Blake Shelton Says He May Never Release Another Record
Blake Shelton just wrapped up his 16th season as the primary judge on NBC’s reality singing competition The Voice, and though his participation in the show has probably made him a very rich man, it has also put his country music career partly on the back burner over the last few years. Where his peers in popular country primarily make touring and releasing new music a priority, Shelton is happy to fit smaller tours and single releases in between his television commitments.
But that hasn’t stopped Blake Shelton’s latest single “God’s Country” from becoming an absolute smash. By tapping into the contemporary Christian market of listeners, “God Country” has exploded, and is currently sitting at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart where it may stay for a while. It’s also surging on radio and is already up to #10. But if you expect this renewed attention in Blake Shelton’s country music pursuits and the impending recess of The Voice for the summer to mean Blake Shelton is rushing into the studio to record a new album, you’re sorely mistaken.
“I don’t want to put out an album. I really don’t,” Shelton said to ET ahead of The Voice finale last week. “I’m sure that at some point my record company people are going to pressure me into it, but as of now, I’m not putting out an album this year. I know that.”
According to Shelton, he didn’t even want to record “God’s Country” or go into the studio at all, “but my producer [Scott Hendricks] called me one say and said, ‘I’ve got a few songs you need to listen to,’ and ‘God’s Country’ was the first one that he played. And, man, it stopped me in my tracks.”
For some country purists still perturbed by Blake Shelton’s “Old Farts and Jackasses” comments a few years back, or for those fans of Miranda Lambert who still hold a beef with her ex hubby, hearing Blake Shelton say he’s not really interested in recording new music might be music to their ears. But Blake’s trepidation with releasing another record seems to be at least partly due to him wondering if records these days are even worth the effort.
“I’ll be just as happy to release just another single,” Shelton says. “I do [have more songs] and I’ve got other stuff that I’m pumped about, but when I think about an album right now I’m like, ‘Do people care about them anymore?’ I don’t know. But I’m having a blast just releasing singles. Maybe I’ll do that from now on.”
Though Blake Shelton is the favorite whipping boy for some in country, he also has been one of the many artists symbolizing a shift towards a more country and classic style that country music has witnessed over the last few years. His last record, 2017’s Texoma Shore, was definitely a return for Shelton to the more traditional style country of his early career. It also didn’t sell particularly well, which might be one of the reasons he’s wondering if it’s even worth the hassle to release albums. “God’s Country,” though a little overwrought, is also a lot more grounded and rootsy than many of the songs that have crowned the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart lately.
It’s unlikely Blake Shelton won’t release another record. Like he says, eventually his label will likely require it. But it will be interesting to gauge his level of enthusiasm moving forward, and what this might mean for country music at large, especially as “God’s Country” threatens to become one of the biggest songs of the year.
May 26, 2019 @ 10:25 am
this says it all . he wasn’t even interested in recording a single .
do people really care about albums ? …hell ..even this artist doesn’t …
just the attitude we want from these carnival barkers ….
for most mainstream country acts an album seems to be mostly filler and ear pollution, in any case …insignificant assembly-line manufacturing of trite pop/rap-centric generic material .
when guys like josh turner , easton corbin , joe nichols -all vocalists who can sing their asses off – couldn’t get airplay with material their hearts are in , it says a lot about the ‘customer’ country radio is trying to court .
If ol blake stopped recording albums and just threw a ( hillbilly ) bone to radio every six months i suspect most folks wouldn’t notice or really care . they get their dose of him on TV . we have all of the mainstream filler we need on ‘country’ radio and if you want to hear more and better stuff you probably aren’t listening to mainstream anyway .
May 26, 2019 @ 11:43 am
The major label’s income is derived from album sales.
No one buys albums anymore.
May 26, 2019 @ 2:46 pm
The labels have 360 deals now; they get a piece of everything.
May 26, 2019 @ 10:42 pm
I love Blake Sheltons music. Especially ‘God’s Country’. But he got to do what feels right to him. He has invested so much of his time and energy with the ‘Voice’. He is an awesome singer and songwriter. I will be fine just hearing with what ever his heart desires just as long as i get to still hear his talented voice. Blake has so much talent both onstage and off with helping others accomplish their dreams and seeing their true potential. May the blessing keep coming to him for all his good works. You go Blake. Follow your ❤. A lot a musicians forget that when they get in the business. It becomes more a task and lessens the love they have for why the started in the first places Keep doing what you love it makes it all worth while.
May 27, 2019 @ 9:31 pm
Could you share some of your favorites of songs he has written, please? The only one I know of is “Over You,” which we had the good fortune to see him perform in concert a few years ago (after it was a hit for Miranda, but long before their divorce). He said something along the lines that he was new to performing it. Thanks!
May 28, 2019 @ 3:35 am
If I can butt in on this one… He doesn’t record much of what he writes (or writes much period) but of what he has written/co-written (and excluding Over You, which you already know), these are ones I’m most fond of.
All Over Me (with Earl Thomas Conley, Mike Pyle)
The Dreamer
I Have Been Lonely (with Rachel Proctor, Michael Kosser)
The Last Country Song (with Michael Kosser, Bobby Braddock)
Here I Am (with Dean Dillon)
Sin For A Sin (by Miranda Lambert; written by Miranda and Blake)
Delilah
Frame of Mine (with Charles Quillen)
Go Ahead and Break My Heart (with Gwen Stefani)
Friends (with Jessi Alexander)
Savior’s Shadow (with Jessi Alexander, Jon Randall)
May 26, 2019 @ 10:27 am
Honestly, I’m 50/50 on this. Making an album is exhausting, especially if you want to make all the themes fit together. Granted it’s Blake Shelton and most of the songs will be served on a platter to him. But his fans obviously want more, and Shelton has to balance what he wants vs what the fans want.
Personally, I’d like more artists to do 4-6 song EPs released on a bi yearly or yearly basis, but that doesn’t sell so it won’t happen. And they can be locked into contracts where they need to release albums, etc.
Ward Davis’ Asunder was one of my favorite releases of 2018, and it’s such a tight EP. I know a lot of people had issues with Jinks’ Lifers. But do a cut with Holy Water, Whiskey, Love you, and Lifers in the spring, and Colorado through Head Case in the fall. Or may start with Can’t quit enough. I don’t know, it’s sunday and I’ve been drinking.
May 26, 2019 @ 2:23 pm
It Sounds like you want more people to do what Shane Smith and the Saints are doing with their new album. This wouldnt work well with Lifers though because only one or two songs were actually memorable.
May 27, 2019 @ 1:27 pm
Don’t disagree. I’m personally an album fan but got no problem with extended plays in right situation – especially when compared to an album that has 4-5 worthy tracks and rest fill. Personally I would be lost without lot of my favorite artist B side material but in today’s album sales world I get it.
I mostly (and assume most here) want to listen to music written by the same artist / band because it speaks to me across albums; including varying concepts. For guys like Blake who are just playing other people’s music why does it even matter if it’s a single or part of album? That’s not a knock, lot of country greats relied on song writers, but to your point not sure it really “matters” for artist like Blake.
May 26, 2019 @ 10:28 am
You have gotten soft on your analysis. Blake doesn’t have an artistic bone left in his body. His respect for the craft of music is gone. Whatever gets him more media attention is where he is at nowadays.
May 26, 2019 @ 11:15 am
Have I gotten soft on my analysis, or has Blake Shelton’s lack of give a shits resulted in him just doing what he wants, and has seen his music turn significantly more towards his roots? He many not have an artistic bone in his body. But if he’s releasing songs like “I Live It,” or even “God’s Country,” it’s a hell of a lot better than “Boys Round Here” and is a sum positive for country music.
May 26, 2019 @ 10:31 am
Are you kidding? Is it even worth the hassle to release albums? Blake doesn’t know anything about the time, effort, and musicianship it takes to craft a meaningful album. He can’t be bothered to be a country music artist anymore. Left Hollywood have him for good!
May 26, 2019 @ 5:57 pm
You really think he doesnt know what he is doing? Your as dumb as you sound. He just brought country and gospel back to #1. Let that sinl in for a minute. Who was the last one to do that?? I bet you cant name who it was.
May 27, 2019 @ 7:55 pm
Just Miranda fans that want to attack Blake but they aren’t very pithy or accurate with their statements. I think he knows what he’s doing. I’m sick of the “gone Hollywood” crap. I don’t remember hearing that about any other country star, like Reba for instance, who has had several TV series. I see lots of country and other genre artist making their way onto the Voice stage to promote their music. Has Luke Bryan gone Hollywood too? Blake & Luke just did benefit concerts on consecutive nights at Blake’s new concert venue in Tishomingo, OK. I think it holds about 300 and all the proceeds went to the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Foundation. These guys care about THE country and country music. They are two very down to earth guys, not like Hollywood creeps.
May 26, 2019 @ 10:41 am
Anyone with enough integrity to veer away from singing about beer and trucks is on the right track. I’m personally not going to buy Christian music but I respect the desire to dig deeper.
May 26, 2019 @ 10:52 am
People are gonna drag him for this (like you guys drag him for literally everything smh) but I agree with him. Country music just doesn’t stream like other genres & steaming is where the music business is now. The most streamed country song this week only had 7 million streams while the top streamed song this week streamed was almost 40 million. The discrepancy is huge. Until streaming is figured out, albums are just too expensive.
I know this site will argue against monetary and commercial value and argue for the storytelling aspects of albums and such and that’s fair. But, truthfully, Blake just seems tired. He has pretty much singlehandedly kept Warner Music Nashville relevant for years. He’s only now receiving help from Dan + Shay blowing up. But before that, Warner has capitalized on Blake’s exposure from The Voice by having him release an album every year and a half – two years. He now has a family that he wants to spend more time with and album releases require promotion that includes extensive touring, which he’s backing away from. Basically, albums are still valuable for many artists, but for Blake specifically, singles may be the way to go based on where he’s at in his life.
May 26, 2019 @ 1:42 pm
I don’t stream. I prefer a hard copy album over downloading and making my own. I just bought five CD’s at a concert yesterday. I can’t be the only person who likes country who listens to albums over and over rather than streaming. Perhaps that is why counts are lower.
May 26, 2019 @ 5:01 pm
I’m with you. Those of us still in peak earnings years still remember and love albums. We can’t be insignificant as a market overall. But we’re not getting younger, and we Xers are small and outnumbered. Singles feel noncommittal to me. An album says, “I’ve invested a lot in this,” at least the indie ones, and investment takes a lot out of savings. If I think it’s worth it, $15 is a fair risk on my part to match the risk on their part. But
May 27, 2019 @ 6:08 am
No, you most certainly are not. I for one much prefer to own my music rather than rent it.
Also, I would hate it if the album as an art form went away. So, so many great songs would go unrecorded.
May 27, 2019 @ 10:04 pm
I share the preference for albums and owning my copies of music. In my teens and twenties, I was disappointed when CDs that cost me a few hours work to earn clocked in under 30 minutes long. I lamented the shrinking and then disappearance of liner notes I’d devoured for everything from the lyrics to the songwriters names to the studio pickers to the thank you’s.
I won’t part with any of the hundreds of CDs, cassettes, and albums I’ve purchased over the years. When I enjoy an artist in person, I’ll buy the CD directly from them/their merch table. But, I also am around 12 years into a monthly paid subscription that allows me to more easily take the playlists I create on the road with me, and allows me to turn them into CDs to share with friends (or just have in hard copy) for $.99 a track. The $.99 is worth avoiding the hassle of copying a song from a CD I already own, and follows applicable laws. If I love a song enough to force it on my friends – I mean share it with my friends – I am happy to pay for it a few times over. I’m also happy to see the artist rack up more plays/streams, even if it doesn’t pay them as well as would seem fair. At least they are not losing sales that pay better to streams that pay less.
Over the past few years, I’ve stopped going to shows in venues amphitheater-sized or larger. If I’m going to watch someone play on a screen, I might as well be at home in the AC without lines for beer or bathrooms. Since I buy CDs in person at shows, I’m more likely to buy CDs and stream music by acts that aren’t dominating airplay or charts. If I “stream-only” music, it’s probably a major act or someone that doesn’t tour/play East of the Mississippi.
We saw Blake Shelton, Reba, Willie, Dwight, Gary Allan, and several other acts at Harrah’s in NC, usually with comped tickets. Blake is the only one for whom I really don’t recall whether I ever bought one of his CDs. We have all of Gary’s, and several each of Reba’s, Willie’s, and Dwight’s.
Dwight was the rare artist whose music I liked so much that I actually bought a “cassingle.” Bringing us full circle to the notion of selling one song at a time… and recording and releasing them that way. Kind of “full circle” back to 45s.
Wonder if we’re heading toward a day when artists release only singles and then their “albums” are just singles compiled over a few years or longer?
May 28, 2019 @ 6:09 am
I still buy CD’s. Never have downloaded, not sure if I even would know how(not tech savvy at all). Nothing better than a road trip, with a batch of CD’s I haven’t listened to.
May 26, 2019 @ 10:54 am
Blake Shelton reminds me a lot of Toby Kieth. He has the ability to do incredible country and had some wonderful early work, but it the end he became more interested in novelty and notoriety than in his craft.
The “old farts” comment was ages ago, and the work he has done exposing legends to younger fans recently is commendable. Miranda Lambert FANS don’t have a beef with him (yes her STANS do, but please do not lump us all together). All of his blustering and bloviating on Twitter pretty much gets a pass from most people as well.
The reason most real country fans have a beef with this guy is because he helped bro-country over take the industry…and because he can’t be bothered to put out the kind of good music he is capable of. (Sorry to me “God’s Country” sounds like a blatant reworking of “Rock Star” by Nickleback.
I don’t care if he ever puts out another record or not…but if he does, I hope he does it right instead of just collecting crap songs to appeal to the masses.
May 26, 2019 @ 2:20 pm
“The reason most real country fans have a beef with this guy is because he helped bro-country over take the industry…and because he can’t be bothered to put out the kind of good music he is capable of.” This was the best way to write this.
May 26, 2019 @ 2:56 pm
Just a small correction. Blake has really been off Twitter since 2016. Mainly used for business. Occasionally a personal tweet. But he’s not on social media mych at all.
May 27, 2019 @ 7:33 am
Well said. Used to like him in his Austin days, but he is just sloppy and into this whole TV attention seeking thing and it is total turn off. And he slways looks sweaty and sounds drunk with his constant vodka in a cup. Not a good look. I think he is stuck somewhere in the middle of Oklahoma and hollywood…..too bad.
May 27, 2019 @ 4:07 pm
Well, Blake is kind of the Nickelback of country music.
So Shelton may not make another record? Sounds great! Now if only Kane Brown, FL/GA, Luke Bryant, Jason Andean, Keith Urban, Brantley Gilbert, Walker whatshisname, and Sam Hunt could be convinced so to likewise…
May 27, 2019 @ 6:03 pm
I’m sure they will all quit. Who wants to have millions of fans, big hits, play arenas and be rich? That’s got to really suck!
May 26, 2019 @ 11:22 am
Just as well–his songs suck lately
May 26, 2019 @ 12:56 pm
I love your music Blake. Do what makes you happy,but, please please dont quit making music!!
Singles are great. Keep it up!
May 26, 2019 @ 2:25 pm
I agree keep on singing and making the hits.
May 26, 2019 @ 1:46 pm
“God’s COuntry” was not a Christian song j
Just because it had the word God in it(let’s make no mistake about that people”). I dont know if Carrie Underwood made it on the Christian charts with ” jesus take the wheel” but she should have. Blake did this to appeal to a wider audience if he wants to retire let him he’s given a lot to country music and truly he’s more of a celebrity now.
May 26, 2019 @ 2:30 pm
I wouldn’t call it a Christian song j
But I do think one of the reasons it’s doing so well is it’s crossing over to the Christian music market that is very supportive of music like this, downloading copies instead of just streaming, and going out of their way to support a song they believe in.
May 27, 2019 @ 11:32 am
She did. CCM stations also played “So Small” and “Something in the Water.”
May 26, 2019 @ 1:55 pm
If you truly love creating music, recording an album is never a hassle. It’s a privilege, and it’s worth every single minute of your time, regardless of how well it sells. I’ve been writing and recording for 36 years, and as soon as I wrap up a new album or EP, I can’t wait to start the next. I’ll keep writing and recording music until I’m no longer physically able to do so.
May 26, 2019 @ 1:58 pm
Most of the time I can “take or leave” Blake. I like God’s Country whenever I hear it on the radio the rare short period of times I listen to either of my 2 Country/Pop stations. I’ve said it on here many other times………I don’t listen to songs, I listen to albums and EP’s. Real artists care about making those 2 vehicles because they enjoy creating a collection of songs that their real fans want to hear either by buying (like many of us on here do) or these days streaming the full album. I don’t mind EP’s as much as Trig but I prefer 9-11 songs. If Blake never released another album I’d probably not even notice because I’d listening to the albums of the real artists we talk about on here every day that I barely have time for…lol
May 26, 2019 @ 2:16 pm
Dad and I were talking out in the garage when I looked up and saw young man coming to us across the street. I asked my dad who that was coming towards us. He said that’s my little buddy Blake Shelton. You came up to us and dad introduced me to you and we shook hands. Dad pulled his wallet out and handed you a bill. He then told you to go put it in your piggy bank. You got about 20 feet away from us walking toward your house, that’s when Daddy says he’s going to be big, really big, everybody’s going to know his name. Every time that I hear your name or see you I think of what my daddy said. How he knew you were going to be such a major success I’ll never know that was my daddy Murray John’s.
May 26, 2019 @ 2:22 pm
Lame.
May 26, 2019 @ 2:17 pm
He should just release an EP once every Year or two. Songs would be better, and not as hard to produce as a full album
May 26, 2019 @ 2:19 pm
So-called country music nowadays is NOT! Real country. Sorry that I had to burst that bubble. It’s called rap, bubblegum and a mixture of all music that doesn’t sell. What happened to staying in their own category of music?
I will stay and keep listening to the older version of Country. That is what sells! SMH!
May 26, 2019 @ 2:42 pm
You’re not bursting any bubbles around here, but what are you basing “that is what sells” on?
May 26, 2019 @ 2:49 pm
You can bet the farm tht if Blake wasn’t making the millions he makes sitting on his a** on a tv show, he’d be concerned about releasing albums and touring more.
May 26, 2019 @ 3:01 pm
“God’s Country” is not the worst song on “country” radio or the charts.
Not a big accomplishment when the majority of songs are on the “Alcohol You Later” level or sung by no-names like Adam Hambrick.
He enters the old-fart level of his career. His last album was already boring & lifeless.
Putting out a single every 6 month will keep him on the charts. But his big time is over.
May 26, 2019 @ 3:01 pm
Sheryl Crow spoke of the same thing recently. Bono talked about it 2 years ago. Something to the effect that he didn’t know what was going to happen to albums. Especially with streaming. He said it felt lije the 50s where one released singles. And every song on that album would have to ne a hit. I admit the last album I bought was 25. I stream the songs I want. Blake has a point. Go look at album sales across the genres.
May 26, 2019 @ 3:14 pm
When it comes to album’s. Like Alan Jackson sang in Murder On Music Row “I still buy them”.
And I do, as a life long George Strait fan, many of my favorite Strait songs were never released as singles. I honestly have been playing Honky Tonk Time Machine CD everyday, not a bad song on it. But guy’s like George Strait and Alan Jackson have always been very good at making a complete album’s. Other artists not so much.
May 26, 2019 @ 4:27 pm
”But guy’s like George Strait and Alan Jackson have always been very good at making a complete album’s. Other artists not so much”
Exactly …..we just don’t need filler ……..and we shouldn’t be exploiting the uninitiated listeners with shit just because they will buy,stream/steal it . We’ve created a mindless monster with shit music .
May 27, 2019 @ 10:17 pm
As good as “Ocean Front Property” is (both song and album), it did break my heart and piggy bank (okay, checking account) that the album wasn’t even 30 minutes long. I paid at least $.50 per minute for that CD. Admittedly, I still have it (plus many others, and box set, and…) on my shelf.
Feels a little like remembering when we paid for long distance calls by the minute, as with dial-up, cell phone minutes… Thankful that a lot of things aren’t as pricey these days. A little sad that lower literal price to consumer also comes with figuratively “cheap” experience.
May 26, 2019 @ 4:00 pm
I don’t mind Blake Shelton, but I won’t be too perturbed if he never releases another album. What I’m more concerned about, on a grander scale, is the album being phased out of recorded music. Fuck. That. I’ve no interest in a one song at a time experience.
May 26, 2019 @ 5:37 pm
I’m just….
https://youtu.be/oP_E-c6f5T4
May 26, 2019 @ 5:59 pm
Blake’s transgressions over the past 6-7 years have made it really tough for me to forgive him, along with his nails on a chalkboard personna on The Voice. But who knows, maybe he will go back to his old Austin/Ol Red self one day.
May 26, 2019 @ 6:20 pm
I just don’t see how albums make much sense anymore. No one buys them and streaming doesn’t pay much to the artist. People spend .99 on a single or buy a subscription to a streaming service. Touring is what is making money these days. Why release an album when no one is going to hear it?
May 26, 2019 @ 6:26 pm
This is the future. Album sales keep dropping year after year. There is instant gratification in telling Alexa to stream something instead of heading to Walmart to buy a copy. Listen to the songs you want and skip paying for the filler. Shelton’s old farts comment got people riled up but it played out just like he said with bro and pop country taking over. Give it a couple of years and watch this prediction come true as well.
According to Billboard …“God’s Country” has racked up more than 50 million on-demand streams and has already surpassed 500,000 track equivalent sales“
May 27, 2019 @ 11:50 am
50 million streams?!?!?! WOW! That it means it’s made about $300 thousand dollars…or 4 jacked up F350 payments…
May 27, 2019 @ 1:02 pm
Whatever you choose to spend your money on.
May 26, 2019 @ 6:33 pm
I absolutely adore Blake Shelton! I fell in love with him many years ago listening to a song called “Austin”. I had never seen his face had no idea who he was until that day and well the rest is history. He is drop dead gorgeous and has the best sense of humor in a man I have ever seen. He’s down to earth and just has the greatest personality!
If you don’t like Blake don’t buy his music! He has a right to live his life doing whatever he chooses to do and what will make him happy. He has given much to country music and maybe it”s time for a new chapter and new path in his life.
I am a fan for life no matter what he chooses to do!
May 26, 2019 @ 8:24 pm
” I had never seen his face had no idea who he was until that day and well the rest is history. He is drop dead gorgeous and has the best sense of humor in a man I have ever seen. He’s down to earth and just has the greatest personality!”
with all due respect …..you know this is a MUSIC site don’t you juanita ? what does that PEOPLE magazine -type comment above have to do with blake’s music ??
May 26, 2019 @ 9:11 pm
Juanita, you’re precisely right. It’s his life – not someone elses. Live it as you wish, Blake. More power to you!
May 26, 2019 @ 6:43 pm
A lot of people who aren’t particularly religious, or even big country fans, love God’s Country. I’ve seen comments from metalheads, rap and pop fans who are into It, it’s dark and intense and has an amazing video. And I’d rather hear a killer single now and then rather than an okay album. He’s happy and enjoying having a family, let him do what he wants creatively.
May 26, 2019 @ 7:15 pm
I’ve never been a fan. Even his most traditional songs were still pop-Country. He’s a pretty decent vocalist, but I don’t like his voice. When “Boys Round Here” came out, it was no surprise to me. I thought it fit his douchy, pseudo-redneck persona quite nicely.
When he made the OFAJA comment in 2013, I just couldn’t have cared any less. It sounded exactly like something someone like him would say, and I just didn’t, and still don’t care enough about Country Music (the industry) to get worked up over it.
If he never releases another album or song, I’d say that’s good for the world, but I won’t notice either way…..unless I read about it on here.
Trigger keeps me up to date on all the crappy music that I try to pretend doesn’t exist.😆
May 26, 2019 @ 7:58 pm
.,and Jesus wept
May 26, 2019 @ 8:10 pm
Holy shot great news. If only we could get rid of Thomas Rhett and Maren Morris
May 26, 2019 @ 8:44 pm
Maybe he just wants to give someone else time in the lights.
May 26, 2019 @ 10:01 pm
This is for all the people that think and say “nobody buys albums anymore”……………..
Luke Combs says ……………. H E L L O
As do many other artists that understand the significance of “The Album”.
May 26, 2019 @ 10:45 pm
Blake doesnt need to make a new album he wants to spend time with Quen and the kids and spending hours away from his family that long doesnt leave time for him to fish or do what he wants. I think when hes ready he will. I discovered Blake and I are distant cousins through my Chastain side of the family. I think he is just taking time off nefore the next episode of the voice. Enjoy your free time Blake.
May 27, 2019 @ 1:58 am
Artists are reluctant to make albums anymore because of downloaded and streamed music and radio only playing young, up and coming, and super stars/legends like George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Chris Stapleton, etc. Pop and Rock has mostly died, dying slowly, or gone country and Rap/HipHop/etc. is about the same as far as I know. Record companies make money on the artists that sign long contracts, end up wildly successful, and the owners get huge dollars for every 1 sold but the artist’s pay is stagnant the whole time. It’s expensive to tour, especially all the equipment and personnel needed. That’s why many go into restaurants, their own brand of alcohol, clothing, shoes/boots, hats, etc, doing commercials, and TV shows/movies.
May 27, 2019 @ 3:36 am
I know when I usually bought an album there were only maybe 3 or 4 “good” songs on it and the others felt like “fill in”. Like so many others I stream the singles I like.
May 27, 2019 @ 6:55 am
Remember when he unironically rocked a Kentucky waterfall, before he was refined and sophisticated?
May 27, 2019 @ 7:13 am
I for one could careless if Blake Shelton ever recorded another single.I’ve been a country music fan for years, but could not name but a very few of the #i’s he’s put out. He puts out a single and his voting machine takes them to #1 so fast that to me they amount to nothing. Most are #1 and you never hear them again. AUSTIN AND OLE RED have been two that I’ve heard over the years.I don’t blame him one bit for not putting out albums, he’s Hollywood now, no doubt Blackstocks can keep him busy…take a look at Kelly Clarkson, as REBA says she is everywhere. She’ll probably be on some tv show this very day and evening.SMH
May 27, 2019 @ 9:08 am
You Miranda fans are a trip. Shelton was the most played country artist on radio in 2017-2018. He’s had two back to sold out tours. He has the 7th best selling single in the world in 2019, the best selling country single with over 50 million streams and just passed a billion YouTube views but the man’s career is going nowhere. Amazing.
May 27, 2019 @ 6:43 pm
Radio plays the songs of the same artist all the time no matter what they sound like, do lord please don’t say he has had a ton of hits. Money speaks volumes. I could care less if he never sang another song period. Stay in Hollywood with the Voice that got you the star power . Country music doesn’t need him , he has become irrelevant to me and all he cares about is that stupid show the Voice..
May 28, 2019 @ 6:45 am
This is what sets fans of Miranda’s music and Miranda fans apart. The latter are batshit crazy and a scourge in country music fandoms.
It’s one thing not to like an artist or their music but when you have to start making up ‘facts’ to denigrate them that’s where you lose the argument. A quick google shows he only plays his hits at his concerts which are numerous and clearly there is an audience for it because he sells out every single venue on his tour.
May 28, 2019 @ 8:00 am
Don’t agree with you too often, but I agree with that. Blake Shelton is one of the most commercially successful acts in mainstream country music history. To claim he is irrelevant is ridiculous. It’s also pretty well documented that he is an all around decent person.
We have gotten to a place where music fans have been overtaken by fans of celebrity. It’s some kind of unhealthy obsession.
And it’s not just about Blake and Miranda (members of their cults of personality are particularly vicious). I have seen the same kind of hateful vitriol about many other artists.
Wish we could all get back to caring about the music.
May 27, 2019 @ 9:16 am
the glut of music – (of entertainment , in general) -seems to make it more and more difficult for songs to have a life after the chart and this means very few become well-known as standards …..good or bad . most are not good songs, of course …not well-written , that is , and lack that timeless aspect which is what a song needs to have a long life . trend , contemporary expressions and ‘slang’ also undermine a song’s shelf life …(.'” blowin up my phone” etc..). saying that , the ‘biz’ and most contemporary ‘artists’ , are obviously not as concerned with a song that stands the test of time as they are with its current marketability as a ‘sonic commodity ‘ . artists are cross-marketed to cash in on their commercial celebrity and NOT their artistic intentions or visions or viewpoints .(you likely won’t see Andrea Bocelli , for instance , hosting a talk show or hawking Ford f-150s ). 15 minutes of fame goes in the blink of an eye if you don’t sell yourself on every front possible to sustain a celeb career.
the innocence and artistry of interesting , creative and well-written mainstream ‘pop’ songs has all but disappeared in this celebrity climate and the motus operandi to sustaining a long career seems , indeed , to be the exploitation of not only the ‘artist’ but of his or her fans .
May 27, 2019 @ 9:04 am
I was hoping SCM would write about this. This story has been popping up as news on my tablet and phone this past week. I really don’t care if Blake Shelton never makes another record or even if he never releases another single. I do agree that God’s Country is definitely a step above Boys Round Here (though I also find it “overwrought”). However, what distresses me is the death of the album. A truly great album by a truly great artist is a work of art. Artists who truly care will put out an album that isn’t just a few singles with “filler.” They put out a collection of songs that are meant to be listened to start to finish. Waylon’s Dreaming My Dreams is one of those for me. I have been listening to it, all the way through, since I was a kid and still do today. I know there are still artists who do this. Unfortunately, music has been dummied down to 3 minute ditties that peak, fall off the charts quickly, and are then forgotten. Then the next bland sound-alike single is released and the cycle starts all over. Has society become this stupid? Apparently so. It scares me to think that the album could die but hopefully the true artists will continue to put their heart and soul into it, regardless of what the Nashville money machine demands.
May 27, 2019 @ 10:17 am
Love Blake Shelton’s music, his work to help others, his simpleness of life. He has given so much of himself and we should all be thankful. Get tired of know it all criics that attack people’s character and think the know best
May 27, 2019 @ 11:55 am
I could be wrong, but I didn’t see anyone attacking his character in these comments. I don’t think there’s much doubt that Shelton is an all around good guy. It’s his MUSIC that is being critiqued here – and deservedly so.
May 27, 2019 @ 1:25 pm
I only like his song honey bee he charge win he got with that crazy chick with kids but that s his business I really didn’t like his music I don’t care if he quit s it just he’s a loser with that chick he’s going out with I think she’s a bad influence on him maranada was better Gwen is not good for Blake
May 28, 2019 @ 8:02 am
I honestly can’t tell if this is a real comment or someone sarcastically imitating a Stan.
God, I hope it’s the latter.
May 28, 2019 @ 12:31 pm
You are clearly not familiar with the psycho segment of Miranda Lambert fans. They have trolled Gwen Stefani non-stop, like daily, for 4 years, they even troll Blake’s mom, one of the more disturbing rabbit holes on Twitter…
May 28, 2019 @ 12:38 pm
You’re right, I am not too familiar with them because I don’t spend any time at all on Twitter…but yes, I do know of their existence (seen more than a few of them commenting here on SCM – as I have also seen horrible personal attacks o. Miranda in the name of Blake/Gwen fans).
Someone pointed out earlier that there is a difference between Lambert fans and fans of Lambert’s music. Same is true will all these disturbing celebrity “cults.” They take everything so personally it’s scary.
May 28, 2019 @ 2:52 pm
Posted reply below
May 28, 2019 @ 8:36 pm
Whom ever they are they either need to go back to school cause their spelling and grammar sucks. If you’re going to go to the effort of trolling someone the least you can do is write something that makes sense instead of gibberish.
May 27, 2019 @ 3:26 pm
BLAKE YOU ARETHE BEST EVEN . NOW YOU @4 EVER DO WHAT U WANT U HAVE GWENTHE KIDS HOPE U HAVE A GREAT LIFE NEW COUNTRY BARS ECT. BEST WISHES . I LOVE THE VOICE
U AND ADAM R GREAT FUNNY AS HELL
PRACE GOD BLESS
YOUR ARE GREAT EVERYTHING U WRITE SING PLAY GUITAR ECT.
BEAUTIFUL GIRL
I WILL BE BLESSED IN ANY DECISION U CHOOSE
GOD BLESS U YR THE BEST IN WHAT EVER YOU ARE TRUE COUNTRY BOYALL AND ALL 100%
JAG
YOULL ALWAYS BE MY HERO
May 27, 2019 @ 8:03 pm
I understand what he’s saying, with the rise in online music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music where you can listen & download the songs you want record album sales are not what they use to be. Albums tend to have a bunch of great songs then album fillers that aren’t as good but are there to make up the rest of the album, who wants to buy album fillers nowadays? Most people will buy or listen to the songs they like, no need to buy a whole album, especially when you can make your own playlist. I think more and more artists will look to release singles as the years go by, makes sense and it’s how I’d do it. You can also create different styles of music that way because you wouldn’t be beholden to one genre. I don’t think he wanted to record another single because it meant doing another album. He has enough of a catalog now that he do it how he wants and still tour. Yeah will be really interesting to see how the future of music sales go with online music platforms becoming the main source of music consumption as time goes by.
May 28, 2019 @ 2:44 pm
Being a fan is fun if you keep it positive, for instance would have never discovered I like country music if Gwen, whom I am a big fan of, hadn’t gotten together with Blake. It’s been really fun to explore a new genre. But looking up a celebrity’s mother and telling her she must have been a horrible parent cause her son is an asshole is waaaaaaaaaaay beyond the pale…
May 29, 2019 @ 6:01 am
I hope that big dumb idiot stays true to his promise. I need more music from him like I need cholera or the black plague.
This old fart hasn’t bought one of his records and never will in my life, and thank God there might not be any more.
June 2, 2019 @ 2:43 pm
I actually heard him sing in concert and it was good, but I mostly don’t like his song choice.. can’t say I’m a fan.
So, I’m not broken up about this, at all. 😀
I call bullshit tho’.
June 2, 2019 @ 10:15 pm
If one hasn’t watched/listened to the video of Dale Wason performing “A song for Blake” I highly recommend it.
May 11, 2023 @ 11:03 pm
It’s a shame, songs waiting ,to be acknowledged, song writers like me .