Zach Bryan - "Pink Skies"

[Darkest Hour]

Artist: Zach Bryan
Single: "Pink Skies"
Album: The Great American Bar Scene
Label: Warner Records
Impact Date: TBA
Writers: Zach Bryan

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A new song from his forthcoming album will be released on May 24th.

http://instagram.com/p/C7Gw-jzu_kb

[Darkest Hour]

[jasper0102]

He delivers again!

[sportytheartist]

Lead single from Zach Bryan’s “The Great American Bar Scene” (TBA). On Hot Hits USA, as well as Hot Country.

[g8erboi]

He is extremely overrated. I’m not sure how people can stream the same songs of his all day every day, for literally years. Isn’t "Something in the Orange" still in the top 50 on Spotify? The Kacey duet was good but I can’t put my finger on why everyone is obsessed with him.

As for this song, it’s alright. But it’s giving "Piano Man" with that harmonica lmao.

[gardyfan]

If this has been sent to radio it can eirther be merged with the thread started today on the main country page and if not that one can be mmerged here by a mod. bboat11 wavey. fearlessarrow

[G-Reg]

May 24, 2024 15:58:18 GMT -5 g8erboi said:

He is extremely overrated. I’m not sure how people can stream the same songs of his all day every day, for literally years. Isn’t "Something in the Orange" still in the top 50 on Spotify? The Kacey duet was good but I can’t put my finger on why everyone is obsessed with him.

As for this song, it’s alright. But it’s giving "Piano Man" with that harmonica lmao.

Zach has become one of my favorites of all time. There are days where I literally only listen to him. For me, it's the refreshing "underproduced" aspect and instrumentation of his folk style and his emotive voice and storytelling. I feel his music. In my opinion it's interesting that people don't get his genius, but that's the beauty of having different tastes.

Needless to say, I had high expectations for this one and it's just alright to me so far, but still can't wait for the whole album to drop.

[zaclord 🌈]

I'll admit that I didn't get the hype before the Kacey duet, but maybe since I played that like crazy I've gotten used to the Zach Bryan vibe because I kinda like this. It'll be interesting to see how this does on the Hot 100 next week and if country radio will touch it.

[bboat11]

Has this been sent to country radio? We can't just be starting single threads all willy-nilly without proof.

Edit: I just merged it with the thread that already existed in the non-singles forum. I'll keep it here in the singles forum for now in case anyone has proof of it being sent to radio, but if not I'll move it back to the non-singles forum in a couple days.

[zaclord 🌈]

May 25, 2024 3:55:06 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Has this been sent to country radio? We can't just be starting single threads all willy-nilly without proof.

Edit: I just merged it with the thread that already existed in the non-singles forum. I'll keep it here in the singles forum for now in case anyone has proof of it being sent to radio, but if not I'll move it back to the non-singles forum in a couple days.

I had the same thought because I wouldn’t be surprised if Zach doesn’t bother with radio, it’s not like it’s helped him much/at all. But this is a lead single for an upcoming project, whether it gets sent to radio or not. With so many more avenues for promotion than just radio nowadays, I wouldn’t mind this staying in the main country forum for discussion. I may be the only one who thinks that, which is fine, just thought I’d throw it out! We know how many country posters don’t leave the country forum 😂

[raylatch98]

This isn't bad, probably not as good as the praise it will get outside of Pulse, but also nowhere near as bad as the people who can't stand him and think he can't sing at all will do. I feel like with Zach Bryan I am constanly like "It's good, but nothing outstanding."

[Darkest Hour]

Debut at #7 on US Spotify with 2,837,916 streams. Also reached #4 on US Apple Music.

Don't be misled by the rank because it's higher debut than I Remember Everything, but also music consumption is insanely high for the most popular songs.

[someguy]

I like this a fair bit. I do wish they had tried another single at country radio from Zach Bryan. "Spotless" (my personal favourite song of his) or "Hey Driver" would have been nice to see get a push.

[G-Reg]

May 25, 2024 11:06:04 GMT -5 someguy said:

I like this a fair bit. I do wish they had tried another single at country radio from Zach Bryan. "Spotless" (my personal favourite song of his) or "Hey Driver" would have been nice to see get a push.

Would've been a waste of time and resources IMO.

Zach's music fits right in with the AAA format, but admittedly feels a bit out of place at country radio due to the production, instrumentation, lyrics, tempo, and just general overall vibe. As is often discussed with Zach, his music falls more under the folk/americana sub-genre of country, which isn't too popular at radio. I feel like even Beyonce's song (which I personally dislike) fits in more at country radio than Zach. It's not a perfect match, and there's obviously a lot of baggage that comes with playing her due to her status as a rich and established R&B/Pop legend, but more and more country songs seem to have that type of beat nowadays.

Anyway, it's interesting that one of the biggest country artists of the 2020's is not played on country radio, yet is still insanely successful.

[someguy]

May 25, 2024 11:38:59 GMT -5 G-Reg said:

May 25, 2024 11:06:04 GMT -5 someguy said:

I like this a fair bit. I do wish they had tried another single at country radio from Zach Bryan. "Spotless" (my personal favourite song of his) or "Hey Driver" would have been nice to see get a push.

Would've been a waste of time and resources IMO.

Zach's music fits right in with the AAA format, but admittedly feels a bit out of place at country radio due to the production, instrumentation, lyrics, tempo, and just general overall vibe. As is often discussed with Zach, his music falls more under the folk/americana sub-genre of country, which isn't too popular at radio. I feel like even Beyonce's song (which I personally dislike) fits in more at country radio than Zach. It's not a perfect match, and there's obviously a lot of baggage that comes with playing her due to her status as a rich and established R&B/Pop legend, but more and more country songs seem to have that type of beat nowadays.

Anyway, it's interesting that one of the biggest country artists of the 2020's is not played on country radio, yet is still insanely successful.

That makes sense. Even an AAA push would have been great for those songs, especially “Hey Driver” which would have raised the profile of The War & Treaty.

[christianlarson9]

As of right now, this hasn't been serviced to radio according to my sources. I feel like Zach will only get promoted to radio for a major blockbuster single like "I Remember Everything". He obviously doesn't really need the airplay though.

[zdm1998]

I don't blame them for not trying with country radio with this. Look at how they did the Kacey duet and that has what, like half a billion streams. The jokes write themselves with country radio.

[dm2081]

Zach could have a radio hit with the right single imo, but this one is not it. This song is too much of a Springsteen clone. I think “Open The Gate”, “Fifth of May” or maybe even “Oklahoma Smokeshow” could have been decent radio hits. Would have to be something with a little more tempo.

[G-Reg]

May 26, 2024 19:46:05 GMT -5 dm2081 said:

Zach could have a radio hit with the right single imo, but this one is not it. This song is too much of a Springsteen clone. I think “Open The Gate”, “Fifth of May” or maybe even “Oklahoma Smokeshow” could have been decent radio hits. Would have to be something with a little more tempo.

"Oklahoma Smokeshow" is an incredible song, but just the song structure itself is enough to send radio programmers running for the hills.

[Darkest Hour]

Sent to pop radio.

[christianlarson9]

I know some people may be unhappy with this decision, but I think it’s a good move considering country radio won’t support it like they should be.

I doubt it does much at Pop, but I’m hopeful it’ll have steady airplay for a period of time like “I Remember Everything” did. While that one deserved to peak higher, it did manage to have a decently long chart run.

[zdm1998]

I’m all for it. He doesn’t owe country radio sh*t. No use in wasting money even trying when they probably wouldn’t even let it get past 40.

[.indulgecountry]

May 28, 2024 10:29:21 GMT -5 zdm1998 said:

I’m all for it. He doesn’t owe country radio sh*t. No use in wasting money even trying when they probably wouldn’t even let it get past 40.

Apparently Zach Bryan himself is pissed that the song was sent to pop radio though, lmao.

www.whiskeyriff.com/2024/05/28/this-is-fcked-i-never-approved-this-zach-bryan-responds-to-the-news-that-pink-skies-is-being-sent-to-pop-radio/

[austin]

I like this! The harmonica is a nice touch.

[Darkest Hour]

#6 on Hot 100 this week.

[hitmakaontharise]

So slow

[G-Reg]

I love this so much now. Sounds so damn good. One of the exciting things about his success is all that he’s achieving without radio.

[clsvltn]

I'm confused though. Why is (country) radio ignoring him?

[G-Reg]

Jun 8, 2024 20:26:32 GMT -5 clsvltn said:

I'm confused though. Why is (country) radio ignoring him?

I think a number of reasons. First, listen to the top 10 songs at country radio, then listen to Zach. The sounds do not match at all. Zach is a folk/americana artist, and country radio is increasingly influenced by pop and even hip-hop beats in their music. Zach gets placed in the country genre because of his southern accent and some of the instruments he uses, but if you listen to his lyrics and pay attention to the structure of his songs, they don't sound like mainstream country.

Also, corporate influence at country radio is HUGE, and Zach is actively against this, probably furthering the division between Nashville/Radio PDs and himself. Not only industry politics but perhaps national politics are in play a bit here, though Zach is not overtly political and doesn't seem to be on a "side"(american politics ugh,) he seems to be a bit more open and accepting than the conservative-led genre is used to. The last part is just speculation on my part.

[christinafazz9]

set to debut at #50 on Country airplay next week.