How bad is Country Radio?

Ben Slaughter · From: Madera, California

Well in my market (Central California/Fresno), it's so bad that they are advertising Alan Jackson concert tickets on the Classic Rock station. Which, is a clever thing because I, for one, quit listening to the big local (Clearchannel) station months and months ago.

I know there are better stations out there. The station out of Santa Rosa, CA (b0b's neck of the woods) plays a much better mix of tunes. Seems like they alternate between recent releases and songs from the past. The big station in Fresno plays the same 15 songs over and over and over. Even when they come up with a good one, how many times a day do you want to hear AJ sing the same damn song!!

I'd be interested to know what the radio play lists are like in your local markets.

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Ben
Zum D10, NV400, POD, G&L Guitars, etc, etc.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

I'm thinking that the play lists are pretty much all similar if not exactly the same.
Toby
Kenny
Tim
Alan
Martina
Faith
Gretchen Wilson
Chicks
She Daisy

I think I may have missed a few but you can count on this lineup every hour for the next hundred years
t

John Floyd · From: R.I.P.

What Country Radio? You mean they play country music on radio!!! Tell me where I can find it.

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

I have not heard a true "Country" station in Atlanta in over 10 yrs. There may be one (or more), but I simply quit listening when I discovered all we had was rock or rap, with a miniscule sprinkling of true country.

This has nothing to do with country, but the saddest part of all was, the ONLY station in Atlanta that played 24/7 traditional beautiful "popular music", decided to go "light rock" (yeah right!) about 10 yrs ago.

So if someone wishes to hear good "popular music" or "dentist music" as my daughter calls it.

, they will have to go to the dentist whether they need it or not. Assuming there are Dentists who have not as yet bought caved in to the yelling screamers called singers and those that worship them.

There is still one (or two) station(s) that play(s) classical music; but one is PBS (the other a college station) and outside late at night, and a 2 hour show in the morning, it is nothing but radical ultra left-wing liberal biased programming. So I no longer patronize them either.

So IMO, it appears that unless one likes rock or rap or bad 50's rock (billed as "country"), they are pretty much left out of the radio market in Atlanta at least.

I do listen to conservative talk radio and we have two stations that broadcast it all the time. Along with one or two (low level signal) Christian radio stations.

carl

Greg Vincent · From: Folsom, CA USA

Carl,

Do they talk about the de-regulation of the airwaves on your conservative talk radio stations?

Auset Sarno · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Amen. Country aint country, it's just pop with a twang. Got me an I-POD on my last birthday - its the greatest thing in the world. At first I was a bit wary, but we transferred just a small portion of our favorite CD's within minutes. Took it on the road, put it on shuffle all the way to Dallas this past March (12 hours) - what an amazing gift. Now it's my favorite radio station!

Carroll Konig · From: Anderson, Alabama, USA

It is sad, but it seems that the "little radio station out in the county" doesn't exist in very many places today. Corporate America even wants our country radio stations. I am always excited to find a small, independent radio station where the news is still local, the commercials are read live, and the music that is played is what folks want to hear. Unfortunately, most of the "country" stations , in my area, only play the top 40. A couple of years ago I was told about a station, several miles from my area, and this one is different. There's no news, no weather, just a few commercials, and tons of 60's & 70's country and a lot of bluegrass as well. If that station's format ever changes there won't be anything for me, locally, that I will enjoy.

Tom Callahan · From: Dunlap, Tennessee, USA

Well as I have said before, The "Little Country Station" In our little town of Dunlap, Tn. Still plays COUNTRY, and bluegrass. The top artist to be requested last week was Don Williams.
So next time thru Tennessee, drive down to Dunlap and tune your radio to AM 1190.
Thats right, it is an AM staion. Why it is so little, we only got one disc jockey and he has to do it all. The owner of the staion relieves him for lunch.
Ever week day they have "Tradeo" You can call in and sell or seek to buy right on the air.

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T.C.
Emmons S-10
Rayline SD-10 (#46)

Tracy Sheehan · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

No real couuntry on in the Dallas Ft.Worth area.Some on pbs tv at times.Don't know about the news tv stations in other areas but here the local tv news broadcasters only rush through the headlines jumping from subject to subject too fast to keep up with.Mostly every 4 minutes it is when we return,after the break or coming up at, find out,etc then the ceaseless commercials.I know of no one personaly who watches the local news who have cable or satellite.Has this also happened in your area also? Just curious.

[This message was edited by Tracy Sheehan on 23 June 2004 at 10:21 PM.]

Mike Headrick · From: South Pittsburg, TN, USA

Tom,

If that's Will Rogers you're talking about, he really does do it all....from Donald Duck to Homer Simpson. You lucky dog. He left our little AM station in the Pitts and moved uptown to Dunlap.

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David Cobb · From: Chanute, Kansas, USA

In the last couple of weeks I'm hearing a guy on the radio who's doing stuff that sounds exactly like something Tim McGraw would do, and with his kind of delivery. Egad!
Does that mean some sorry, misled sot will be trying to channel Kenny Cheesey in the very near future?

Ron Page · From: Penn Yan, NY USA

Same "can of pop" play lists here on all 4 country stations in the Cincinnati-Dayton area. I tune in about every 6 months just to make sure it's still as bad as I remember; never dissappointed that I might have been missing anything.

When I moved here 17 years ago one station would announce, "Here's another song too country for WUBE to play". They were trying to out-country one another. Of course, that ended when WUBE's parent bought the other station.

Thanks to the forum I've just received the latest from Dale Watson (Dreamland) and I have Justin Trevino's latest on backorder from Amazon.

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HagFan

Tom Callahan · From: Dunlap, Tennessee, USA

Mike; Yes that is who I was refeering to. Now what this about uptown to Dunlap? Lord man get a grip on your self. You got one more stop light than we do so that make you the big city.
Seriously, a lot of good music is missed by people trveling trying to find the super staions and not getting on with the little local stations.
Nashville music may be going down the toilet but country music is alive and well in the country.
We have every thing from blue grass to gospel here in the valley and just a smidgen of the new stuff.

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T.C.
Emmons S-10
Rayline SD-10 (#46)

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

I believe what has happened to "country" music and most other non "rockcrock" music was demonstrated on this year's "American Idol" TV debacle.

If you happened to follow it closely, I call your attention to the final week. They had voted it down to the two "greatest" singers since mother's milk.

Sadly, the ultimate runnerup could not stay on key during parts of her song. When asked about it later, she replied, "I could not hear the band".

Maybe, but I found it interesting that the ONLY places where she went off key, was when she was not screaming the words. Could it be that softer music was never practiced and as such when the music called for it that night, there was nothing in her voice to draw from?

I find it incredible that the only way a singer nowadays can "sell" to their "worshipers", is when they holler and scream to the top of their lungs. What ever happened to the singing of the Perry Como's and Bing Crosby's. Not to mention Nat King Cole or Ray price. Or Eddy Arnold? Jeanie Seely maybe?

carl

[This message was edited by C Dixon on 24 June 2004 at 07:39 AM.]

Terry Sneed · From: Arkansas,

there's one station about 30 miles from here that plays SOME, real country. they have a short "classic country" segment once in a while, other than that everthing else is just junk! pitiful! pitiful! this so called country music they play now days all sounds the same to me, where's the melody?

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84 SKH Emmons Legrand D10
session 400'rd Steelin for my Lord.

Gere Mullican · From: LaVergne, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

OK I have got to get on my soap box. Seems like all the stations now days dont have the guts to be a leader and create their own play lists. They have to be a follower and do what all the other stations do. Their play list is created by a consultant (an idiot from out of town). I was a country, and I do mean country DJ for about 15 years and I played exactly what I wanted to play and what my listeners wanted to hear. Back then the FCC would fine a station if they didn't give an ID once every half hour. Now every flipping station you listen to will tell you their name, call letters and frequence about 4 or 5 times before and after every record. Between ID's promos, jingles and catch phrases I just get so sick of it. I dont even listen to the radio anymore. Bought me a portable CD player for the car and make my own CDs. The giant WSM will say so many times before and after records "Nashville's Country Legend, WSM, 650 am" that is so amateurish. In the first place there is no 650 FM so why bother telling me that is am I am listening. I am not and idiot. I know what I am listening to.I have one of those new fangled radios that when I hear something I like I leave it there. If I hear something I don't like I punch a little button and it finds me another station. I don't need or want to know what the frequency is, My dial will show me if I need to know. Well I better get off here before they sue me for not listening to them. Thanks for listening.
Gere

Toby Rider · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Country music radio is terrible right now.. Every other song is unbearable.

John Parker · From: Golden Valley, Az. USA

After reading this thread I realize that I must be lucky. Where I live (north central Arkansas) we have a radio station that plays alot of traditional and classic country. Today I heard Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton singing "Just Someone I Used To Know," Bobby Bare sing "500 Miles Away From Home," and Jim Ed Brown sing "Pop-a-Top" just to name a few. Sure they play some of the new stuff but not over and over. They mix in alot of older music and also play alot of the independant artists that other stations don't have the time or guts for. Plus they have local news and advertising and DJs that actually take requests from listeners. Of course if I travel out of the area I plug in one of my homemade tapes because I can't find any other radio station that compares with my local station.

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John Parker
Zumsteel SD10 3x5
Peavey Session 400

Toby Rider · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

I could swear the country radio back home in Amarillo was better then the stuff out here.. But maybe they're owned by ClearChannel now also...

Bob Hickish · From: Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.

Here in the Seattle area there is a Classic country station that plays the old country recordings { 1090 AM }- They reformatted to light Rock and believe it or not it failed - and they went back to the Classic Country . This WAS market driven and had nothing to do with Deregulation or any such nonsense - . The change in the station policy was driven by folks eMailing - calling - Ect. and making a lot of noise to get it back on the air .

Pat Jenkins · From: Abingdon, VA, USA

"Country Radio" is pretty bad. And of course it is ratings(money) driven. I work at a Hot New Country station, afternoons, 2-6. Our playlist is sent to us from another source, no one in our area is ever asked about what they would like to hear and no requests are ever taken. But, our ratings are through the roof. There are listeners for this format out there, and that is why it continues this way.
I have a great turn table and a large stock of vinyl at home and a cassette/cd player in my vehicle. I listen to Carl Smith, Nat Stuckey, Wynn Stewart, Connie Smith and of course I have a fantastic supply of steel recordings. There is a plethora of great music out there, you just won't find it on "Country Radio".

Pat

Waltzing Through A Rock And Roll Life!!

Toby Rider · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

"They reformatted to light Rock and believe it or not it failed - and they went back to the Classic Country."

Wow, y'all are really lucky.. The station here has classic country evenings.. I'm glad they have at least that!

Ben Slaughter · From: Madera, California

Pat and Gere, good to hear from folks with radio experience. Gere, especially, I think today's DJ are just button pushers. From my experience, most of them don't even like what they're playing.

I misspoke earlier, the big "country" station is owned by Infinity (which may be a sub of Clearchannel for all I know). Infinity owns 7 stations in Fresno (3 in spanish), and their contact info? NY, NY. Wonder where the play list comes from? They have left the BIG old AM talk station, KMJ, alone. Conservative talk and Fresno State sports.

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Ben
Zum D10, NV400, TubeFex, POD, G&L Guitars, etc, etc.

Janice Brooks · From: Pleasant Gap Pa

RELATED ARTICLE ABOUT RICKY VAN SHELTON

Letting go of music world stardom
Ricky Van Shelton is happy now that he's out of the glare of Nashville's spotlight

BY TOM NETHERLAND
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Jun 24, 2004

Christmas 1984. Most Virginians were enjoying the holiday, opening gifts and making merry. For Grit residents Ricky Van and Bettye Shelton, it meant their last Christmas in the Commonwealth.

They moved to Nashville two days after Christmas that year, on the surface because Bettye was taking a new job. Yet Ricky sang country music.

Shelton had long ago set his sights on a country music singing career. The move to Nashvile gave him his chance. So by day he tended house while his wife worked and provided for them.

"It was scary moving down there. I'm a homebody," Shelton said by phone from his home in Lebanon, Tenn. "I wanted to be in the music business, but I didn't want to move from my home, my family and my friends. I was real apprehensive and nervous about moving away from everything that I knew."

After about two years of knocking on doors, Shelton found the right door when he came upon Columbia Records chief Rick Blackburn. Impressed with the Virginian's strong voice, he signed Shelton to an eight-album deal in June 1986.

That winter he had his first Top 10 song, and that spring his "Somebody Lied" reached No. 1. "How did I handle that?" Shelton said. "I was overwhelmed."

Faster than a firecracker's fuse, Shelton became the rage in country music. Suddenly, everyone wanted a piece of him, including friends galore he never knew he had.

"From the government right on down, people come out of the woodwork wanting to get close to you. I couldn't go anywhere and do nothing."

Barely five years into his career, disenchantment arose as if from a smelly sulfur pit. Soon enough, Shelton had pretty much had it with the business. Perhaps tops among the culprits were those who make hits happen.

Featured in an article in Country Music magazine during the early 1990s, Shelton commented that radio consultants were hurting country music. Because of them, he said, too much country music was starting to sound alike.

"When that article came out, [consultants] shut my songs down," Shelton said. "I was so naive that I didn't understand that they would use that power against me. They pulled my records."

"When I started in'86, you could have a No. 1 song in the country with 148 of the 150 top reporting radio stations," Shelton said. "Now, with the consultants in place, where they consult 50, 60, 70 stations, if one of those consultants don't like you, you can't have a No. 1. You can't even have a career. They choose the songs they like."

So Shelton gradually drifted out of the Nashville scene.

"I was very disenchanted when I learned how political the awards shows were, and I got disenchanted when they shut my career down," he said. "It's a sour spot in my belly."

Shelton enjoys his private life nowadays. He seldom grants interviews, prefers tooling around his old car collection and flying his airplane to touring half the year.

"I didn't want the stardom," Shelton said. "When I found the stardom, I didn't like it and wished it would go away. The only thing I wanted to do was go play a concert, then leave like everybody else."

Lefty · From: Grayson, Ga.

Pretty stinky in Atlanta. Oh for an all vintage country music station!
Lefty

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