kml567
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Post by kml567 on Aug 9, 2015 19:08:11 GMT -5
Woohoo!! Heard "Breakup in a Small Town" on my radio station this morning and it sounds absolutely amazing!! Wow country radio working real fast playing his next single already. Yes, the single will likely struggle to get into the top 10. But this is a high-impact song that could catapult him into a solid A-lister in terms of selling out amphitheaters as a tour headliner. Let's recall that the song that catapulted Luke into the A-list was a song that peaked only at #4.
UMG could easily release the acoustic version of the song ("Between The Pines" style) if there's resistance from country radio. Sam performed the acoustic version on Bobby Bones show a few months ago and it sounded country enough for 2015.
In fact, it'd be really smart if UMG re-release "Montevallo" in October 2015 with 5 bonus acoustic songs....just in time for holiday sales. Many long-time fans were disappointed that their favorite song from "Between The Pines" didn't make it to the album, so it'd be cool if those are all available now.
Montevallo (deluxe edition) with 5 bonus acoustic tracks (my choices):
1. Break Up in a Small Town (acoustic version) 2. I Met A Girl 3. Bottle It Up 4. Goodbye 5. Saturday Night
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Post by 43dudleyvillas on Aug 9, 2015 21:57:15 GMT -5
I don't think that Josh Turner is polarizing by any means. I DO think that Sam Hunt is polarizing. It's just the fact that radio is going where the money is. If country radio were just going where the money is, we wouldn't be seeing the format dropping "Girl Crush" like a hot potato and passing on the crossover appeal of Kacey Musgraves. I have no trouble believing that in a poll of people who consider themselves country music fans, Josh Turner would be considerably less polarizing than Sam Hunt. But based on callout, I don't believe that's the case among current country radio P1s, that is the core country radio listener of today. The committed country radio listener of today is one that emerged over the past four years of beer/party/hottie/truck/tailgate with hip hop pretensions and arena rock approaches. That listener has shown a strong tendency to score the traditional-leaning song low, the female song low, really, anything but music that falls in the very narrow lane of what has dominated the format over the past few years. To those listeners, Sam Hunt would indeed be less polarizing than Josh Turner, because he is, in several ways, a natural step forward from Florida-Georgia Line and Luke Bryan. Basically, the market has shown that the universe of country music fans is much broader than that reflected by country radio. Put slightly differently, country radio has, over the past few years, focused its playlists on drawing a particular set of listeners who aren't necessarily country music fans, figuring that country music fans have nowhere else to go, and that drove ratings growth from 2011 through the first half of 2014. Country radio listeners are not necessarily country music fans, and increasingly, country music fans are not necessarily country radio listeners. It's also worth noting that the current ratings methodology for radio picks up music that just happens to be playing in earshot, whether or not you are actually choosing to listen to it. In other words, a radio station that is playing in the background wherever you happen to be, even if you've chosen to be where you are because you really like their coffee, not because you would choose that radio station. More of an indication that the people being counted in country radio's audience aren't necessarily country music fans. I'm no expert on Nielsen or any ratings systems but I have to imagine country stations around the nation are hemorrhaging listeners right now. With the rise of Spotify and iTunes, people don't need to tune in. "Hemorrhaging" would be an overstatement, as current ratings are still above 2012 levels. But they are down from 2014. I don't think it would take much to split the format. One station could do it. Another station could follow suit. Hell, I would start a neo-traditional country station if I had the capital. I really think that's what it is going to come to. Unfortunately, the idea that independently-owned radio stations are going to pop up in each market and be able to compete with market leaders is not too realistic. The big conglomerates, who are much better positioned to absorb losses, will make sure it won't happen, and frankly, so cozy is the relationship between Music Row labels and country radio that labels that catered to those independent stations in competitive markets would probably find their artists punished in those markets. At what point do you think that radio will change? When there is a new breakthrough artist/song that launches what both label and radio see as a viable formula to drive growth in a new target demographic, or when labels decide that airplay isn't delivering enough revenue for them, so they finally start to focus on other partners that can compete with radio. I'm also watching to see what happens in ongoing US discussions on the issue of terrestrial/digital radio paying royalties to labels (and, by extension, to artists), because that's the kind of thing that could transform the relationship between labels and radio (a number of big indies like Big Machine, Broken Bow, & Black River, as well as the major Warner already have deals in place with at least one of the major conglomerates). I addressed your question about Brad in the "Country Nation" thread.
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dm2081
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Post by dm2081 on Aug 9, 2015 22:44:09 GMT -5
^So basically radio won't change until Country music finds it's very own version of Nirvana.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2015 22:56:57 GMT -5
If country radio were just going where the money is, we wouldn't be seeing the format dropping "Girl Crush" like a hot potato and passing on the crossover appeal of Kacey Musgraves. I have no trouble believing that in a poll of people who consider themselves country music fans, Josh Turner would be considerably less polarizing than Sam Hunt. But based on callout, I don't believe that's the case among current country radio P1s, that is the core country radio listener of today. The committed country radio listener of today is one that emerged over the past four years of beer/party/hottie/truck/tailgate with hip hop pretensions and arena rock approaches. That listener has shown a strong tendency to score the traditional-leaning song low, the female song low, really, anything but music that falls in the very narrow lane of what has dominated the format over the past few years. To those listeners, Sam Hunt would indeed be less polarizing than Josh Turner, because he is, in several ways, a natural step forward from Florida-Georgia Line and Luke Bryan. Basically, the market has shown that the universe of country music fans is much broader than that reflected by country radio. Put slightly differently, country radio has, over the past few years, focused its playlists on drawing a particular set of listeners who aren't necessarily country music fans, figuring that country music fans have nowhere else to go, and that drove ratings growth from 2011 through the first half of 2014. Country radio listeners are not necessarily country music fans, and increasingly, country music fans are not necessarily country radio listeners. It's also worth noting that the current ratings methodology for radio picks up music that just happens to be playing in earshot, whether or not you are actually choosing to listen to it. In other words, a radio station that is playing in the background wherever you happen to be, even if you've chosen to be where you are because you really like their coffee, not because you would choose that radio station. More of an indication that the people being counted in country radio's audience aren't necessarily country music fans. I agree with whatever I didn't quote here. In terms of going where the money is, I suppose there is something to be said about literally determining "where" it is. There is money in "Girl Crush" for the artists and songwriters because enough fans want to own that song enough to listen to it on demand. Just because that's the case does not mean there is money in "Girl Crush" for radio. When I listen to my personal collection of music I am usually at my computer studying or doing some other multitasking things (cooking, laundry, talking with guests, etc). Ballads are fine for this. I imagine most people in these scenarios don't mind the slower fare as long as they aren't in the mood for something specific. Radio listeners, on the other hand, are typically in their cars. If I'm on my way to work and I get to hear 3 songs between each commercial block, I'd much rather hear something upbeat and enthusiastic. I may even change the station if a song like "Girl Crush" comes on, especially if I already heard it on another station during the commute. I suppose my point is that radio could very well be following the money even if that means not the same "money" that is portrayed by digital sales. I can't really respond to the rest of what you said because I'm not really sure about any of it. I do think that there is a different "fan" today than there was even 5 years ago. I'm just not sure what that fan wants. I know new country fans who enjoy Sam Hunt (the same people who also switch to the Pop stations when a country song comes on). I know new country fans who despise Sam Hunt but still prefer Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton over artists like Alan Jackson and George Straight. I know new country fans who prefer the oldies. I just can't put my finger on it. The one thing that I continue to come back to, however, is that with this new wave of "fans" comes numerous pop consumption tendencies--ones that typically lend to moving from artist to artist and trend to trend very quickly. What this means for country radio 3-5 years from now, I haven't a clue.
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Post by The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 on Aug 19, 2015 9:07:16 GMT -5
Sam performed this on last night's Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
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tigers09
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Post by tigers09 on Aug 19, 2015 11:57:56 GMT -5
That video was just for the web; he performed HouseParty Live
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2015 18:49:28 GMT -5
It sounds great live! I hope it is another hit for him.
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justme60
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Post by justme60 on Aug 19, 2015 21:23:18 GMT -5
Never heard this song before so I thought I'd give a listen. Can not believe that is suppose to be a country singer singing a country song. He definitely looks pop and sounds pop. Not my cup of tea, but that's just me.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Aug 20, 2015 12:43:56 GMT -5
Okay, so I had to pick up my nephew from a friends house earlier today. During my drive to drop him back home, "Break Up In A Small Town" came on The Highway. My nephew (who is not a big country music fan) said "What is this? This is a country station?" I said "Yes", and shook my head. He then said "Are they playing that on the regular radio too?" He meant 'terrestrial radio', I'm sure. I said "No...not yet anyway, lol." He responded with "It sounds like the music my friends listen to." (top 40 music). Even though it's meaningless in regards to this conversation, he said of the song itself that it was "catchy but the talking Sam did was horrible." For the record, it was actually the first time I had heard it on the radio too and my God did it sound out of place, even on The Highway's wacky playlist. There is literally nothing, and I do mean "nothing" country about this song. It's not country in the melody. It's not in the instrumentation. It's not in the production. It's not in the vocal arrangement, and I don't agree that just because it focuses on a small town, that correlates to country style lyrics. I heard "She Let Herself Go" on Y2Kountry immediately after which to say was quite the change would be a vast understatement. 43dudleyvillas had a terrific post earlier in the thread about how Sam's music isn't nearly as polarizing as some may think. Just because it's country radio doesn't mean that it's listeners are country music fans. Sure, a ton are, but many aren't and the type of playlists stations have manufactured recently is an attempt to draw in "non-country fans" into country radio. Sam has it made. His music is being accepted on country radio because it's geared towards the listeners that aren't core country fans. He of course gets to reap the benefits on the sales chart (which reflects many genres fans buying his music) and he reaps the benefits on airplay because country radio has accepted him with open arms. I fear that "Break Up In A Small Town" will not be as polarizing as some are predicting and that this one will end up doing just fine on "country radio."
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2015 12:51:01 GMT -5
Well than me and country music might need to split. Country Radio has gone so far down I can barely recognize it. I just don't get it.
I get that Sam sells but just why this although for me no matter which way you slice it Montevallo is a terribile album thru and thru.
Also there is something about this guy I'm not sure if it's his attitude or just the way he comes off. But he just doesn't when I see him scream likeable person.
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Post by The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 on Aug 20, 2015 13:19:40 GMT -5
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rsmatto
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Post by rsmatto on Aug 20, 2015 19:24:57 GMT -5
This whole argument about what is and what isn't country music got me wondering as a foreigner... what is the definition of "Country Music"?? The funny thing is that here in Brazil, we have a quite similar genre of music called "Sertanejo" and in recent years a more "modern" and "young" version of it, labeled "Sertanejo Universitário" (or University Sertanejo) has been dominating radio. Ever since that started happening, the same sort of discussions we're having on this thread, stated taking place over here in Brazil... "That's not sertanejo", "what the hell happened to the real sertanejo", "this is pop music, not sertanejo". Certainly an interesting thing to know. It's not surprising that similar things are happening with Brazil's own "country" music. I think it's happening globally to traditional music with younger, shorter attention spans a likely culprit.
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Post by The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 on Aug 20, 2015 21:51:31 GMT -5
This whole argument about what is and what isn't country music got me wondering as a foreigner... what is the definition of "Country Music"?? The funny thing is that here in Brazil, we have a quite similar genre of music called "Sertanejo" and in recent years a more "modern" and "young" version of it, labeled "Sertanejo Universitário" (or University Sertanejo) has been dominating radio. Ever since that started happening, the same sort of discussions we're having on this thread, stated taking place over here in Brazil... "That's not sertanejo", "what the hell happened to the real sertanejo", "this is pop music, not sertanejo". Certainly an interesting thing to know. It's not surprising that similar things are happening with Brazil's own "country" music. I think it's happening globally to traditional music with younger, shorter attention spans a likely culprit. Yep...I actually think things over here are even more extreme to be honest. When sertanejo's music had its peak of popularity, it had its own flavor but sounded pretty close to the American Country music, even so that many big country acts did duets with our sertanejo stars (I'm talking people like Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks and Reba for example). The turnaround started about 6 or 7 years ago when a bunch of new artists created their own "brand" of sertatanejo focusing only on partying, full sex innuendos and it became a completely different thing. It makes what is happening to country radio in America really tame by comparison. There are still a lot o more "traditional" sertanejo artists scoring big hits over here but their audience is definitely older (like 30+ yo).
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tigers09
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Post by tigers09 on Aug 26, 2015 16:54:21 GMT -5
I updated the first post to include music video info. Shot in Lafayette, TN yesterday and today -they are burning an old house down
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2015 17:03:46 GMT -5
I updated the first post to include music video info. Shot in Lafayette, TN yesterday and today -they are burning an old house down I wonder if it was George Strait's house
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2015 17:18:29 GMT -5
I updated the first post to include music video info. Shot in Lafayette, TN yesterday and today -they are burning an old house down I wonder if it was George Strait's house There's been an awful murder down on music row....
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tigers09
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Post by tigers09 on Aug 26, 2015 19:39:16 GMT -5
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lyhom
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Post by lyhom on Aug 27, 2015 15:40:26 GMT -5
kind of off topic but wow I can barely recognize him with the beard
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Aug 28, 2015 4:00:54 GMT -5
I haven't heard this one on the radio yet, but I do remember thinking this could be a huge hit when I listened to the album. It is by far his least country single (which is saying something...), yet I cannot help but root for this song! For me Sam has found the line between unacceptably not-country and still being acceptably country, and he is comfortably walking on it. I have enjoyed all the singles from this era, but his next album should tell me for sure which side of the line he is going to jump to. Until then, I just cannot help but root for him...
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rsmatto
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Post by rsmatto on Aug 28, 2015 10:43:21 GMT -5
This one was something I first saw him perform in 2014 before his first single even hit radio (only "Raised On It" was on SiriusXM) and immediately thought "This will be HUGE".
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H.
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Post by H. on Aug 29, 2015 18:06:41 GMT -5
kind of off topic but wow I can barely recognize him with the beard I agree.
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tigers09
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Post by tigers09 on Aug 31, 2015 11:34:49 GMT -5
Hits radio Sept 21
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rsmatto
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Post by rsmatto on Aug 31, 2015 11:59:24 GMT -5
And already Gold according to a new Press Release. "House Party" was certified Platinum too.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2015 12:16:18 GMT -5
And already Gold according to a new Press Release. "House Party" was certified Platinum too. Has a country* song ever been certified before being released as a single (promotional, soudtrack or otherwise)?
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Sept 1, 2015 15:09:25 GMT -5
"Break Up In A Small Town" got 3 adds this week, including WEBG in Chicago.
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ichabod
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Post by ichabod on Sept 4, 2015 15:47:34 GMT -5
I have a lot of respect for Shane McAnnaly who co-produced Montevallo & Kacey Musgraves "Pageant Material"
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Post by defying gravity on Sept 7, 2015 19:29:10 GMT -5
I really can't picture country radio fully supporting this. Talk about polarizing! I think it's a well-written song, but a country mix would definitely help it climb to the top!
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Post by straitouttanashville on Sept 8, 2015 10:34:51 GMT -5
I am new to Pulse, everyone here seems so knowledgeable and nice. Can someone explain to me how "Breakup In A Small Town" is considered country music? I actually love "Breakup In A Small Town" it's so well written and catchy. I love the all Sam Hunt's debut album, but no one can argue that it's country music because it's just not. What I am confused about is can any artist just make any song and label it country music, and if the radio likes the song or thinks young people will listen to it they will play it and it becomes a hit. "Breakup In A Small Town" might be the least country song i have heard on the radio, aside from XM The Highway, and that is saying something with FGL and Luke Bryan all over my country station everyday. It would be nice to have new real country music played on the radio and these song go somewhere else and I will listen to all of them. Country Radio has got to point where we might never see a new country song, even Zac Brown Band and The Band Perry went pop with their new singles. Is there anything anyone can do about this?
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 8, 2015 10:57:54 GMT -5
I am new to Pulse, everyone here seems so knowledgeable and nice. Can someone explain to me how "Breakup In A Small Town" is considered country music? I actually love "Breakup In A Small Town" it's so well written and catchy. I love the all Sam Hunt's debut album, but no one can argue that it's country music because it's just not. What I am confused about is can any artist just make any song and label it country music, and if the radio likes the song or thinks young people will listen to it they will play it and it becomes a hit. "Breakup In A Small Town" might be the least country song i have heard on the radio, aside from XM The Highway, and that is saying something with FGL and Luke Bryan all over my country station everyday. It would be nice to have new real country music played on the radio and these song go somewhere else and I will listen to all of them. Country Radio has got to point where we might never see a new country song, even Zac Brown Band and The Band Perry went pop with their new singles. Is there anything anyone can do about this? You have stumbled upon the heart of our dilemma here at Pulse... Welcome to the head-scratching club!
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Sept 8, 2015 11:56:19 GMT -5
What I am confused about is can any artist just make any song and label it country music, and if the radio likes the song or thinks young people will listen to it they will play it and it becomes a hit. I think you kind of answered your own question. Country radio is chasing that younger male demo far more in recent years, which is the top demo for the current output from FGL, Thomas Rhett and Luke Bryan. Just because it's country "radio", doesn't mean that country "fans" are listening to it. There will always be die hard fans of actual country music that still listen to country radio but a larger portion nowadays are not primarily country music fans. Country radio can get those scan listeners who are looking for music like Sam's, and they get also actual country fans who have nowhere else to go (at least the ones who have given up on country radio all together). The drawback is that the people they're chasing aren't necessarily committed to the genre itself and it leaves a country music fan worried of where we will be going into the future. Unfortunately, I fear "Breakup In A Small Town" will end up doing fine on mainstream country radio.
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