Complain about todays country music here...

Marlin Smoot · From: Kansas

If you are one of many that don't like what's happening with today's country music, the CMA awards show etc... this may be a good place to let your thoughts be known: The CMA Board. The Board is made up of many people currently in the industry who are guiding the current business of todays country music and if you do some research, you may be able to get an email or letter to them about your thoughts - good or bad.

http://www.cmaworld.com/organization/board_of_directors/default.asp

To complain about something like the CMA awards show and feel you are "showing them" by just not watching is not going to get anything done. Raise your voice and perhaps you can make a difference. I think a lot of people want to be heard but not sure where to go to get it done. Maybe you can start here.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 30 Oct 2007 1:57 pm

I dunno, Marlin. There doesn't seem to be any way to contact anyone by email or phone on the website. Guess they don't feel like they need anyone else's opinion .....

Barry Blackwood · Posted 30 Oct 2007 2:04 pm

"The Board is made up of many people currently in the industry who are guiding the current business of todays country music ..."

I see Trace Adkins, (of Badonkadonk fame,) Kix Brooks, and John Rich, (Big & Rich,)are all on the Board. Are they "guiding the current business of todays country music? Hmmmm .....

Marlin Smoot · From: Kansas

I see Trace Adkins, (of Badonkadonk fame,) Kix Brooks, and John Rich, (Big & Rich,)are all on the Board. Are they "guiding the current business of todays country music? Hmmmm .....

Barry;
In a way they are, Trace has one of the biggest selling CD's in the Country format. John Rich has been awarded as one of the best song writters in Nashville and Brooks and Dunn continue to be one of the biggest concert sellers in all formats, so I would say to a degree they have a hand in guiding the business as thay have been very successful in their fields thus, people look to them as a business model of success.

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

With those names on the board you can see why country music is being desecrated. They're all sell outs. There in it to be rock stars. It should be Marty Stuart, George Strait, and Ricky Scaggs.

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Why bother?

In my little mind, it's all absurd.

Just play the music you love, listen to it, dig it, try to turn people onto it, and what else can you really do?

"Walk softly, and carry a big bar"! Sad

_________________
Chip
Williams U-12 8X5; Keyless; Natural Blonde Laquer.

Marlin Smoot · From: Kansas

Chip,
With all due respect, that was my point. Do nothing and nothing happens.

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Kevin,How dare you insinuate that Marty Stuart,George Strait,and Ricky Scaggs are country artists,When was the last time you saw either of them use a couple of distorted Les Pauls through a Marshall stack,a stack of synthesizers,or dance around the stage trilling a mikestand like a pom pom girl,When was the last time you saw Marty,George,or Ricky destroy a perfectly good guitar instead of actually PLAYING it,When was the last time you saw them appear on the [not so grand]opry dressed like rejects from the Hell's Angels,have to use an antaras to sing on key,or make vidios that would be banned on VH1 or BET,See Kevin these are the MAIN INGREDIENTS it takes today to become a country music superstar,Marty,George,or Ricky don't have these attributes,don't you know.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC !

LJ Eiffert · From: California, USA

Hello Chip Fossa,You said it,walk softly & you'll be left behind.Speak loud & be proud & they can't help but know they have to do something.....,What?....PS;Marlin Smoot,You said it too!,nobody is doing something & that happen to be nothing.They just don't care what we think or say unless you are at the same circle turn table career makers bread!......Who's Hot Now? Leo J.Eiffert,Jr.

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

I just got into a heated argument with one of our local new country DJ's over the weekend over what constituted REAL country music. I asked him if he ever heard of Heather Myles, Dale watson, Red Steagall. He never hear heard of any of them. I told him I'm turning on XM Satellite Radio as soon as I get in my van. It scares the hell out of them.

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Kevin,what must scare the hell out of the so-called country music industry is guys like Dale Watson[IMO]the BEST country artist we have today]Wayne Hancock,or Robbie Fulks.As long as they can brainwash people,especially the younger crowd to actually BELIEVE that Kenny Chesney,Big and Rich or Cowboy Troy are country artist,the real deals have a hard time being heard,don't you know.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC !

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

Nearly all the artists that I consider being REAL country are either passed on or in their 70s. I would rather listen to them than to try to influence the current Nasville moguls to put out some artist trying to act like them. That is one of the problems...talent. They don't have any young artists that are real, just produced up rockers trying to act likc whatever they consider country these days.

If you hate what is on the country radio rotation these days, let them have it and buy some CD compilations of the classic country greats and fill your CD changer with them.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 31 Oct 2007 6:25 am

"With those names on the board you can see why country music is being desecrated."

My point exactly, Kevin! It's a point that Marlin seems to have missed completely.

Marlin Smoot · From: Kansas

There are more than just 'artists' on the CMA board and record labels don't care if you listen to XM, they get a lot of product sold from XM too.

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Marlin, they are SCARED witless by XM Satellite. Yes they can get their crap played on XM also (payola), but it also represents the growing independent labels which are there, and REAL country music that is played 24 hours a day. The reason that you are hearing all this rock crap played on country stations is because the record labels are PAYING consulting companies to have it played. Its payola. Sony music was forced by federal court order this year to sell a number of its radio stations because they were caught taking money from the consulting companies who got that money from the record labels. How do you think Shania Twain happened? She magicly appeared, then disapeared. Our local country station here was force to be sold just for that reason. Xm Satellite is the answer. The CMA and CMT are evil. Its all controlled. Bill, there are MANY real country artists out there with great talent. Young real country talent. Its Nashville and New Yowk that are stopping it. Dale watson being just one. Robbie Fulks also. Heather Myles. You can hear them playing real counrty music 24 hours a day on XM Satellite.

Darvin Willhoite · From: Roxton, Tx. USA

Uh Oh, here we go again with all the Country music experts defining what Country music is supposed to be. We went through all of this in a thread just a few of weeks ago.

Most of the artists mentioned as being on the CMA board can fill huge arenas. Most of the older artists (defined here as "real Country") can hardly fill a small barroom. We steel players are a very, very, miniscule part of the music buying, and listening public, so it's very unlikely we can change anything. But, to facilitate a change, you have to change the thinking of the listener/buyer, the executives and producers are only going to put out what sells.

Just like the illegal drug trade. You can't stop it by eliminating the source, you have to eliminate the demand, then the source will die on its own.

Whoo Boy, I've done it again. Smile

_________________
Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, a restored MSA Classic SS, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Also a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored Rose S10, named the "Blue Bird". Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also have a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks, and a showroom condition Sho-Bud Super Pro.

Marlin Smoot · From: Kansas

Kevin,
Which radio stations did Sony sell?
I thought the payola fines that went to Sony (and others including various corporate radio station company's) were because:

Sony used/paid Indy Record Promoters to do their dirty work. Thus, Sony (and other labels) no longer use Indy Promoters and corporate owned radio stations no longer take calls from Indy Record Promoters because of it. (Another reason Indy product has a hard time getting airplay)

I do think you're on the right track. I often read your post's with great interest. I agree that CMT and the CMA need a clean sweep, but I don't think it will happen because of the Nashville political process. For the Country Music Community to leave the legends behind is stupid. As a music community, thay should be honored way more than they have been.

I offered up the CMA Board as a way and means for people who want to complain to have a beacon to do so. The higest level of the CMA Board have great decision power - getting messages to them could make a difference. People could also become CMA members and have voting power.

One of the reasons I don't buy into XM is because the monthly fee also supports other formats or forms of music I'm not interested in promoting or funding.
It's not to say I don't like XM, I do - my dad has it in his car and its fun to listen to - but I'm not going to pay for it for reasons mentioned.

Some radio companys may be scared of XM but XM has its own issues - some legal - there has been a lot of change in management over the past couple of years of XM I'm sure because of the political climers
inside the company. There are money issues, merging issues, management issues, churn rate issues, FCC issues, siginal issues, sound quality issues, the NAB has raised XM legal issues and I'm sure much more. It's not all roses for XM.

Because XM is not regulated as your local radio station, I would think XM can take truck loads of payola.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I think anybody who wants to make constructive criticism to people like the CMA board to consider some of the outstanding talent that is out there now who are playing more classic-style country music - I think that might possibly be useful if enough of the right people really make serious arguments. Of course, it may be a complete waste of time - there's no indication that these organizations are seriously soliciting any type of feedback.

If my experience in other areas is relevant - I honestly think this kind of feedback needs to come from people who are already known and respected by the current power group. I'm not sure that comments from "the gallery" would have much effect unless backed up by what they would consider "credible" testimony.

I think to even begin to make this type of argument effective, one needs to consider a number of salient points:

0. One must first address their legitimate concern - that is to increase the audience, scope, and sales of country music.

1. There is a whole untapped market of people who might well go for country music if it included other and more interesting approaches to it - including some of the rock-country that is happening now - but also including some of the alt-country and more classic-country artists out there like Dale, Robbie, and many others.

2. To talk to this point, discuss the largely untapped potential of the alt-country and Americana movements in the last 10-15 years, and even recent successes in marketing real country music by people like Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and Porter Wagoner to a totally different breed of listeners. Explain why this kind of audience will never go for what's happening in mainstream country now, and why they are important for the future of country music. FWIW - it's my opinion that the demographic for that current country music will gradually wane as the years go by, especially as they get older.

3. If you want to argue that we should go back to 1965 and that all this stuff they're playing now is garbage, save your breath, IMO. You cannot reasonably argue to people in what is - legitimately - the music business that they should just play music that will appeal almost exclusively to the over-60 crowd, that younger people should just have better taste, and that they should support and program "REAL" country music to keep it "pure".

The true fact is that you can't force other people to change just because you want them to. This is a free country, and they have a right to do things their own way for their own reasons. Unless you can convince them that it's in their interests to change, I believe you will be completely wasting your breath.

Myself, I tend to doubt this will work right now. I don't think things are bad enough yet to really scare anybody. The music biz still has the "downloading" boogie-man to blame for all their problems. I think things will get worse, and if it does, they may be a bit more pliable.

All my opinions, of course.

Ron Page · From: Penn Yan, NY USA

Marlin Smoot · From: Kansas

Dave,
I think you're mostly right - I would just add a foot note to your posting, that: the consumer has the biggest and most credible voice in the industry.

John Steele · From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

I think Darvin's right. Demand does not follow supply.... supply follows demand. And elaborate stage shows in which music is just one (perhaps tiny) element is what people want, and will pay for.
Last weekend on a break at the gig two people including the bandleader were Garth-bashing to their hearts content. I sat quietly until one of them stated "He just does all that stage show nonsense to cover up the fact that he has no talent". That's when I had to speak up. What complete baloney.
I've heard Garth all alone with nothing but a stool, his flattop and his voice... and the guy's good. I'm no Garth fan, don't own any albums, but that's an inarguable point.
But the general show-buying public would have one word for a guy sitting alone on a stool, singing with his flattop: <b>Boring.</b>
That's not me, that's not you.. that's the general show-buying public. Those sort of show enjoy financial success because they give alot of people what they want.
I don't care about stage shows, so I don't go. And I wouldn't feel comfortable subverting the playing of music with stage antics, so I don't.
I'm comfortable being in the minority, and I don't feel the need to evangelize my opinions on what is important in the field of entertainment. Case closed.
-John

Duane Reese · Posted 31 Oct 2007 3:23 pm

Traditional country music, and country music in general, and heck, music in general... Is what it is. Even if a particular style of music is preferred by only one person on earth, it's alive and well, whatever it is.

The markets for music, including recorded music sales, live performances, music videos, merchandise, etc... Are whatever they are. Trends aren't necessarily disastrous landslides or wildfires approaching, but more like cumulus clouds moving across the sky, perpetually appearing, disappearing, and morphing. All you can do is kick back and watch...

If it's any consolation, just keep in mind how often the music industry's professional speculators on multiple levels make complete out-of-touch fools of themselves from having ignored those enjoying and making music from the heart. It's happened countless times, and on gargantuan scales.

If you're going to make money at it, you'll do it by making music you can get paid for. However that is done depends on many things, some of which you can affect, and some of which you can't.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 31 Oct 2007 3:36 pm

" I've heard Garth all alone with nothing but a stool, his flattop and his voice... and the guy's good. I'm no Garth fan, don't own any albums, but that's an inarguable point."

No it's not John, it's an opinion, one of many on this thread. If Garth was a 'nobody' when you heard him, would he have been boring too?

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

I'm guessing they are selling millions of those records out of walmarts and best buys ("country" fans havent discovered how to download yet it seems) and dont give a toss what any of us think of the "music".

I dont understand why its popular, just as i dont undertstand how nascar is entertaining, but Im told people are entitled to their opinions and that there is no accounting for taste and that has been proven to me over and over again since i was a kid and first heard "Disco Duck" on the radio....

It seems like the worst stuff always rises to the top and for the most part always has.

"The scum also rises"-Hemmingway Wink

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