“The Big 615” of Garth Brooks Vs. the “Y’all 106.7” of Randy Travis
51 CommentsA couple of really important moves have been made recently in the country radio space that could have implications on the format moving forward. But the two moves spearheaded by big country legends from the 90s take two different directions.
Billboard’s Country Charts at a Critical Crossroads
58 CommentsIn 2015, the names and music residing at the top of Billboard’s respective genre charts seems topsy-turvy and misguided. While Sam Hunt and his music that resembles next to nothing country is at the top of the country charts, an artist like Brandi Carlile who does uphold some of those country standards has the top album in rock. A very serious case can be made that those two artists should be switched.
Dale Watson to Release New Album “Call Me Insane”
13 CommentsDale Watson has been slaving away at his Ameripolitan Studios in Austin, TX, working on his followup to 2014’s Truckin’ Session Vol. 3, and 2013’s El Rancho Azul, and just announced Wednesday (3-18) he’ll release his latest record Call Me Insane on June 9th. The news comes as Dale will make an appearance on Wednesday’s Jimmy Kimmel LIVE from SXSW sitting in with Kimmel’s band.
Johnny Cash American Recordings to be Released in Vinyl Box Set
15 CommentsVinyl audiophiles might be saving their nickels and dimes for the impending Record Store Day special releases, but beating RSD to the punch is a six-album vinyl box set from the Man in Black that’s going to be hard to resist. Just announced, UMe—the catalog division of the Universal Music Group—is releasing a box set of the entire Johnny Cash American Recordings-era music.
10 Predictions for Steven Tyler’s Country Music Career
62 CommentsHey, Saving Country Music is advocating that listeners actually wait to hear the upcoming country music record from Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler before passing judgement upon it. But you can’t help but appreciate the strange thought of Steven Tyler as a country star, so let’s take a second to try and predict what actually might happen once Steven Tyler officially goes country.
Brandi Carlile Soars in “The Firewatcher’s Daughter”
30 CommentsBrandi Carlile is exactly the type of strong-willed, vibrant and inventive female artist country music needs, yet country’s charts continue to be crested by the likes of interlopers such as Sam Hunt. Can we trade Sam Hunt to rock for Brandi Carlile, players to be named later, drafts picks, and/or cash considerations? Everyone wants to talk about where to find relevant female talent for country music, well here it is.
Sony Nashville CEO Gary Overton is Stepping Down
38 CommentsWell the saga of Sony Nashville CEO Gary Overton’s comments to The Tennessean of “If you’re not on country radio, you don’t exist” uttered in late February just took another interesting turn. Gary Overton is out at one of Music Row’s very top executive spots. Announced Tuesday morning (3-17), Gary Overton is stepping down from his position as Sony Nashville’s top executive at the end of March.
Eli Young Band Goes Metro with “Turn It On”
102 CommentsHere we go country music fans, it’s time to usher in the new Metro-Politan era of poorly-conceived country music hyper-trends, so turn your dirt roads and tailgates in for club hookups and cocaine mirrors because it’s Katy bar the door, here come the dance club “country” songs at you hard and fast. Bro-Country who? That was so 2014.
New Movement Believes Bocephus Belongs in the Country Hall of Fame
48 CommentsNavy Buddies Take on Nashville and Advocate for Hank Williams Jr.’s HOF Induction — “I enlisted in the Navy when I was 17. That choice, and September 11, 2001, has kept me often deployed abroad and moving around throughout the United States over the last 17 years. Hank’s music is one way I’ve found to stay connected to rural American culture.”
Album Review – Grandpa’s Cough Medicine’s “180 Proof”
12 CommentsHailing from the Florida region, Grandpa’s Cough Medicine is not exactly your grandpa’s bluegrass band, but they’re not solely a speed freak punk-gone-bluegrass outfit either. Combining the meticulous and highly-skilled artistry of authentic bluegrass traditions and modes with a punk-ish attitude and tempo, and adding a little bit of ribald and offbeat humor in their lyricism….
Steven Tyler to Sign w/ Big Machine & Release a Country Record
120 CommentsMove over Sheryl Crow and Darius Rucker, apparently Steven Tyler and his size 14 lips will be belting out “country” tunes as early as this November according to a report from Billboard. Sources say the Aerosmith lead singer is getting ready to sign with Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Records.
Gary Allan Finds His Big Sellout Moment with “Hangover Tonight”
149 CommentsThis is Gary Allan’s big sellout moment ladies and gentlemen. No pretenses, no qualifiers, just come out and act like you’re into what Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett are into at the ripe age 47. This is even a bigger sellout moment than Tim McGraw with “Truck Yeah” and Jerrod Niemann with “Drink To That All Night” because you half expected those moves from those knuckleheads. But Gary Allan?
Scott Borchetta Cites Sturgill Simpson As Proof of Success Without Radio
25 CommentsDuring a phone interview Thursday afternoon (3-12) ahead of Scott Borchetta’s appearance on American Idol, he was asked to comment on the quotes from Sony Nashville CEO Gary Overton who said a couple of weeks ago, “If you’re not on country radio, you don’t exist.” Not only did Borchetta somewhat disagree with Overton’s assessment as being “very broad,” he cited Sturgill Simpson…