Flak over Wallen appearance at Opry

[CTListener]

Morgan Wallen, with a hit single, seems to be back in the good graces of country radio, and even has a collaboration with a rapper high on the urban charts, but his return to the Grand Ole Opry stage over the weekend -- as the guest of another singer/songwriter -- was too soon for some in and out of the Nashville music community,

The Grand Ole Opry Welcomed Back Morgan Wallen. Now the Nashville Institution Is Being Called Out

“Morgan Wallen’s thoughtless redemption tour is the nail in the coffin of me realizing these systems, and this town is really not for us,” said songwriter Joy Oladokun after the polariz…

www.rollingstone.com

 

[TheBigA]

The article makes it sound as though Morgan was a featured performer. He wasn't. As you correctly say, he was a guest of Ernest, and they performed Ernest's new single which features Morgan. To say "The Grand Ole Opry welcomed back Morgan Wallen" as a headline is misleading and makes it sound as though the Opry was somehow doing something. They didn't prevent him from going on stage, which may be what some critics wanted. But they didn't "welcome" him.

 

[firepoint525]

I'm going to say it. Wallen has been "dixie-chicked."

 

[TheBigA]

I'm going to say it. Wallen has been "dixie-chicked."

Actually he hasn't. Radio is playing him. He has the #1 most played power gold in radio "Whiskey Glasses" and he just announced a solo tour. There are some artists who oppose him and some who support him. The bottom line is the fans support him.

 

[firepoint525]

Actually he hasn't. Radio is playing him. He has the #1 most played power gold in radio "Whiskey Glasses" and he just announced a solo tour. There are some artists who oppose him and some who support him. The bottom line is the fans support him.

There are similarities, and there are differences. There certainly is an effort to "dixie-chick" him, judging by stories that I have seen in the news tonight. But overall, it doesn't seem to be working. I would just like to see more balance in the news coverage.

 

[TheBigA]

I would just like to see more balance in the news coverage.

I think there is. Whenever the story comes up, they report what Morgan said a show the video. You either have a problem with what he said or you don't. That's about all we have right now.

 

[firepoint525]

I think there is. Whenever the story comes up, they report what Morgan said a show the video. You either have a problem with what he said or you don't. That's about all we have right now.

I'm in the group that doesn't. But then again, I am not really a diehard fan of country music. Never really have been.

But I can't help but notice that those doing the most complaining are the no-namers. No Cowboy Troy, no Darius Rucker, no Jimmie Allen, not even Mickey Guyton. Those doing the complaining seem to be aiming at getting some publicity for themselves, and I have never heard of any of them.

 

[CTListener]

I'm in the group that doesn't. But then again, I am not really a diehard fan of country music. Never really have been.

But I can't help but notice that those doing the most complaining are the no-namers. No Cowboy Troy, no Darius Rucker, no Jimmie Allen, not even Mickey Guyton. Those doing the complaining seem to be aiming at getting some publicity for themselves, and I have never heard of any of them.

The loudest voice is that of Jason Isbell, who is white, and is not a big name in mainstream country music, although he's always been big with the alt-country crowd and music journalists.

 

[firepoint525]

The loudest voice is that of Jason Isbell, who is white, and is not a big name in mainstream country music, although he's always been big with the alt-country crowd and music journalists.

Yes, I have also heard him weigh in. I have heard of him, although I am not overly familiar with him. I personally think that he, too, might be trying to get some publicity out of this.

 

[CAVEMANager]

If I had to program my station on the basis of politics I could never play country music. There are very few country performers who are political liberals. Those who are keep it to themselves. Music should be evaluated on the basis of music. I think that the last openly liberal country singer was Tom T Hall who recently committed suicide.

 

[CTListener]

If I had to program my station on the basis of politics I could never play country music. There are very few country performers who are political liberals. Those who are keep it to themselves. Music should be evaluated on the basis of music. I think that the last openly liberal country singer was Tom T Hall who recently committed suicide.

Kathy Mattea, a multiple CMA and Grammy winner in the late '80s/early '90s, was the first major country artist to wear the red AIDS ribbon regularly and is very much liberal. Folk crossover Mary Chapin Carpenter is as well.
Garth Brooks has never even hinted at his political views, but he did sing at President Biden's inauguration, which raised a few eyebrows in Nashvillle. He told The Tennessean afterward that his appearance was not a political message but one of unity. I have a strong feeling he's been a closeted liberal but has valued his career -- and reputation as one of country music's "good guys" -- too much to come right out and say so.
I've been a country fan since the mid-'70s. Never been in radio but did review country albums and concerts for several years for a newspaper. I never let my politics interfere with my criticism, even when reviewing albums by the likes of Hank Williams Jr. and Charlie Daniels. Back in the day, I thought Hank's "If Heaven Ain't a Lot Like Dixie" was an absolute hoot, the best thing about the album it was on, and said so in my review. I got not one reprimand, in-house or from any readers. I could never get away with that today.

 

[kevtronics]

Garth Brooks has never even hinted at his political views, but he did sing at President Biden's inauguration, which raised a few eyebrows in Nashvillle. He told The Tennessean afterward that his appearance was not a political message but one of unity. I have a strong feeling he's been a closeted liberal but has valued his career -- and reputation as one of country music's "good guys" -- too much to come right out and say so.

Garth's 1992 song "We Shall Be Free" did get some pushback because of its anti-homophobia and pro-freedom-of-religion lyrics. He performed it at a gay rights march in Washington, DC in 2000 and at a concert celebrating Obama's inauguration in 2009.

 

[Mikey Radio]

Garth Brooks has never even hinted at his political views, but he did sing at President Biden's inauguration, which raised a few eyebrows in Nashvillle. He told The Tennessean afterward that his appearance was not a political message but one of unity. I have a strong feeling he's been a closeted liberal but has valued his career -- and reputation as one of country music's "good guys" -- too much to come right out and say so.

One thing I found striking is that while Garth did indeed perform at Biden's inauguration, he then went around and greeted and hugged several people from BOTH sides of the political aisle afterwards. If I'm not mistaken, all his jumping around and greeting everyone slightly delayed the continuation of the proceedings and got a chuckle from those in attendance. For me he was sending a message that its OK to have friends on both sides, and that perhaps dems and republicans share more in common than we sometimes realize or allow ourselves to see. Then again, maybe he was just saying hi to those he knew and I was overthinking it.

 

[TheBigA]

Garth's 1992 song "We Shall Be Free" did get some pushback

It wasn't the typical Garth Brooks instant #1. It instead peaked at #12. He was a co-writer but he often gives credit (& blame) for that song to co-writer Stephanie Davis. He says it was her vision that brought it together.

One thing I found striking is that while Garth did indeed perform at Biden's inauguration, he then went around and greeted and hugged several people from BOTH sides of the political aisle afterwards.

That's typical Garth. He's pretty well known in DC as a lobbyist for songwriters and other music issues. He indeed has friends on both sides. That's not fake. It was amazing who turned out when he received the George Gershwin prize in DC right before covid hit.

 

[CAVEMANager]

In the case of both Wallen and Chicks, they made comments that struck fear into corporate America. The solution for their recording companies and the big radio companies was to disown them, regardless of their musical abilities. Quite possibly the best advice came from Johnny Cash when he sang:
"Work on harmony and diction,
Play your banjo well,
And if you have political convictions,
Keep them to yourself"

 

[CTListener]

It wasn't the typical Garth Brooks instant #1. It instead peaked at #12. He was a co-writer but he often gives credit (& blame) for that song to co-writer Stephanie Davis. He says it was her vision that brought it together.

Garth even tried to get Davis started on a recording career by taking her along as an opening act on one of his tours. She put out an album (which I received a copy of and reviewed positively) but radio didn't bite and singing stardom never came. That also was typical Garth -- instead of having another big name or a hot new talent as his support act, he often used his position as country music's biggest star by introducing his concert audiences to people like Susan Ashton (a Christian contemporary singer) and Ty England (a member of his band).

 

[TheBigA]

In the case of both Wallen and Chicks, they made comments that struck fear into corporate America. The solution for their recording companies and the big radio companies was to disown them, regardless of their musical abilities.

Except that's not what happened at Columbia Records and the Dixie Chicks. The label continued to support the trio through a major national tour and a follow-up album. The follow-up album, released three years later, won 5 Grammy awards.

Radio companies never actually banned the Dixie Chicks. Some stations refused to play them. Their single attacking country radio, Not Ready To Make Nice, received enough airplay to chart in the 30s. So they weren't disowned, and their music from the 90s still gets airplay on classic country stations. But the band was angry about the treatment they received and continue to complain about it all these years later.

 

[firepoint525]

Radio companies never actually banned the Dixie Chicks. Some stations refused to play them. Their single attacking country radio, Not Ready To Make Nice, received enough airplay to chart in the 30s. So they weren't disowned, and their music from the 90s still gets airplay on classic country stations. But the band was angry about the treatment they received and continue to complain about it all these years later.

I still remember a comment on Amazon, something to the effect of "nothing like trying to use a three-year-old controversy to sell records" when "Taking the Long Way" came out. "Not Ready to Make Nice" was a TERRIBLE choice for a single, which essentially made radio's rejection of them a self-fulfilling prophecy. It bombed so fast that they were already on the SECOND single (of which I don't even remember the name) by the time that the CD came out. "Not Ready..." showed up on the playlist of the local AAA station for a week or two, but I never actually heard it played there. (But they freely ran commercials for their upcoming concerts.)

Their pre-controversy albums sold 10-11 million units each; then "Taking the Long Way" sold something like two million.

I still occasionally hear their pre-controversy songs on format-appropriate country stations.

 

[AM FM listener]

Although the Rolling Stone article began about Morgan Wallen, the rest of the story was more about country music's acceptance (or lack thereof) of black artists. True, there are not many black county music stars out there. But, looking at this from another angle, how many white artists are prominent on Urban radio? I'm not talking about Rhythmic radio, just Urban. Robin Thicke is the only artist that comes to my mind. My point is that music (and radio) comes in many genres (formats). Some genres appeal more to certain demographics than others.

 

[TheBigA]

My point is that music (and radio) comes in many genres (formats). Some genres appeal more to certain demographics than others.

I agree. Music doesn't operate on a quota system. There has been a similar criticism about country music and women. The view was that most of the Top 30 is made up of men. The Top 30 is based on airplay and popularity, not the sex or race of the artists. You can't force personal taste. But the fact is that the number of black artists in country music has nothing to do with this particular story. It just gives an opportunity for someone to push an agenda.