Would Country Classics Prevent New Discoveries?
I heard a Keith Whitley song on the radio the other day. One that I am crazy about. And I thought, "Well, that was nice." Nice because it was a change of pace. But would I want to hear a steady stream of old-school country? Not really. Because if there was too much old, how would you ever discover the new?
Just for the sake of argument, let's assume radio never had stopped playing Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. What if that prevented the world from hearing fresh country voices like Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Taylor Swift or Miranda Lambert? That would be a shame, wouldn't it?
I think people grumble and whine a little bit too much over the fact that country radio never ever plays Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Patsy Cline, George Jones, Loretta Lynn or Conway Twitty. But come on. That's asking too much of radio, and frankly there are just not enough hours in the day to play classics along with the currents. That would be like calling a request line at a pop station and objecting that they don't play Duran Duran, Flock of Seagulls, ABBA, Doobie Brothers, Elton John and Thin Lizzy.
So if you were a radio program director making the tough decisions, and you pined for a little more classic country, how would you manage to make room for modern country songs, too? And could you ever uncover the next Waylon Jennings if the real Waylon Jennings was taking up all the space?
Photo Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images
(ACM Honors, Sept. 22, 2009)
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Rita says:
I agree with you Alison, It is like watching old movies too. I love them but a daily diet of only old music/movies just becomes old. I enjoy the radio (KIIM.FM) here because they mix it all together and I can just get lost in the music, both old and new…
Robin says:
There is surely enough room to throw it in there 3 or 4 times a day. Hits Daily Double reports that Luke Bryan’s song count on followed stations to date is 3,679 spins since Monday morning. 4 day - almost 1,000 spins a day across followed statsions across the country. You might throw Merle, Hank, Patsay, Waylon, Johnny, etc. in there let’s say 5% of those spins. You look at the re-current charts and they’re not there either. The re-currents are new too.
If they’d put it in the mix a little bit every day (not all day every day), but a couple of plays a day, then all those “new country fans” as I wink, that Taylor Swift is bringing into country music would have an idea of where it all came from.
The reason this genre thrives is not only the outlook, but the look back. I think we’ve got the outlook down fine. But, so much more now than ever, the look back is too sparce. I love that Carrie reminded many how great Randy Travis is. I’m glad Dierks reminded many that Bluegrass is great (even though his album is not pure Bluegrass).
You don’t put down the history book just because you want to go to math class too.
solongsowrong says:
Sorry Alison. Once again you’re loooking at things through your nothing exists but Pop Country eyes. Country radio indeed still does play the legends like Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and George Jones. Not only does it still play these artists, it plays their NEW music. In fact, Merle and Willie currently both have albums in the top ten in Roots/Americana radio. It wasn’t too many years ago, that Loretta Lynn won a Grammy for Best Country album, even though it got absolutely no Mainstream radio play..
Also, former Mainstream artists like Darrell Scott, Chely Wright, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shelby Lynne, & Johnny Cash, all currently have new albums charting on Roots radio stations.
A balance can indeed be made with what gets played. How program directors in Roots radio manage to do that, is they play up and coming new artists, established artists, and the legends on an equal basis, instead of promoting like crazy what the major labels want to sell to the masses for profit. Having enough hours in the day has nothing to do with it. In Roots Country radio, fans actually have a say in what gets programmed.
You are right about those who complain that Classic Country is no longer played on Mainstream Country radio. But why waste your time looking for something that isn’t there? The only ones who grumble and whine, are those who are out of touch with all of todays Country music scene, or are too stubborn or lazy to look for it beyond their Pop Country radio stations. If it’s Classic Country they want to hear, there are stations out there that play that too, if you’re willing to look for it.
Tom says:
How bizarre to use Keith Whitley as the starting point for this column. There’s a pretty obvious reason that country radio was no longer able to play new music from him…
Shadow says:
Kind of remember once when CMT played an Underwood video for hours on end. No programmer involved with that seemed too concerned about it interfering with other artists..
So to mirror your question, Alison, how could you ever uncover the next Carrie Underwood, if the real Carrie Underwood was taking up all the space?
gcg says:
Our local country radio station does it. Most of their rotation is 80’s - current, but they do have a noon request hour every Monday through Friday, along with Classic Country every Sunday morning, and anything is fair game then. I’ve heard every country artist mentioned in your post. So yes, it IS possible…many just fail to try.
D Lancaster says:
What’s asking too much for radio is to quit playing the same songs over & over. That is why radio is dying. More & more people are adapting to Ipods/Itunes. You should never forget your roots, as there would be no artists today if it was not for them. Yet radio is doing just that. Not only do they play little to no classics, they are completely ignoring the artists that are trying to stay true their roots like Jamey Johnson.
D Trotter says:
Personally, I’d love the old Waylon to be taking up space.
Tenn says:
If you have radio stations that play classic country and roots music then what’s to complain about?? They have their own award shows but yet they still complain. Mainstream artists don’t complain because they’re not played on roots radio. If they are not mainstream artists why would Loretta and Waylon get played on Mainstream radio? Mainstream artists don’t get played on roots radio, so? There you have it. Stop complaining and listen to the radio that plays your kind of music - OR maybe the mainstreamer fans should start complaining their fav artists aren’t played on roots radio!! maybe the mainstream artists can take over roots radio too !!!- Great idea , more stations!!! Yay !!!- I’ve got to get this movement together !! Now I’ll have to start blogging and posting on all the roots blogs- think I’ll get a posse together - mainstreamers taking over rooters !!!
Robin says:
Tenn - it’s in the best interest of mainstream radio/listeners to not forget. Doesn’t mean it has to be in great proportions, but the real problem is with “Top 40″, “Top 30″ or “Top 20″ stations who play what everyone else has already told them is the top played songs in the land. Their listeners never get to hear where the “roots” of that music is from. Does not mean they have to play Waylon and the gang 3 or 4 hours a day. But, 3 or 4 spins would be great. Philadelphia’s country radio station (92.5 XTU) thinks playing Garth Brooks is playing outside the box.
I don’t care because my I-pod is full of everything from old to new to old’s new music. But, it would be great if my daughter’s contemporary’s that listen to country radio had a clue who the father of country music was, that the Mother Church of country music isn’t the Grand Old Opry (but the Ryman) and understood the storytellers called the Outlaws. The great thing about country music is the edges it pushes to create the new and the history it came from.
solongsowrong says:
Give me a break Tenn. These blogs are full of Mainstreamers constantly complaining about the artists that they have to listen to. They are also the ones complaining that todays Country music isn’t country enough. They are the ones who are looking for music where it isn’t to be found. I personaly stopped listening to Mainstream radio years ago, because I knew that what I was looking for wasn’t to be found there.
Roots fans know where to find the music that suits them better. if not, then they deserve to be miserable and have to complain. There are too many choices and outlets to hear music that is pleasing for each indiviual to listen to, that complaining is both senseless and a waste of time.
Good luck with your new mission, though. Just keep in mind, most Mainstreamers give up on artists even while they are still being played on Mainstream radio. I doubt if they’ll take the time to search someone out, years after their best commercial days are long over.
possumfans says:
There are places for traditional country artists on the radio
It’s just now Country music big wigs doesn’t want a rural country audience.They are ashamed of hard working rural country people.They want to appeal to the City peoples with songs of fairy tales,bubble gum… In other words they wanna be friends with the popular kid in school. If i were running things if you’re song is great you’ll have radio time. This would make them work harder and the fans would be the ultimate winner.
Captiang says:
I personally love the old Merle Haggard and Buck Owens songs. And I don’t think its to much to ask for a radio station to have a good mixture. The radio stations I listen to does exactly that. I hear a lot of the new songs but also the golden oldies as well. Whats the matter with a good mixture.
chris says:
Let’s hear more Reba and George!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peggy Sims says:
I love to hear Reba McEntire sing. She has a voice and a showmanship that few will ever have. Her songs need played so the newer singers can learn fom singers like her.
Andrew says:
I’ve worked as a DJ at a country station, and I can tell you from experience that there is more than enough time in the day to play the old with the new. There’s no reason why we need to hear garbage like “Undo It” and “Rain is a Good Thing” every hour just because the record companies tell us we need to.
Tammy says:
I think it is a shame this year George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today” made it in the history books as America’s top Country song of all time can not get air play on current radio because it is considered outdated and too country. There is definitely something wrong in Nashville.
OldGoat34 says:
I think if all they played was the Old Stuff Country Music would be confined to the Virginias,Carolinas and Southeast and of course Nashville and few new comers would even want to go country.Country music now spans the Globe mostly because country music has a contrmporary side we get the New Artists and new music Of course there is room for the classics like Crazy,and I Told You So,and Stand By Your Man and others but a lot of the Old Stuff was Junk too.Not even worth remembering.But I still remember Jimmy Rodgers Wine Women and Song,and will never forget Country Bumpkin or Behind Closed Doors.Nor anything Barbara Mandrell did.Country music has changed with the time and few want to hear the old Mountain Music of the past but there will always be some old foggies that put down the new stuff and all they want to hear is the old stuff.
Deb Cheplic says:
Well …… I guess the powers that be at CMT do not like my opinions on country music today .. even in this land of free speech, my comment is still awaiting moderation, while those posted after mine are free and clear … welcome to the USA, I guess … it just gets so irritating that all of the incredible indie artists I know will probably never be heard on the radio, but new “country” music that’s played today makes me want to grind my teeth to the gums. It’s OK, I get it, and will continue to support the people I love and respect in the music world. This, unfortunately, is why I quit listening to radio, quit watching CMT on cable, and quit watching award shows.
Robin says:
Ok - Civics lesson 101. Freedom of Speech as outlined in the first amendment prohibits the government from making any laws infringing on your right to free expression primarily pertaining to political speech. The govt can inhibit your speech if its defamatory, liabless, etc. (as determined by the Supreme Court in Schenck V. United States).
But, that doesn’t even pertain to this situation. This is a corporately owned website that is “free” to allow or not allow whatever they want represented on it no matter how fair or unfair it may seem.
When they moderate mine, I just post until I’m blue in the face. Sometimes I win, sometimes they win. It’s a game.
possumfans says:
I’m in my 20’s i’m just saying there should be more quality music on the radio.I know it’s a business and a business main goal is money that why they want to attract Pop/Rock fans in.They are new artist coming in thinking it’s easier to climb the country chart with our pop song then the real pop charts.In my opinion if you are ashamed of calling yourself a country singer you shouldn’t be here Go to the pop side if you can’t make it there just too bad.I never seen George Jones or George Strait invited at a MTV music award but CMT (i know cmt is Mtv owned) has to invite The Jersey Shore and everything non-country related so they can be accepted by Mainstream
CHRISTINA says:
I love classic country and i think that it should still be played with new country. A bit of both.n my opinion, i think that Miranda Lambert is the only female right now who is keeping country music alive. Most female country singers today are more pop then country. In my opinion, Miranda is keeping country music alive in terms of female country singers.
Redmaz says:
It seems we have some more Mainstreamers here who are lacking in basic music fundamentals, and are out of touch with todays music scene. To possumfans, Chistina, and others(Alison, Robin, etc)….POP is NOT an individual genre of music. POP is an industry consisting of MANY genres of music….including COUNTRY. By definition, it is not the job, goal or responsibility of POP COUNTRY to play any classic(”old school”) country music or any Country Music legends. That’s what todays AMERICANA/ROOTS Country is for. If you are interested in learning about todays AMERICANA/ROOTS Country instead of complaining about Pop Country….let me know. I will help you.
btw…Well said solongsowrong. As always
Robin says:
Redmaz - not once did I claim that pop was an individual genre. I never even mentioned pop. I spoke generically about the pop country industry in relation to the radio stations that are part of that industry. But, if you are going to “teach” people, you should have a clue what they’re talking about.
And, it is in the interest of radio stations in the pop country industry to perpetuate the history of country music. That community that is perpetuated by the history and the future living in one spot, is what makes the pop country industry and with that the country genre as a whole thrive. If it were not for the pop country industry, there would be no one to make the “roots” complaints too.
Redmaz says:
More doubletalk