The Country Music Media Podcast

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: CRB Executive Director RJ Curtis, who’s spent 40 years in radio and digital media, talks about how a fundamental radio rule has seemingly changed and tries to explain why. Plus, is Morgan Wallen’s return to radio good for the medium? He makes a strong case that it is.

More: The latest on CRS

Read: Morgan Wallen's Ban Has Quietly Been Lifted, at Variety

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Kid Rock plays above the rules, so there’s no way to hold him accountable for calling someone a “f—-t.”  That lack of leverage works both ways however and the media should absolutely cover his antics with aggression. Also, new reports about frosty negotiations between CBS and the ACMs could signal a larger issue for awards shows in 2022 and beyond.   

Read: CBS Balks at Airing 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards Over $22 Million Asking Price at The Wrap.

Read: Kid Rock's "Apology" after he's caught using a homophobic slur, at TMZ.

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Whiskey Jam co-founder Ward Guenther talks about the 10th anniversary of Whiskey Jam, if the showcase can get too big (12:45) and how his shows on Apple Music Radio expand his vision (XX). Listen to the end to hear great origin stories about Luke Combs and Kane Brown that will surprise you.

GO: Tickets to the Whiskey Jam 10th Anniversary Show, July 26th at the Ryman Auditorium

Listen: The Ward Guenther Show on Apple Music Radio

Listen: Country Risers RadioWith Ward Guenther on Apple Music Radio

Listen: Country Roads Radio on Apple Music Radio 

More: Find Whiskey Jam on Instagram

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: The 2021 CMT Awards were the first country awards show shot in front of a live audience, but did that make much of a difference?
Which songs should have been cut (2:30)? How did hosts Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini do (4:10)? How can we improve awards shows to keep them relevant (XX)?

Read: 2021 CMT Awards winners, per People. 

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast, Washington Post reporter Emily Yahr talks about her profile on Garth Brooks ahead of the Kennedy Center Honors. Plus (18:00) astute observations about the 2021 season of American Idol and (21:00) The Voice.

Read: Everyone wants Garth Brooks on their side. He just wants everyone to get along, at the Washington Post.

Read: 'The Voice winner is a former tween YouTube sensation - and he could change the show forever at the Washington Post.

Read: This season of 'American Idol' was a close competition - until one very strategic move by the winner, at the Washington Post.

Tweet: Find Emily Yahr on Twitter at @EmilyYahr

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter at @billydukes

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast, why Kelly Clarkson earning Ellen DeGeneres’ time slot is very, very good news for country music. Plus, could Luke Bryan and his family be slowly warming us up for a major reality television show? 

Read: Kelly Clarkson takes over for Ellen at Deadline 

Read: Kelly Clarkson’s Kellyoke Songs by Wide Open Country 

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: does objectivity exist in country music media? Should it? Marcus Dowling just won the Rolling Stone Chet Flippo Award for Excellence in Country Music and it’s fair to say he did it his way.  He talks about his unusual path here, his tireless hustle, his rock star impulses and how and when news outlets should cover Morgan Wallen.

5:15 | “I write like rapper’s rap.” 

15:00 | What the winner of the Chet Flippo Award gets in 2021 

16:15 | The Rock Star Journalist 

22:00 | What’s the deal with Medium for journalists?

29:00 | When should news outlets cover Morgan Wallen? 

42:00 | Is it time to lift the ban?

52:30 | Luke Combs' attempts to do the right thing. 

Read: "On Colostomies, Country Music, And Morgan Wallen’s Return"  at Medium

Tweet: Find Marcus Dowling on Twitter @marcuskdowling

Photos: Find Marcus Dowling on Instagram

More: Marcus Dowling's LinkTree

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: a recent decision by the Country Music Association made it clear. What was once a conversation about Morgan Wallen and race in country music, is becoming a fight. It's time for media outlets and music platforms to change course.

Plus, what is news and what is hype when it comes to Morgan and other sensitive subjects?

Read: Morgan Wallen returns to Kid Rock's bar, per the Tennessean.

Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @BillyDukes

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Journalist Alison Bonaguro helps us understand Jake Owen and why his best days might be ahead of him. She also talks about her mentor, the late journalism legend Chet Flippo, and why she left CMT after over a decade of work.

2:00 | The Jake Owen paradox
18:00 | Getting paid as a country journalist
22:00 | Chet Flippo
31:00 | Why she split from CMT 

Find Alison Bonaguro on Twitter @alisonbonaguro
Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @BillyDukes

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Apple Music Country host Kelleigh Bannen was still finding her way when we chatted in November 2020. The platform is nearing its 1-year anniversary and she continues to get every A-lister imaginable. Eric Church and Alan Jackson are just two she's chatted with recently. Host Billy Dukes is on vacation this week so this is a replay of Ep. 9. She may not be a trained journalist, but the singer and songwriter has the chops and grit to be very, very good at this job for awhile. 

The Kelleigh Bannen Show, M-F at 7AM

Follow Kelleigh on Twitter, @KelleighBannen

Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @BillyDukes

We talked about my reviews of her song "Famous" and "Sorry On the Rocks."

Find her other podcast, This Nashville Life. 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: country music isn't just going to Hollywood? Our genre is going to New York City and Las Vegas as well. But why? Plus:

2:30 | Kane Brown + Kelsea Ballerini are the Perfect Fit
4:00 | A new country music drama, called Monarch.
9:05 | Be cautious reporting on American Idol's Caleb Kennedy

Read: Fox orders Monarch for the 2021-22 season per Variety
Read: Caleb Kennedy dropped from American Idol, from the Spartanburg Herald-Tribune
Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter at @billydukes 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: It's the Q2 2021 Stock Report. If country artists were a publicly traded business, which would be worth your money this month. With new albums and tours on the horizon there is a lot to consider but perhaps most of all consider who is not doing anything. 

Kenny Chesney - Hold
Luke Bryan - Buy
Morgan Wallen - Sell
Dan + Shay - Hold
Miranda Lambert - Sell
Maren Morris - Buy
Carrie Underwood - Hold
Jason Aldean - Buy
Blake Shelton - Buy
Eric Church - Sell
Thomas Rhett - Buy
Luke Combs - Hold
Sam Hunt - Buy 

Top 3 Hot Picks: 

Cody Johnson - Buy
Gabby Barrett - Buy
Jake Owen - Buy

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter at @billydukes 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: A one-word review of Miranda Lambert's The Marfa Tapes album with Jon Randall and Jack Ingram, Morgan Wallen's BBMA expulsion and unpacking some of the important moments from the Ep 55 conversation with Tyler Mahan Coe.

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter at @billydukes 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Tyler Mahan Coe, host of Cocaine & Rhinestones talks about Season 2, which debuted in April 2021. He also has strong, well-educated opinions on country today and country media today. It will surprise you to hear his thoughts on "Outlaws" and "pop-country." 

5:50 | Where did Tyler learn his journalism skills.
11:50 | Why Johnny Cash sucks
14:55 | Tyler’s take on the pop-country music debate is unique and hard to argue with
18:10 | The sound of today’s country music isn’t the problem
22:10 | Teasing Ep. 2 of Season 2 of C&R 
33:10 | How involved is George Jones’ family?
38:10 | The Johnny Paycheck misunderstanding
43:10 | Criticism is dead
48:10 | Tyler’s first career in digital marketing
55:25 | Tyler Mahan Coe’s guide to Fair Use

MoreCocaine & Rhinestones: Find More on Seasons 1 and 2 at the official website

Read: Tyler Mahan' Coe's profile in GQ

Read: Tyler Mahan Coe's profile in the Washington Post

Tweet: Find Tyler Mahan Coe on Twitter at @TylerMahanCoe

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter at @billydukes 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Kip Moore dropped a new song called "Good Life" that asks his long time fans to adjust to something new. Plus Rascal Flatts may not be done and how a bad band or song name can doom the artist. Alabama simply wouldn't stand a chance today. 

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

Listen: Kip Moore, "Good Life" on YouTube

Listen: Tenille Arts, "Somebody Like That" on YouTube

Watch: Alexandra Kay covering Randy Travis on TikTok

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Eric Church's new Heart & Soul album is big and personal, but is it any good? Three members of the media join Billy Dukes to discuss the triple album project, including Angella Sharpe, Marty Kurtz and Grady Smith.

2:27 | Angella Sharpe on Heart

20:30 | Marty Kurtz on &

39:23 | Grady Smith on Soul

Read: The Top 50 Eric Church Songs onTaste of Country 

Tweet: Find Angella Sharpe on Twitter at @AngellaSharpe 

Tweet: Find Marty Kurtz on Twitter at @marty_kurtz

Tweet: Find Grady Smith on Twitter at @gradywsmith

Watch: Grady Smith's YouTube Channel 

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

The ACM Awards were great, for country music fans. But for everyone else? Well, the 2021 ACM’s poor ratings showed that there just wasn’t much for the non-country audience, which is a problem. This week we look at ways the genre can grow without losing its soul. Change doesn’t have to be scary. 

1:20 | What the ACM Awards got right and wrong

5:00 | Diversity at the 2021 ACM Awards 

6:30 | Ratings are becoming a big problem 

9:05 | Here’s how to solve it 

Read: Why Luke Bryan Deserved Entertainer of the Year at Taste of Country 

Read: 2021 ACM Awards Ratings, via Hollywood Reporter.

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Chart expert Chris Owen explains what needs to happen for Elle King’s duet with Miranda Lambert to hit country radio. It’s complicated and takes some major label cooperation. Is it likely? Also, the truth about corporate programming and how it might have cost Hunter Hayes his commercial career. On the flip side how Lainey Wilson’s “Thinks A Man Oughta Know” benefited from corporate programming.

Chris and Billy also discuss why you can figure out the year’s most played song in April, Brian Kelley’s solo EP and what the heck happened to Jamey Johnson?

Listen: Elle King + Miranda Lambert, "Drunk (And I Wanna Go Home)"

Listen: Chris picks Caitlyn Smith (Feat. Old Dominion), “Stars”

Listen: Billy picks Heath Sanders, “Old School’s In”

Tweet: Chris Owen on Twitter @fiddlesabre

Tweet: Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes 

Morgan Wallen fans should consider that they might be doing more harm than good. Three signs holding two billboards apiece in Nashville continue pressing on a bruise in the country music industry that hasn’t had enough time to heal properly. 

Read: Who Paid for the Morgan Wallen Billboards? at Rolling Stone

Read: The original story at Music Mayhem Magazine 

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: ACM CEO Damon Whiteside joins Billy Dukes for a wide-ranging conversation about the 2021 Awards (April 18 on CBS) and the future of awards shows. Are these pandemic changes permanent? Did CBS hesitate on booking Mickey Guyton as host? Is Carrie Underwood mad about her snub? 

1:45 | The hard part about the 2021 ACM Awards
5:00 | Why Mickey Guyton and was CBS hard to convince?
9:00 | What will hosting look like this year?
10:45 | Why is diversity important at the ACM Awards?
15:45 | What will the audience look like?
19:00 | Are any of these changes permanent?
23:00 | Digesting fan furor and if snubbed artists, snub back.
28:00 | Does he find out who took second place?
28:40 | Is there bad blood between Carrie Underwood and the ACM Awards?
31:00 | How the ACM Awards are planning for a streaming-dominant future. 
33:00 | What's the 2021 ACM Awards alcohol policy?

More: The official ACM Awards website

Read: 2021 ACM Nominations at Billboard

Tweet: Billy Dukes on Twitter

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Billy Dukes explores the lengths Eric Church went to in planning his new Gather Again Tour. Do you feel it’s safe enough to attend large-venue country concerts?

Also, Billy looks at which songs from Heart & Soul might sound good in a set list. 

Watch: Blake Shelton talks about his exit strategy on The Voice, with Today with Hoda & Jenna  

Read: Saving Country Music’s news about Loretta Lynn pulling Van Lear Rose

Listen: Alan Jackson’s new song “Where Have You Gone” on YouTube

Read: Eric Church Tour Dates at his official website  

Read: Eric Church’s Interview with Taste of Country Nights

Read: Eric Church’s Interview with Billboard

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Fewer media outlets — and far fewer country music media outlets — are building Worst Dressed lists using red carpet pictures from an awards show. With the 2021 ACM Awards coming up, we bring back photographer John Shearer's thoughts on his photos being used for Worst Dressed lists. Plus, what the red carpet actually sounds like.

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

Here's John Shearer's Official Website.

You should follow John on Instagram. 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: The Boot's Angela Stefano reveals her ballot (8:00) for the 2021 ACM Awards. Billy also shares who he'd vote for if he were a voting member. Then (30:00) should fans be allowed to vote again and (32:30) what category should be added.

Tweet: Find Angela Stefano on Twitter
Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter
Read: Frank Sinatra Has a Cold at Esquire

Read: 2021 ACM Awards Nominations at the Boot

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Billy Dukes reflects on the death of a great country and bluegrass ambassador and theorizes what might happen to the historic building he watched over. Morgan Wallen's first show back is on the calendar and some people are upset about it. But that anger is misguided. Then (8:00) we look at Country Music Media "Ls." Email or tweet examples of embarrassing mistakes in journalism. We can all learn from them.

Read: Frank Sinatra Has a Cold at Esquire 

Read: “Morgan Wallen to Headline Bud Light Sponsored Kicker Country Stampede” at Consequence of Sound

Read: “George Segal, ‘The Goldbergs’ Star, Dead at 87” at PopCulture

Read: Ree Drummond Reveals That Husband Ladd Broke His Neck In Two Places at Taste of Country

Watch: Carly Pearce Sings “Dear Miss Loretta” at the Grand Ole Opry 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Jaren Johnston from the ACM Vocal Group of the Year nominated band the Cadillac Three joins with no filter to share secrets of the songwriter's room, how and why his band is huge in the U.K. and what the media does wrong consistently during interviews.

5:20 | Do artists prepare for interviews?
9:48 | It's hard out there for a country band.
13:00 | Which artists were hit hardest by the pandemic?
14:15 | Has the pandemic changed the sound of country music?
16:50 | Do lazy songwriters still get paid?
19:00 | What if TC3 had remained a rock band?
21:00 | What does the media get wrong?
27:30 | What does TC3 owe their success in the U.K. too?
31:00 | The song that keeps cashing checks for him.

Tweet: Jaren Johnston on Twitter
Tweet: The Cadillac Three on Twitter
Tweet: Billy Dukes on Twitter

Are you a huge Eric Church fan and you work in media? Hit me up. I'm working on a special episode of the CMMP for April. 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: What we can learn about race and gender equality in country music from sports, particularly the NFL. Black quarterbacks started to become the norm after one thing changed, and country singers can do it too.

Read: Country Music Is Changing, In Spite of Itself on Pitchfork (the part about Nate Barnes has been removed)

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter@billydukes 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Dr. Jada Watson joins Billy Dukes to talk about about equality in country music and to discuss her new report: Redlining In Country Music. But first ...

The 2021 Grammy Awards featured some serious country talent but it wasn’t a full list of artists we’re used to hearing on the radio. Miranda Lambert was there and so was Maren Morris and sure, those two have had great years in mainstream country music and are anchors our format. But Brandi Carlile? Mickey Guyton? No men? Clutch your pearls!

Read: Redlining In Country Music, Dr. Watson's immersive new study.

Read: Jada recommends, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee

Tweet:Find Jada Watson on Twitter at @data_jada

Tweet:Find Billy Dukes on Twitter at @billydukes

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Billboard revealed that most Grammy Awards categories — including all of the country categories — aren't decided by voters.  Say what? The 2021 Grammy Awards are on Sunday March 14 but this information will shape how you look at all awards shows moving forward.

Also (14:30) Billy gives his predictions for the country categories at the Grammys. 

Read: Who Picks the Grammy Nominees in Billboard

Read: 12 Grammy Rules That Will Surprise You in Billboard

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Baylen Leonard from Holler Country joins Billy Dukes to talk about country music's next great frontier: the U.K. and Europe. Holler Country is based in London, England but focused on American country music. The market is long overdue for this approach and it could have a significant impact on the genre in America too.

3:55 | What is Holler Country
9:45 | If Holler Country had a station truck, which artists would be on the wrap?
12:40 | Can a country artist have a lucrative career in England and Europe?
17:20 | The grit and glory of Holler Country
27:40 | Explaining Bro Country to the British Audience

Tweet: Holler Country on Twitter
Tweet: Baylen Leonard on Twitter
Read: Holler Country
Tweet: Billy Dukes on Twitter

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Open the inbox. Billy Dukes answers listener questions about new albums, ACM snubs, future hits and when live music is coming back. As always, find Billy on Twitter @BillyDukes

4:07 | ACM Snubs + Carrie Underwood
5:55 | Any news on Sam Hunt releasing new music?
7:30 | Will we get a new Maren Morris album in 2021?
8:35 | Will how Eric Church is releasing his album affect his awards nominations and chart rankings?
10:40 | What song below the Top 40 currently do you think could be a hit in 2021?
13:25 | Your buy, sell or hold picks.
14:21 | Can I be on your podcast?
15:25 | When concerts are coming back

Listen: “I Can’t” by Caitlyn Smith and Old Dominion on YouTube

Listen: “Chasing After You” by Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris on YouTube

Listen: “You Ain’t Pretty” by Nate Barnes on YouTube 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast, Rolling Stone's Jon Freeman joins host Billy Dukes to compare their two very different profiles on Carly Pearce. You don't need to be a fan of Carly's to enjoy hearing how two journalists approached the conversation and built around a central question. Of course, you'll pick up on all the insecurities too. 

1:00 | The Truth about the album listening events. 
2:00 | A tale of two Carly Pearce profiles 
5:45 | The central question
16:30 | Covering the hard news with objectivity 
20:00 | Jon’s personal essay on Morgan Wallen, TJ Osborne and his own small town experiences 
23:30 | Would Jon interview Morgan Wallen?
27:00 | What are you looking forward to in 2021?
32:00 | Country Weekly stories

Read: Jon's profile on Carly Pearce for Rolling Stone

Read: Billy's profile on Carly Pearce for Taste of Country

Read: Jon's essay on Morgan Wallen, TJ Osborne and his own experiences, in Rolling Stone

Tweet: Jon Freeman on Twitter @freemanjm

Tweet: Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

Luke Combs apologized for associating himself with the Confederate Flag but that's the least interesting thing about the story from last week. If you look closely, you'll learn something from the antagonist in this story, Ryan Upchurch. Billy Dukes explains how the whole thing is a lesson in fair and balanced journalism but not for the reasons you think.

4:24 | Where did the Luke Combs’ Confederate Flag pictures came from?
5:38 | Who is Upchurch? 
6:53 | What’s in the apology video?
8:17 | How Confederate Flag supporter aren’t a monolith.
11:57 | Why that flag is still gonna lose

Watch: Luke Combs and Ryan Upchurch in "Can I Get an Outlaw" on YouTube

Watch: Upchurch's Apology Video on YouTube

Read: Luke Combs' Apology at CRS, via Taste of Country

Read: Chase Bryant's Story on People, by friend of the podcast Tricia Despres

Watch: The Conservative Twins on YouTube

This week on theCountry Music Media Podcast: If I gave you $1 million  to invest in a country singer’s career, who would you choose? You don’t have to put it all in one bucket. You could give 20 percent to Thomas Rhett, 20 percent to Maren Morris, 20 percent to Blake Shelton. He’s as big as it gets so that has to be a safe investment, right? What about Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert, or newer artists like Gabby Barrett, Carly Pearce and Morgan Wallen. 

Remember, I told you to invest, not to bet. So you’re not using this money to predict is going to have a bigger year in 2021, you’re using it in hopes it will grow this year and beyond. Buy low, sell high — is Eric Church a good investment right now?

Billy Dukes delivers the first ever Country Music Stock Report. Who should you buy? Who should you hold? And Who Should you sell? Find the full list of artists below and react on Twitter @billydukes. 

5:30 Luke Combs 
6:47 Kelsea Ballerini 
7:28 Luke Bryan
8:08 Thomas Rhett
9:02 Gabby Barrett
9:40 Jake Owen
10:23 Sam Hunt 
12MIN Blake Shelton
12:50 Carly Pearce
13:38 Morgan Wallen
14:10 Eric Church
14:58 Miranda Lambert
15:56 Old Dominion
16:10  Brad Paisley 
16:44 Keith Urban
17:38 Jason Aldean 
18:44 Matt Stell 
19:10 Carrie Underwood
20:25 3 Hot Picks for 2021 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast, how the pandemic has exposed the troubles in forming, marketing and maintaining a band. Nearly a dozen country bands or duos have underwent changes, quit, disappeared or floundered since early 2020. There's a reason for it and it underscores why moving forward bands are a bad bet. Billy argues that just one band active today will make the Hall of Fame and no band that starts in the next 10 years will come close. 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast, journalist Marcus K. Dowling joins host Billy Dukes to talk about country music's uneasy relationship with black culture and why white country singers just can't say the N-word.

Read: A brief, sordid history of why country music can't use rap music's "n-word" on Medium

Listen: Brittney Spencer, "Sorrys Don't Work No More" on YouTube

Listen: Ashlie Amber, "Fight With You" on YouTube

More: All About Marcus Dowling

Tweet: @MarcusKDowling

Tweet: @BillyDukes

Luke Combs did something remarkable in early February and Billy thinks if you’re paying attention you’re noticing a trend from Luke. Plus (1:10) a response to Eric Church's National Anthem, (13:49) Billy reflects on where he went wrong during Ep. 31 and (16:30) four steps Morgan Wallen needs to take immediately.

Read: More about Luke Combs and Maren Morris' plans for CRS, per Inside Radio.

Listen: Luke Combs new song "The Great Divide" on YouTube

Read: Luke Combs' introduction to "The Great Divide" on Twitter

Watch: Luke Combs' conversation with Dan Rather on YouTube

Read: The Twitter thread that shows how Billy went wrong about the response from country men

Tweet: @BillyDukes

This week's guest on the Country Music Media Podcast is Chuck Wicks, an artist who's proving to be as good a host and interviewer as he was songwriter. Chuck talks about his relationships with Bobby Bones (2:00)  and breaks down the financials of being a new artist (4:00). He also reflects on avoiding uncomfortable topics with Carrie Underwood (17:00) and how he'd approach the same today. At 25:00 Chuck offers a unique perspective about why more artists don't speak out on important social issues.

Listen: Chuck's new podcast is called Love Country? Talk to Chuck and it's available through iHeart Podcast Networkor wherever podcasts are found.

Listen: Chuck Wicks' new song "Old With You"

Find Chuck on Twitter @chuckwicksmusic

Find Billy on Twitter @BillyDukes 

This episode of the Country Music Media Podcast centers on Morgan Wallen's words and consequences. Billy thinks we can't be hard enough on Morgan but we also can't banish him into the wilderness alone.

In being removed from streaming platforms Morgan Wallen may also reveal a streaming fallacy.

Read: TJ Osborne Comes Out As Gay in Time

Read: The latest on Morgan Wallen's actions and consequences in Taste of Country, plus links to what he did via TMZ. 

This week's guest on the Country Music Media Podcast is Adam Gold. Adam has a long, acrimonious history on Twitter with John Rich of Big & Rich. It reached new heights when they bet $10,000 on who would be inaugurated as president on Jan. 20. The bet was made after the November elections, as even the Supreme Court refused to consider a case that the election was fraudulent. To say it was a strange arrangement is an understatement, but Adam tells the story best.

Read: (5:20) The 2013 exchange between Adam and John over the Boston Marathon bomber being put on the cover of Rolling Stone,via the Nashville Scene.

Read: (10:40) J.R. Lind's article in the Nashville Scene that summarizes the bet.

Read: The 2010 article from the Nashville Scene where Adam called John "the Kenny Powers of M.O.R. country music.

Tweet: John Rich said it's on, on Twitter.

Tweet: John Rich's concession tweet.

Tweet: Adam Gold on Twitter

Tweet: Billy Dukes on Twitter 

Eric Church announced the Heart & Soul album series this month. It's three separate albums, a concept that comes with implications for the bean counters (1:50). Eric Church clearly does not care about the bean counters.

Billy also looks at yet another way country music and sports are similar (at 8:40). We compare stats across eras like it's fair when really there is an increasingly small window of relevancy around any streak or moment of history.

Read: Everything You Need to Know About Eric Church's new album at Taste of Country

Kelly Sutton's story isn't just one of perseverance. It's a story of persistence and versatility. Those three qualities are essential for a modern journalist, something she epitomizes in 2021. Think of this episode of the podcast as a Country Music Media survival guide, but enjoy our tangents on industry events, country music Twitter and YouTube conspiracy theories.

Kelly's new show is called Connected With Kelly and it's a chance for one of country music's leading ladies of media to have longform conversations with artists like Carrie Underwood and difference makers.

Thanks to everyone who has rated and reviewed the podcast, and shared on social media!

Watch: Find Connected With Kellyon YouTube

Find: Kelly Sutton on Twitter

Find: Billy Dukes on Twitter 

Toby Keith and Ricky Skaggs rolled into the White House during an impeachment. Garth Brooks chose to play an inauguration that was divisive, especially in country music circles. Country music and politics crossed paths in some significant ways this month but there is something you should know, especially about that Medal of Arts ceremony. We got the response all wrong.

Read: Toby Keith on His Politics in theChicago Tribune

Read: Emily Yahr's Washington Post profile on Toby Keith 

Read: A Recap of the Drama that followed Ethan Hawke's Rolling Stone article, in Entertainment Weekly 

Rolling Stone music critic Jonathan Bernstein says  Morgan Wallen's Dangerous: The Double Albumdoes some things very well, but has some major flaws. He gave it a 3-star rating and this week he explains what went into the review, how he approaches music criticism and the future of album reviews.

Read: “Morgan Wallen is a versatile Nashville Cliché Machine on ‘Dangerous: The Double Album" inRolling Stone

Read: The Story of the Black Country Music Association" in Rolling Stone

Tweet: Find Jonathan Bernstein on Twitter, @JonBern

There's a problem with Loretta Lynn’s new album, and it’s kind of a big one. The press release says Still Woman Enough is a celebration of women in country music but it should say it’s a celebration of white women in country music.  To what degree should we eviscerate an 88-year-old Country Music Hall of Famer, and true pioneer in American history? The answer to that requires a bit of research.

Read: Rest In Peace, Ceasar Gaiters in the Richmond Times Dispatch
Listen: Loretta Lynn recites "Coal Miner's Daughter"

Loretta Lynn's Still Woman Enough album drops on March 19. 
 

Days after the Christmas morning bombing in Nashville, Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts gave weight to a conspiracy theory that a missile — not a bomb in an RV — was responsible for the explosion on 2nd avenue. Today's guest called his bluff. Big Rick Daniels hosts the morning show on Korn Country 100.3 in south-central Indiana. He's not a seasoned news journalist, but you wouldn't know it to hear him handle a serious topic with appropriate objectivity.

After our conversation about Gary, Rick and I talk about the art of the radio interview and how to avoid a major trap.

Then, some thoughts on two country wives who took to social media following the siege on the U.S. Capitol, which was literally happening as Gary and talked to each other. 

Listen: Big Rick's interview with Gary LeVox on Korn Country.

See: Rick's tweetwith the graphic Gary posted on Instagram and Facebook.

Follow: Rick on Twitter at @OnAirWithRick

Read: "Why Are Country Music Wives Pushing Baseless Conspiracy Theories" on Rolling Stone Country. 

There are very few people capable of properly reviewing an album like Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous, and even fewer who want to. This says nothing about the actual album and it’s relative worth. This is more about what goes into a proper album review. They're hard. They're time-consuming and — if we're being honest — nobody is reading them. 

Why do good songs go bad? Chart expert Chris Owen shares what happened to great songs from Maren Morris and Lady A, explained why superstars can't have a year's most played song and looked ahead to new music coming in 2021. No one makes sense of the country music airplay charts quite like Chris.

Find Chris Owen on Twitter, @FiddleSabre

Read: More About Florida Georgia Line's Solo Efforts on Taste of Country

Listen: Hardy, "Give Heaven Some Hell"

Listen: Jameson Rodgers (Feat. Luke Combs), "Cold Beer Calling My Name"

K.T. Oslin died on Dec. 21, but her legacy isn't the music. In 1987 she debuted on RCA Records with a song called "80s Ladies" that would win her fans and acclaim and start a half-decade career that featured Grammys, CMA Awards and ACM Awards. She was 45 years old at the time. Only one woman has more No. 1 hits past age 40 than she does (Dolly Parton). Only one woman has reached No. 1 while older than she was (Reba McEntire).

Why did we stop embracing women like K.T. Oslin? Why did the average age of women on the radio drop significantly in 2006?

Be sure to rate and review this podcast, and subscribe for more great guests and perspective. 

*Note: All data refers to Billboard Country Airplay Charts, 1985-2020.

Buddy Logan of Radio Texas Live is a hub in a wide and diverse wheel of great country music and storytelling in Texas. Think of him as traffic control for the current Red Dirt Music scene. This week we look back at legends lost in 2020 — Billy Joe Shaver and Jerry Jeff Walker come to mind, but there are more — and the next generation of superstars. Parker McCollum is just starting to break nationally, but he's been headlining in Texas for a decade. Who's next?

Listen: Chris Knight, "Down the River" 

Listen: Mike and the Moonpies, “Smooth Shot of Whiskey” 

Stream: Radio Texas Live

Tweet: Buddy Logan On Twitter

Top 10 country songs of 2021? Top 10 country albums? Of course it's subjective and if you think your favorite artist has been intentionally slighted, you may be right. Artists To Watch lists are also popular this time of year and to understand how to interpret them there’s some things you need to know about the motives of the people writing them. And there’s some things to look for to pick apart the good ones from the bad ones.

Thanks to everyone who's subscribed and double thanks if you've left a rating or review somewhere along the way.

Tweet: Find me @BillyDukes

Dolly Parton appears fearless, but Emily Lordi knows that’s not true. Throughout her immersive profile, Lordi unpacks the country legend’s loyalties, tendencies and secret influences in a way that’s informative, personal and artistic. You can find The Grit and Glory of Dolly Parton on the cover of T Magazine, the New York Times Style Magazine, and it’s also available online. But I invited Emily to the podcast to talk about the process and experience of sitting across from the country queen knowing full well that she’s been asked just about everything during her dynamic 50-plus year career.

Read: The Grit and Glory of Dolly Parton

Read: Find The Meaning of Soul: Black Music and Resilience Since the 1960s  on Amazon

Tweet: Emily J. Lordi on Twitter

Charley Pride died after catching the coronavirus and people want to blame the CMA Awards. Is that fair and what questions should we be asking about Pride's life, death and this pandemic? Also, at 12:50 Andrea Williams updates something she said last week on the podcast about Darius Rucker's role (and by extension any modern Black country music hitmaker) in advancing equality in country music.

Read: Andrea Williams' article in Vulture: Charley Pride Deserved Better Than What Country Music Could Ever Give Him.

Read: Marcus Dowling's story in the Boot: 'Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'': The Life, Times and Music That Made Charley Prides' Greatest Hit.

On Twitter: Andrea Williams’ Updated Tweets About Darius Rucker. 

In radio, there’s this concept known as planned spontaneity and my guest today knows a thing or two about it. Kalie Shore has had her fair share of unplanned spontaneity, and frankly a lot of it has been tragic. But she’s also figured out how to use tragedy and drama as tools to carve out a fascinating lane for herself as a singer, songwriter, influencer and now host of the Too Much To Saypodcast. 

2:15 | How the podcast came together 
7:30 | Kalie Shorr's interviewing philosophy 
11:30 | How gad conversations can be good interviews 
22:00 | Is there still a chip on her shoulder?
26:50 | RIP Disney Country

Buy: Kalie Shorr's Open Book: Unabridgedalbum at Amazon.
Follow: Kalie Shorr on Twitter, @KalieShorr

If you're on country Twitter, you've noticed Andrea Williams, a distinguished author and journalist, and the woman who has pledged to call out any person or institution that knowingly or unknowingly contributes to boxing out Black and Latino artists in country music. Andrea is loud and defiant and the kind of person you want on her side and — as Jason Isbell and Maren Morris found out — unafraid of calling out the woke liberal all stars.

Tweet: Find Andrea Williams on Twitter @AndreaWillWrite

Read: Find Andrea's book, Baseball's Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues on Amazon. 

Read: Why Haven't We Had a Black Woman Country Star? from the Nashville Scene

Read: Rolling Stone's article on the Black Country Music Association 

Listen: Priscilla Renea's website

CMA Country Christmas Ratings came out. And ratings in general are not something I enjoy talking about or even believe in, the level ratings for the 2020 CMA Country Christmas (and by extension dismal ratings for the CMA and ACM Awards) I do believe can tell us something about not only the show, but awards shows in general this year and next year. It's just uncomfortable watching something like looks like a super spreader event.

Source: CMA Country Christmas Ratings via Show Buzz Daily
Source: CMA Awards Ratings via Variety
Source: ACM Awards Ratings via Variety

Ironically, the pandemic may be to blame for Chase Rice's unsavory tweet in support of his new radio single.

Also this week, how to navigate Dolly Parton pandemonium if you're a journalist who's just interviewed Dolly Parton. Plus, why it's not fair to say the lack of Black and Latino artists is simply a numbers game.

Contest: The Eric Church ViewFinder I'm giving away. Tweet about the show with the #CMMP hashtag for a chance to win.

Read: Emily Lordi's, "The Grit and Glory of Dolly Parton" in the New York Times.

This week's show notes:

2:00 Morgan Wallen gets a second life 

7:59 Are Tyler, Brian and Florida Georgia Line being honest with us? 

11:20 Live Nation is doubling down on live country music, but I’m not buying it. 

16:40 Sara Evans has a real sad COVID-19 story. 

18:07 Taylor Swift’s high class drama is robbing her of country credibility. 

19:02 Dolly Fever and how to make sure your story gets seen. 

21:45 Here’s why Luke Combs was snubbed at the 2021 Grammy Awards 

25:30 The CMAs had all the time in the world to be inclusive but couldn’t get it right. 

34:36 How coronavirus left Chase Rice acting like a fool on Twitter

Country music is built on stories of humility, faith and redemption and this week’s guest has a good one. If you’ve ever taken a relationship for granted or if you’ve ever looked at the best thing that ever happened to you and thought “meh, what else is there?” you’ll relate to author Jerry Broadway. 

Maybe you know him best as just Broadway, part of the nationally syndicated Bud and Broadway radio show but before that in institution at radio stations across the southeast and Midwest in markets like Tulsa and St. Louis. He’s an ACM and CMA winner and a familiar face to famous country stars like Keith Urban and Brad Paisley. But today, Broadway is just Grayson’s dad. 

The book is called Amazing Grayson after his teenage son Grayson, who’ll get to know in just a second. But really it’s one man’s story of redemption and the family that stood by him through often fatal impulses, like infidelity, ego and selfishness. Throw in some testicular cancer, a special needs child and the fragile nature of jobs in this industry and you see why this combustible story could easily have been a tragedy. But it’s not, thanks to one person. Well, thanks to God and one person.

Note: Days after recording this interview, Oklahoma City radio station KXXY announced they were bringing the syndicated Bud and Broadway Show.

Read: Amazing Grayson on Amazon

Learn More: Bud and Broadway Show's Homepage

Contest: The Eric Church ViewFinder I'm giving away. Tweet about the show with the #CMMP hashtag for a chance to win. 

Artists like Priscilla Block, Andrew Jannakos and Elvie Shane are using TikTok to tilt the playing field to their advantage. Freelance journalist Tom Roland explains how and why it's working.

Is TikTok for real, or is the social media platform another flash in the pan that promises more wannabe country music stars than actual stars? Recently, Tom Roland wrote an article for the Billboard Country Update called TikTok’s Timely Rise In Country Music.

If you don't understand the platform, don't worry. If you're deep in a TikTok wormhole, you'll appreciate what Tom says about the path artists are taking and why it's legit.

Read: TikTok's Timely Rise In Country Music

Contest: The Eric Church ViewFinder I'm giving away. Tweet about the show with the #CMMP hashtag for a chance to win.

Bookmark: Roland Note, The Ultimate Country Music Database

Listen: Andrew Jannakos, "Gone Too Soon"
Listen: Elvie Shane, "My Boy"
Listen:Priscilla Block, "Just About Over You"
Listen: Priscilla Block, "Thick Thighs"

After years of talking to morning radio deejays, Kelleigh Bannen is one. She hosts theKelleigh Bannen Show on Apple Music Radio and gets to talk to artists like Chris Stapleton, Cam, Luke Combs and more. It's been an adjustment, but she's no newbie and her approach to interviewing is to study, listen and learn before she talks. 

What’s it like interviewing friends? How hard will she push people she knows to tell stories they might need a little pushing to tell? How comfortable is she asking the hard questions that sometimes you have to ask?

We talk about her interview with Chris, one of the few he did leading up to the release of Starting Over.  We also talk about the art of interviewing and how she's trying to find that sweet spot between good conversation and good journalism. I'm a fan of Kelleigh's approach, as you'll hear. Check her out at the links below.

The Kelleigh Bannen Show, M-F at 7AM

Today's Country With Kelleigh Bannen, Fridays at 8AM

Follow Kelleigh on Twitter, @KelleighBannen

We talked about my reviews of her song "Famous" and "Sorry On the Rocks."

Find her other podcast, This Nashville Life. 

How are the CMA Awards decided? Go inside the mind of CMA voter Angela Stefano and learn why she chose who she did for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year and more before the 2020 CMA Awards on Nov. 11.

There’s a lot of logic behind each of her decisions but there’s undeniably a lot of personal preference. How are nominees chosen? How do voters decide? Is it truly a popularity contest and do the singers who make the most friends in the media have an advantage? To what degree can a voter be influenced? Let’s find out together, during … Ep. 8 of the Country Music Media Podcast.

Find Angela on Twitter at @amstefano988

Here are the CMAs official rules

From the Boot, Everything You Need to Know About CMA Awards Voting

Angela's Interviews with:

Brothers Osborne

Cam

Wynonna
 

This is an update on Ep. 4 of the Country Music Media Podcast. Chris Owen talked about the Secret to Luke Combs' record breaking success in September 2020. Now, with new data and new records to his name it's clear that the CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee is following in the footsteps of country music's most gifted marketer: Garth Brooks.

Billboard's article detailing all of Luke Combs' one-week records can be found HERE. If you've ever wondered how the Billboard 200 is calculated they break it down pretty good there too. 

During the era of Bro Country, we were about one more “hey girl” away from a revolution, am I right? Actually, am I right? It was a trend for sure, but maybe we were a little hard on artists like Luke Bryan or Florida Georgia Line and songwriters like Dallas Davidson. Maybe, if we actually looked at all the songs played on country radio over a bro-y era, we’d see that this was an annoying niche more than a dominant style, one blamed for pushing women to the edges of the genre and beyond. Or maybe we’ll see that everything we think is true. My guest this week is Grady Smith and he’s particularly equipped to sort it all out. 

Here are links to Grady’s most popular videos that we talk about, plus other articles discussed during this episode. 

Every Country Song Has These Lyrics, Right?

Why Country Music Was Awful In 2013

This Beat Is Killing Country Music 

How Much Do Instagram Influencers Make?

Find Grady Smith on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and at his personal website. 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast:  Would you rather be considered an overachiever or an underachiever? On its face, that question seems absurd. If you’ve underachieved, you’ve kinda failed, right? But on the other hand, if someone says you overachieved, isn’t that like saying you’re not that talented?

In October, I sent a tweet asking which artists has made the most of what 2020 handed them and was overwhelmed with responses. Dozens of artists were named. Some made sense. A few others were just fans being fans. I dug in, did some research to find supporting evidence and outlined a Top 10 list, then I took it to Periscope for a live conversation, recorded for the podcast. Your comments, your voices, special guests and the No. 1 overachiever of 2020.

Rate, review, subscribe. If you love your mama you'll give me 5 stars.

Here's the tweet: https://twitter.com/billydukes/status/1315344655521927169

Also this week, why is everyone so mad at Billboard? We knew this already, didn't we?

I refer to this tweet during the conversation: https://twitter.com/billboardcharts/status/1318559499440050180 

The bulk of this week's episode is condensed version of the Periscope conversation. 

Maybe we’re being too hard on Morgan Wallen. Maybe we’re not being hard enough. Fans responded with varying degrees of empathy and patience when Saturday Night Live gave him the boot after he broke COVID-19 protocols. Wallen, for his part, took the high road and took responsibility during a two-and-a-half-minute video on social media.

Is the "Whiskey Glasses" singer the hard-partying troublemaker that's made TMZ several times in 2020? Or is he the humble kid from East Tennessee he appeared to be in his apology video. Most importantly, what's next?

Tricia Despres is going to help us figure it out. She's a professional journalist with a deep resume who's spoken with him several times in two years. She's also a mother to college-aged kids and as such she's skilled at smelling stink from miles away. So don't persecute or praise this country singer quite yet.

After the interview, how Morgan's troubles spotlight another problem in country music, and By the Numbers.

Follow Tricia on Twitter and Facebook.

Three interviews referenced in this podcast episode.

American Songwriter
People
Taste of Country

It’s difficult to find Luke Combs’ equal. Not now, not 10 years ago, not 30 years ago. Maybe not ever. The no-nonsense country singer and songwriter with a ‘90s country bent has released 9 singles to radio. Every one has reached No. 1. All but one has stayed there for multiple weeks. Since May of 2017 he’s spent 26 weeks at the top of the country charts — that’s a half year! — and I’m talking about the more illusive airplay chart, not the Hot Country Chart which is a mix of airplay, sales, streaming and witchcraft. 

A decade ago Florida Georgia Line went seven out of 8. In 1989 and ’90 Clint black went five of seven. Garth Brooks? He batted closer to 500 for his first 10 singles. Is what we’re experiencing real? Or is Luke Combs just a product of right time, right place? Is he what happens when the field narrows and country music radio shaves away all its rough edges? Is he a radio star who can’t really get it done elsewhere or worse … is a poised for a big fall? 

My guest this week may know the answer.

Chris Owen is a country chart expert who can recall just about every forgettable country song you throw at him, and the label, and how far it went on the Billboard or Mediabase country airplay chart. I like the way his mind works because he leans hard into stats and logic and not so much on emotion. Chris is an even hand in Twitter sea of screamers and criers and he’s uniquely capable of find perspective as we watch Combs go No. 1 with the frequency of a 9-year-old who sucked down too many Coca Colas. 

Are we making too big a deal of what Luke Combs is quietly accomplishing? Is it fair to compare him to Garth or anyone? What is he doing that nobody else is? Let’s find out, during Ep. No. 4 of the Country Music Media Podcast.

Follow Chris Owen on Twitter.

After the interview, it's "Pick-A-Hit."

Chris' picks:
Robert Counts, "What Do I Know"
Larry Fleet, "Where I Find God"
Runway June, "We Were Rich"

Billy's Picks
Priscilla Block, "Just About Over You"
Cody Johnson, "Dear Rodeo"
Elvie Shane, "My Boy"

Finally, it's a postscript and this week's numbers. 

Historically, when young female pop artists break up with country, country doesn’t come crawling back. But this time they are.

Taylor Swift's "Betty" is a Top 40 hit and her performance at the 2020 ACM Awards felt as comfortable as you could hope if you're among those hoping she'll soon take back her crown as queen of country . My guest this week will explain why — after all she and the genre have been through since her last country hit ("Red" in 2013) — the timing may be right.

Emily Yahr is an entertainment and pop culture reporter with The Washington Post who has, in my opinion, a fascinating assignment. She’s led with grounded, fact-based news articles and editorials about women in country music, and now — as important conversations about the lack of persons of color on Music Row take center stage —  she’s asking the industry to confront its race issue. She’s another writer that doesn’t need Nashville to like her to pay the bills but she doesn’t take advantage of that.

She's also followed Swift since the singer's mid-2000s debut and is, admittedly, a fan.

Follow Emily on Twitter @EmilyYahr

Here's her piece in the Washington Poston Taylor's ACM Awards performance of "Betty." 

In June, Garth Brooks became the first artist to surge forward amid a pandemic when he played a concert simulcast to 300 drive-in theaters nationwide. Garth was to show ‘em all how it’s down at $100 a car load except … he couldn’t.

Reviews from fans in attendance and a few media outlets applauded the effort and vision but panned the actual concert. Man, if Garth couldn’t do it, what hope does Kane Brown have when he asks his fans to pay $100 a car load this weekend for a concert that will be simulcast to 300 drive in theaters nationwide.

The Charlotte Observer's Theoden Janes wrote the definitive review of Garth's show. He's a pro and while he was critical of the production he was critical with evidence. We talk about how he approached this review, if this model can flourish and how, and what fans need to know before showing up expecting to see truly live country music.

Theoden's review of Garth's concert from June is HERE.

Follow Theoden Janes on Twitter @TheodenJanes.

Theoden's interview with Randy Travis 

The awards will be forgotten and the music will fade away but the photos will continue to tell the stories of the 2020 ACM Awards, country music's strangest awards show in recent memory.

Ep. 1 features an interview with John Shearer.

John is one of country music’s most talented, most popular and most likable photographers. You’ve seen John’s work after every country music awards show since 2015. He comes from California where he started shooting awards shows in 2002.

One of his John’s most famous photos is of Brittany Spears and Madonna kissing.

Maybe more famous is the many album covers John is responsible for, including recent albums from Thomas Rhett and Carly Pearce. Keith Urban is releasing The Speed of Now, Part 1 on Friday and you wanna know who shot the cover? John Shearer.

I like John because he’s easy to work with and because he’s the closest thing I have to a friend to the stars. But come on, see for yourself during Episode 1 of the country music media podcast.

Here are links to some of the photos we talked about:

Brittany Spears kissing Madonna at the 2003 MTV VMAs

Thomas Rhett and the "War Room"

The beautiful Amanda Shires

Here's John Shearer's Official Website.

You should follow John on Instagram. 

It's the ultimate country music insider podcast. Host Billy Dukes explores country music's hottest news stories, artists, songs, trends and events through the eyes of the journalists that covered them. It's the Country Music Media Podcast, a weekly dive into what's shaping country music.