John Michael Montgomery Criticizes Major Labels
John Michael Montgomery went indie for his most recent album. Why? "Things, unfortunately, aren't played out in a fair manner in Nashville. That's why I started my own label to produce and record records the way that I know they should be made. Or, at least how they should be made for me. No one can tell you how to sing a song, and put the true feeling into it," he told a St. Louis newspaper. And he's right. There's definitely an art to music and he's staying true to his. Besides, it sounds like he doesn't care much for the kind of country the big labels are releasing anyway. He thinks they are making music not for the true music lover, but the buying audience. Now, this is from a man who spent about a dozen years on a major label and had nearly 20 Top 5 songs in that time. But now he says of the big labels, "Sooner or later, they will be wondering where their audience went. Their only concern is the person who can make them the most money at that specific time. Country music fans are smarter than that, and they will stick with the performers they truly like."
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Peacock Queen says:
“He (Montgomery) thinks they are making music not for the true music lover, but the buying audience.”
Uh, how many of us have been saying that on here???????????
“Their (producers) only concern is the person who can make them the most money at that specific time.” DUH!
dan says:
I will start a flame war on here he is right and so is queen just look at taylor swift yes i like some of her songs but i would go for others before her.
It is all about the money.
SBart says:
I think it’s up to the person buying the music. I mean if you want “classic country” you just have to look for it. I absolutely adore Garth Brooks. He brought me to country music and I stayed because of the way he was. Now I know he’s been trashed for changing the way people look at country but — doesn’t just about everyone touring today, go big??? I think they do. (Not everyone but most.) It has to be what people want. If they didn’t want shows like that then they wouldn’t go. Same as music. One of my complaints with Taylor Swift is the fact that she released the same CD like three times with added songsor a video. That’s crappy. I buy what I want to hear and it’s very rare that I buy a whole CD. I love Toby Keith. Adore Carrie Underwood. Those are the only two singers that I’ll buy a CD for without hearing anything up front. (Unless Garth released something. I have everything he’s ever released.) Then I go with singles if I hear anything I want to have. My taste is eclectic. Maybe that plays into the industry too. We have the ability to just buy singles so some do. No matter what, people are buying what they want to hear. If someone like Martina isn’t selling a lot, doesn’t that mean people aren’t interested? (Not saying that’s true, just needed a name.)
merlefan49 says:
Good for him!
Regina says:
You tell ‘em, JMM! Nothing like a Superstar act to set Nashville straight!
Robin says:
Guess he’s just mad because he’s not the “it” boy anymore. If his music sold to enough people, then a record label would produce his music. It’s simple supply and demand.
Unfortunately, people are buying Swifts CD’s so due to the demand for her music, a record label will “supply” it. That is their job. It is the artists job to make “relevant” music. It’s not like he or anyone can’t self produce and album and sell it on their own websites and promote it through myspace or other such music sites. They could even go on radio tours if they were really interested in working hard.
Regina says:
Thank you, Robin. You speak the truth…unlike that Swilly. *rolls eyes*
Swilly says:
You girls still talking about me? Cool. Looks like Swilly has got himself a litte fan club started. Can I call you the Swillettes?
Regina says:
How about the Assphalts?
countryiscool says:
I love JMM and so he’s saying what many have said for years- SOME artists are just bigger cash cows for their managers. I suppose that’s why a few are starting their OWN labels so as to have more creative control over what THEY want, not their co. Nothing wrong with that. GO JMM!!!
Jessica says:
JMM is right. Imean look at Big Machine. They have some amazing artists on their roster but they focus solely on Squinty. Because she is the cash cow. Her daddy even paid a bunch of money for Borchetta to get his label started.
merlefan49 says:
@Robin,
“They could even go on radio tours if they were really interested in working hard.”
That is indie artists work. Dale Watson and others tour many one night stands. Play the very small bars and clubs.
Regina says:
OH, Swilly, you’re so silly! *girly giggle*
snakes&ladders says:
You are so right about supply and demand, Robin.
The major labels supply the stations with what they want promoted to sell, then demand they play nothing but what they want the public to buy. When the public starts getting tired of that artist, then the push goes to someone else.
And just so you know, many artists who don’t have a major label backing them, do exactly what you suggest. They often even offer free listening to an entire album on their sites. But you still have to sample it to know what it sounds like. The average fan who only listens to what gets played on the radio, couldn’t be bothered.
hotelmotel says:
Of course the major labels are interested in promoting that which sells, and promoting the most that which sells the most. This isn’t new to anyone, much less John Michael Montgomery.
Also, he says, “Things, unfortunately, aren’t played out in a fair manner in Nashville.” That may or may not be true, depending on what you mean by “fairness.” But I doubt that Montgomery was complaining about “unfairness” in Nashville in 1994,1995 and so on, when he was all over the charts.
Maybe things are “unfair,” but Montgomery got a lucrative 10 year career out of Nashville; overall Nashville probably hasn’t been “unfair” to him. Or its been “more fair” to him than to a lot of others. Perhaps Montgomery thinks things are unfair now that other artists have taken his place on radio. I wonder if he thought it was unfair when he burst onto the scene, taking the place of someone else at the time.
hotelmotel says:
Another thing about Montgomery: with all due respect, his voice has declined significantly. And he has released outrageously bad singles such as “Mad Cowboy Disease” since he left the major labels.
And if Montgomery is concerned that the labels “are making music not for the true music lover, but the buying audience,” I say two things. First, what’s so bad about that, anyway? And second - even if true, Montgomery should look in the mirror. His whole career has been built on that.
Montgomery also says, “Country music fans are smarter than that [than to like just the performers pushed by the majors], and they will stick with the performers they truly like” But what will happen is artists like Montgomery will start recording B and C level songs as their popularity fades. They’ll no longer get pitched the best material. And as they go to indie labels they start making music that resembles the filler songs on their old major label albums (They’ll do this because, despite their claims of artistry, all they know is what their major label producers told them). And fans will notice the decline in quality and stop buying. So many of the major label acts of the 1990s are now on indie labels and producing songs that sound like 1990s filler cuts on major labels. No wonder these singers can’t sell well anymore.
Denise says:
There are so many country fans out here that feel exactly like this. I am so tired of turning on the radio to hear only the so called “top” country artists over and over again. There are so many fabulous singers from the past that are just as talented and probably more so than what we are being offered now. I don’t mean to say that what we hear is not good, just sick of the same old thing. BRING BACK THE GOOD OLD DAYS (for lack of a better phrase). Your audience wants it.
merlefan49 says:
Which major label acts are you talking about of the 90’s that are on indie labels? JMM was around in the late 80’s
solongsowrong says:
hotelmotel: I agree with your points about JMM not having any reason to grip. He certainly took full advantage of the system when he was on top. Can’t really agree on your other points concerning indie artists, though.
Some of the performers whose popularity have faded, are still getting awarded in the Country genres that play their new music, including Grammy nods and wins. Some of my favorite albums the last few years, have come from artists who have seen more popular days. Just because they are no longer on top, doesn’t mean I can no longer be a fan. I find their music as good, if not better than it ever was. Some are singer/songwriters. Why would they need much music pitched to them?
I’m also not sure why a declining voice is a concern, either. Surely you have read all the comments how bad Swift sings? And outrageously bad singles? My ears say some of the current most popular can add that to their own resumes. LOL
As a listener to many indie artists, it’s my experience that there is more filler put on an album of a top seller, than what is on the albums of those you are referring to. While I’ll readily admit, some is terrible music, many songs are very artistic, and there are artists whose music not only slams you against a wall, it rips your heart right out of you as well. Music that would never sell to a largely conservative mass audience.
As always, I will let my own ears decide on how I feel about JMM’s newest endeavour. I think that’s all he’s asking for, really..
merlefan49 says:
Oops can’t believe I’m lost 10 years it was the 90’s that JMM was hot :D a senior moment at age 49 :D
merlefan49 says:
Ray Wylie Hubbard comes to mind. The man makes music his way. His new cd is dark at times but a masterpiece to me and most fans of Americana. No it wouldn’t sell to the masses but I doubt Ray would ever cut something that would.
hotelmotel says:
solongsowrong. You make some very good points. I do agree with you that some artists who are no longer on the top of the charts are now still turning out some really good music.
I think I got a bit carried away. I like a lot of indie music too.
You are right some of the artists whose popularity has faded do go on on indie labels to make some great stuff. On the other hand, others go on to make what I would say is a 2nd rate version of the pop country albums they made on the major labels.
I do think “declining voice” is a problem. Not because I deny that some mainstream singers have dubious vocals. But for this reason: If I am interested in a John Michael Montgomery album, I probably want his best work. And though some artists whose voices are giving out still produce great music, I generally prefer artists whose voices are still strong. I’d rather hear JMM circa 1994 than JMM circa 2010 because his older stuff had better vocals (in my view). If in 2010 JMM can come out with some great songs then I might be convined to buy it despite the lesser voice
I do really appreciate the artists though who use their newfound “freedom” to try some new things.
merlefan49 says:
Johnny Cash’s final work the one just released. While his voice wasn’t what it once was it. I’m still enjoying this cd as much as his other stuff.
merlefan49 says:
@hotel
How do you know JMM’s voice isn’t what it once was? Just because a person get’s older doesn’t always mean they lose their voice.
hotelmotel says:
merelfan49 - Because I have heard his voice lately and because I heard his voice in the mid 1990s and I do believe he once could reach notes he no longer can reach. I agree that not all older people lose their voices.
hotelmotel says:
merelefan49: Re: Jonny Cash — I think Cash was able to use his diminished voice quite effectively. But not all can. JMM on “Sold” sounds a lot better than JMM on “Mad Cowboy Disease.” To me at least.
Susan says:
All this discussion is about something that’s been the same way for years and years. Of course artists that aren’t in the “group” that gets played on radio will complain. Things will change. With satellite radio there are now stations to satisfy everyone’s specific taste in music and eventually the regular radio stations will be forced out or forced to change. Perhaps it will change the way Billboard charts music. Everything in music is evolving so quickly that we can’t keep up. It used to be that an artists album sales were the big thing. Now there are digitial sales to add to it. Older artists that can’t (or won’t) keep up are a bit sour about it. And of course the big labels will push the artists that they feel are the most successful. It’s called Capitalism. If this were a socialistic society perhaps the major record labels would be forced to promote the lesser known artists over the popular ones. Would that be fair?
missy says:
John Micheal Montgomery suffers from an inner ear disease that may have caused him to possibly sound differently than he did in the past.
I love his new music because what it lacks in “high notes” it more than makes up for in heartfelt lyrics being sung by one of the best country singers we are blessed to still have around. Give a listen to “Time Flies” and then say it is not comparable with any of his past work.
I also love the fact that the new songs have the grit to them that used to be in country music. Waylon and Hank (Sr. or Jr.) didn’t have a slick sound. It was real voices that had not been tech tampered with.
Keep up the awesome work John!!!!
solongsowrong says:
Susan: I was enjoying your post for awhile, but you kind of went off the deep end without a lifejacket half way through. You seem to realize that not everyone likes the same style of music, so what do you mean by older artists can’t or won’t keep up? Keep up with what?
Artists who are in it for the music, play the music that they are passionate about. It doesn’t have a thing to do with “keeping up”. Granted, there are plenty of artists, even new ones, who play styles of Country music from the past, but that is what they love, so why do something else? Especially if they have a fan base for it. Not all artists care about charts and popularity. Nor do all fans. Some fans seek out music on their own, and let their ears decide what they like, not current trends and major label promotion.
Listening to all Country genres, its been my experience that the Mainstream Country music of the day, sounds like music I stopped listening to many years ago, already. It’s also very conservative in nature, compared to what I generally listen to. The Mainstream industry, in my opinion, is what is behind. Try listening to the music of Justin Townes Earle, and you’ll find out what edgy music is. His music would never sell to those who prefer Chesney, Underwood or Urban.
This may be a hard concept to understand, but not very many poeple REALLY like music. Proof of that, is that most people just turn on a radio, and say good enough. They look no farther for something different or something better. Even though few people are totally involved with their music… the majors try to sell to everyone. So they’ll promote an artist that they sign, and when it works and that artist sells, they promote them like crazy and continue to promote them until the popularity starts to fade. Then it’s on to the next big promotion. Money is the only thing that matters. That’s when you end up with bitter feelings from artists like JMM.
countryiscool says:
Like Jeff Bates, he’s had some limited commercial success (the Love Song, The Rainbow Man, Long Slow Kisses, Good People) but has a large following and tours quite a bit, doesn’t seem to stop him from doing what he loves best. He also has some GREAT songs on his CD’s that I think would make for more successful singles, but I will buy whatever he releases.