Katie Arminger Accuses Label of Wanting Her to “Sex It Up” for Radio Program Directors
The saga of country artist Katie Arminger continues, and the accusations against her record label Cold River just reached a new level.
The issue began in June of last year when the 23-year-old Houston native found herself locked out of her social media accounts, right after her label announced to the world that she had decided to take a “breather” from country music. Her label Cold River released a statement saying, “It has been the thrill of a lifetime to work with her and watch her blossom into one of the best singer-songwriters of her generation. Katie is a special talent and an even better person. As a label, we love her and support her decision and we will always be her biggest fans. To our radio partners, we thank each of you for your support and friendship through the years.”
However according to Katie, she had decided no such thing, and as she tried to explain to her fans what was truly going on between her and Cold River, she got forcibly locked out of her social network accounts by the label. Katie finally relayed a couple of messages out through her Instagram account, but only to have those removed shortly as well.
As you can imagine, the entire battle has ended up in the courts, but today (1-27), Katie broke her silence, releasing a statement about what happened.
I never quit country music. I haven’t spoken because I wasn’t able to. My label filed suit against me, but I kept hoping for an amicable solution. Now, everyone can see my response. The answer I filed with the federal court speaks for itself. I’ve worked hard and I’m proud of what I’ve done musically and personally. My label had expectations for how I should behave to get ahead, particularly how I should interact with influential men in the industry. I just wasn’t willing to take that approach. I wanted to make it with integrity and I still do. I know that there are good people in this business and particularly in country radio, and I’m so grateful to those who support my career and play my music. I didn’t think I should have to do the things my label wanted me to do to ‘make it.’ It should be about the music. I’m eager to share some new music very soon. I love country music. This is where I want to be.
Most alarming was Arminger’s assertion that she “should interact with influential men in the industry.” Though no further explanation was given in her initial statement, the practice of entertaining influential members of the country radio industry, including some who have been known to either touch, or in some cases, grope young female stars has been an accusation against the country music radio industry for many years. An episode of ABC’s drama Nashville dealt specifically with the issue. Numerous artists, including most recently Taylor Swift, have accused DJ’s of groping them.
Though Arminger said in her statement, “Now, everyone can see my response,” that court response was not made available to the public. However Saving Country Music has obtained a copy of the entire 45-page response (see below).
Cold River’s President Pete O’Heeron fired back later in the day with a statement of his own:
Cold River is saddened and disappointed to learn of Katie Armiger’s malicious and completely false statements against the label. It is interesting to note that this story never surfaced until Cold River was forced to sue Ms. Armiger for refusing to perform the remainder of her contracts with the label. Certainly, Ms. Armiger never made these false and malicious claims when Cold River was pouring a tremendous amount of money into promoting her career. It appears that Ms. Armiger is simply attempting to use these false claims to get out of her contracts and to gain publicity for her career, at Cold River’s expense. Her assertions are completely without merit and fabricated.
In addition, while Ms. Armiger complains that Cold River promoted her career by focusing on her appearance rather than purely her music, it should be noted that, since refusing to perform the remainder of her contracts with Cold River, Ms. Armiger and her new “team” have actively campaigned for her to become Country Weekly’s Hottest Bachelorette. This paradoxical behavior belies the sincerity of Ms. Armiger’s claims and further evidences that she is simply trying to get out of her contracts with Cold River and generate free publicity for her career. Cold River looks forward to clearing its name in court and, when that day comes, hopes that Ms. Armiger will be as vigorous in apologizing to the label as she was in smearing its name.
Katie Arminger’s Response to the Lawsuit
Pete O’Heeron, the President of Cold River, filed a civil lawsuit against Katie Arminger on December 28th, 2015 in the Federal Tennessee Middle District Court in Nashville. Arminger is Pete O’Heeron’s first cousin’s daughter. In the original lawsuit, Pete O’Heeron accuses Katie of breaching numerous stipulations of her contract, and claims that she owes the label relief for advances and promotional costs tied to her career.
Arminger counter-sued O’Heeron and Cold River, and after the two sides have attempted to resolve the issues out-of-court, she has now asked for a jury trial. Arminger was first signed to Cold River in 2009 when she was a minor. In 2010 when she was 18, she signed a second contract, but it was when she was still being managed by Pete O’Heeron, potentially creating a conflict of interest. Arminger says she was told the contract was “no big deal,” and did not have proper representation present to sign it. However she still claims she did not violate the stipulations of the contract, and instead countersued Cold River due to accounting issues and unpaid revenue.
The entire 45-page response can be read by CLICKING HERE. Excerpts of the lawsuit response and countersuit can be found below.
On Arminger Being Asked to “Sex It Up”
(from Ms. Arminger’s Countersuit)
Prior to Ms. Armiger’s most recent Radio Tour, O’Heeron gave Ms. Armiger money to purchase “hot” “game changing” clothes that would “make their [Radio Program Directors] eyes call [sic] out of their heads.” O’Heeron requested that Ms. Armiger send him photos of the clothing she was considering purchasing so that he could make sure the items were “hot” enough.
O’Heeron referred to one of Ms. Armiger’s outfits as “Amish” looking. O’Heeron frequently told Ms. Armiger, as well as other female Radio Representatives, to “sex it up” for Radio Program Directors. O’Heeron repeatedly told Ms. Armiger that she needed to make Radio Program
Directors “wish you would take them home with you.” O’Heeron told Ms. Armiger that if “they [Radio Program Directors] don’t wanna take you home, they’re not gonna play your music. Period.”O’Heeron suggested that Ms. Armiger hug, kiss, and flirt with Radio Program Directors. O’Heeron told Ms. Armiger that she needed to “play a role” with Radio Program Directors. He described what he meant by saying, “It’s like an actress or an actor saying I’m not going to go into that brothel on screen because I don’t want people to think that I go into a whorehouse.”
O’Heeron allowed and enabled his employees to comment on Ms. Armiger’s sexuality and appearance, and to ask her to hug, kiss, flirt with, and sit in the laps of Radio Program Directors, despite Ms. Armiger repeatedly stating that she was uncomfortable with such comments and suggestions.
Jim Dandy, in his role as VP of Promotions at Cold River, told Ms. Armiger that she needed to hug, kiss, flirt with, and sit in the laps of Radio Program Directors. Ms. Armiger was uncomfortable with O’Heeron’s and Dandy’s suggestions regarding how she should dress and behave with Radio Program Directors. Ms. Armiger felt humiliated by the things O’Heeron and Dandy asked her to do. Ms. Armiger told O’Heeron that she wanted to pursue her career with “integrity.” Ms. Armiger told O’Heeron that she felt the work environment at Cold River was “toxic.”
On Quitting Country Music
(from the RESPONSE to the lawsuit)
Ms. Armiger denies that she “advised O’Heeron that she was ‘done’ with Cold River and with
being a recording artist.” Ms. Armiger denies that O’Heeron was “stunned” by their
conversation. She also denies the implication that she wanted O’Heeron to “unplug her from her
career,” and she denies that she ever intended to “quit” or said that she intended to “quit” being a
recording artist.Ms. Armiger denies that O’Heeron “requested that [she] contemplate the decision and that she speak to others before moving forward” and denies that she “said that was not necessary.” Ms. Armiger admits that O’Heeron warned her that “when you unplug this from the wall, it will never, ever be plugged in again. This is a turning the lights off on your career,” however, she denies that it was her decision to “unplug” her career.
Ms. Armiger admits that O’Heeron cited one example of another artist, Cyndi Thompson, who was unable to return to a professional singing career after she encountered trouble with her label, but denies that the two situations are analogous. Ms. Armiger also admits that she spoke to Jim Dandy, Vice President of Promotions at Cold River, on June 15th after her conversation with O’Heeron occurred. Ms. Armiger again denies that she ever intended to “quit” or said she intended to “quit.”
Ms. Armiger denies that she ever said she “was done being a recording artist,” denies that she said she was “’done’ with Cold River,” and denies that she ever “quit.” Ms. Armiger further denies that she breached any contractual obligation she may have had.
(from Ms. Arminger’s Countersuit)
During the telephone call that occurred between Ms. Armiger and O’Heeron on June 15, 2015, O’Heeron told Ms. Armiger,“I’m so ready to pull the plug on this.” During that same conversation, O’Heeron asked Ms. Armiger, “So if we shut this down tomorrow, what are your plans,because I’m not going to continue to invest money in it.”
The following morning, without having a further conversation with Ms. Armiger, O’Heeron issued a press release to the public stating that Ms. Armiger “was taking a breather” and leaving the music industry “to pursue other career aspirations.” Ms. Armiger did not approve O’Heeron’s press release. O’Heeron’s press release was false.
O’Heeron’s press release harmed Ms. Armiger as a Country Music Artist in the sense that it insinuated to her fans and the industry that Ms. Armiger’scareer was over. Ms. Armiger was unable to successfully mitigate the untrue statements contained in O’Heeron’s press release because O’Heeron and Cold River took control over her social media accounts and limited her use of these accounts.
On Arminger’s Social Network Accounts and Brand Name
(from the RESPONSE to the lawsuit)
Ms. Armiger admits that she sought help to recover her social media accounts after O’Heeron “pulled the plug”on her career,but denies that these actions constitute a breach of any agreement or trademark infringement. Ms. Armiger further asserts that Cold River is no longer authorized to exploit the “Katie Armiger” mark or to operate and control any of her social network sites.
Ms. Armiger denies that Cold River currently has the right, exclusive or otherwise, “to operate and control any so called social network sites relating to Armiger, including the verified Twitter Account”
referenced in Plaintiff’s Complaint.
(from Ms. Arminger’s Countersuit)
After the dispute arose, O’Heeron allowed Ms. Armiger’s YouTube videos, which had views in excess of one million, to be taken down, which caused great harm to her career. O’Heeron, or someone from Cold River, also removed Ms. Armiger’s postings on Twitter about how the relationshipbetween the parties really ended. O’Heeron, or someone from Cold River, blocked Ms. Armiger’s access to her own social media accounts. O’Heeron, or someone from Cold River, made unauthorized and untrue postings
on Ms. Armiger’s social media accounts. Upon information and belief, after the relationship between the parties ended, O’Heeron accessed Ms. Armiger’s emails without authorization.
On the Breach of Contract
(from the RESPONSE to the lawsuit)
Ms. Armiger admits that Plaintiff is seeking a declaratory judgment but denies Plaintiff is entitled to this relief. To the extent a further response is required, Ms. Armiger denies that she remains bound by the Recording Agreement, denies that she committed any breach, material or otherwise, or default of her contractual obligations, denies that she refused to perform contractual obligations, and denies that Cold River is entitled to exercise any of its remedies.
January 27, 2016 @ 7:34 pm
Wow. Quite interesting. When the social networking aspect of this broke months back, I figured there had to be more to it – I just wasn’t expecting something of this nature. The ramifications of this can most certainly be huge down the line.
January 27, 2016 @ 7:59 pm
Dare I say it, this is probably worse than Tim McGraw’s feud with Curb Records.
Also I’ve heard some of this lady’s music in the past, it’s actually very Country compared to even Taylor Swift’s early stuff, I find it just sad that a singer with material that’s actually not bad is being subject to this abuse.
January 27, 2016 @ 9:26 pm
Already this information has shed incredible light into how young female performers are expected to act. If it goes to trial, it may create even more of a catalog of just how women performers are treated. I do think this could be bigger than Tim McGraw and Curb in how it could affect how we view all labels and managers. Someone needs to be making sure these young women are not getting taken advantage of.
All that said, we have to appreciate this is a civil suit. Both sides are going to try an muddy up the waters as best they can. We really have to wait for a resolution before passing ultimate judgement.
January 27, 2016 @ 9:39 pm
Given how shady we already know these record labels can be, I think we can assume Katie is telling the truth and O’Heeron is full of $hit.
January 28, 2016 @ 9:53 am
I doubt there will be much if any ramifications, personally. Sadly. This isn’t new and no one’s really cared before.
January 27, 2016 @ 7:50 pm
“O”™Heeron goes on to question Armiger”™s “[complaints] that Cold River promoted her career by focusing on her appearance rather than purely her music” in light of the fact that her new management team “have actively campaigned for her to become Country Weekly”™s Hottest Bachelorette.”” (from The Boot)
What an ass. Being considered a hot celebrity is very different from being told to prostitute one’s self for favors from program directors. This reminds me of Keith Hill’s comments. The old boys club in country radio stinks.
January 28, 2016 @ 6:00 am
I wonder if these creep would like their own daughters or sister
to crawl up in some idiots knees just to get a job.
And the same thing goes for whose horrible songs I’ve heard on
this website.
“She got a BODY, and she’s NAUGHTY”.
I would really like to here his answer if somebody ask him: -How would you feel if the girl in the song was your own daughter.
I once heard a guy said: I became a male feminist then I realized that my
daughters, sisters or mother is a human being and deserves the same
rights and opportunities as I have. And that without selling themselves.
January 28, 2016 @ 7:11 am
I wonder. Apparently, she is O”™Heeron’s first cousin’s daughter, which I know is a couple levels removed from being his daughter, but still a blood relative and not that distant. If Kate Arminger is speaking the truth, then the fact that she’s a blood relative makes this situation even worse, as far as I’m concerned.
January 28, 2016 @ 8:06 am
LeAnn Rimes anybody?
January 28, 2016 @ 9:54 am
It’s sad that a woman has to be “somebody’s daughter” to be treated respectfully. but hey, if it helps the cause I guess.
January 27, 2016 @ 7:57 pm
Really terrible, if even the slightest bit of truth falls on Katie’s side, that this kind of sexism and misogyny still happens in the music business, that women have to “sleep their way to the top”. Unfortunately, it does seem to be even more pervasive in Nashville (perhaps the “bro country” dictates at work here?). Sick, but rather predictable–and they’re throwing away a really good young singer simply because she won’t become a prostitute.
January 27, 2016 @ 8:06 pm
Reading this just makes you realize what a complete sham radio is.
However I truly believe the backlash has started against the machine and the movement is growing roots.
January 27, 2016 @ 8:59 pm
Does this mean Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift slept their way to the top? How many others “entertained influential men?” Seriously though, if these DJ douchewads won’t play females’ songs unless they want to take them home, why do they so readily play every song any dickless doofus puts out? Unless they get “entertained” by guys too…
January 28, 2016 @ 12:25 pm
What a STUPID comment even in jest. They wanted the young viewer so Taylor eventually got played. It is widely known that radio is not Miranda’s friend. She didn’t get regular play until her 3rd album’s 2nd single (and she even had an ACM Album of the Year). Even now she doesn’t get played so lets not go around trying to be funny or cool. This sexism is a HUGE problem w/ radio. PS Good for Katie & hope she gets out from under this mess.
January 27, 2016 @ 11:24 pm
Shame. My girlfriend and I saw her as part of a wounded warriors fund raisers and talked to her after the show for about five minutes. She seemed nice enough, and it’s just unfortunate she has to deal with this garbage.
January 28, 2016 @ 4:15 am
I thought it was just the major labels that engaged in these kinds of shenanigans. One look a Cold River’s website reveals that they are definitely using a “sex sells” strategy with both the male and the female artist currently signed to their roster. While there isn’t really anything wrong with the photos, it’s hard to imagine Sugar Hill or Rounder using these kinds of glam shots for their artists:
http://www.coldriverrecords.com
January 28, 2016 @ 5:34 am
Boy they’re making their guy singer just look so fabulous while the female looks like something out of Bullz-Eye.com
January 28, 2016 @ 6:48 am
Not having been familiar with the record label, I made the mistake of clicking on the link to their website. Mistake #1. Then, against better judgement, I clicked on the Youtube video for Drew Baldridge’s “Dance With Ya.” Congrats, Cold River Records. It looks like you’ve found the next cheap Thomas Rhett knock-off.
After trying unsuccessfully to induce my ears to puke, I spent about an hour purging them with a Johnny Paycheck CD i had put in last night.
I followed that up with trying to find outvsome info on Rae Solomon, Cold River Records other darling. An article from earlier in the decade labels her as a former rodeo queen who cites Merle, Waylon, Johnny Cash & Garth as influences, and other articles made reference to her writing her own material. Thinking that maybe there was hope somewhere, I looked further. All i could find where a handful of videos of cover song performances and a few fan videos of club performances in which she seems to be awkwardly tring to find something to do with her hands. Even on her own website, there are only two small clips (barely over a minute in length), one of her on stage singing (presumably) an original song and one small clip in which she talks closed out with audio of that same song. From reading, it appears her breakthrough song was supposed to be “Country-fried Chick” but 5+ years later all I could find was an poor quality video whose audio quality coupled with Rae’s singing rendered the lyrics indecipherable.
I find it quite unusual that, in today’s day and age, there is such a limited amount of videos or song samples available. I’m assuming that she’s still not a finished product and with Taylor gone and Gretchen Wilson all but forgotten, Cold River Records just cant decide who they want her to be molded after. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO HEAR HER COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF KATIE DOWN THE ROAD.
I’m thinking this label is about to “crash and burn” quickly.
February 9, 2016 @ 2:57 am
This label is a joke..Two artists on its roster and they’re not pushing either of them. Especially (shock shock) the female artist. The ladies in the company photo should be ashamed of themselves working with such asshats. Wonder if the guy with the Wilford Brimley/walrus mustache is the O’Heeron guy?
I was a radio program director for 27 years – 24 of them in Country (the other three in Oldies). At no time was I ever subject to, nor did I desire for, a female artist to “hug, kiss, or sit on my lap”. I would have felt nothing but pity from such a desperate display. I’m no prude, just so you know. I’m not about to crusade for strip clubs to be shut down, but at the same time I wouldn’t have wanted someone pole dancing in my office just to try to get me to spin their single.
This story makes me sick and angry. Sick for the artist, sick for employees of record labels that perpetuate this crap, and angry at anyone in radio that accepts this crap as the status quo.
And yeah, DJs can be a slimy-ass bunch.
January 28, 2016 @ 7:57 am
Well at least we have a somewhat plausible explanation for the prevalence of skinny jeans among male country performers…I have no doubt that Luke Swindell or Cole Bryan or Jason Owen intentionally wore skinny jeans to simulate the appearance of being young teenage girls to garner momentum with country radio. For shame…
January 28, 2016 @ 8:16 am
wow. props to her for fighting the fight. this is the kind of woman Country Music needs and further proof that radio needs to be abandoned.
here’s to hoping she gets her due and radio gets its own.
January 28, 2016 @ 9:56 am
Seriously. Major props. It take a FUCKING TON of courage to make this kind of stand as a young woman. I hope that my own daughter would be so brave.
January 28, 2016 @ 8:37 am
Obviously, both parties will have their day in court, so I can’t render a final judgment one way or the other. Like others, I clicked on the label’s website, given that I know nothing about them. They have two artists: one male, one female. The guy has a total metro look and the lady is certainly selling sex appeal. It’s easy to see the direction this label is going, so Arminger’s claims do seem very plausible. Now, I really don’t have a problem with an artist selling sex appeal if they are doing it of their own volition and as a true expression of themselves. This whole discussion came up in the Kacey Musgraves’ “pants” article. But, it’s damn depressing to think that an artist would have to do these things against her will, just to get her music promoted to a larger audience.
This reminds me of Ke$ha’s current situation, which is obviously getting a ton of press right now. (Yeah, yeah, I know…bringing up Kesha on a SCM blog is sacrilege, but bear with me) She signed an exclusive long term deal with a producer, is now accusing him of sexual assault, and hasn’t been allowed to release new music in years. The terms of these contracts are so incredibly one-sided.
December 5, 2017 @ 2:20 pm
Did you know Kesha originally aspired to be a country artist? She submitted two recordings to the unfortunate Dr. Luke; one was an up-tempo dance-pop song, the other was a stunning country ballad that she sang in the powerhouse voice that we now know she has. Guess which one earned her a record deal. The rest is history.
January 28, 2016 @ 11:06 am
Why sex it up? Can’t she just be who she really is? She’s a pretty woman. There’s no need to sex it up. Just let her be who she is.
January 28, 2016 @ 11:38 am
But if you sex it up, you sell more records= more $$$
If you don’t sell yourself, you don’t sell records. No records sales=no $$$=being kicked off the label.
January 28, 2016 @ 11:43 am
I don’t remember Loretta Lynn sexing it up. 🙂
January 28, 2016 @ 11:49 am
That was a long time ago, before sex was all there was in “entertainment”. Music is now secondary. It doesn’t matter how talented you are, if you won’t undress for the DJs, you might as well give up. This is why we have 40-yr old married men singing songs that shoukd be sung by young morons. And it’s why females don’t get played anymore. They won’t play the game.
January 28, 2016 @ 11:58 am
If you would’ve said that a year ago, I would have agreed with you completely. Now, I think the tide is starting to change. I expect for things to change a lot in the next few years.
January 28, 2016 @ 11:40 am
Once upon a time, I took a Music Bizness course taught by a famous Grammy-winning jazz musician. Nuts and bolts stuff: copyright, royalties, contracts etc.
He started the lecture on Recording Contracts with this memorable line: “Record Companies are not your friend.”
January 28, 2016 @ 12:30 pm
Jacob, I hope you’re right. I can’t reply to your last comment?!
January 28, 2016 @ 4:21 pm
I don’t know why you can’t reply. It wasn’t me. 🙂
January 28, 2016 @ 4:26 pm
Didn’t think it was…☺
January 28, 2016 @ 12:35 pm
People often question why I am suspicious of record labels (there are only a handful I don’t loathe) and I always point them to stories like this. Sadly, there are far too many stories like it. Thankfully the role of the record label is changing drastically to such a point that I can see them becoming obsolete (well I hope so). Unfortunately, labels in their death throes will desperately resort to tactics like we see here and likely much worse in order to try to claw back some relevance.
I for one will not shed a tear if and when the concept of the record label dies.
January 28, 2016 @ 12:50 pm
I’m not surprised by this and I hope the snowball effect it that it brings to light the similar issues going on with young male stars. Many young males stars have had this happen as well and are just the silent majority as homosexuality in music still frowned upon. ANd I hope it opens up the dialogue to focus not just on music but Hollywood as well.
If that movie Spotlight can find success can a film on the same subject focusing on the music business or Hollywood find similar success?
January 28, 2016 @ 1:04 pm
I read someplace that in Japan’s film industry they have no movie producers, maybe things have changed, but it was because they felt the director should be in control of and get credit for HIS vision without the meddling of outsider interests.
Maybe that could happen here, where musicians rent studio time and create what they want to create with the help of sound people and production people but no music labels overseeing it all for a bottom-line.
January 28, 2016 @ 2:10 pm
“Doesn”™t matter what you see
Or into it what you read
You can do it your own way
If it”™s done just how I say
Independence limited
Freedom of choice
Choice is made for you, my friend
Freedom of speech
Speech is words that they will bend
Freedom with their exception”
– Metallica, Eye of the Beholder
January 28, 2016 @ 4:02 pm
Just google “Rae Solomon” and go to the images – she’s half naked in lingerie. Don’t tell me the label doesn’t want their female artists to push sex when this is who he replaced Katie with …
January 28, 2016 @ 10:36 pm
Is there anything new here?
Hasn’t Rosanne Cash often recounted something about an executive from CBS Records telling her when she started out that she needed to look f*ckable?
January 29, 2016 @ 7:32 am
The difference is do you ever remember Rosanne Cash actually being marketed in that manner? Or being dropped from her label for not doing so?
January 29, 2016 @ 9:01 am
I’m not sure why this is ‘ news’ to anyone remotely familiar with the workings of show biz in general and the music biz in particular . Just about every big label female star has to ‘ sex it up ‘ to be marketable …especially in these times . Look at the young girl in the Band Perry , or Selena Gomez in the pop world ,or Taylor Swift , Miranda , Kellie Pickler ….hell …Shania’s whole career was built on that marketing ….certainly not on those insipid songs .
.It’s just a fact of life . Its not news , not new …….and no …its not right . But nobody holds a gun at your head to sell yourself that way and you’ll never hear the fans of these artists complaining .
January 29, 2016 @ 11:54 am
None of those females you listed, Albert, would ever be able to make it big on the merits of their music, so they depend on their looks to sell records. Miranda Lambert gets complements here on SCM about her looks and a lot of people give her a free pass for being a one trick pony because of her Pistol Annies work.
January 29, 2016 @ 8:14 pm
You’re absolutely right , Fuzzy . They all ‘ sex it up’ to sell product in the mainstream because most of their material ( if not ALL of their ‘talent’ in some cases ) is simply inferior.
January 29, 2016 @ 9:40 am
I wish Oprah would start her own recording company. Most women prefer a woman ‘Gyno’ for similar reasons. Oprah…the sky is not the limit. It may be a man’s world but she’s the one who could turn the tide for women in the music biz. No casting couch, no riding the bull.
January 29, 2016 @ 11:16 am
“But nobody holds a gun at your head to sell yourself that way…”
Yes, a woman can of course always refuse.
But the point is: She shouldn’t never be forced into such choices in the first place.
January 29, 2016 @ 8:09 pm
” But the point is: She shouldn”™t never be forced into such choices in the first place.”
I totally agree Kent . Fact is , no matter what business you are in , you are forced to make some compromises and concessions to get ahead ….or even keep working . The concessions women are expected to make in order to establish a career in show business have always been the same . If , as a woman , you aren’t willing to make those concessions and decide to do it your own way , more power to you . But a woman shouldn’t be surprised or alarmed or insulted by someone demanding they ” sex it up ” to sell product in show biz. Surely its common knowledge in these times that you will need to sell more than a song if you want the attention of a label spending thousands to promote your product. Just look at the top 10 female you tube videos- country or pop . If you don’t want to play that game…..then don’t . No one is forcing you to .Stay the course and do it on YOUR terms . But don’t plead ignorant when you are confronted with the ” sex-it-up” mantra by your label or management . You KNOW its expected .
January 30, 2016 @ 9:30 am
As you probably already guessed. English is not my first language and I haven’t written in English since high school and that’s over thirty five years ago…So sorry for the grammar and the spelling…
Yes I know using sex is “part of the game”. And sadly the mentality among people in showbiz seems to be to accept that as some sort general rule, that is impossible to change.But I’d still stubbornly argue that the rules and mentality could and should change.
I mean, and I’m exaggerating on purpose now: If a label manager are telling a young women of let’s say 18 this:
“If you want keep your contract, you have start selling more records,
and to do that you’ll have to start dress more sexy and please do the video I talked about,you know the one there you are crawling around in a bed in your underwear”…
It’s just plain wrong to tell her that. Especially since young women often has a bad confident in themselves and sexuality is often a sensitive topic for them.
This is a bit besides the point but…
Remember Loretta and her songs “The pill” and “Rated X” they were both banned on country radio. And those were damn good songs in my opinion. It’s really a sign of how times have changed.
Nowadays you can hardly get on the Country radio if your songs not contains sexual references
like in “Somewhere On A Beach”
And just so you don’t think that I’m some kind of a sexual hating priest because I’m nothing of the kind…I’m close to sixty and I do have enough experience with women to know most women do want to dress up sexy and feel sexy at times. But it should always be on there own terms and free will.
Anyways now I’m gonna pour some Coca Cola and a little Vodka in a glass and mix it And then sit down and watch and listening to two Swedish girls whom,as far as I know, (and hope),haven’t had to sexualize themselves,at least not yet 🙂
January 30, 2016 @ 8:57 am
Kent, it’s the same way for women in many workplaces. Keep quiet and keep your job. Whistleblowers seldom win. The stigma forces them to walk down the road and ruins their resume for the future. Research is so important before you sign on the dotted line. Show Dog might be an option for her.
Some women are being promoted/told to wear silly sappy cowgirl costumes. I don’t think it’s helped their career one iota.
January 30, 2016 @ 9:25 am
@Camie
“same way for women in many workplaces”
Yes, I know showbiz is not the only workplace and it usually worst for young
women with low self-esteem and self-confidence, who not dare to speak up for themselves.
regardless of where they work.
February 2, 2016 @ 9:25 am
I am glad for the PC movement in that it helps to expose or ‘deal with’ these kinds of issues. Kudos to her, and more power to her as well.
I would expect a label to at least consider this kind of approach as a strategy, but the artist should have final say-so to take it completely off the table.
Sex Still Sells and Size Still Matters
February 8, 2016 @ 8:21 pm
Why is this in federal court and isn’t this a he said/she said case? Not that I don’t believe her but she has the burden of proof. And is it a breach of contract suit, sexual harassment, pimping?
A recent interview with Pat Benetar described similar experiences. It’s hard to believe it’s still going on.
Jeannie Seely commented that she had to watch out for the same thing, but her band watched out for her like she was their sister. After a show the station manager invited her out to dinner. Two of the band members stepped forward and said Sure, where are we going?
May 16, 2021 @ 12:43 pm
Trigger,
What was the resolution of this case?
May 16, 2021 @ 7:40 pm
Katie Arminger and Cold River settled the case. Col River is no longer in operation, and last I heard Katie is studying medicine.
July 11, 2021 @ 5:29 pm
Too bad to hear that Katie retired from music. Her song “Just One Night Between Friends” was excellent. She had a lot of talent. Add another black mark to Nashville.
Glad to hear that Cold River shut down.