Mind your Own Business

Could you imagine hiring a plumber who didn't know a thing about plumbing? How about a mechanic that didn't know a torgue wrench from a welder? Or a brain surgeon who never actually got that degree, because he spent the best part of his college years passed out with his underwear on his head from a long night of bonging Schlitz tall boys at a frat party? Nope. Me either. The point is, you wouldn't dream of hiring someone to do a job they are in no way qualified for. But it happens in country music all of the time.

Country ain't Country No More
There was a time when country radio DJ's were experts in their field. They always had insider information, and they always knew the right song for the right occasion. They actually gave a damn about country music. I have to believe those days are behind us now. Don't get me wrong. There's still some of those guys out there. But country radio just ain't what it used to be.

This idea came to me about a week ago. the nominations were announced for the CMA awards. This is always an exciting time for any country fan because you get to find out who the industry is recognizing for their achievements, and who they have chosen to ignore this time around. I, for one, love the awards shows, so the nominations are very cool to me. This year, it was announced that Brad Paisley and Le Ann Womack led the pack with 6 nominations each. Womack's traditionally flavored "I May Hate Myself in the Morning" was nominated for single, song, and video of the year. I thought, wow, that is a great song, and it is pretty damn cool that the CMA is acknowledging it. Was it a huge smash hit? No. But was it a popular, well-written country song? You bet your country ass it was.

So, fast forward to the next morning. I am on my way to work, passively listening to one of the St. Louis country morning radio shows. They are on the phone with an industry insider from Nashville, and they are discussing the nominations. I am awoken out of my morning drive by the outrage of these morning show hosts, upset that Le Ann was nominated for this song. All 3 of the DJ's expressed very strongly tat they had never even HEARD that song. I thought, "No, that can't be." I mean, how could 3 individuals, who make their full time living in the industry of country music, in a market as large as St. Louis have NEVER HEARD a song that was a TOP 10 single on the American Country countdown charts. But it was true, and that's sad.

But that's not the only case, just the most immediate. It would probably suprise you how many country music DJ's, music directors, program directors, etc. don't even listen to country music when they go off the air. How can they effecively do their job when they don't even like country music enough to look at the charts now and then, or turn on CMT when they get home at night. In a simple internet search I found this guy: http://www.kixonline.com/showdj.asp?DJID=28040, who lists Kanye West, and Maroon 5 among his favorite artists, and lists Belly, Oasis, The Cranberries, and R.E.M. as his most memorable concert experiences. I have heard of Music directors refusing to play songs on country radio because they were "too country." What the hell does that even mean?

Just recently, in an effort to draw a larger audience, WSM-FM in Nashville (The home of country music, in case that bears mention) decided that they would spice up their format by expanding their definition of country music. The first day, Duran Duran and Guns & Roses were added to the playlist. Is it any wonder that we have country DJ's who haven't heard of songs that are charting high in their own format? When is the last time you hear Garth Brooks on a classic rock station? It doesn't happen. So why are we, in the country industry, playing their music on our stations. It is because the people making the decisions about what YOU and I should hear, aren't even fans of country music. I respect WSM's realization that they needed to change in order to compete. But why not add classic country, alt-country, or independent artists? There are plenty of us out here WITHIN THE COUNTRY FORMAT trying to get our music heard. We don't have to look to rock and roll has beens for ratings.

I like classic rock. I really do. And when i want to hear it, I swich over to a classic rock station. But when I want country music, I want to hear Mark Chestnutt's latest single (which I have never heard on this particular St. Louis station either) , or Le Ann Womack's latest single, or George Jones for Christ's sake! I don't want "Hungry Like the Wolf." My message is simple. If you don't like country music enough to listen to it regularly and stick to it when formating your playlist, you don't belong on country radio. There are plenty of top 40 teeny bopper stations, hard rock stations, and easy listening stations for you to find a job at. But please, leave country to those of us who like it. And to those of you DJ's out there who love country music, who would jump ship if your station changed formats, who still play Waylon Jennings between Rascall Flatts and Keith Urban, thanks. We need more guys and gals like you.

I don't want electricians messing with my plumbing. I don't want accountants fixing my cars. I don't want college drop-outs performing my surgery, and I don't want rock fans screwing with my country music.