There is a new John Rich song called "Progress" that has reached #1 on iTunes within just a few days of its release. Is this just an internet sensation, or is the song getting played on country radio as well, especially KKGO?
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New John Rich Song on Country Radio?
- Thread starter ChannelFlipper
- Start date
Looks like it's "internet only" right now. Checked Mediabase and it's not even listed in the Top 40 country tunes so maybe it just hasn't hit stations yet. Also, since it's sorta political they may be skittish to touch it.
No sign of it on any of the stations up this way, and we have a couple with conservative morning personalities (one of whom is also involved in management) who would certainly agree with the song's sentiments. I doubt it will ever get widespread mainstream country airplay.
Why risk alienating a big chunk of your audience by playing political songs? There's plenty of non-political country music to play - and this track isn't even that great musically.
One may think that KKGO will have to squeeze in more cash from Orange County communities, since they can't get the money from Burbank or Long Beach.
I think David Eduardo himself once implied that KKGO bills less than KPWR, which is ranked 13th (!!!) in billing among LA radio stations.
It's not like they haven't played controversial songs before.
Remember in the 90s, Garth Brooks sang "We Shall Be Free" with lines such as "When the last thing we notice is the color of the skin" and "When we're free to love anyone we choose," (alluding to gay marriage?). That bothered some people back then, I'm sure....
Garth Brooks - We Shall Be Free Lyrics | AZLyrics.com
Garth Brooks "We Shall Be Free": This ain't comin' from no prophet Just an ordinary man When I close my eyes I see The way this world...
www.azlyrics.com
About the same time, there was a singer Steve Vaus who sang "We Must Take America Back," which started "The American dream has become a nightmare" and went on from there with lines like "We need leaders who lead us / Not stick us and bleed us" https://www.lyricsvault.net/php/artist.php?s=134885#axzz7bb2nwFNH
Read more: https://www.lyricsvault.net/php/artist.php?s=134885#ixzz7bb3VRWHL
Even before that, Charlie Daniels got a bit political with songs such as "In America" and "Simple Man."
The Charlie Daniels Band - In America Lyrics | AZLyrics.com
The Charlie Daniels Band "In America": Well the eagle's been flyin' slow And the flag's been flyin' low And a lot of people sayin' that Ame...
www.azlyrics.com
The Charlie Daniels Band - Simple Man Lyrics | AZLyrics.com
The Charlie Daniels Band "Simple Man": I ain't nothin' but a simple man They call me a redneck I reckon that I am But there's things going...
www.azlyrics.com
That was a very different time. Unfortunately political tolerance has disappeared in the world today.
I wonder how many conservatives are on the air at NPR? (ok, none, forget that part). At least employed by NPR? I do believe they promote diversity and tolerance on the airwaves. Just not like that.
Asking the question (of either political preference) would violate all kinds of employer rules. Somehow they managed to hire a CEO who previously worked in the Trump administration. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is also currently run by a Trump appointee. So obviously tolerance works in mysterious ways.
Yet KPWR is in the top 50 billing stations out of about 10,800 commercial stations in the US.
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