Jake Owen Doubles Down on Critical Country Comments
Country performer Jake Owen first joined the chorus of detractors against the direction of country back in October when he told Rolling Stone in part, “We need more songs than just songs about tailgates and fuckin’ cups and Bacardi and stuff like that. We need songs that get ourselves back to the format that made me love it . . . like when guys like Randy Travis released songs like ‘He Walked on Water’ songs that meant something, man!”
Now he’s back at it as his single “Days of Gold” climbs the country charts, telling Country Weekly,
I don’t mean to sound negative. I love country music right now, it’s awesome. But I’m guilty of it, too. We all have songs that we’re tending to put out because they’re working and it’s helping our careers. But songs like ‘The Thunder Rolls’ or John Michael Montgomery’s ‘Life’s a Dance,’ they were songs that meant something to people. You don’t hear a lot of those songs anymore….People were like, that’s real. There are so many songs now, and I have them, too, that are [about] sunshine, blue eyes, a tan. That’s not always real to everyone all the time. Or passing moonshine jars around. People do that when they’re kids, but people also grow up. . . . It’s important to have all kinds of songs.
As Saving Country Music pointed out about Jake Owen’s previous comments, Jake is the pot calling the popular country music kettle black when you listen to some of his songs like his current “Days of Gold” single. But in fairness to Jake, he’s also pointing this fact out too, again highlighting that even some of the artists that are part of country music’s current laundry list trend may not be doing it under their own recognizance, but are following orders from on high from labels looking to sell records, or doing what they music to keep their mainstream career relevant.
The amount of input an artist has on what songs end up on their major label album may be minimal to begin with, but they rarely have any control over what songs are released to radio as singles. As Jake Owen explained in his conversation with Country Weekly, he believes his song “What We Ain’t Got” is an important track. “It has to come out at some point. It’s the kind of song that will help my career tremendously, but I think it will hopefully help country music. Just to where other artists will know that it’s OK that radio will play songs hopefully like that, to where they’ll start recording really great songs again.”
But there’s no guarantee that the song will make it to radio, and even if it does, that anyone will listen. Jake’s comments virtually mirror comments by Toby Keith about his song “Hope On The Rocks” that his label (that he owns) was reluctant to put out because, “…there ain’t no mud on that tire. That ain’t about a Budweiser can. That ain’t about a chicken dancing out by the river. That ain’t about smoking a joint by the haystack. That’s about somebody dying and shit.’”
As much as concerned country fans may see comments by Jake Owen and Toby Keith as hypocritical, it also speaks to how the concern and criticism about the lack of substance in country music has reached the very top reaches of country music. It’s not just bitter ramblings of country artists that never made it and their undying fans.
December 11, 2013 @ 4:39 pm
This is just double talk. I do not have much sympathy for a statement like this from an artist that already has plenty of money and a strong career:
“We all have songs that we”™re tending to put out because they”™re working and it”™s helping our careers.”
Jake Owen is not some McDonald’s employee putting his livelihood on the line to strike for better wages. He is a multimillionaire who could easily ignore his label. To me, his statements here simply serve as an admission of guilt.
December 11, 2013 @ 5:48 pm
I don’t know that Jake Owen is a multi-millionaire. He might be. But we’re not talking about a top tier country artist. You don’t see him winning or being nominated for ACM or CMA Awards. If he’s on a big tour, it is as a support act. I’m not saying he’s eating Ramen, but I’m sure the way his label looks at it, he’s an artist in development that needs to have songs that will be competitive on the radio to get him to the next level. Should we feel sorry for him? Of course not. But let’s not oversell Jake’s success.
I am openly conflicted about these comments, meaning I can see it both ways. And because I can see it both ways, I’m willing to focus more on the positive, which in my opinion is broaching a greater dialogue about the direction of country music by some names that are deeply immersed in the industry. If Jake is admitting he part of the problem, which he is, then I don’t see the harm in him speaking out. This is better than saying nothing, and being a willing accomplice to the trend, isn’t it?
December 12, 2013 @ 12:58 am
Jake is absolutely right about criticizing today’s mainstream country music. What I object to is the idea of repudiating his own songs by whining in the vein of “the fans/label made me do it”. Either stand by your songs or don’t release them at all. This statement is actually insulting to those in his fan base who like his musical output.
December 12, 2013 @ 11:45 am
Well said. While Jake Owen has had some mainstream success, he hasn’t reached the level where he has complete creative control, nor has he reached a point where he has any assurance that anything he puts out there will get airplay.
On the other hand, “artists” like Jake Owen and Jason Aldean have reached the level where anything they release to radio will get played, and frankly will probably be a major hit due to the number of rabid fans who will buy anything they put out; and in spite of that, they choose to continue to put out more of the same old “tailgate/bonfire/date rape” tunes that we’ve come to expect from them rather than using their popularity to throw something of real substance out there. Which says a lot about the character of these characters, as far as I’m concerned.
December 12, 2013 @ 11:46 am
Sorry, I meant to type Luke Bryan instead of Jake Owen in that second paragraph.
December 11, 2013 @ 4:46 pm
Jake Owen has always been one of my pop-country guilty pleasures, which probably puts me in a very small minority on this website. That being said, I’m convinced that he’s capable of doing good eventually because most of the prime pop-country douches aren’t even remotely self-aware (FGL, Luke Bryan, etc.). Hell, if I could write/record a couple of dumb songs, be financially set for the rest of my life and then retake control of my music, I’d probably do it. Even “Days of Gold” had kind of a T.R.O.U.B.L.E./Ain’t Going Down ’til the Sun Comes Up vibe and featured harmonica. I’ll take that over a hip hop beat any day.
December 12, 2013 @ 9:28 am
I”™m convinced that he”™s capable of doing good eventually
He is capable of doing good. His first album, Startin’ With Me, was for the most part pretty solid. Granted, I say that as more of a mainstream country fan, but I thought he showed a lot of promise with that album.
December 12, 2013 @ 9:21 pm
Agreed, it was a hell of a good album and I wish he’d stuck to that style.
December 11, 2013 @ 4:49 pm
I don’t really know what to do with these comments. On one hand, I find Jake to be a very likable, talented guy, and I do root for his success and for him to put out the music he speaks of.
On the other hand, 90% of his tweets are about drinking beer, and he regularly talks about how Luke and FGL are among his favorite artists in the industry right now. Of course there’s nothing wrong with liking to have a good time, but it definitely feels like overkill more often than not.
His album is about 70% lazy drinking, young love songs and 30% introspective, tolerable stuff. I guess I just hope at some point he decides he’s made enough money and starts taking some of the risks he obviously feels would help the genre move forward.
December 13, 2013 @ 9:02 pm
With most celebrities, I wonder just how many of their tweets are really theirs and not just those of their handlers or whatevers. Any country artist who truly thinks Florida Georgia Line is great can’t be telling the truth. But that’s just my opinion.
December 11, 2013 @ 6:20 pm
Time to stand up and tell the record man where to shove it. I hope people like sturgell Simpson never revert to just talk for he sake of a big label. If you don’t like what they make you record. Leave. In today’s world you can get your name out and he is already known enough to keep fans.
December 11, 2013 @ 6:42 pm
It may not be that easy. I don’t know the specifics of Jake’s record deal, but many of the artists are over-the-barrel, couldn’t leave if they wanted, and even if they did, would be legally bound from releasing new music with anyone else, or independently. Look at Jamey Johnson. He put out his last album of original music 3 1/2 years ago. He’s says he’s not writing, and his label is screwing him. This happens all of the time. Curb Records has screwed how many of their artists?
I’m not trying to defend Jake’s music. Clearly there’s a discrepancy between what he’s saying and what he’s doing. But who knows how much of this is being determined by his label. They could be forcing him to release these songs, and he’s contractually gagged from saying anything about it, so this is the way he’s getting his message out without being in violation of his contract. Curb made Hank3 sign something that said he couldn’t speak out against the label, and that language more and more is found in recording contracts. Maybe Jake is just going along because he really doesn’t have any other choice, while at the same time figuring he might as well provide for his family. Or maybe he’s talking out of both sides of his mouth. I just don’t see any benefit for him to say this stuff if he didn’t believe it. It’s not like it’s going to get him in the good graces of his label or radio, and traditional country fans aren’t going to listen to his music anyway.
December 11, 2013 @ 6:52 pm
That’s true. Maybe he is setting us up for when he has to negotiate a new deal or sign with a new label we will see a shift . It seems the labels are more at fault for the current trend than some artist. Some artist are at fault but as you said some migt have deals that curb the artist own talents which is a shame.
December 12, 2013 @ 10:59 pm
Well I guess I’m going to have to side with a law professor whose specialty is the first amendment.
December 12, 2013 @ 6:46 am
Interesting. I’ll admit I haven’t given Jake much of a chance, but that is due to what he puts out. Musically, on twitter at award shows. He might feel the way he claims to in his interview, but his actions are far different.
I don’t think it is as easy as some say…”leave the label” or “don’t record it”. The contracts are generally going to be structured to protect the label first.
In Jamey’s case, he is still with his label, but he is refusing to put anything out because of dispute over payment. He basically said it is like being a contractor building a house. You pay me, I build it. You don’t pay me, I stop building. It would appear the contract must have allowed him some freedom of the songs(not so much recording what the label demands) and the dispute is over payment. The label has no recourse on Jamey, but they aren’t exactly hurt by Jamey not making new music. They just move on to the other artist and Jamey is still under contract. Who blinks first and how the contact ends, is still unknown.
Now Jake may have a contract that is to record what the label brings him and agrees to. And if he doesn’t, then the label would have some recourse. Jake probably isn’t in a position to take on a legal battle with a label (some say he is a multi millionaire…not sure about that)
We talk about artists taking stands against labels, but I know of very few artists that actually “just walk out”. Recent time, Hank3 didn’t. Tim McGraw didn’t. They had lengthy legal battles and in the end, I think they both technically fulfilled their contracts. In the past, I’m not sure Waylon or Willie or many other of that era and ilk, actually just walked out. They restructured deals, completed deals and changed labels, etc…. but how many just walk out?
So maybe Jake is hung out there by his label and saying this is the best he can do.
Some have mentioned Sturgill Simpson here. I heard a great interview with him. He mentioned that when recording his album, it started to go a direction he didn’t agree with. He didn’t just storm out, he brought it up and luckily those working with him on it listened. It wasn’t just a “my way or the highway” from him either.
December 12, 2013 @ 12:27 pm
I’m not saying just storm out and leave your label high and dry. It seems he needs to have a serious talk with the higher ups of the label and express how he feels and maybe they can give him a little more freedom. If they are just forcing him to record stuff and he feels he is not true to himself then sometimes more drastic options need to be visited. I hope his label lets him be creative because personally out of what ive seen of him and have seen him live a few times he isnt very talented vocally. His voice is decent but not outstanding. His stage presence is good but only with the screening young girls that the labels seem to go after now a days. Id love to see him put his heart into an album thats true to him and give him another look. Contracts do suck but always a way out if he wants it. Next one he signs he needs to cover his butt or do not sign it. Better to wait a little longer now that he has his name out there than to sign a bad deal. When your just starting out I understand you just want to be a big star and really do not care if its the best deal or not because you may only have one break in this business. Still props to jake for speaking out but he needs to be having some private conversations with men in suites.
December 13, 2013 @ 9:29 am
Let me take a shot at describing how that conversation with the record label would go and paint a picture for you.
Jake- “I’ve had some hits, and I think I’ve earned the shot/right to cut some songs that aren’t for teenagers. Something more gritty and country. I wrote a couple.”
Label- “Jake, you can cut the songs we bring you, or we will find someone else to do it.”
Jake- “Dude, I just want a couple of my own songs, that I feel are important.”
Label- “Jake, you can cut the songs we bring you, or we will find someone else to do it.”
Jake- “This is fucked up”
Label- “Here are some songs for tomorrows session. I have another meeting coming up, have to go.”
Label says to secretary, “You can send the new guy in.”
Jake exits, passing by a taller, younger, more tanned d-bag in an affliction shirt. Overhears as the office door shuts…”Hello son, how’d you like to make records for us!”
December 12, 2013 @ 4:06 pm
The label has no right to force an artist to record anything against his/her wishes, contracts be damned.
Contracts do not supersede the First Amendment.
December 12, 2013 @ 5:07 pm
Actually, they do if the language of the contract forbids you from speaking out against the label, which is a stipulation we know is in certain recording contracts. Taylor Swift has her beaus and members of her crew sign contracts to not release information about her personal life. You are granted First Amendment rights, but if you sign them away, knowingly or unknowingly, it’s a whole different ballgame.
And what is the alternative? Jamey Johnson is sitting it out right now in a contract dispute, and so he is slipping through the cracks and sitting idle during the heart of his career. Jake may not like it, but he also wants to prosper. But all of this is conjecture. Jake may be fine with his contract. I was just floating that out there.
December 12, 2013 @ 5:12 pm
Nobody can “sign away” his/her First Amendment rights. Any such contract should be brought straight to federal court.
December 12, 2013 @ 6:46 pm
The First Amendment:
‘CONGRESS shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances’
The first amendment is a protection against the government ‘abridging free speech’ it says nothing about private citizens entering into contracts. Almost any kind of employment contract has some sort of language impinging speech and they are perfectly legal. Otherwise any disgruntled employee could say anything about their employer and face no consequences.
Try going out and consistently badmouthing your employer and see how long it takes to be fired UNLESS you are such a valuable employee that they will put up with your behavior.
December 12, 2013 @ 6:50 pm
Scotty:
Employers have a right to fire their employees whenever they want. What they do NOT have the right to is to use government courts to sue their employees for voicing their opinions.
December 12, 2013 @ 7:17 pm
What? Employers do not have the right to fire their employees anytime they like. There are many protected classes and behaviors that make firing employees difficult.
But if you sign a contract saying you won’t disclose certain information (i.e. speech) and then you do disclose that then your employer can sue you in court. Using Trigger’s example if Taylor Swift does make her crew sign those agreements then if they breach those then Taylor Swift INC. can sue them even though that is just them ‘voicing their opinions.’ That is what civil litigation is.
December 12, 2013 @ 10:03 pm
Unless the people in question were specifically paid to follow a nondisclosure agreement, then according to the First Amendment the government cannot force them to turn over money for speaking their mind.
Bottom line: if this issue ever comes up, then the cases should be taken to federal court and argued under the First Amendment.
December 12, 2013 @ 10:21 pm
It is contract law. When two or more private entities enter into an agreement (contract) that agreement is binding and if broken the aggrieved party can seek damages.
This has absolutely zero to do with the first amendment since neither party is governmental.
December 12, 2013 @ 10:35 pm
As you said, it is contract LAW. The government is the entity that is enforcing these contracts.
Under the First Amendment, the government has no right to enforce any contracts that abridge free speech.
December 12, 2013 @ 10:49 pm
Eugene Volokh is law professor at UCLA.
The first sentence at this link is what I’m saying.
http://www.volokh.com/posts/1228950237.shtml
December 12, 2013 @ 10:53 pm
Volokh’s first sentence is incorrect. If someone could sign away their rights, then indentured servitude would be legal.
Read my comment at the bottom of this thread.
December 12, 2013 @ 11:01 pm
Whoops I replied in the wrong spot. I’m going to have to side with the law professor who specializes in the first amendment. And I’m done with this pointless argument.
December 12, 2013 @ 4:03 pm
If the label is releasing songs against his wishes, he could simply protest that by refusing to perform those songs or be involved in any way in the promotion of those songs.
December 13, 2013 @ 6:33 am
“If the label is releasing songs against his wishes, he could simply protest that by refusing to perform those songs or be involved in any way in the promotion of those songs. ”
Unless Jake’s contract he signed says he has to perform the songs in his sets and show up for any promotion of the songs.
Sure, Jake has freewill to not honor the contract, and then, the LAW will be on the side of the label for breech of contract.
Your acting like these contracts Jake and thousands of other artists sign are being put together by “Findlaw.com” lawyer. Let me assure you, those crafting these contracts, are also crafting the legislation of the laws that enforce them.
December 13, 2013 @ 4:59 pm
This is easy to circumvent. He could simply show up and openly act unenthusiastic (for example, by faking nervous breakdowns in concerts). Then he can claim that he just has stage fright.
December 11, 2013 @ 6:26 pm
On his first album, he had two good songs called “Startin’ With Me” and “Ghosts,” which he co-wrote. “Startin’ With Me” was a single and made the Top 10. No artist would release a song as slow as that in this radio environment. When I saw him open for Keith Urban two years ago, he didn’t play that song, sadly. He also had a decent single called “Something About a Woman” released off his debut album that had a somewhat traditional leaning sound. He wrote that one as well. He co-wrote all the tracks on his debut album. Off his last two albums, he’s co-written only one song. It seems like he has no control over his career and I don’t think he likes singing party songs very much. If he could get back to writing and making creative decisions, I think he could make a decent album. But he’s in trouble now, his album launch was kind of a flop since the lead single, “Days of Gold,” missed the top 10.
December 12, 2013 @ 9:34 am
On his first album, he had two good songs called “Startin”™ With Me” and “Ghosts,” which he co-wrote.
Yup, those were my two favorite songs on that cd. I also liked “Places to Run” and “The Bottle And Me.”
December 11, 2013 @ 6:27 pm
Trigger,
I agree with you completely. We had a brief conversation about his comments the other day. Here is how I look at it: His first album (understanding that it is still under the control of a major record label) was pretty country as far as commercial country music goes. His comments about the direction of country music can be seen far before these last couple comments. When Jamey Johnson came out with “The Guitar Song” he stated on social media that it was a solid piece of country gold (not an exact quote). I think Jake Owen is conflicted between putting out real country music and feeding his family. He definitely could have put out a hick hop song and did not but of course that does not mean his recent music has been hardcore country. The point is, out of all the “mainstream” artists I believe Jake Owen realizes that most mainstream coutnry is garbage and really wants to put out solid music. Does he? No, not really. But at least he has the balls to admit it and hopefully that will lead to better music down the road.
December 11, 2013 @ 6:58 pm
Well first of all the single ‘Days Of Gold’ appears to have peaked at #15 on the Billboard Airplay chart which is interesting for an act coming off of four straight #1’s on that chart. This may be a sign that the breaking point has been reached with these type of non-country country songs. With Eric Church’s rock song ‘The Outsiders’ still floundering around 30 on the chart and even ‘That’s My Kind Of Night’ by Luke Bryan peaked at #2 on the airplay chart after numerous #1’s in a row for him. It looks like Owen’s label is throwing in the towel quickly too as they have moved on to ‘Ghost Town’ as the next single very quickly.
As for his comments I think they sound like a man conflicted about the path his career is going. I read in Billboard a few weeks ago that he wants his next record to have a “Don Williams feel’ which would really be outside the norm.
I also think that we as country music lovers have to fight against the urge to think of the perfect as the enemy of the good. This seems to crop up with Garth Brooks and many others who while they may not be ‘real country’ they are a damn lot closer than the crap many now consider country like FGL and Parmalee. So I think we should whole heartedly support these comments and understand that many artists do not have the creative control that we would like to think they have and this is almost certainly true for Jake Owen who hasn’t achieved the kind of download and album sales of some of the artists going big right now.
December 11, 2013 @ 7:09 pm
I do think the tide is turning for laundry list-type songs like “Days Of Gold” and said as much in a recent article that I’m sure you saw, but maybe some others didn’t.
https://savingcountrymusic.com/has-the-tide-turned-for-country-truck-songs
When I first heard that song, I thought it was going to be a #1, and there’s no reason it wouldn’t be except that people are getting tired of them, and it’s a summer song released in October, which probably wasn’t the smartest timing.
I agree pragmatism is what is needed to save country music, that small measures are how the tide is going to turn and it’s not going to happen overnight. Just look at what the biggest news was coming out of the ACA Awards. It wasn’t Florida Georgia Line or Luke Bryan, it was LeAnn Rimes and a Patsy Cline tribute. Stuff is changing, and that why I don;t want to discourage artists like Jake from speaking out by screaming at them as hypocrites.
December 11, 2013 @ 7:28 pm
Yes I’ve come around to your way of thinking, Trigger. It’s east to call some of these guys hypocrites for saying one thing and doing another but the alternative is to say nothing (Hey Luke!) and just ride the wave.
Another thing on this is it’s easy for someone to say tell the label to stick it and make your own kind of music but I assume he has a lengthy contract with his label that they won’t willingly let him out of so what is he supposed to do?
And his next single is a little better I think.
http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=U55DnyPpPt0
December 11, 2013 @ 7:34 pm
Uggh! I forgot a backslash.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U55DnyPpPt0
December 11, 2013 @ 8:25 pm
I’m willing to give Jake the benefit of the doubt that he’s not necessarily crazy about even his own songs that follow the trends. I saw him live about six years ago and I remember him winning me over right away with the fact that he was wearing an Eddie Rabbitt shirt, playing a red, white and blue guitar styled after Buck Owens’s and his earlier stuff was a bit more substantive.
If he acted like he was totally above it all, that would be one thing. But I think his comments are given more credibility by the fact that he admits he’s guilty of it himself.
December 11, 2013 @ 9:06 pm
It has to be tough not to be ambiguous about country music these day with the money being in pop/country and having a family to support. I know what it’s like to want to speak my mind, but on the other hand, not wanting to bite the so-called hand that feeds me. Jake is one of the few I can listen to without stopping the music half way and he has paid some dues along the way. I hope he continues to “mature” in his music.
December 11, 2013 @ 9:57 pm
I’m glad you wrote this article and the way you wrote it Trig. I actually respect Jake for admitting that he understands what songs come from the heart and what songs make money…I love some of his older stuff, (Heaven, Startin’ With Me etc.) and I agree that sometimes when I’m sittin on the patio drinking a beer and a pop country song comes on it actually is tolerable for the setting. I purchased a vinyl copy of Johnny Cash’s “Live @ Folsom Prison” album to try on the new record player I had handed down to me and saw Jake’s new album sitting at the checkout. I bought it and put it in my truck, and while 9.5 out of the 12 songs are garbage for lack of a better word, I can say I really did enjoy “What We Ain’t Got” because it does ring true for a lot of people, and “Ghost Town” just due to a catchy chorus and idea….gonna go try out this record player now!!
December 12, 2013 @ 6:29 am
Interesting comment about The Thunder Rolls. That by no means is a Country song and was part of the pop crap country of an earlier decade. Perhaps this Owen fellow should do a little digging back before he was born and hear what real Country is. I think a big problem with todays artists is that they don’t know or maybe haven’t heard real Country before. If your country legends are Garth Brooks and John Michael Montgomery you are very mistaken.
December 12, 2013 @ 6:08 pm
i would say that’s a little narrow-minded to say that it’s in “no ways a country song”…it doesn’t have any cheesy loopy drum tracks, is generally classified as a ballad song that was actually well-written by whoever it was that originially wrote it. I can’t stand Garth as a person but I couldn’t really give a damn about that and he puts out some very good rodeo music
December 13, 2013 @ 8:31 am
I’m sorry if I offended the Garth Brooks fanclub, even though there may have been a few early songs that were good and real Country, Mr Brooks definatley helped push Country over the line into the terrible place that it is in now and if that isn’t enough to make a purist cringe perhaps you have forgotten the Chris Gaines incident?
December 13, 2013 @ 9:20 am
The Chris Gaines incident? As in when he recorded a pop album in character for a movie he was supposed to star in that got scrapped?
December 13, 2013 @ 9:47 am
Key word POP!
December 13, 2013 @ 10:54 am
No, the key words are MOVIE CHARACTER.
December 12, 2013 @ 6:11 pm
Garth Brooks had some excellent true country songs in his first two albums. Here are some of them:
The Dance
Much Too Young
If Tomorrow Never Comes
Friends in Low Places
Unanswered Prayers
December 12, 2013 @ 7:56 pm
Even if you hate Thunder Rolls it’s a good story song and miles above today’s bro country songs with lousy copycat lyrics and pop music.
December 31, 2014 @ 7:50 am
I know it’s been a while since this article was posted and you made your comment, but what’s your problem with John Michael Montgomery? He’s actually made some solid country music. One of my personal favorite songs of all time is “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)” and his song “Beer and Bones” is SOLID honky tonk.
“Beer and Bones” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0i8RbGMHHY
“Sold” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD4bAUJulf4
December 12, 2013 @ 8:10 am
Love the perspective on this article, and even more so on the comments. Sometimes, especially on this site, I think the venom is a little bit over the top. This one, however, seems to have
Not to get to deep here, but I think what Jake is saying that, yes, he sells out traditional country music for the sake of having a career, and living his dream. We all do that. I “sell out” (for lack of a better term) every day sitting here in cubicle city. Means to an end, my friends.
December 12, 2013 @ 8:46 am
To me, nothing can top the tone-deafness and stupidity of Dallas Davidson’s reply to Zac Brown’s comments – “This is my life! I’m sitting on my tailgate right now!” So it’s refreshing to hear someone at least admit to the monetary motivation of these songs.
Jake has potential, as evidenced by some of his early songs. I hope someday it translates into a strong country album, made by a producer who lays off the drum machine a little.
December 12, 2013 @ 9:26 am
Wisdom, wisdom, wisdom….gonna get me some..before you sign your life away on the dotted line. How many a great artist has been destroyed by a wicked label.
Haste makes waste.
December 12, 2013 @ 9:39 am
“I’m walking the picket line at McDonalds”
I’m broke, I’m sad and blue
For $8.50 an hour….
I’d even kiss you
My shoes have holes in the soles
My socks are worn out, too
If having greasy hair’s easy
Taking a bath should be, too
I’ve heard if you don’t do
either one….
They’ll make a Country Star
outta you….:-P 😀 😛
December 12, 2013 @ 11:11 am
Jake has always come across as one of the better mainstream stars than others to me. He has flashes of greatness here and there. “Starting With Me” is a great song, and you gotta admit “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” isn’t a guilty pleasure. The guy can flat out sing when he wants to and his singles may leave much to be desired, but his albums always have solid cuts peppered in.
This has nothing to do with his music, but if there is one thing I can say Jake does well, its being genuine. Following him on Twitter is great. He constantly finds fans looking for tickets and gives them away, he hangs out with regular folk before and after shows (not just fan club members)… I remember the time he sent out a tweet that he wanted to ski in Cincinnati and the first person who tweeted him back with a boat, he’d come hang out for the day. Or the time someone said they’d cover a Jake song on YouTube if Jake would do some Strait on YouTube, and he of course obliged.
I say all that to say that I believe Jake. He isn’t too big for his britches and I think he understands what it means to be a star and wants to be himself. I’d love to hear what he would do with no restrictions and no excuses. I’m far from his biggest fan, but I respect the guy a ton.
December 12, 2013 @ 1:47 pm
this guy is one of crap country musics biggest offenders, trite songs that are usually rapped or spoken word. he should just go full blown vanilla ice
December 12, 2013 @ 2:24 pm
Not familiar with Jake Owens’ music but Days of Gold was written by Jaren Johnston of The Cadillac 3 (formerly The Cadillac Black). I always liked their version of it. A fun song isn’t always a bad thing…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgaRzLHQaOE
December 12, 2013 @ 7:47 pm
Thank you Jake for speaking out again. It takes a lot of guts to do that if you’re on a big label and radio is playing you. Male country artists, the women radio isn’t playing need you to speak up for them too.
December 12, 2013 @ 10:13 pm
I don’t see why an artist like Toby Keith doesn’t buck the (his) label and do an album he believes represents his vision of country music instead of just talking about it. I’m a Dierks Bentley fan and my favorite album of his was “Up On the Ridge”. It’s also his worst selling album, but at least he took a shot at doing music he believed in. He’s bounced back nicely.
December 12, 2013 @ 10:44 pm
For those wondering about the legality of “gag contracts”, here is an excellent article on the topic, written by a lawyer:
http://blogs.findlaw.com/celebrity_justice/2013/05/justin-bieber-may-sue-guests-for-snitching-on-his-house-parties.html
Here’s the key phrase:
“However, private contracts can be struck down as unenforceable if they place too much of a burden on constitutional rights, or if they are unconscionable.”
If a nondisclosure agreement for a one-night party may be borderline unconstitutional, a contract barring an employee from criticizing their employer most definitely violates the Constitution.
December 13, 2013 @ 6:40 am
Ummm, the article doesn’t say his non-disclosure agreements are unconstitutional, it says they MAYBE, unenforceable. Which I totally agree with, for the reasons the article points out.
However, there is nothing in the article saying that his party agreements, or a contract someone signs willingly, barring an employee from criticizing their employer, are unconstitutional.
I’m sorry, but you are flat out wrong in what you are trying to argue and I would suggest discussing it face to face with an contract/employment law attorney vs. a blog about Justin Beiber’s party and trying to make some connection to an employer/employee relationship.
December 13, 2013 @ 8:22 am
Eric,
Can you please show me in the article where the lawyer giving his opinion, says that the Beiber agreement is unconstitutional? He talks about it being unenforceable for reasons that have nothing to do with constitutional rights.
Furthermore, “a contract barring an employee from criticizing their employer” is far from infringing on free speech. There are countless contracts in which employees are barred from doing many things that people have constitutional right too, but they are barred from them under contract, and it is perfectly legal. Example, I have a right to bar arms, but not at work.
Also, Jake no where criticizes his employer (the record label). He speaks in terms of the genre. Same as many other artists have. Why do you think none of them name names of labels or record executives that they work for?
December 13, 2013 @ 5:05 pm
“Example, I have a right to bar arms, but not at work.”
If you sign a contract barring you from bearing arms anywhere, including at home, then are you legally bound by that contract?
December 13, 2013 @ 7:23 am
Music Row (the labels) isn’t about “the music” it is about selling records. There are probably countless artists that would love to record a higher quality of music, but can’t due to the contracts they are in with a label, which sole goal is sales.
Artists are employees. PERIOD. If you are known as a disgruntled employee and difficult to work with, and most of all not contributing to the company goal (sales) then who’s going to hire you? Jake isn’t exactly crushing sales records. And when I say crushing, I mean a historic pace. Look at who has gotten freedom in their contracts.. Garth, Shania, Brooks and Dunn, Taylor, McGraw, Chesney, FGL(yuck)…crushing sales at a historic pace. So a label loves them and says…do what you want….but keep the sales up or we won’t have much room for you.
Lots of folks here saying that artists should just go cut their own albums. It obviously isn’t that easy or it would be done a lot more because these artists are making decent money.
There is a ton of cost involved and I think many forget that there are contracts in place behind the scenes between parties we can’t even imagine. Those contracts have non-compete clauses and such that may not allow for that easy “go cut your own record”. Sure you can cut your own album, but you can’t print, publish, distribute, market it, etc… cause everyone you approach with it is tied up with a contract that won’t allow it.
Why is Garth’s new box set only at WalMart? Is that illegal?
Couldn’t Garth make more money if it were everywhere?
Should he go to the US Gov. and complaintabout his rights being infringed on by WalMart? No…he can’t, he signed a contract.
Jamey Johnson cut “That Lonesome Song” on his own, but because SALES were so good, got picked up by a label, which is one goal of any artists because it isn’t easy to cut albums and get your music out there on your own. I’m not sure I know of anyone actually doing that?
This notion that you just take a stand is ludicrous and it should be even more appreciative for the hard work the guys in the 70’s were able to do. I’m afraid this generation thinks that Waylon and company just sent a tweet, “Fuck you label guy”, and had a big party on their own. It wasn’t like that at all.
December 13, 2013 @ 1:07 pm
Except Garth owns his label and recordings; he IS the business and he is striking his own distribution deals without anyone telling him who he can/can’t do business with or what songs to cut and include.
December 13, 2013 @ 11:16 am
I’ve read articles here about the politics. Some have probably heeded the warnings of a bad contract.
It’s such a shell game….career – no career – baby needs food, clothes and shelter.
You have to have the whole enchilada to make it. “Good looks”, talent, timing and chance.
Jake, I’m telling you, you have to cut that stringy hair off. It looks like droopy twigs on a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. If you want the ladies to buy your music, fix your look.
December 13, 2013 @ 5:10 pm
All of this troubles involving contracts point me back to what I have said in the past:
Recording artists need to be unionized. The unions need to grow enough in power to take over control of the labels from the worthless executives.
December 17, 2013 @ 9:05 am
This would be perfect, not only are unions ridiculously outdated, but then the union would be telling artists what to do vs. the labels???
Of course, the labels would probably just laugh at a union and hire artists non-union. Much like they don’t hire “traditional country” artists today. And I think the labels have proven there are plenty of folks willing to do what they say, and they don’t need talent to make someone a star.
I thought your arguments on how contracts are unconstitutional was a stretch, but if you think a union would solve things…whoa, you are way off base.
December 13, 2013 @ 5:15 pm
Alternative path: abolish the record label entirely. With the rise of the Internet, they have outlived their purpose. Their only raison d’etre today is as blood-sucking thieves.
Here’s an article on this topic from a few years back:
http://trevorbabcock.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html
December 13, 2013 @ 5:32 pm
You know, I think this man could help REAL country music a lot. He admitted to being a part of the problem. I think he could be the next Luke Bryan if he didn’t care about country music, but twice he has stated he is against the current state of country music. He is probably trying to make his label happy until he owns them instead of them owning him. I think later on in his career, we might see ALOT of traditional country music from him. Barefoot blue jean night is an embarrassment to country, but I don’t think that was really Jake. I think he is making his label happy until he has enough leeway to make his own decisions.
December 16, 2013 @ 3:33 pm
I”™ll say this – Jake is having some great success, and his label has the formula for bringing that”¦
but you don”™t get my respect by saying “We need more REAL country music” and yet continually send pop-country drivel to radio. Many people say “He has no choice” – but he does”¦because no one can MAKE him sing a crap song. The words have to come out of his mouth. He has to put the voice to track. If he doesn”™t, it can”™t be released.
The question becomes one of “Do I want to help Save Country Music”¦or do I want to make a buck?”
Jake”™s making a buck. No harm in that, just don”™t claim to want the opposite.
December 18, 2013 @ 9:16 am
It’s amazing how country has come to this. The songs released today as singles are the songs country artists played in bars just to get the crowd moving before playing the stuff that needed to be heard. When Chase Rice wrote “Cruise”… it wasn’t supposed to be the longest-running No. 1 in country history. It was simply meant to get girls on the dance floor. Same with Jake. He and many other country artists of today have some of the best music in the world sitting on the shelf because their labels say no. I don’t blame the artists or the writers as much as I blame the consumers. Rhett Akins wrote great shit in the 90s. Now… he writes shit because it makes money.
May 7, 2015 @ 2:58 pm
None of us really have any clue as to how much say Jake Owen has in what music gets put on his albums. He’s had a few quality songs (not so much recently) and a lot of bro-country songs. But I’d say he is a talented individual capable of producing quality music, it’s just not becoming substance. I heard him cover “much too young” and “a pirate looks at forty” on 93.7 the bull a few months back and it was pretty good. it sparked my interest, so I looked into some of his other outings where he played with just an acoustic. There are some videos of him playing “everything that glitters” by Dan seals, “I’d be better off in a pine box” by Doug stone, somewhere in the middle, and on KUPL he played the journey of your life. Now he didn’t write all these songs, but he did them justice. These show he actually has some talent. Nonetheless most of the music on albums is just bro-country, but behind all that is someone who is actually capable of playing quality music. Unfortunately it just doesn’t make it to the radio. In the end, his comments are true, but he should be pumping out the quality songs he’s capable of instead of just adding to the black hole that country music is getting sucked into.