well as 2006’s “Water & Bridges,” but I blame this more on lack of selling entire albums. Kenny does have contemporary fans, and people download and listen to Spotify and Rhapsody, and simply buy less albums.
And ironically enough, look how well Kenny’s Christian album from a couple of years ago did on the charts. It was only sold at Cracker Barrel. Get the product in front of the target audience and it sells. Huge album, despite NO airplay at ALL.
Kenny should also get credit for being one of the few legacy artists signed to major labels TWICE (Capitol Nashville in 2005 and Warner Bros. Nashville a couple years ago).
And back to NASH Icon…I just have to list a few Kenny songs they should be playing:
1. “If You Want To Find Love” – Reprise, 1991
This is a TRADITIONAL country song by Kenny, and a lot more people remember this one than you think. It was a #11 hit, stopped only by the backlash against older artists thanks to the “hot new young country” of the early 90s. And this fits the time-frame of NASH Icon.
2. “I Prefer The Moonlight” – RCA, 1987
Another true country song. #2 hit, when it should have been #1. It was stopped by a song that wouldn’t move out of #1 (I can’t remember what it was, and don’t want to!) I remember this song being played twice and hour in 1987.
3. “Buy Me A Rose” – Dreamcatcher, 1999
This hit #1 in 2000. Kenny became a modern hit-maker again with this song, and there is NO reason not to include it. Think back to 1999 and 2000. Kenny was everywhere again. Many of the programmers and fans didn’t know who he was! Didn’t matter. He was getting airplay and was introduced almost as a new artist to a whole new generation of fans. This leads to…
4. “The Greatest” – Dreamcatcher 1999
The song that allowed “Buy Me A Rose” to hit. Top 20 in 1999. Again, fits the time-frame.
(NOTE: The videos for both of these songs went to #1 on CMT in 1999 and 2000, respectively).
5. “I Can’t Unlove You” – Capitol Nashville, 2006
Another top 20 hit, and no reason not to include it.
And at Christmas time…
6. “Mary, Did You Know” (feat. Wynonna) – Magnatone, 1996
Though more AC than country, this song is very well known, fits the time-frame, and belongs in rotation at Christmas. Thankfully, the stations that just play Christmas music every year play it, but this belongs here too.
August 29, 2014 @ 1:40 pm
I saw yesterday on All Access, a radio trade website, that “The Way I’m Livin'” by Leann Womack was the most added country track for the previous day. It was added by 13 stations I believe. It no longer is in the Top 5 for most added daily. I’m guessing that all of the Nash Icon stations added it, plus a couple other stations. So maybe this could have a positive effect.
August 31, 2014 @ 9:08 am
My guesses on who will be signed to the Nash Icon record label:
Clint Black, Tracy Lawrence, Alabama, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sawyer Brown and Mark Chesnutt. I think Ronnie Dunn might eventually work out a deal to move to their label eventually as well.
August 31, 2014 @ 5:35 pm
I heard Lee Ann Womack’s The Way I’m Livin’ during Kickin it with Kicks the other day!
September 2, 2014 @ 4:31 am
So, you go from playing each bro-country song 8 times a day to 7 times a day, and throw some less recent stuff in the gaps you created.
Unless you listened to it for more than an hour (which I never do) this is virtually indistinguishable from any other country format.
On the plus side, I have learned that, just like Felix Unger, Kenny Chesney can use his nasally whine to call in ducks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvqLu0DmOUI
September 23, 2014 @ 8:38 am
Until my no.1 favorite singer: Loretta Lynn,get’s radio airplay again,I don’t listen.No Loretta,then no me!