Which Label Has The Best Music?

[Wackadoodle]

Here's how I'd rank the labels quality-wise. I'll get into individual imprints later.
1) Big Machine
2) Warner
3) Broken Bow
4) Sony
5) Universal

The other labels' rosters are too small to rank.

[recordyear]

Such a broad question. I try to judge them based on this year's output or relevant singles in this year only.

BMLG: This label released one of my most favorite albums this year (Stronger Than The Truth), but it also released Can't Say I Ain't Country and Center Point Road, both duds. Riley Green, Midland, Carly Pearce, Jennifer Nettles, Aaron Lewis, Justin Moore, Lauren Jenkins and Lady Antebellum are fine. Brett Young is improving. Overall, such a wide spectrum of quality among artists.

BBR: Meh to Chase Rice, Jimmie Allen, Jason Aldean (though Rearview Town the track is decent), Zac Brown Band. Nope to Billy Ray Cyrus and a big NO to Dustin Lynch and Blanco Brown. Cannot get the hype for Randy Houser's Magnolia tbh. My favorite is Runaway June but they seem to be more and more contemporary in recent songs and I am slightly disappointed. Therefore I don't like this label very much.

Sony: The label that has some really hit artists right now, but I am mild in the Luke Combs EP, and Kane Brown and Maren Morris are derivative. Let's see how the quality of new Miranda Lambert music is but I think I will enjoy it. Pistol Annies is a great group though. Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Matt Stell are decent. Questionable for Chris Young because Drowning might actually be good and save us from his trend-chasing music. Old Dominion is a bit forgettable.

Universal: Of course I love Eric Church and to a less extent Brothers Osborne. George Strait is always good and Rainbow from Kacey Musgraves is beautiful. Maddie & Tae, Travis Denning, Vince Gill, Josh Turner, Keith Urban, Little Big Town and Dierks Bentley (could have benefited from better single choices) are decent to good. Jon Pardi's new album could be one of my favorite non-veteran albums. Also waiting for new Mickey Guyton and Alan Jackson music, which should be good. Luckily Sam Hunt did not release any new music this year yet so no major negative feelings towards the label.

Warner: Seems to gather more critically acclaimed artists on their roster huh? God's Country and Her World Or Mine are defining singles, and Cody Johnson's new album is solid even though it is done before the label deal. I actually quite enjoy Love You Too Late and of course Girl Goin' Nowhere so bonus points for them. Dan + Shay being there is disappointing though due to how boring their music is.

Universal > Warner > BMLG > Sony > BBR

[Wackadoodle]

We should do our own Rotten Tomatoes for country music. Seriously. Is anyone interested in starting a compilation of our reviews of new music?

[lady𝓐fan]

Jun 13, 2019 19:48:24 GMT -5 Wackadoodle said:

We should do our own Rotten Tomatoes for country music. Seriously. Is anyone interested in starting a compilation of our reviews of new music?

You could make a thread for that and have people submit reviews, but it might be a lot of work to sort the reviews, average the ratings, and certify it fresh or rotten like they do.

[jimmy's carhartt]

Jun 13, 2019 20:08:46 GMT -5 lady𝓐fan said:

Jun 13, 2019 19:48:24 GMT -5 Wackadoodle said:

We should do our own Rotten Tomatoes for country music. Seriously. Is anyone interested in starting a compilation of our reviews of new music?

You could make a thread for that and have people submit reviews, but it might be a lot of work to sort the reviews, average the ratings, and certify it fresh or rotten like they do.

Maybe the simplest way is for people to leave a numerical ranking under the listening party threads. Once a week someone can tabulate and post an update of the last month or so's releases. 

[bboat11]

Sounds like a bunch of you need to start participating in rankdowns!