The joke known as "CMT Awards"

Greg Stasny · Post by **Greg Stasny** » 9 Jun 2011 4:03 am

This news report sums up how ridiculous Nashville output has become:
"Jason Aldean, who was shut out after earning a leading four nominations, topped off the night with a surprise version of his hip hop-infused hit "Dirt Road Anthem" with rapper Ludacris. It was a perfect end to a show that thrived on unlikely pairings.

Kid Rock, hosting for the second year, thought the song was a great illustration of where country is going."

And illustrates what the average media type thinks country music should be. How anyone can defend this stuff as it gets marketed as "country" is beyond me. Whatever talent is there, please give it a different label.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 9 Jun 2011 5:11 am

Greg, I can understand your frustration and disappointment, but I think you have to realize that music is a commodity and the industry is run by business people. The ones who are willing to play the game are rewarded--simple as that. No amount of complaining by anyone is going to change it. Money talks, and as long as folks are willing to spend some money on that product, then that is the way it's going to be (especially in these dreadful times).

We all have to adapt. I'm not saying that we need to accept and like the music, but we have to accept that things change and we get left out of the loop. Corporate music is not the music of all people--fortunately, there is plenty of underground music where the artists are doing it for themselves. Turn off your TV and don't buy into what they are trying to sell you or leave it on and realize that you'll have to take things into your own hands from here on. There is something exciting about that prospect, in my opinion.

Greg Stasny · Post by **Greg Stasny** » 9 Jun 2011 5:38 am

Mike, I understand the business (money) side of the industry, but also know when a genre is being butchered by the corporate types it only makes it harder for an artist who does want to do something more akin to what was known as country, to have a chance.
And I'm also aware that over the decades the genre has always had successful artists whose music was hardly traditional, but many of us could handle the "1 or 2 out of 10" songs that are edgy, but what we seem to have now is " 1 or 2 songs out of 50" that might approach what many considered to fit the country label.
Trust me, no time was lost on viewing the show. And I do as much as possible to promote, attend, purchase, encourage, etc the outstanding performers still in existence (not so "underground" in the state of Texas

lucky us!).
We'll be at a Jody Nix dance this weekend!

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 9 Jun 2011 6:18 am

No amount of complaining by anyone is going to change it. Money talks, and as long as folks are willing to spend some money on that product, then that is the way it's going to be (especially in these dreadful times).

That kind of logic would probably explain the fourth Indiana Jones movie.

Jim Cooley · Post by **Jim Cooley** » 9 Jun 2011 6:56 am

Several years ago, I took my daughter to a George Strait festival at Texas Stadium, at her request. It’s what she wanted for her birthday, and I was only too happy to oblige. Several performers, all of them having gained some degree of fame on the national level, preceded Mr. Strait. Some of them were “big” names in their own rights. Approximately 80,000 fans were in attendance. I was definitely in the audience’s upper age group. It was interesting, and I made it a project, to watch the reactions of the audience as each act took the stage.

As the evening progressed, the audience cheered more enthusiastically with each set. Most noteworthy to me was that when George Strait took the stage, those “kids” became absolutely stark raving ravenous. They cheered for him as they had no other act. My thoughts at the time were that, even though my taste in country music is traditional, I recognized that those who played and sang more “contemporary” country music had more than likely introduces a large segment of the younger generation to "real Country" music. I thought it entirely likely that many of these young people would never had come to appreciate George Strait without having first listening to younger, “modern” country singers. I generally still subscribe to that belief.

Although I prefer traditional Texas Country/Honkytonk music almost exclusively, I am not one of those who believes that good Country music is no longer being made. I try to listen to enough Top 40 Country to keep abreast of what is being produced, and occasionally find a song that I want to learn. That and curiosity are why I tuned in to last night’s CMT awards show. I expected that it would be geared to “modern” country, but I was still taken by surprise. It appears obvious to me that not only was the show’s production geared toward “modern” country, but that its intent was to present “CMT country“ as a transition to more contemporary genres such as Hip-Hop and Rap. Maybe that’s what I’ll call that brand of music now: “CMT Country”.

I am fortunate to live an area where we have a local radio station that plays Texas country around the clock. We don’t have to travel hundreds of miles to see live shows by such performers as Gene Watson, Curtis Potter, Jake Hooker, Amber Digby and others. Tony Booth is appearing locally tomorrow night. We have many highly regarded steel players in Texas. CMT is going to do what CMT is going to do. Their strategic plan was reinforced s last night. That is their right as the owners of the network. While is saddens me that last night’s music was represented as country, I just wish that they would be forthright about it. Maybe they should rename the network and let the “C” in CMT stand for “Contemporary”.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 9 Jun 2011 6:57 am

I agree with Mike!
Atleast this forum gives some of you a platform to complain!!

George Crickmore · Post by **George Crickmore** » 9 Jun 2011 11:55 am

I'm not saying it is bad music.

Its just not country music.........

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 9 Jun 2011 12:04 pm

As the evening progressed, the audience cheered more enthusiastically with each set. Most noteworthy to me was that when George Strait took the stage, those “kids” became absolutely stark raving ravenous. They cheered for him as they had no other act.

No doubt George deserved it, but I think it's more Pavlovnian in nature - they cheered loudest for GS because he was the biggest "star," and that's how we as an audience, have been "conditioned" to respond.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 9 Jun 2011 1:47 pm

Yeah, it couldn't have been because they loved his voice & songs.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 9 Jun 2011 8:48 pm

Theresa,Who's your favorite hip-hop artist ?

YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 10 Jun 2011 2:16 am

Nobody does gangster hip hop rap like Pat Boone. Now seriously I don't dislike all of the
new "country" but it needs a more appropriate name.

George Crickmore · Post by **George Crickmore** » 10 Jun 2011 3:07 am

Somebody needs to tell Jason Aldean the earring thing is over.....

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 10 Jun 2011 3:41 am

I think Jamie Johnson & Willie have earrings.
I don't have a favorite rap artist. I did enjoy Jason & L singing live. Loved Jay's steel playing!

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 10 Jun 2011 4:03 am

Every time one of the awards shows is broadcast there is always a similar thread.

I don't watch the shows, although to some they are very important.

Same way I don't listen to commercial country radio stations as everything sounds basically the same to me. I'm not knocking the hard working session musicians, just that everything sounds the same and basically "rock".

What I know as "country" has just about disappeared in the mainstream of what is now called country. Fortunately I'm still playing and recording traditional country music.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 10 Jun 2011 4:57 am

I disagree "country" has disappeared.
This is CMT festival week in Nashville and it brings alot of revenue that is much needed.
It puts alot of musicians to work and brings in country music fans from all over the U.S. and other countries. Yesterday at the mall we had fans from Ireland & it's exciting to see how much they love country music! They weren't complaining!

Greg Stasny · Post by **Greg Stasny** » 10 Jun 2011 5:32 am

Theresa Galbraith wrote:I don't have a favorite rap artist. I did enjoy Jason & L singing live. Loved Jay's steel playing!

You just might be related to the program directors at our local "country" FM stations.

As mentioned, the biggest complaint is not against talent, it is the idea that so much of the rock/rap(?) music is dubbed "country"
The old "if it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck" axiom is in place.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 10 Jun 2011 5:33 am

Theresa, what your husband cut his teeth on is not what is being played today.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 10 Jun 2011 5:39 am

Yeah, it couldn't have been because they loved his voice & songs.

Theresa, that's the smallest part of the equation. You're next post kind of illustrates this.

This is CMT festival week in Nashville and it brings alot of revenue that is much needed.
It puts alot of musicians to work and brings in country music fans from all over the U.S. and other countries.

First and foremost, it's all about commerce - all the rest is secondary at best.

Jim Cooley · Post by **Jim Cooley** » 10 Jun 2011 6:04 am

Barry Blackwood wrote:
As the evening progressed, the audience cheered more enthusiastically with each set. Most noteworthy to me was that when George Strait took the stage, those “kids” became absolutely stark raving ravenous. They cheered for him as they had no other act.
No doubt George deserved it, but I think it's more Pavlovnian in nature - they cheered loudest for GS because he was the biggest "star," and that's how we as an audience, have been "conditioned" to respond.

I don't really think that Pavlov had anything to do with it. It was a George Strait festival, billed as such. Jo Dee Messina, the Dixie Chicks and Tim McGraw were some of the other performers. They were all very popular with younger fans at the time. They preceded GS to the stage in that order. There didn't appear to be an empty seat during his performance. The kids cheered even louder after GS sang as they did before.

I'm not against other forms of music. Several of the performers on the CMT awards show have real talent. It would just be nice to see a little Country on a "Country" music awards show.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 10 Jun 2011 6:50 am

It always has been about commerce Barry.
The stuff Gregg cut his teeth on is still being recorded. You guys aren't listening so you don't know.

I agree the CMT Award show didn't showcase "Country" like we would love to see.
George Strait has fans young and old because of his voice, songs, music and what he stands for!

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 10 Jun 2011 7:31 am

The stuff Gregg cut his teeth on is still being recorded. You guys aren't listening so you don't know.

I didn't make that reference, so how did I become one of "you guys?"
I admit, I voluntarily excused my self from music several years ago, but it still pains me to see what I once loved become the huge disappointment it is now, as showcased by that CMT travesty the other night. At least one undeserving nominee got shut out...

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 10 Jun 2011 8:08 am

Barry,
You do complain a lot!

Thank goodness we have freedom to do so........

Jim Cooley · Post by **Jim Cooley** » 10 Jun 2011 8:36 am

Theresa Galbraith wrote:It always has been about commerce Barry.
The stuff Gregg cut his teeth on is still being recorded. You guys aren't listening so you don't know.

I agree the CMT Award show didn't showcase "Country" like we would love to see.
George Strait has fans young and old because of his voice, songs, music and what he stands for!

Au contraire, like Dr. Frasier Crane, I'm listening...

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 10 Jun 2011 9:34 am

Ben Larson,They had a name for it back in the 70's. ROCK AND ROLL.YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 10 Jun 2011 11:11 am

What's a Bieber?