Multi-Cultural Nashville? No comprende!
Heard an interesting experiment on local radio this morning. Gerry House, the morning man at WSIX-Nashville, played some Spanish language country songs and announced that station management had decided to broaden their listener base by embracing all elements of the local community. And Nashville does have a sizable and growing Mexican and Latino populace. Then - oh boy, then House opened his phone lines and listeners started calling in. Did they ever. And most of them were angry. Angry that another culture was being "forced" on them. Vowed to leave the station and never return. Forget the fact that Spanish-language singers and writers are a big part of country music history. I guess House waited too long to remind his listeners that it was April Fool's Day. Oh - and then he played the new single by Gone Country winner Julio Iglesias Jr. and invited listeners to vote on that song. It's a good thing he wasn't playing any Dixie Chicks music. God knows what would have happened.
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Wake Up says:
Did JR pay him for this stunt so the single would get airplay?
OutlawSteph says:
I’m not impressed with the DJ’s stunt at all. Embracing all the cultures that have contributed to country music’s history is not a joke. It is a goal that country music in Nashville should try to attain. The callers were pathetic too, but stoking such opinions isn’t funny.
I would like to hear Spanish language country songs. Mexican Americans have contributed a lot to country in the southwest. You hear that in many bands that were not Latino from Bob Wills to the Flying Burrito Brothers.
The Latino artists themselves deserve to be played. If you were one of those artists who song was played as joke how would you feel?
I’m glad that this blog shined some light on a serious problem with the demographic that commerical “country” pop is marketed to.
-Stephanie
CNE says:
But he DID play the Chicks!! Right after a woman called in and said “I don’t like this Hispanic stuff, but at least it ain’t the Dixie Chicks.”
I thought it was a brilliant show. It brought out the blatant ignorance in our community and one of the best ways to make changes is to bring the problem to light. Way to go Gerry!
Chet Flippo says:
Sorry I missed the Chicks song…
Bec says:
“I thought it was a brilliant show. It brought out the blatant ignorance in our community and one of the best ways to make changes is to bring the problem to light. Way to go Gerry!”
Oh, if only Gerry House were so enlightened that his reason for the April Fool’s Day joke would be for anything other than cheap and easy laughs from his bigoted listeners - listeners he obviously understands very well. This is not the first tasteless, racially insensitive comment from him.
funnygirl says:
That would have been awesome all-around if it hadn’t been a joke. Although some people may not be ready to hear Spanish language country songs on their local station, many latinos - if given the chance and absent the blatant antagonism - would likely love country music. Latino music incorporates many of the same types of instruments and many of the songs are about small towns and everyday life.
As for the Dixie Chicks (long time supporters of the latino country music fanbase), I love love love them. DJs should play them and people should just get over it. They’re awesome.
hotelmotel says:
Its a shame to learn that such bigotry still exists.
Moreover, the one thing top 40 country radio needs is more variety; radio would be improved with a few Spanish language country songs thrown in the rotation.
David Nisbet says:
The response to the joke was sad and disturbing, and does nothing for the image of Americans as being xenophobic.
Julia says:
The response of the public bothers me on one level…the fact that Gerry House knew that it would have the potential to garner that reaction bothers me even more so. Why? Because he wasn’t playing Marilyn Manson or Every Time I Die…he was playing Spanish country music. No wonder the words “parochial” and “country music audience” are often married together.
CNE says:
“Oh, if only Gerry House were so enlightened”
I think many people don’t hear the real Gerry. I believe he’s quite liberal and progressive, he just doesn’t bring that out on air. He can’t. His fan base would leave him. As would the fans of all our glorified country music stars whom we love so much. Most of them are quite progressive and liberal-minded but cannot afford to speak about it.
It is indeed a shame the bigotry exists, but no one in the country music industry is going to risk angering the audience that pays their salary. That’s why the radio stations got away with the Dixie Chicks ban. Idiocy won over intelligence.
Again, I think bringing the subject out on the radio so that others can hear the ignorance and racism only helps shed light on the problem. The less we hide it the more hope it has to change.
JeanTH says:
What else is ranchera but Mexican country music? As another poster pointed out, those songs also speak of love and pain, life in a small town, trying to make ends, keeping faith and hope against the odds.
Also country and Latin music sell well and have immense global appeal. When John Rich selected Julio Jr. as the new country star to develop, he made a very shrewd business and artistic move. Arriba!
Vultor says:
I’m thinking since we are so hell bent on turning over our culture….the American Culture to others, not to offend anybody, we should play Country Music in French, German, Italian, Portiguese, and what the heck since I don’t speak or understand any of them, why not Latin.
Tracy says:
I’m not sure why this is an issue of bigotry or ignorance. It is nothing but another “shock jock” stunt to get attention. Here is the real issue, folks that listen to country music stations doen’t want to listen to Latino music, or German or Italian or Hip Hop or Rap. I’m just guessing here but I suspect the listeners of Latio stations aren’t interested in hearing Asian music. That is another growing and important culture in our country. Guess that would make them intolerant too huh? Hey in my corner of the world I can push a button and listen to the music of my choice. I don’t need a DJ who is just trying to get on the evening news to “enlighten” me.
DUKE says:
I have a couple of MAVERICKS CDs that I like very much and would like to hear more Latino country music like they performed.
There is a LOT OF MONEY that can be made in that category if some record company would earnestly pursue it.
Like I said, I like it very much and I am not Hispanic .
Shannon says:
Julio Iglesias Jr is the biggest joke of CMT’s entire history. I wish that his winning Gone Country was an April Fools Joke, but no such luck. I understand wanting to expand the base of country music, but there is nothing country about Julio Iglesias Jr and that was the big comment that J.R. had for every contestant on the show except for Julio. Dont get me wrong, he is a very talented person, but he better stick with the latin love song thing!!! Lets Keep It Country!!!!
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