Over
the past 10-15 years I have watched the desecration of country music via controlled
radio ownership, but during this time internet was beginning to gain momentum,
and those record label execs never seen the tidal wave of what was about to hit
them. The tsunami of a new wave of
being able to listen to their favorite music, downloading music for one’s
music library at a cost, was rolling over the country music industry and there
was no one who could stop it. Finally the music genre’s went to our
government to find a way to get royalties paid for record companies, writers,
publishers, and the artist. It seems like they have reached a happy
medium, but the issue could have been avoided way in advance if record
companies would have looked into the crystal ball that was sitting right in
front of them.
the past 10-15 years I have watched the desecration of country music via controlled
radio ownership, but during this time internet was beginning to gain momentum,
and those record label execs never seen the tidal wave of what was about to hit
them. The tsunami of a new wave of
being able to listen to their favorite music, downloading music for one’s
music library at a cost, was rolling over the country music industry and there
was no one who could stop it. Finally the music genre’s went to our
government to find a way to get royalties paid for record companies, writers,
publishers, and the artist. It seems like they have reached a happy
medium, but the issue could have been avoided way in advance if record
companies would have looked into the crystal ball that was sitting right in
front of them.
Back
then I wondered if it was going to be worth the time I was spending online to
do my business, but as each month and year passed by, the internet was moving
at warp speed to becoming the way of the future. You can now send music
worldwide as an MP3 in all kinds of formats. Those who have do not have
space on their computer to download music to play on their radio shows now have
Drop Box, Box, and all kinds of easy formats to allow you the opportunity to be
a part of the new electronic age. Who were the losers in this flood of the
new age of electronics? First it was those at the record companies who
thought they knew everything there was to know about how to produce records,
market the records, and most of all how they could put more money in their
pockets at the expense of the artists who thought the record labels knew what
they doing. Not so funny now, because the evolution of electronics is a
part of our everyday life, and who are the ones suffering, and rightfully
so-those who financially almost broke the music industry.
then I wondered if it was going to be worth the time I was spending online to
do my business, but as each month and year passed by, the internet was moving
at warp speed to becoming the way of the future. You can now send music
worldwide as an MP3 in all kinds of formats. Those who have do not have
space on their computer to download music to play on their radio shows now have
Drop Box, Box, and all kinds of easy formats to allow you the opportunity to be
a part of the new electronic age. Who were the losers in this flood of the
new age of electronics? First it was those at the record companies who
thought they knew everything there was to know about how to produce records,
market the records, and most of all how they could put more money in their
pockets at the expense of the artists who thought the record labels knew what
they doing. Not so funny now, because the evolution of electronics is a
part of our everyday life, and who are the ones suffering, and rightfully
so-those who financially almost broke the music industry.
We
still do have some good honest people in our business, but it is like you have
to search to find them, because all of the new young artists coming into this
business are wary of our industry, and they do their homework before they
become involved with any of the rift-raft that slithers around in the industry,
not only in country music, they are in every genre of music, loaded with the
sharks who bite anyone who has a buck that they can get their hands on. BUT
there are still radio stations both AM and Indie Radio, that will give an
indie artist a live interview, play his music, and give him a chance to know
that there are still great DJ’s and radio stations in our country. The
days of being able to call Bill Mack at WBAP in Ft. Worth, TX, at any
time during his all night show, are almost gone. He would never turn an
artist down to talk to them, play their record, and make them feel that they
were just as important as the artist with a #1 song. The greatest problem
that Bill had was not being able to answer every call that came in, and I know
because it might take me a couple nights to get through to him, but we I did,
it was worth every minute of the wait. The nice thing about Bill Mack is
that he is still going strong, and hopefully when he comes back on the air, he
will be the same Bill Mack that covered the airwaves with an open mic to all
artists.
still do have some good honest people in our business, but it is like you have
to search to find them, because all of the new young artists coming into this
business are wary of our industry, and they do their homework before they
become involved with any of the rift-raft that slithers around in the industry,
not only in country music, they are in every genre of music, loaded with the
sharks who bite anyone who has a buck that they can get their hands on. BUT
there are still radio stations both AM and Indie Radio, that will give an
indie artist a live interview, play his music, and give him a chance to know
that there are still great DJ’s and radio stations in our country. The
days of being able to call Bill Mack at WBAP in Ft. Worth, TX, at any
time during his all night show, are almost gone. He would never turn an
artist down to talk to them, play their record, and make them feel that they
were just as important as the artist with a #1 song. The greatest problem
that Bill had was not being able to answer every call that came in, and I know
because it might take me a couple nights to get through to him, but we I did,
it was worth every minute of the wait. The nice thing about Bill Mack is
that he is still going strong, and hopefully when he comes back on the air, he
will be the same Bill Mack that covered the airwaves with an open mic to all
artists.
Then
there were the big guns of late night radio, Ralph Emery, yes, Bill Mack
included, Mike Hoyer, Billy Coe, Charlie Douglas, Big John Trimble (still
playing “country” records in VA), Tom Cat Reeder who passed away
just recently. There is also a friend of mine, Ed Dailey out in Oregon
who is celebrating his 16th anniversary at the same station in
Oregon on radio station KORD, who is available to all indie artists as long as
their product is radio friendly.
there were the big guns of late night radio, Ralph Emery, yes, Bill Mack
included, Mike Hoyer, Billy Coe, Charlie Douglas, Big John Trimble (still
playing “country” records in VA), Tom Cat Reeder who passed away
just recently. There is also a friend of mine, Ed Dailey out in Oregon
who is celebrating his 16th anniversary at the same station in
Oregon on radio station KORD, who is available to all indie artists as long as
their product is radio friendly.
I
can remember Tom Cat Reeder was always there for all of us who had a new record
(45 RPM) when we would send our record by postal mail, and as soon as he
received a copy of our song, he played it for the listeners. And now we
have Tim Michaels in PA, Tom Wardle in MD, Bill Cody, Charlie Mattos, Joe
Limardi, and Marcia Campbell of WSM/AM who play the real country music, and I
cannot name all of the DJ’s across our country, and worldwide who are
keeping true country music alive, but my thanks to all of you. There are
so many DJ’s who have been gone from us for some time, who deserve to be
recognized for what they have meant to the rise of country music through all of
these years, and there are still many great DJ’s who do it the right way
by giving new artists not on major record labels, an opportunity to be heard on
radio.
can remember Tom Cat Reeder was always there for all of us who had a new record
(45 RPM) when we would send our record by postal mail, and as soon as he
received a copy of our song, he played it for the listeners. And now we
have Tim Michaels in PA, Tom Wardle in MD, Bill Cody, Charlie Mattos, Joe
Limardi, and Marcia Campbell of WSM/AM who play the real country music, and I
cannot name all of the DJ’s across our country, and worldwide who are
keeping true country music alive, but my thanks to all of you. There are
so many DJ’s who have been gone from us for some time, who deserve to be
recognized for what they have meant to the rise of country music through all of
these years, and there are still many great DJ’s who do it the right way
by giving new artists not on major record labels, an opportunity to be heard on
radio.
Internet
radio has forced large scale changes in broadcasting so that if the major
country stations will not give indie artists a change to show their talent,
indie radio stations have time and invite these artists to bring their music to
them and they will play it. Yes, they will review it and play it, but
make no mistake about the rules-your music needs to have a great performance by
the artist, and great production from the studio musicians who are bound by
their talents to make sure that they give the best quality and performance that
each song deserves. Indie radio now competes with giant corporate radio
station owners who have bought up most of the major stations in our country,
and our government has allowed this to happen. There is no place in new
country radio for a talented indie artist. The reporting stations as we
call them are looking out for themselves and what their bosses demand of them,
and the hell with the new artist on an unknown label, although the artist and
the song might be better then what they are currently playing. At first
it was the artists who were losing, but now with the internet so strong, ITunes,
artist’s websites, Facebook, Twitter, and social media, it is time for
the indie artists to be heard, and the hell with radio stations kept afloat by
the big record labels who are keeping them from folding up. The record
labels better thank their lucky stars for Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Blake
Shelton, rock n rollers like Jason Aldean, and a short list of who gets played
and who doesn’t. Where can you hear Alabama, Ray Price, Jean
Shepard, Oak Ridge Boys, on FM Radio. The playlist used to be the Top 100
on Billboard, and now it is Top 40-I think. The reporting station charts
are as manipulated as voters are to elect a government official.
radio has forced large scale changes in broadcasting so that if the major
country stations will not give indie artists a change to show their talent,
indie radio stations have time and invite these artists to bring their music to
them and they will play it. Yes, they will review it and play it, but
make no mistake about the rules-your music needs to have a great performance by
the artist, and great production from the studio musicians who are bound by
their talents to make sure that they give the best quality and performance that
each song deserves. Indie radio now competes with giant corporate radio
station owners who have bought up most of the major stations in our country,
and our government has allowed this to happen. There is no place in new
country radio for a talented indie artist. The reporting stations as we
call them are looking out for themselves and what their bosses demand of them,
and the hell with the new artist on an unknown label, although the artist and
the song might be better then what they are currently playing. At first
it was the artists who were losing, but now with the internet so strong, ITunes,
artist’s websites, Facebook, Twitter, and social media, it is time for
the indie artists to be heard, and the hell with radio stations kept afloat by
the big record labels who are keeping them from folding up. The record
labels better thank their lucky stars for Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Blake
Shelton, rock n rollers like Jason Aldean, and a short list of who gets played
and who doesn’t. Where can you hear Alabama, Ray Price, Jean
Shepard, Oak Ridge Boys, on FM Radio. The playlist used to be the Top 100
on Billboard, and now it is Top 40-I think. The reporting station charts
are as manipulated as voters are to elect a government official.
And
then there is FM radio for country music. Are you kidding me? Those
stations have been so negative to new artists and share the blame for the way
that country music has been going downhill today. There is no doubt when the
big radio DJ’s read this editorial, they will immediately say that I am
crazy, don’t know what I am talking about, it isn’t true, and whatever
else they can think of to get rid of this kind of thinking because of what
their listeners might think after they read this article. There should be
room in country music for a great artist and his music even if he is not on a
major label. He should be able to compete alongside those artists who are
enjoying success or what they call success. Indie record labels are
sprouting up all over the country, and they have money to spend on their
artists of choice, and they have been taught how to spend it. Why do you
think Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, and other successful artists are now continuing
their success by making music on “their own labels.” We
have let money rule our industry, and money is now ruining our industry.
Some of the records coming out of Nashville are as hard rock as it gets, but
the young guns seem to enjoy believing they are now icons-with just one #1
record, and is it a legitimate record or just a hype to #1.
then there is FM radio for country music. Are you kidding me? Those
stations have been so negative to new artists and share the blame for the way
that country music has been going downhill today. There is no doubt when the
big radio DJ’s read this editorial, they will immediately say that I am
crazy, don’t know what I am talking about, it isn’t true, and whatever
else they can think of to get rid of this kind of thinking because of what
their listeners might think after they read this article. There should be
room in country music for a great artist and his music even if he is not on a
major label. He should be able to compete alongside those artists who are
enjoying success or what they call success. Indie record labels are
sprouting up all over the country, and they have money to spend on their
artists of choice, and they have been taught how to spend it. Why do you
think Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, and other successful artists are now continuing
their success by making music on “their own labels.” We
have let money rule our industry, and money is now ruining our industry.
Some of the records coming out of Nashville are as hard rock as it gets, but
the young guns seem to enjoy believing they are now icons-with just one #1
record, and is it a legitimate record or just a hype to #1.
Indie
Radio does not answer to corporate giants, program directors, or music
directors. They answer to their listeners. They play a record that
they feel their listeners will like and they make their own selections by what
they receive from new indie artists, veteran artists, legendary artists, and
now even the major record labels are depending on indie radio to get them out
of the deep hole they have dug. You can actually send an MP3 or other
format to a radio station within seconds, and most of the time the indie
DJ’s will thank you for sending it, and they will give you their input as
to whether it is playable on their radio show and if it will be added to their
playlist. Reporting radio stations won’t give a new indie artists
the time of day, but an indie artist with his website, and all the other ways
to get their music out to the fans, will sell more records than most of the
artists who are trying to break the Top 40 charts, or have to wait to see if
they get their new single on the call list from radio promoters to the major
reporting stations.
Radio does not answer to corporate giants, program directors, or music
directors. They answer to their listeners. They play a record that
they feel their listeners will like and they make their own selections by what
they receive from new indie artists, veteran artists, legendary artists, and
now even the major record labels are depending on indie radio to get them out
of the deep hole they have dug. You can actually send an MP3 or other
format to a radio station within seconds, and most of the time the indie
DJ’s will thank you for sending it, and they will give you their input as
to whether it is playable on their radio show and if it will be added to their
playlist. Reporting radio stations won’t give a new indie artists
the time of day, but an indie artist with his website, and all the other ways
to get their music out to the fans, will sell more records than most of the
artists who are trying to break the Top 40 charts, or have to wait to see if
they get their new single on the call list from radio promoters to the major
reporting stations.
Internet
radio stations are what have made the new music industry shiver with fright at
the thought of them not being able to compete with the internet. The
record labels made their own beds, and now it is time for them to sleep in
those beds, and I guarantee you that the label heads, the so-called producers
are having major nightmares. Remember that in all of my articles on radio
and other subjects, I always say that we have some great people in our industry
who care and love country music. Some great label Presidents, great
record producers, super musicians, great record promoters, and great media, who
have always been in favor of listening to a new artist, and it he doesn’t
fit what the label is looking for, they will give that artist and his team
advice on how to make changes that will benefit the artist. We have a lot
of honest music people in Nashville who care about the dilemma that country
music is going through, and if it does not change soon, it will no doubt get
worse before it gets any better. Not sure if it could get any
worse. Remember that there are great minds in country music, who not only
know the success of Garth, Alan, Martina, Carrie, Blake, etc. They just
do not work with the older artists, they know young new talent when it comes
along and these great minds help them get their direction before they get
caught up with the wrong person.
radio stations are what have made the new music industry shiver with fright at
the thought of them not being able to compete with the internet. The
record labels made their own beds, and now it is time for them to sleep in
those beds, and I guarantee you that the label heads, the so-called producers
are having major nightmares. Remember that in all of my articles on radio
and other subjects, I always say that we have some great people in our industry
who care and love country music. Some great label Presidents, great
record producers, super musicians, great record promoters, and great media, who
have always been in favor of listening to a new artist, and it he doesn’t
fit what the label is looking for, they will give that artist and his team
advice on how to make changes that will benefit the artist. We have a lot
of honest music people in Nashville who care about the dilemma that country
music is going through, and if it does not change soon, it will no doubt get
worse before it gets any better. Not sure if it could get any
worse. Remember that there are great minds in country music, who not only
know the success of Garth, Alan, Martina, Carrie, Blake, etc. They just
do not work with the older artists, they know young new talent when it comes
along and these great minds help them get their direction before they get
caught up with the wrong person.
To
all of the air personalities who play good country music records, I say to you
that you have made the music industry sit up and take notice that possibly they
are doing everything the wrong way. Please do not stop reviewing any new
record by a new artist, a legendary artist, or veteran artist, and play it if
it warrants air time. You are making a difference in the life of an
artist who might be the next Garth Brooks or Carrie Underwood, and without you
giving them a chance that they deserve, they might never know if their dreams
can come true.
all of the air personalities who play good country music records, I say to you
that you have made the music industry sit up and take notice that possibly they
are doing everything the wrong way. Please do not stop reviewing any new
record by a new artist, a legendary artist, or veteran artist, and play it if
it warrants air time. You are making a difference in the life of an
artist who might be the next Garth Brooks or Carrie Underwood, and without you
giving them a chance that they deserve, they might never know if their dreams
can come true.
And
incidentally Internet Radio is here to stay. We need it for the sake of
keeping country music alive and for making sure that everyone who has talent
can have an opportunity to be heard. We owe all indie radio stations
programming country music, a great debt of gratitude.
incidentally Internet Radio is here to stay. We need it for the sake of
keeping country music alive and for making sure that everyone who has talent
can have an opportunity to be heard. We owe all indie radio stations
programming country music, a great debt of gratitude.
I
am always open for comments, pro and con. If you think I am wrong, say so, if you think I am right, I
would also like to know that. I try to keep my negative thoughts in check
when I write, so I hope you will do the same.
am always open for comments, pro and con. If you think I am wrong, say so, if you think I am right, I
would also like to know that. I try to keep my negative thoughts in check
when I write, so I hope you will do the same.
Thank
you for reading the above article.
you for reading the above article.
MARTY
MARTEL©
MARTEL©