Billboard Must Address AI on the Charts NOW
Afraid of “gatekeeping” accusations, Billboard seems content with AI encroaching onto its charts without the company in any way addressing it directly at the moment.
Causes
Opry’s 100th Anniversary Tribute is Perfect Time to Reinstate Hank
Hank Williams III founded the The Reinstate Hank movement back in 2003 in an effort to get the Grand Ole Opry to recognize his grandfather who was kicked out for drunkeness and missing rehearsals in 1952.
From Bad to Catastrophic: MULTIPLE AI Artists Now On Country Chart
As predicted, the matter of AI artists infiltrating Billboard’s country charts and the music industry in general has gone from bad to absolutely catastrophic in the matter of a singular human-measured week.
After Tragic Death of Owner, Dosey Doe Fights to Stay Open
There are few venues as unique as the Dosey Doe in The Woodlands, Texas, north of Houston. There’s even fewer in Texas that have played such an important role in fostering the careers of country music performers.
Keystone Artist Connect Illustrates The Key to Success is Connection
A group of women operating under the name Keystone Artist Connect have decided that instead of sitting back and watching their favorite artists continue go under-supported, they’re rolling up their sleeves and doing something.
The Final Issue to Save Country Music (A New Year’s Resolution)
When Saving Country Music was first founded in 2008, the idea that we would ever get to where we are today in country music seemed like a virtual impossibility, a pipe dream, and certainly an uphill battle to say the least.
Effort to Support “Deliverance” Banjo Boy Billy Redden Underway
Billy Redden is from the small town of Clayton, Georgia, and was picked to play the role due to his image giving off the impression of being inbred, which fit the casting for the film. Redden received very little compensation.
An Open Letter to Austin City Limits About Mike & the Moonpies
Whenever I think of the quintessential Austin honky tonk band, I think of Mike and the Moonpies. A true Austin original and homegrown Austin band, they were forged in the city’s honky tonks.
Gov’t Won’t Address Pill Epidemic, But Country Music Will
Where it often seems like certain elements of the government are uncaring about the pill epidemic if not outright facilitating it through close ties with Big Pharma, country music is stepping up to address the crisis, and head on.
Live Nation’s “On The Road Again” Initiative Deserves Scrutiny
While much of the media reported on Live Nation’s initiative verbatim and without scrutinizing it or digging too deep into the details, others are speaking out, saying its a lot of smoke an mirrors to take heat off the massive company.
Open Letter to the Grand Ole Opry About Hank Williams’ 100th Birthday
There is still a point of contention that comes up regularly whenever the name of the Grand Ole Opry is evoked in certain circles—the strained relationship between the Grand Ole Opry and the Hank Williams legacy.
Music Community Steps Up to Support Cory Branan After Storms
Singer, songwriter, and alternative country star Cory Branan and his family are letting folks know how thankful they are for all of the support from the music community after their home was virtually destroyed.
Annual Free Health Clinic Postponed for Zac Brown Band Concert
An annual health clinic that serves some 3,000 lower income and uninsured individuals in Washington State and beyond has been postponed for 2022 to facilitate concerts for the Zac Brown Band and The Who. It was to be held at Climate Pledge Arena.
Country Songwriter Drifting Towards Homelessness Gets Hand Up
Beginning in the 00’s, songwriting in country music began to change, and by the early 2010’s, the population of country music songwriters had contracted by as much as 90% by some estimates, as the royalties that helped sustain these writers also began to dry up.
Sturgill Simpson’s Hometown of Jackson, KY Ravaged in Floods
The damage and has been significant, and by many accounts, Sturgill Simpson’s hometown of Jackson (pop. 2,200) has been the epicenter of it. The area around Panbowl Lake that Sturgill sings about in the song “Pan Bowl” suffered major flooding.
Tyler Childers Puts Hickman Holler Relief Funds to Good Use
If you’re wondering where your money is going if you’ve donated to the Hickman Holler Appalachian Relief Fund established by Tyler Childers and Senora May—either directly, or indirectly by purchasing and/or streaming his recent album Long Violent History—it has been announced…
Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, More on Misguided “Accountability” List
Just like all the black squares that co-opted the Black Lives Matters hashtags and sowed chaos on Tuesday, the “Country Music Accountability Sheet” should be taken down because it is directly detrimental to the cause, nonfactual at times, dangerously misleading, and destructive to the careers of artists.
New Grand Ole Opry Chief Says Hank Williams Won’t Be Reinstated
The new vice president and executive producer of the Grand Ole Opry said this week in an interview that Hank Williams will not be reinstated to the institution he helped popularize. But while casting aside the idea of Reinstating Hank, he inadvertently mentioned the reason why the case for Hank’s reinstatement is warranted.
Texas Music Artists Adorn Cow Skulls for Good Cause
Participating in the auction are greats like Lee Ann Womack, who adorned her skull with a flower arrangement, Ray Wylie Hubbard who took to his skull with a bunch of “Screw You, We’re From Texas” stickers. Cody Braun of Reckless Kelly gave his skull a peacock paint job, and Matt Hillyer chose the Yellow Rose of Texas as his inspiration.
Texas Country Artists Stepping Up to Help Teachers w/ School Supplies
What started out as some simple pledges by Texas country artist Casey Donahue to help a few Texas teachers fulfill their supply lists for the upcoming school year has morphed into a cultural phenomenon in Texas music and beyond, with artists and fans signing on to the cause to get classrooms filled with the items teachers need.
Jimmy Buffett Should Step In to Save Historic Country Music Landmark
Worried preservationists can parrot their concerns all day, but the King of the Parrotheads may be the only one left who has the audience and authority to step in and help preserve this historic landmark by bringing attention to the significance of the building sitting at 152 Nassau Street in Atlanta, and saving this important piece of country music history.
Texas Music Artists & Venues Band Together For Benefits Statewide & Beyond
In the days after the Hurricane Harvey disaster, Bucky Bachmeyer of Big Red Drum Entertainment, with help from the Texas Music Office, began planning a way for the Texas music community to do their part to help their friends, family, and neighbors. Instead of focusing on one big show, the idea was to have many shows all across Texas.
Why These Texas Music Beards Could Be in Peril
Started by songwriter Larry Hooper, “Chin Music” as it’s called has put the fate of some of the most signature beards in Texas music on a speculative footing, including the silver streaks of Shinyribs’ Kevin Russell’s mane, Bart Crow’s Grizzly Adam’s look, and Drew Kennedy’s daunting hedge of human whiskers.
Mountain Stage Could Go Off The Air Due to Budget Cut Proposal
Mountain Stage could be in trouble. The two-hour radio show that broadcasts to over 170 NPR affiliates from West Virginia is facing a budget battle that could not only see the nearly 35-year-old music institution go off the air, but all other programing produced and distributed by West Virginia Public Broadcasting.