Lee Ann Womack & Others Question Kane Brown As Country’s “New Direction”
Country interloper Kane Brown just released his second record called Experiment, and since most of music media has devolved into nothing more than a promotional arm of the mainstream industry, the album’s arrival has been dutifully met with a host of fawning puff pieces filled with over-hyped tripe about how Kane Brown is the future of country music, and is changing the music forever.
Of course all these articles conveniently gloss over the fact that it was funny math and streaming manipulation that got Kane Brown here. In fact they play up the “challenges” Kane Brown has faced in his career, when nobody has benefited more from the slanted system of the streaming era in country music than Kane Brown. These articles also seem to especially focus on the “diversity” Kane Brown symbolizes for country, even though what his music truly represents is the sheer homogenization of country by importing pop and R&B influences into the genre, making country sound like everything else.
Rolling Stone Country wrote an especially breathless article on Kane Brown, calling him country’s “Outcast King,” and saying, “Kane Brown’s success indicates a new direction for country music, both in its sound and in the way artists deliver their music to fans.”
When Rolling Stone Country posted an excerpt of the article on Instagram, the comments section blew up with negative reaction from readers, with multiple actual country music artists getting in on the action, including Lee Ann Womack, Ben Haggard, Joshua Hedley, Kendell Marvel, and others.
To Rolling Stone Country‘s pronouncement that Kane Brown’s success indicates a new direction for country music, Lee Ann Womack responded flatly, “Indicates a new direction for Music Row, not country music.” Then Ben Haggard—son of Merle and fast-rising performer—responded to Womack with, “Lay the truth down.”
Country artist and Mayor of Lower Broadway Josha Hedley chimed in, responding to the image Rolling Stone Country posted by saying, “Dork … Ok I lied. He’s a douche, his guitar player is a dork. Lol look at that fucking guy hahahahahaha.”
Texas country’s Reed Barton said, “All hateful bullshit aside, I really hope that country music finds a new trend other than the hip hop/urban thing.” This received a response from well-respected songwriter Kendell Marvel of, “It’s just not good period.” Performer Cody Tyler also piped up, saying people should focus more on promoting good music.
Screenshots from the melee can be seen below.
November 10, 2018 @ 10:16 am
Cody’s right. Instead of just complaining about the dearth of good music on mainstream country radio, seek out real country music through other means. Pretty much any artist on Heart of Texas Records (http://www.hillbillyhits.com/hotrecords.html) is a good place to start.
November 10, 2018 @ 9:15 pm
may be she shud shut that damm mouth up n get back in the kichen n fix me up some supper Kane Brown is a good Christian boy just haven fun n all he dont mean no harm Im just about tired of it hes savin cuntry music just like the rest of yall
November 11, 2018 @ 3:59 am
At least kane Brown is producing! When is the last time Lee ann Womack put out anything besides a dusty fart?
November 11, 2018 @ 9:05 am
As for me and my house, we’d rather listen to the dusty fart.
I’ve heard better song lyrics in a bowl of alphabet soup than a Kane Brown album
November 11, 2018 @ 11:00 am
She just put out a new album last year. “The Lonely, the Lonesome & the Gone”.
Please listen to it as it illustrates the difference between Kane Brown and Country Music.
November 11, 2018 @ 11:25 am
AMEN!!
November 11, 2018 @ 11:52 am
Moody Mama ….THIS is the kind of sentiment that drives today’s ‘ country ‘ radio , unfortunately .
– Unawareness by the uninitiated , unappreciative , uncaring and unconcerned who are being undermined by an unfocused, uneducated and uninformed dollar-driven music ‘machine ‘.
You embarrass yourself MM.
November 11, 2018 @ 6:44 pm
It’s already been mentioned, but The Lonely, The Lonesome, and The Gone, which was released in 2017, makes Kane Brown look and sound like a fool. It is mature music that’s too heavy for someone like him to be able to even pick up.
November 12, 2018 @ 5:07 am
She put out an album just last year. did a great version of Shine on Rainy day.
November 12, 2018 @ 8:33 am
Just saw her perform this last weekend, and she was tremendous. I wouldn’t take five dollars to go see Kane Brown.
And Lee Ann’s most recent album is excellent, as others have already stated.
November 12, 2018 @ 12:41 pm
Excuse me? Lee Ann is fantastic. I’m so proud to call her one of my heroes.
As for Kane, if he left music tomorrow, would I miss him? NOPE!!
November 13, 2018 @ 12:11 pm
Here come the Kane Brown bots.
November 17, 2018 @ 8:12 am
@ Moody Mama said: “…at least Kane Brown is producing..” – I also produced a Kane Brown equivalent this morning, then I flushed it down the toilet..
November 10, 2018 @ 10:22 am
His music sucks, he looks like a frog, and he got the benefit of the machine putting him on all streaming playlists it could.
November 10, 2018 @ 10:24 am
This might be a stupid question, but couldn’t radio programmers simply refuse to add blatant pop songs from artists like Brown to their playlists? Or have things gotten so shady, with systems like pay to play, that they have no choice but to play what the labels send them? Basically what I’m asking, is radio complicit in Brown’s rise or just helpless bystanders?
November 10, 2018 @ 10:30 am
Radio is entirely complicit. However most of the country stations are corporate owned entities that are part of the machine. Not the gatekeepers they once were.
November 10, 2018 @ 10:41 am
When Kane Brown first arrived, there was definitely a reluctance by radio to play his music because of the spurious numbers behind his ascent. This is not some embellishment by Saving Country Music. This was a real concern voiced by many in the industry, and his first few singles struggled at radio, despite doing well with streams and downloads. I think what changed is that he got so big, if radio continued to ignore him, they would soon become irrelevant, and so they gave in. Also there is an emerging strategy by Kane’s team which you can see in many of the features coming out about him around his album release to label any criticism against him is either bullying, or outright racism. This I believe will make many reluctant to put up a stop sign with Kane as opposed to giving a fair, honest assessment of his music, and how he got here.
November 10, 2018 @ 12:11 pm
It’s so outrageous and frustrating that they can get away with strong arm tactics like that, especially when you consider that I have yet to hear the new Pistol Annie’s single on any of the country stations in my area but they play Brown’s songs hourly every day.
November 10, 2018 @ 1:16 pm
Well stated. Not to mention that many female artists can’t even get a spin on the radio.
November 10, 2018 @ 4:57 pm
Amen!! Times 100 what I think of Flo Geo, their last album and the “super hit” with Bebe Rhexa!! Now CMT plans on highlighting that fluff Wed night on the awards show.
While the public can only listen to Pistol Annies, Miranda, Kasey and the rest of the super talented women of country by buying their CDs and playing them repetitively!! So frustrating to hear 2-3 males back to back on air!!
November 11, 2018 @ 9:15 am
Unfortunately, the only guaranteed way for me to hear my favorite artists, country or metal, when I’m driving is by popping in their CD. I could spend days flipping through stations and just hear the same handful of artists over and over. It’s not unusual to hear some artists, like Brown, playing on more than one station at the same time as if they’re all using identical playlists.
November 11, 2018 @ 7:46 am
While I like Kane mixed in sometimes, I think I’ll stick with my retro country station on XM… no pop bs on there ????
November 12, 2018 @ 10:22 am
Seems to me that radio as a whole is complicit, but any individual programmer is pretty much helpless to stop it.
November 10, 2018 @ 10:30 am
All jokes and hate aside, I’m listening to it now, and it’s not bad. Is it going to get top rotation on my spotify, no. But the occational spin, sure. It’s still way more country than keith urban or that hunt guy. But the song ‘lose it’, he needs to lose it.
November 10, 2018 @ 12:25 pm
I disagree…none of it is worth listening to….not even decent pop/country or r&b.
November 10, 2018 @ 12:36 pm
I like country not this new version People like Shelton -Stapleton- Brent Young
November 10, 2018 @ 1:34 pm
It’s Brett Young, not Brent. If you’re gonna put your two cents, at least know who you’re talking about.
November 10, 2018 @ 5:48 pm
Really open minded attack her spelling. I guess you never made a mistake.
November 10, 2018 @ 6:08 pm
Perhaps it was just a typo. I knew who she meant. No reason to be rude.
November 10, 2018 @ 6:12 pm
Spend less time on being ‘openminded’ and more on ‘not being a prick’.
November 11, 2018 @ 8:12 am
I fell in love Country when I heard Randy Travis. Since then, I listen to Country. I always wonder what happened to artists like Tanya Tucker (not sure if I spelled it right) . Anyway, I know u all are real country. What do u think of Carrie, Blake, FGL etc..? Is Are they accepted? I think Carrie sing pop personally. Just curious????
November 11, 2018 @ 9:14 am
For me Carrie and FGL are not accepted. Blake is still banished, but he’s made steps in the right direction and could possibly be welcomed back into the fold if he continues with his current trend.
November 11, 2018 @ 10:33 am
Blake is so Hollywood it makes my skin crawl
November 10, 2018 @ 4:55 pm
Carol, you wouldn’t know country if it hit you in the face! Kane Brown is awesome! His fans, which he has MANY of… they don’t think you know what your talking about either.
November 10, 2018 @ 7:47 pm
His fans…… don’t think……
Just leave it there
August 13, 2020 @ 9:51 am
Hi, I am a total Kane Brown fan….his music changed to more mainstream rather than country once he was signed….that has a lot to do with the music he gets to release as well. I have been a follower since he first put a video out on you tube……If you go back to his music before he was signed and listen get to know him…you can see it is pure country……once you learn him as an artist you can then tell the songs he has written (which are the ones that people say are country) and the ones that have been written by someone else (the crossover songs). I think a lot of it is using him to do just that …to be the first one to crossover into all genre’s of music. Look up his song it is from his garage days…called “Don’t Go City On Me” …those are his originals.
November 10, 2018 @ 10:42 am
He was praised in the NY Times for addressing the gun violence in one verse of a lame-ass song. He deserves kudos for intent but an F for craft. He couldn’t even come up with a coherent second verse. And that was it two verses, repeat the chorus out – no bridge. If Country music is about nothing else, it is songwriting. And don’t get me started on the auto-tuned vocals and tedious track. He has as much to do with Country music as Niki Menaj
November 10, 2018 @ 10:53 am
This “Rolling Stone Country” article mentioned above is just the start. Just like we saw with Kacey Musgraves’ new album, biased media—including many who have no affiliation with country music—see Kane Brown as the perfect unwitting pawn to push a political and cultural agenda upon country.
November 10, 2018 @ 11:16 am
Yep. So tired of this. I also saw it the other way in many of the pop reviews of Carrie’s Cry Pretty. Reviewers were upset that “The Bullet” didn’t take a full political stance, completely disregarding that the song at least has an actual viewpoint, but it didn’t tell the political story they wanted. I’m super ready for journalists to stop telling country artists (or anyone) what they have to stand for.
November 10, 2018 @ 2:37 pm
Kane Brown, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Justin Moore, and a host of others have been used as unwitting pawns by the media, and very specifically due to the gun control debate. This is the result of multiple academic papers that have been published forwarding the idea that how to unravel conservative America is by using country music artists to assuage the public away from their political beliefs. The recent stories in the New York Times, and yet another in Rolling Stone Country demanding country artists speak out politically is the result of this organized and dedicated effort to use country music as a political proxy war. Regardless of anyone’s politics, this is a dangerous enterprise, and the same one employed by the right that got the Dixie Chicks backballed. If people, or even artists want to forward a political agenda, that’s their right. But don’t attempt to superimpose a political agenda on country artists, or demand they adopt one in some misguided poptimist thought that this will change the world. Country fans will give up on their fandom for an artist way before they will give up on their political beliefs. Leave country music as a place for EVERYONE, and a place beyond political rancor.
November 10, 2018 @ 3:46 pm
I wonder just how much that tactic has backfired. I know a few former Dems who have become more independent and libertarian, because of what you are describing (not in relation to country music of course – but the larger agenda of what they would call “control”).
November 10, 2018 @ 5:51 pm
I think you’re blowin’ that up a bit. People aren’t going to change because of something a country artist says and country artists have views like everyone else. No one is forcing them to speak out. If country listeners change their views over time, it will have more to do with changing demographics. Young vs old, urban vs rural, etc – just like most other things.
November 10, 2018 @ 2:19 pm
Imagine what it’s going to be like as we get closer to 2020. Buckle your seatbelts.
November 11, 2018 @ 12:54 am
Wrong I use to love Eric Church, but once I heard him talking about gun rights. Supporting taking my second amendment away I was done. I threw his Cds in the trash and I turn my Sirius radio channel if he comes on.
November 11, 2018 @ 9:05 am
See folks?
Staci, Eric Church is pro 2nd Amendment. You should read this:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/the-mischaracterization-of-eric-churchs-rolling-stone-cover-story/
November 10, 2018 @ 1:23 pm
I haven’t listened to the song but verse/chorus/verse/chorus is a classic country song structure. Look no further than “Seminole Wind.” Some messages and stories are open ended, and there’s no necessary structure for country songs. Cody Jinks uses unconventional structures beautifully. Most of I’m Not the Devil was verse/chorus/instrumental interlude/chorus.
I’m sure the Kane Brown song is nothing special, though. You know, he’d be fine as a pop country singer if they’d just stop with the lies and exaggerations. His songs aren’t all that bad.
November 10, 2018 @ 1:38 pm
Agree about Cody Jinks using unconventional structures.
Jaime Wyatt, frequently uses unusual structures in her songs.
It’s not easy to do, but it’s great for people like them that can do it well.
November 10, 2018 @ 7:38 pm
Yeah, country music has such substances it’s usually about “My wife left me, I’ll drink some beer”. I know it’s hard for u hatters to accept that a young mixed dude is making Coutry Music relevant again.
November 10, 2018 @ 8:13 pm
You forgot to add we’re all just jealous too there Jason Porter. *rolls eyes*
November 11, 2018 @ 9:22 am
This mad hatter can accept little green martians taking over country music, as long as they have some twang.
(I believe Jason is the first to play the race card on this thread. I knew someone would go there)
November 11, 2018 @ 10:03 am
Kane Brown doesn’t make country music. Period. So how exactly is he “making country relevant again”? I think you might have meant to say “keeping crappy pop music relevant.”
November 11, 2018 @ 10:22 am
I’d rather listen to Kane any day, who I believe to be authentic. I however do not want to listen to those we refer to as “try hards” cowboy hat …check, confederate belt buckle …check check, long hair ….check check check, tight jeans… etc. Those people are trying to hard to appear “ country”
“red neck” those are the guys in high school with confederate flag everything from his truck to his underwear to his sunglasses so corny they never grew out of it!!
November 11, 2018 @ 9:29 pm
Dude, you spell like you peaked in high school. Or maybe you’re still in high school, in which case good luck passing.
November 11, 2018 @ 9:49 pm
Props for accusing folks who have a problem with Kane being labeled country as racists, albeit in a slightly veiled way.
Signed, Irrelevant Ulysses happily listening to his old fashioned irrelevant Country music.
November 13, 2018 @ 9:19 am
Well, people who make hats can be like that.
November 10, 2018 @ 10:49 am
Well…i thought Sam Hunt is…nope…was…the future of nashtrash-monogenre “country music”.
Now it’s Kane Brown & in a couple of month it’s a new guy who will be the future of “country music”.
Pretty sure Shane McAnally or Scott Borchetta have already enough gym-rats, gangsta-rapper, hiphop-dancer or youtube-influencer under contract to fill the shoes of fabricated king of country Kane Brown.
November 10, 2018 @ 11:18 am
Yep, the flavor changes, but they stay in the same mold. Sam had a couple years on top, and I’d guess Kane will be much of the same, although I’m not sure he’ll reach the stupid heights Sam did with a couple of his songs. At least we can hope…
November 11, 2018 @ 10:59 pm
Russell Dickerson says hi. Two back to back #1 hits…. His awful song Blue Tacoma went #1 four weeks ago, and it’s currently #4 on airplay losing spins. Why is it still holding strong?
I don’t care for Kane Brown, but at least he sounds way more country compared to Walker Hayes, Russell, Dylan scott, Chris Lane, Brett Young etc.
November 10, 2018 @ 11:08 am
Kane Brown in amazing!! Haters gonna hate…many others mix pop with their songs…get over it!
November 10, 2018 @ 11:21 am
Merle, Johnny, Waylon and George would be turning in the roe graves. By the way do you know who I speak of?
November 10, 2018 @ 5:04 pm
Bite me! There has to be a genre they can for in by why does it have to be C&W? As bad as only bringing Dixie Chicks back to doing backup for Beyonce…. Because she wore a country song?! Puhleeeze!!
November 10, 2018 @ 8:17 pm
Huh?
November 11, 2018 @ 9:43 pm
Bite you?
Ok, where?
November 12, 2018 @ 5:45 pm
My apologies as I misread that post. Disregard previous reply.
November 11, 2018 @ 9:32 pm
He’s never going to sleep with you, Dawn.
November 10, 2018 @ 11:20 am
Kane brown IS NOT COUNTRY. Cant stand to hear him.
November 10, 2018 @ 5:00 pm
Gosh your jealousy is really showing. Might want to tuck that in a little ????
November 11, 2018 @ 9:33 pm
Your ignorance and short-sightedness is showing, might wanna tuck that in a little.
November 10, 2018 @ 11:23 am
I think Kane Brown is wonderful. His songs are great. You go Kane Brown dont let anyone steer you from your goals or blessings. Stop hating people. The boy is country.
November 10, 2018 @ 11:35 am
Who else would you say is COUNTRY right now Michelle ?
November 10, 2018 @ 8:54 pm
Trigger,
Why did you delete my reply to Michelle? It was harmless.
November 10, 2018 @ 10:22 pm
I haven’t deleted any of your comments. Don’t see anything in either the trash or spam folder.
November 11, 2018 @ 10:13 am
I also enjoy Kane and so does my whole family. There some very “country” songs on his new album that came out this week.
November 12, 2018 @ 6:33 pm
I love how all of Mr. Brown’s supporters talk to him like a special needs kid who, while trying to tie his shoe laces, tied his shoes together and tripped. “Aww, bless his heart, he’s trying. Keep it up big guy. Pretty soon you’ll be able to tie your shoes just like a big boy…”
November 10, 2018 @ 11:31 am
How perfect was Lee Ann’s comment? Short and sweet, but it concisely gets to the point that will be missed by so many of these geniuses.
November 10, 2018 @ 11:32 am
If Music Row is going to push these artists down our throats, will they please have them work on their media relations. I listened to Kane’s interview this morning and he is dull as toast. When asked how he had built his following, he stated “By hanging out on Instagram.” That answer is what is wrong with music – all genres. Never mind if you have talent as long as you have an Instagram following.
I look at the artists that are NOT appearing on the CMA Awards and it is astounding. Wouldn’t it be great to see Dolly Parton on the awards, even if it is as a presenter? Why not do “the next generation of country singers” and feature Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, and others? Instead we have to watch the same people year after year.
November 10, 2018 @ 11:41 am
Kane Brown is better than hearing ” Jack & Diane” rendition 50 million times or Blake Sheldon’s. ” Turnin me on” which is not country played on the radio just because he’s in bed with Sony same with Sam Hunt would love to hear more from old school Country Artists. THEY all seem to be retired or don’t get play time anymore! Kane Brown might not “LOOK” Country but neither did Charlie Pride and he is one of Country Music’s best! Give Kane Brown a chance he’s got the voice and the heart he’s gonna come into his own! He’s gonna be great! He’s doing good!
November 10, 2018 @ 12:15 pm
But Charlie Pride WAS country.
Kane Brown? Nope.
November 10, 2018 @ 4:52 pm
Quit hating…. Just because your jealous!
November 10, 2018 @ 6:14 pm
His jealous what?
November 10, 2018 @ 12:20 pm
The difference is when Charlie Pride opened his mouth it was country. Your boy is hot garbage
November 10, 2018 @ 2:48 pm
If you’re looking for diversity, look at Tony Jackson, not Kane Brown. Tony has the voice, honors the tradition, and brings his own spin to it as well. Look at Jimmie Allen as well. If Kane Brown was really country, now that he has a voice, he’d be doing more to *act* country. Guess who I’ve spent money on? Guess who I haven’t?
November 10, 2018 @ 6:17 pm
I like Turnin Me On. Loved I Lived It. And Mr. Shelton is not with Sony. So kind if hard to be in bed with that label. He’s with Warner’s Music-Nashville. Always has been. And I’d rather hear TMO then what’s on top ten. Except Luke Combs.
November 10, 2018 @ 6:30 pm
I like TMO. Loved I Lived It. But just because we are all in a snit here I just want to point out it would be difficult for Sony to push Mr. Shelton on radio. Or for him to be in bed with them. He’s with Warner’s Music-Nashville. Always has been. Kane, Luke Combs, Tim McGraw, Mitchell Tenpenny, Old Dominion, Maren, Miranda….Sony. Sony/WME a lot of power. WMN not so much.
November 10, 2018 @ 7:03 pm
The fact that you’re even attempting to compare Kane to Charlie is ridiculous. Charlie Pride is more country than any modern artist by a long shot. Charlie’s story and struggle are yet to be recognized because his life doesn’t fit into the leftist ethos.
November 11, 2018 @ 9:40 pm
Better than Blake Shelton? Well that’s about the lowest standard one could shoot for.
Congrats, I guess.
November 10, 2018 @ 11:45 am
”Instead we have to watch the same people year after year.”
…………isn’t that a fact , ray.. its like the industry is so desperate and afraid to fix what , in their narrow vision ‘ ain’t broke ‘ . unfortunately there are enough followers of this same ol same ol to support this approach by the industry fake award shows .
but again , the musical options and outlets are numerous ….no one holds a gun to our heads to listen to the Urbans, Owens and Kanes ……the biz is targeting an audience that does not really care WHAT’s on their radio if it sounds trendy and they don’t have to actually think about the lyric OR the sub-par, generic musical content .
November 10, 2018 @ 11:47 am
I like Kane Brown. Is he the “New Direction” of Country Music? Country Music has many directions in it. That’s one of tge things I lije about it. There’s something of everone. I don’t like every artist in the genre although they have a right to be in it. The new artists are bringing a new generation into the genre. As Brantley Gilbert sang, “Country must be Country Wide”. I feel the genre is large enough to accommodate different artists.
November 10, 2018 @ 1:10 pm
As Brantley Gilbert sang..,
Oh, no, you di’int!
November 10, 2018 @ 11:46 pm
There is nothing wrong with Brantley Gilbert or Kane Brown they are very good so quit BITCHEN.
November 11, 2018 @ 9:36 pm
Learn how to spell “bitching” before you put it in all caps as if that makes your point any stronger. Lol
November 11, 2018 @ 9:36 pm
There’s nothing wrong with them as people or artists, but they have been mislabeled as and championed as Country when in fact they are most certainly not.
November 10, 2018 @ 11:52 am
Kane Brown is the new “King” of country? Um, no, George Strait he ain’t. Strait is real country, this guy is a corporate tool. George can sing, this guy sounds like a programmed robot.
November 10, 2018 @ 12:18 pm
Diversity in country music is there for the taking in Tony Jackson, Aaron Vance and Mickey Guyton….not that it should matter. I love Lee Ann’s comment straight to the point and directed at the culprit, music row. I enjoy Joshua’s music but sadly his comments are personal and come across as jealousy. I am not saying he’s wrong but it does take away from the topic of the music.
November 10, 2018 @ 2:41 pm
If country music wants to put its best foot forward, it should make sure that EVERY artist, regardless of gender, race, age, etc is given a fair shot. They should also makes sure those artists are actually country. Otherwise you will inherently give an unfair advantage to pop-oriented artists such as Kane Brown. There is nobody more discriminated against in modern country music than artists who actually play country music, and it’s because they’re being forced out by people like Kane Brown, not vice versa.
November 10, 2018 @ 3:10 pm
I do agree that the music should be based on the music alone. I mentioned diversity because it was mentioned in the article “These articles also seem to especially focus on the “diversity” Kane Brown symbolizes for country.” However, if magazines want to focus on diversity I wish they would give artists like the ones I mentioned a shot. Me personally as minority I don’t really care what your background is just play good county music and I am there. I don’t listen to country radio unless someone else is playing it so I don’t know what Kane has done that is any different than what’s been done to country music the last 15 plus years. I am not talking about just the rap, hip-hop or R&B. Just the shittyness (excuse my language) in the direction of country. My only guess is he’s moving the music farther away from country. To me a little farther away was too much for my taste, so really now nothing would surprise me.
November 11, 2018 @ 1:21 am
Nailed it with those three artists right there, Marc!!! Thank you!!
November 10, 2018 @ 12:23 pm
I’ve found that keeping the radio on classic rock is the answer to my frustration with todays music.
November 10, 2018 @ 12:24 pm
Here’s the thing I think some people miss in this debate. To me, and I think a lot of others, it’s not about how he looks or his background, etc. in fact, I welcome that – I think most people here do as well. Sam Hunt, etc also receive criticism. If they didn’t, I’d be in line to cry foul. But they do. What it is about is brining technology into one of the last standing major genre’s, and the one that really should try to maintain the human musician element. There’s tons of great electronic based music out there, if that’s your thing. Why the need to bring it into country and “change” it? I like country, amoung other reasons, for the human feel and emotion that goes into making it. More than other genres, it’s based on more “primitive” and acoustic music making. So yes, I do object to Kane Brown, Sam Hunt, FGL, and Walker Hayes being the future of country music, but stop saying it’s for any other reason than it’s because that music is not makes country, country.
November 10, 2018 @ 12:31 pm
Its the other “great” country artists like FGL, Walker Hayes, Sam Hunt. Duh ???? You go, you boys are country. Ok, who stole my my haters gonna hate stamp?
November 10, 2018 @ 12:34 pm
Sorry, that was for albert above. Was in too much of a haters gonna hate rage to push the right button.
November 10, 2018 @ 12:36 pm
I wanna hear more of Kane’s music..All of you are great!!!!!!!!!!
I only listen to GoCountry105.Nothing Better!!!!!!!
Jason, Zack Brown’s great songs .Wanna hear More songs of everyone..Keep Up the Great Music. I am Loving The music!!!!!!
November 10, 2018 @ 12:43 pm
As long as the “old” country music exists – and it always will, this “future” will never come to pass. Any brief comparison between the two yields a failing grade for the so-called “future” version. If you want to see if a stick is crooked, lay a straight stick beside it. This new stuff is a crooked stick from the get-go, even if you don’t have a straight stick handy.
November 10, 2018 @ 12:48 pm
I love the old country music ,but nothing ever stays the same
Country music has changed and will continue to change
As for me and my house we love Kane Brown
He deserves the recognition he is getting now ,he worked hard for it
November 10, 2018 @ 9:09 pm
You need to work harder at using a comma. Maybe your house ,can help you.
November 10, 2018 @ 12:55 pm
I like his music. I don’t give a rat’s ass about anything else. Period.
If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it. It’s that simple.
November 10, 2018 @ 2:30 pm
No, it’s not. The fact that there are too many under appreciated and under funded, actually good country artists out there, says otherwise.
November 10, 2018 @ 3:57 pm
”I like his music. I don’t give a rat’s ass about anything else. Period.”
So …you DO give a rat’s ass about Kane Brown…?
Well ….I’d agree with you there . His music IS worth a rat’s ass .
November 10, 2018 @ 5:10 pm
If I had to choose between a rat’s ass and a Kane Brown album I’m taking the rat’s ass.
November 10, 2018 @ 6:34 pm
Then don’t force it on me.
If I wanted to buy a screwdriver I’d go to an Ace Hardware. But if I went into an Ace Hardware and some clown handed me a a whoopee cushion and said “this is the future of hardware stores don’t like it don’t shop there”
I’d punch him right in the mouth.
You don’t even realize how ridiculous you sound
November 11, 2018 @ 6:28 am
I bet that guy from ace would wring you out like a wet towel fuzz my moneys on him
Id also like to point out my picks went 2-0-1 yesterday thank you Bama took there foot off the gas at the end so ended up with a push on that won but you never ever pick against Bama no matter what the spread is
November 10, 2018 @ 1:02 pm
Not a fan of Kane Brown’s music but Joshua Hedley attacking somebody for their look is pretty damn funny. He ticks every box in a are you a try hard hipster questionnaire.
November 10, 2018 @ 1:27 pm
Couldn’t agree more, and in the process he kind of derails the other good points being made.
November 10, 2018 @ 2:30 pm
I’m probably not one to chide people for poking fun of folks on the internet, though I do always try to keep it on things people can avoid or fix, like what they’re wearing or their hair, etc., and always try to keep it lighthearted as opposed to judgemental. That may seem like a dumb distinction, but I think it’s important.
This Kane Brown issue is going to become a major one. The guy is on the precipice of becoming the biggest thing in all of country music, and for years to come. If we want our criticisms and concerns to ring true and be considered, it’s best if we keep them to his music, his approach, and the spurious nature of his rise. Making fun of his looks will only feed the incorrect media narrative that anyone who hates Kane Brown is doing so because they’re racist, or they’re afaid of people who look different, or only want to keep country music sounding like Hank Williams, etc. Kane gives us plenty of reasons to criticize him that are not image related. We should focus on those as not to erode the underlying argument, and also give him credit where credit is due, if there is any.
November 10, 2018 @ 2:45 pm
Looks shouldn’t matter at all because it’s a slippery slope. Start criticizing clothes and hair and then you’re into judging weight/looks. Ageism is already a giant hurdle especially for women we don’t need to add reasons to hate on people.
I know I’m contributing by picking on Jushua Hedley but one look at his Instagram account and he’s what Wheeler Walker would be if he started parodying Midland. He’s the last one to judge anybody.
November 10, 2018 @ 3:05 pm
Very true TX. Hedley’s comment was very childish.
November 10, 2018 @ 1:23 pm
I’m not rooting for Kane Brown to OD; I just think he will.
November 10, 2018 @ 1:26 pm
Here’s a test: let’s hear Kane release an album of Lefty Frizzell covers.
November 13, 2018 @ 12:21 pm
What a lame suggestion for a young artist who above all wants to be creative! After all, Willie has done that in 1975 already – so what’s the purpose of doing another? Are you expecting him to make something that has been perfect in its way, even better? **eyeroll**
November 13, 2018 @ 2:45 pm
I’m expecting him to make a country album.
November 10, 2018 @ 1:37 pm
Y’all can keep hating on this kid like I did for the longest time but at least take a listen to some of the better cuts on this album before you judge. “Baby Come Back to Me,” “Good As You,” “Short Skirt Weather,” and “Live Forever” are actually not half bad, with “Live Forever” being the best of them. It sounds like Kane actually got to do more of what he wanted on this album instead of what Nashville wanted. He even included a steel guitar solo on “Work” and an old school piano riff on “Short Skirt”. Seems like he actually got with the right producer and made some decent stuff. And the writing is a lot more sincere since he recently got married.
Not saying it’s great, but it genuinely surprised me. Good on him for not making an album full of shitty bro country again. Just give it a chance before outright judging.. some of it is listenable.
November 10, 2018 @ 2:53 pm
Who do you think you are? Trying to make since and stuff.
I agree with you, BTW.
November 11, 2018 @ 9:28 pm
Sorry bro but I’m not listening to a song called “Short Skirt Weather”. Just hearing the title makes me nauseous.
November 12, 2018 @ 9:02 am
Ok fair enough. I can respect your opinion. Lyrically, it’s not the greatest, but sonically, it’s a step up for him. You don’t have to like it, but this is exactly what I’m talking about: judging a song (or artist) before you even listen to it.
November 12, 2018 @ 5:49 pm
Alright, I actually gave it a shot just now. It sounded like a cross between Billy Ray Cyrus and Luke Bryan. Pretty much what I expected.
December 19, 2018 @ 5:36 pm
yet u probably loved every note of Chatahoochie or Boot Scootin Boogie, right?
Personally I thought Kane and Lauren Alaina’s WHAT IFS was the best song on country radio last year… followed by HOW NOT TO by Dan and Shay and I COULD USE A LOVE SONG by Maren Morris…
People comparing the works of Brown to Lee Ann Womack are ridiculous to boot… LeeAnn emerged 20 freaking years ago and could be Brown’s mother…Id hope her work shows a bit more maturity than his does… yet I remember when she was young she released a song called Buckaroo… just saying…
I shouldn’t be surprised by the one sided , almost racist ideals expressed throughout this thread (and sorry folks, that’s what a lot of them are…), after all these are the same people who held rally’s to burn Dixie Chicks albums in 2003 over a political opinion expressed by Natalie Maines… you ran your top act out of the genre,.. I guess when I purchase an album it is because I enjoy the music on it, not because I need the artist to see life the way I do…
I can only imagine the hate that would’ve been thrown at my absolute favorite country artist of all time had this site been in existence in the 1990’s… Mary Chapin Carpenter. A feminist who dared to wear a Red Ribbon supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS… how dare she! She sang a song about a woman daring to leave her husband?!?! What blasphemy!
Pop country is what makes the genre listenable… sorry about it. Long LIVE Kane, FGL, Kelsea Ballerini, and the pioneers before them like the legendary Shania Twain… I get thew racist, homophobic, confederate flag wearing “purists” are gonna disagree which is quite ok with me… they are not the kind of people I desire to have backing me up anyway… but something tells me a lot of them have a white hooded robe hanging in their closet…
and before i have my grammar and punctuation corrected spare us the time… i’m not taking a test and could care less if i failed to use proper writing techniques since I am not turning in this post to my English teacher… but I will walk away thankful that I am not lame enough to be correcting spelling errors like some of you……
December 19, 2018 @ 8:26 pm
“yet u probably loved every note of Chatahoochie or Boot Scootin Boogie, right? “
No, I didn’t. I hate those songs. I’m not a fan of that 90’s/early 2000’s country at all.
Merry Christmas.
August 13, 2020 @ 10:04 am
I say Kane and the Dixie Chicks sing together and possibly throw in some Daughtry…..would love that…oooh or maybe some Hootie or as “Country calls him Darius Rucker” LOL.
November 10, 2018 @ 1:38 pm
Question for all the KB supporters here…is there a template somewhere, encouraging you on how to reply to the hating haters? It seems every post is a dreamy tribute to how he’s “worked so hard,” is “following his dreams,” is “doing his thing,” using “his god given talent,” and “he has blessings.” Is there maybe like a web based auto-enamorlator thingy that you are using?
November 10, 2018 @ 1:49 pm
Do yourselves a big favor. Check out Dale Watson and anyone else carrying the Ameripolitan torch. They’re the real thing
November 10, 2018 @ 2:17 pm
Funny how most of the Famous People commenting are wannabes or has been. As for the rest of ya complaining….can you sing? Are you jealous? I mean honestly his stuff is better than some and not as good as others. Thats the truth but why does everyone need to put down someone else’s success.
November 10, 2018 @ 2:50 pm
I wish him all the success in the world, in another genre. People here object, because he and others are changing the genre – a genre that is near and dear to people’s hearts. AND – artists like him, FGL, Sam Hunt, etc do in some part detract from the success of truly talented country artists struggling to make ends meet. Why is that so hard to understand?
November 10, 2018 @ 6:57 pm
Not hard to understand but truly its a little petty. All music in every genre changes and transform. We may not like where it goes I.E. look at pop music in general. I can’t stabd 90% of the new crap. Truth is ….it ain’t my style. People we got a lot bigger things in this world to worry about…mass shootings and equality…so stop whining over not having your way. Stop complaining about someone else’s success. Again I maintain that those complaining either have no talent, jealous, has been, or wanna be’s. STOP its really not the serious.
November 10, 2018 @ 8:55 pm
“STOP it’s not really the serious?” Your point is as coherent and as well taken as your command of the English language.
This is a website dedicated to country music, not the other world problems you mention. The fuck are you talking about?
November 11, 2018 @ 1:39 am
Thank you for proving what an idiot you are for me! You have no real intelligent answer to come back with so you try to curse and cut someone down. Good Job!
November 11, 2018 @ 7:31 am
Right….
November 11, 2018 @ 11:35 am
Been thinking about this comment and how it makes me seem insensitive to the issues mentioned. I wish I would have worded that differently. Those are important issues. That said I’m not sure how that should have anything to do with the criticism here.
November 13, 2018 @ 11:13 am
Whoever you wanna be
Take it from me.
I play eight instruments, teach a workshop at a music festival, make my living playing an instrument, teach an instrument, worked at two music schools, and have a music theory degree
Kane Brown is about as much a Country Singer as a taco salad is a five dollar foot long
You’re welcome to like it, but stop ruining someone else’s music just to listen to yours
November 10, 2018 @ 3:14 pm
It’s because MSM is basically touting him as the latest Country Music Jesus, and that’s not the consensus of the majority of fans of true country music. Plus, as Trigger mentioned, those streaming numbers and favorable playlist inclusions are at the very least a reason to be doubtful about how successful and popular he really is.
November 10, 2018 @ 6:37 pm
I have a music theory degree, teach at a music festival, have played in three bands.
pretty sure i know what I’m talking about when I saw Kane Brown isn’t good.
The worst part is that he has the potential to do really good 90s Country Music but doesn’t
November 10, 2018 @ 2:43 pm
People who make these comments in hate and spite and then turn around and wonder how another person in this world can walk into a bar and shoot innocent people. It’s all because of promoted hating on others in our society. If would stop with all hating on others maybe others would do the same. Focus on the positive and teach our youth that you can have a name and a voice without hating on others
November 10, 2018 @ 3:18 pm
So not digging someone’s music and pointing out they’re not country is encouraging shootings? That’s a streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetch.
November 10, 2018 @ 3:29 pm
And here I thought these tragedies might happen because of some combination of prescribed mind altering pharmaceuticals, lack of funding for and shuttering of mental institutions, PTSD, glorification of actual violence, etc, etc. But all this time, little did I know the actual cause. Wow, I learned a lot today.
November 11, 2018 @ 9:21 pm
Really Josh? That’s what you’re going with? Resisting the destruction of a rich genre of music is causing shootings?
Come stronger next time. That was WEAK. You embarrassed yourself bud.
November 10, 2018 @ 2:51 pm
Merle Haggard, Lefty frizzell, Bob Wills, WAYLON, Mel Tillis, Buck Owens, George Jones, Flatt & Scruggs, Faron Young, HANK WILLIAMS, etc, etc, etc. Kane Brown blows goats. Thanks for listening.
November 11, 2018 @ 5:19 am
Yep. And Dock Boggs, Gid Tanner, Charlie Poole, Jimmie Rodgers, The Carters, The Stonemans, Monroe Brothers, Stanley Brothers, Hazel Dickens, Doc Watson, Maddox Bros and Rose, Hank Snow, Tom Hall and on and on, up until newer artists like Townes, Flatlanders, Guy Clark, Dave Alvin, Emmylou, etc. It cracks me up when I read comments about the 90’s being the golden decade of country music. Marketers know 90% of the population will buy an image, and they know whatever requires the least amount of effort put forth on the part of the consumer, will sell. Most consumers of today’s “Country Music” want what is on commercial radio. It’s easy. It’s what their peers listen to and talk about. Just preset your car radio to your top stations and your work is done. When I was a teen in the 60’s I had to work hard to find the music I loved. Really, with the internet today, how much effort does it require to find good music? Face it, it’s not that important to 95% of music consumers who are casual listeners. For others like myself, music is as important as food and water. For most people it’s just background noise. This ain’t going to change.
November 11, 2018 @ 9:13 am
Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers is an interesting example–Tanner himself wanted to keep playing novelty hillbilly songs (the “pop music” of his day) but Clayton McMichen and Lowe Stokes wanted to branch out into more adventurous and challenging music that incorporated elements of jazz and blues and featured more virtuoso playing. Tanner is just a footnote today, but McMichen and Stokes are considered country pioneers.
November 11, 2018 @ 2:54 pm
Gid Tanner could probably outplay either of them from a technical point. He is probably the greatest example and most authentic example of quality old-timey fiddling. Les Raber who is recorded in the smithsonian is a great example but he lacks the technical points.
and to say Tanner is a footnote overlooks the fact that he’s one of the people responsible for preserving tons of old tunes and a colossal cultural preservationist.
Stokes output beyond Tanner’s input is far far less consequential.
November 12, 2018 @ 10:02 am
This is the kind of argument I appreciate, because I learn something. I’m not sure if Tanner could outplay McMichen or Stokes from a technical point (because I’m not that knowledgeable of fiddling technique), but even so, I think technique is not as valuable as creativity. McMichen I believe felt that Tanner held him back.
I’m listening to “Tanner’s Farm” and “Tanner’s Boarding House” on YouTube right now, and he’s very good, but I prefer what I’ve heard of Stokes and of McMichen’s Georgia Wildcats to the Skillet Lickers’ material as far as composition goes. This is more a matter of taste, though. They’re all good. I was hasty in calling Gid a footnote.
I’d never heard of Les Raber, and there’s not much on YouTube, but he seems (to my tin ear) to be somewhat subtle and innovative within the old-timey school. Will have to investigate further. Thanks for the tip.
November 13, 2018 @ 11:20 am
I’m an experienced fiddler with some contest winnings under my belt, so technical points is sort of my wheelhouse.
I will say that Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers are a pretty well documented name in the contest of old-school Country Music, and Stokes and McMichen are generally known for their involvement therein.
Les Raber is one of only two Michigan state fiddlers preserved in the smithsonian, and has left behind a really great series of waltzes that never expanded beyond southern Michigan but are really exciting as far as their composition goes.
I would say that Gid Tanner, while the techical inferior of peers like Eck Robertson and John Carson had the best style points and the most modern approach that didn’t sound like an old school hillbilly scratching his bow on his strings. he had the smoothest and clearest approach by far
November 10, 2018 @ 2:52 pm
What in the fuck is going on in the comment section?
November 10, 2018 @ 3:22 pm
Out of curiosity, what do you mean?
November 10, 2018 @ 10:30 pm
This story went viral among Kane Brown fans and they’re pouncing. Seems to happen pretty commonly when his name comes up.
November 11, 2018 @ 1:47 am
My favorite thing about this comment section is how Kane Brown fans basically fulfilled all the stereotypes that people have of them. It took hard work and dedication, but man did they pull it off
November 12, 2018 @ 6:49 pm
Don’t forget their blessings…
November 10, 2018 @ 3:06 pm
You know, I do occasionally hear country radio in the car, as my daughters like to listen to it and I don’t completely monopolize the music. And I hear a Kane Brown song every now and again. How on earth can anyone claim that it’s anything new with respect to what country radio plays? It’s more r&b-ish lite pop country to me.
November 10, 2018 @ 4:04 pm
well ….yeah …I was a bit thrown by the ”new direction ” label hung on Brown .
Isn’t he the OLD bro direction ??….this stuff’s been going on for a decade now and every ” new direction ” guy sounds exactly like the last 50 ! ……only thing different is the tattoos .
by the way ….just heard Pardi’s new single . he jumped ship and into the fray …no hook , no line…no singer
November 10, 2018 @ 3:11 pm
I’d rather be “stuck in Folsom Prison” than listen to Kane Brown or read Rolling Stone Country.
November 10, 2018 @ 3:43 pm
No, you wouldn’t.
November 10, 2018 @ 3:28 pm
..”and since most of music media has devolved into nothing more than a promotional arm of the mainstream industry..” could be said for media in general nowadays..
November 10, 2018 @ 3:41 pm
Oh Lee Ann, you hypocrite. I’ll never forget what you did.
November 10, 2018 @ 5:53 pm
Hey Honk she paid the bills so she could do whatever the hell she wanted. You have to give and take a lot of the time in the entertainment industry.
November 10, 2018 @ 3:58 pm
Pop music (whether Kane Brown or Barry Manilow or “How Much Is That Doggy in the Window?”) is supposed to make you feel good–even the sad songs. Traditional country music is about coping with the loneliness of life on earth. You might not feel good about your situation after listening to traditional country music but you know someone else has faced the emptiness and is brave enough not to lie about it.
If you want to use music to feel good, that’s your choice. But claiming that pop music is “country” is like categorizing “Hamlet” as a romantic comedy because it has a love affair and a couple of jokes.
Lee Ann knows (“like an old Hank Williams song”).
November 10, 2018 @ 4:08 pm
Why do people have to complain about everything…. Even music. These “country singers” complain about his music for what? To get attention… maybe they are just jealous their music isn’t being played anymore. For people out there who don’t like his music….. DON’T LISTEN TO IT THEN.. At the end of the day he is happy doing what he loves to do. I love his music.
November 10, 2018 @ 6:38 pm
If you don’t like my music quit trying to change it
November 10, 2018 @ 4:23 pm
Joshua Hedley is a fucking asshole.
November 10, 2018 @ 4:44 pm
The folks that go to see KB are not at the shows I go to ,so wherever the new direction and those folks are headed… I’ll be going the other way.
November 10, 2018 @ 4:45 pm
His music is not for me. If he fills arenas, though, and people go to the shows and have fun for a few hours, then so be it. My tastes aren’t for everyone.
My dad loved Hank Williams and thought that most of the country stars of the 70s ruined country music.
It’s a different world now. If “metrics” and streaming and getting added to the right playlists, etc were a factor in the 60s and 70s, you can’t say for a fact that Lefty and Waylon and Roger Miller and Buck Owens etc etc etc wouldn’t be right in the middle of all that. It’s hard to blame an artist for taking advantage of opportunities. Survival of the fittest applies in music, too.
It is natural for young artists to have some hip hop influence in their music. It has been a part of their entire lives. That was not the case for the heritage artists.
I can be a bit of a hypocrite; I can watch country awards shows and have fairly biting if not vicious running social media commentary about what I see. This “what is and isn’t” country music business is starting to get a bit tiresome, though. I follow, enjoy, and appreciate the Saving Country Music playlist on Spotify. I don’t like every song on there though and find some of it to be every bit as contrived as to what is on modern country radio.
I play in a weekend bar band and have for over 30 years. I prefer playing and singing Ray Price songs. When some 25 year old requests a Jason Aldean song, though, it isn’t because someone twisted her arm. It’s because she likes the song and it is a part of her life and she will still like it when she is 60. Just like I still like what I liked when I was 25.
Music evolves, but goes in cycles, too. Every so often, what we like is what the general public likes, too. We bristled at Garth and his modern marketing techniques and over-the-top arena shows, but when you hear a Garth song today, do you think, “That ain’t country”?
In these times, you can’t post anything without getting lambasted from other commenters. Such is the nature of discourse these days. Tell me I’m wrong, that I’ve missed the point, that i have a tin ear, I’m going to Hell, i shouldn’t be allowed to breathe, blah blah blah. I have shelves full of country music history books and I’ve read every word of every one of them. I’ll stack my music collection against anyone’s. I’m not going to force feed Hank Snow on my teenage daughter, though. She likes what she likes, I bristle a little. My dad didn’t like what I liked.
November 10, 2018 @ 7:07 pm
well stated paul .
personally speaking I think the ‘style over substance ‘ factor is the HUGE difference in THIS generation’s ‘country’ music . far too much emphasis in un-natural phrasing of too many vacuous lyrics and FAR less attention given to trad instrumentation and soloists . yes ….the music has and must , to some extent, evolve but the common thread of the aforementioned and better song crafting seems conspicuous in its absence . yes , this may well be the music our kids and grandkids think back on as ‘ the good ol stuff ‘ when they are 60….but not for its quality , I don’t believe …..mostly for its nostalgia factor in the absence of quality .
there’s no contemporary version of ” the great American songbook ” developing ….in ANY genre , in my opinion …only disposable writes and recordings which substitute trends and ‘instant gratification’ for timeless , smart ,mature music with much , much longer shelf life .
November 10, 2018 @ 9:36 pm
Well said Paul.
November 10, 2018 @ 5:28 pm
Man, fuck them. Kane is awesome and i was listening to him before anyone of them heard of him. He rose so so great and is doing so well. They ought to embrace his different direction and continue to do they own style. Hes perhaps different however thats the beauty. Country doesn’t always have to sound the same.
November 10, 2018 @ 6:35 pm
and spinach doesn’t have to be a vegetable
and hardware stores don’t have to sell hardware
and printers shouldn’t have to print things
November 10, 2018 @ 7:33 pm
“Rose so great
They continue to do they own style
However that’s the beauty”
Beautifully poetic, however unintentional it may be.
November 11, 2018 @ 9:15 pm
Veronica, quit staring at your smartphone all day long and learn how to communicate properly. If you’re still in school, start paying attention. If you’re out of school, you really should have paid more attention while you were there.
November 17, 2018 @ 8:29 am
Veronica, if you ever get to meet Kane Brown in person, don’t kiss him…Bullfrogs won’t turn into a Prince..
November 10, 2018 @ 6:09 pm
Trigger have you listened to the album? I think it has some good tracks. It’s much better than FGL or Sam Hunt, at least. I don’t think it sounds different than everything else on country radio, so I don’t see how it’s considered a new direction.
November 10, 2018 @ 10:32 pm
I’m sure I’ll have a review soon.
November 10, 2018 @ 7:05 pm
Needs more cowbell er beat box…..
November 10, 2018 @ 7:09 pm
” could I get some more talent in my monitor please “
November 10, 2018 @ 7:06 pm
I love kane brown, you can add taylor ray holbrook, upchurch, the lacs, colt ford too! I listen to classic country also, no one can replace my conway twitty…but Kane’s voice is sexy as hell and “These Hands” by Holbrook is my new favorite along with “Reload” by colt ford. Open your mind people! Awesome music right there!!
November 10, 2018 @ 7:24 pm
Wow ppl if you dont like their music don’t listen to it problem solved stop demeaning ppl because you don’t care for them.
November 10, 2018 @ 9:01 pm
If you don’t like this story / this website, don’t post here. Problem solved.
November 11, 2018 @ 9:11 pm
Stop calling it Country and we’ll stop having a problem with it. Problem solved.
November 10, 2018 @ 7:43 pm
From Taylor to FGL to the female and and male singers played ad nauseam on CMT who look and sound alike, they never would have been successful without streaming and other online sites. Still can’t understand why Dustin Lynch was invited to join the Opry and why Carrie Underwood was invited before the Oak Ridge Boys. I’m in NYC and miss hearing real country on the radio and on CMT/GAC. I buy CDs and listen in the car or on my Ipod on the train.
November 10, 2018 @ 7:54 pm
Kane Brown gets to be a star the same way Obama got to be president. They are above criticism because, if you do, you are branded a racists or mean-spirited.
Trigger said, “…Also there is an emerging strategy by Kane’s team which you can see in many of the features coming out about him around his album release to label any criticism against him is either bullying, or outright racism.
Words of truth. That is why we had Obama for 8 years. I mean, walking in tot press conference and the media CLAPS for him? Really? Yeah.
And watch. The media will fawn over Kane. God help anyone who dares to criticize him. they will be thrown in jail for a musical hate crime!
November 12, 2018 @ 3:02 pm
Obama got to be president by having people vote for him, same as any other president. Other than Obama and Brown both being biracial men, there’s really no reason to compare them.
November 10, 2018 @ 8:24 pm
One thing for sure, there are all kinds of great comments by his fans here that will make great “Kane Brown E- cards” on Farce The Music.
November 10, 2018 @ 8:32 pm
I listened to him sing one night on TV, had to change the channel. Not that I’m a singer but have listened to other singers, I thought this guy could not sing. Leave wrap crap out country music . Young people dont know squat what country music is about.
November 10, 2018 @ 9:22 pm
This article is a constant reminder that country isn’t country anymore. Now it DOES sound like everything else. How sad.
November 10, 2018 @ 10:24 pm
Agreed. Reminded me of one of my favorite songs ever… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oIce6X8uPw
November 10, 2018 @ 9:32 pm
Trig,
Are those kane brown fans real or it’s a robot sending idiot messages?
November 10, 2018 @ 10:34 pm
These are real fans, and they have a right to post here like anyone else.
November 11, 2018 @ 5:32 am
thanks for the clarification!
November 11, 2018 @ 8:43 am
Do you really have to insult robots like that?
November 10, 2018 @ 9:51 pm
Why are all these Brown fans seemingly illiterate? Based on their posts, they come across as high school dropouts who flunked remedial English. Of course that may explain their appalling lack of taste.
November 10, 2018 @ 10:18 pm
As a 43 year old “has been that never was” country artist, I’ll just say this… In my heart, I know what country music did for me and what it has made me feel for 43 years. And the music I love spans from Roger Miller to Hank to Haggard to AJ to Strait to Daryle Singletary to Ray Scott. Those, and many others, are “my” singers and songwriters. At this point in my life, I could care less how successful this guy turns out to be. Can honestly say I have zero clue who he is and haven’t heard a word he sung. Country music is the country music YOU want to listen to. Radio has been gone from my life since the early 2000’s. But I still buy music and I still play it from sun up to sun down. I find out about great new artists from social media, friends, neighbors, etc. I feel like this whole conversation is about radio and radio is just like our political environment. I’m a conservative, God and family loving, lover of lyrics over instruments kind of guy. To anyone over a certain age, country radio is CNN. To anyone under a certain age, country radio is FOX. I lived in Nashville for a few years back in the Steve McNair Titans days. Even then, I realized where radio and publishing were headed in music city. Let this guy make millions and win Grammy’s every year. But, if you’re like me, don’t give a rip. Just go support via concerts and albums, the people you believe in. In the the next 2 months, I’ll be going to a Jimmy Fortune concert and a Sammy Kershaw concert. And this Kane Brown will be the furthest thing from my mind! Hope this makes sense. Probably my first post here, but just had to say all that. God bless y’all.
November 11, 2018 @ 12:00 pm
” I feel like this whole conversation is about radio and radio is just like our political environment. I’m a conservative, God and family loving, lover of lyrics over instruments kind of guy. To anyone over a certain age, country radio is CNN. ……..”
Dead on , my friend .
However if we don’t remain somewhat vigilant in the face of this ,we and the next generation will get just what we deserve
November 10, 2018 @ 10:21 pm
All of these people that are complaining that he’s Pop Country should also complain about the Country artist of the past that had hits to cross over to Pop music, like Marty Robbins and Patsy Cline. Even one of the first really famous Country singers of the 1920s named Vernon Dalhart was a former Opera singer and his Country vocals sounded like Opera. Then there was also Jimmie Rogers in the 1920s that incorporated Blues into his music and has Jazz instruments playing in some of his songs. Can’t forget Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys merging Big Band with Country in the 1930s and 40s. Most Country songs have been influenced by whatever styles of music were popular at the particular time they were recorded/released. Country music is no different than any other genre of music that evolves. Almost forgot to mention C.W. McCall was the first Country singer to rap on his song Convoy way back in 1975 for those people complaining about Rap being merged with Country.
November 11, 2018 @ 7:59 am
Crossing over was after the fact- starting out as and being intentionally mislabeled is premeditated. Pre means before the fact. Intentional means premeditated. Mislabeled is intentional. Intentional misleading is lying. Lying to ones self and others enough eventually makes the lie truth- to the liar, and the sheep follow.
November 11, 2018 @ 9:34 am
Since the 1920’s, country music has incorporated elements of blues, jazz, r&b, rock, folk, classical, various regional forms (Cajun, native American…). Of all these genres, country is probably the most adventurous. But these borrowings are stylistic. For over a century, country has maintained its own unique soul.
Pop music (going back to the 19th century when people played polite parlor music) is intentionally soulless. Its goal is to make the listener feel good without having to put out any effort. This is why songs and musicians who were immensely popular are forgotten by the next generation.
Wayne Raney’s country-gospel song “Gathering in the Sky” begins by stating how sorrowful the world is, then envisions a heavenly camp meeting where people will be joyful forever. It is as honest about the pain of everyday living as it is hopeful about the future.
Kane Brown’s “Heaven” opens with “Everybody’s talking about heaven like they just can’t wait to go / Saying how it’s gonna be so good, so beautiful” but then the singer states that he can’t imagine anything better than being in bed with his lover. It’s feel-good pablum.
If people want to listen to pop music in order to feel good, that’s their choice, God bless them.
But when pop pretending to be country edges out music with a heart at the Grammys, on the radio, in music magazines, then it does irreparable harm to those of us who turn to music in order to cope with the world and who refuse to lie to ourselves about what’s going on in our lives.
November 13, 2018 @ 12:30 pm
*** Pop music (going back to the 19th century when people played polite parlor music) is intentionally soulless.*** – What a crap!!! I just say “Imagine” by John Lennon!!!
November 11, 2018 @ 8:50 pm
Don’t ever mention Kane Brown in the same paragraph as Jimmie Rodgers or Marty Robbins ever again. Jimmie is the literal godfather of country music. And when Kane puts out anything remotely close to Marty’s Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, then you can mention them together.
Your comment made me puke up my beer.
November 12, 2018 @ 6:49 am
We may not be on the same side of the aisle.
But you, my friend, know your Country Music.
I can respect that you’ve done your homework.
November 11, 2018 @ 7:53 am
From a hard headed old coot that needs a brain transplant- I rarely listen to radio. If I want music I go to you tube and choose what I want to listen to. Kane Brown ain’t it. No “modern” music is. I prefer traditional from Jimmie Rodgers forward- I choose where forward ends, not the radio. I HATE having anything or anyone forced on me and I don’t use the word hate lightly as it is a very strong emotion that easily consumes. It’s easy to see, from the comments here, that some don’t like Brown and some love him and those who don’t like him are called “haters” (or hatters- LOL) and one even said the latest bar shooting is somehow a result of this “hating”- SMH- I’m not a music critic, or trained in music, or band member- no professional or semi-professional affiliation, but, I have enjoyed music a long, long time.
I don’t enjoy the “modern evolution”. Period. As one commenter said; It’s more show than substance- I’ve been saying that about society in general for over 30 years, and music, I think, reflects the time it’s created- and I’m not advocating for “modern” but, it is what it is and I applaud those who are resisting it. I also abhor those like Rolling Stone whose soul purpose is to be divisive and authoritarian in a realm it knows absolutely nothing about: Country Music.
Rolling Stone authors and in fact most published authors are full of shit. Period. Regardless of their pedigree- they pretend- to pretend is to be “show” not substance and all their self gratification and self back slapping won’t change that, just as their opinion won’t change my preference(s) in any arena, especially personal ones, like music or politics. So likely they won’t influence any decision I make. I know that’s hard for them to fathom but- “I tell the truth, when the truth comes to call”.
November 11, 2018 @ 8:45 am
The supposed “New Country” is garbage. That’s why I never listen to it. Skip the radio stations, go to You Tube and search for the music you want to listen to (Jones, Cash, Anderson, Cline, etc.).
November 11, 2018 @ 8:49 am
It’s a shame that old country singers are displaying their true colors. I feel it’s all about competition, while Kane Brown has now become a household name, most have never heard of the haters. I’m in my 60s and happen to love Kane’s music, it tells a story, it’s from the soul and many find his tunes uplifting and real. If they feel threatened by him, so be it. Meanwhile, I will listen to his new CD, Experiment, which is as good as his first CD.
November 11, 2018 @ 10:21 am
Lee Ann Womack’s comments were not about the quality of Kane Brown’s music but the marketing or labeling of it.
November 11, 2018 @ 12:06 pm
You should be checked for one of those old people mental problems.
November 12, 2018 @ 7:04 pm
Whoa, don’t assume that just because B.Ray is in their 60’s that they’re as feeble minded as younger K.Brown fans. It might just be a hearing problem. I’m going to suggest new batteries for those hearing aids. Personally, if I had to listen to K.Brown, I’d just take the batteries out, but you do you.
November 11, 2018 @ 12:04 pm
I’m sick and tired of the cultural appropriation going on in country music!
November 11, 2018 @ 12:13 pm
The what?
November 11, 2018 @ 1:43 pm
I said “I’m sick and tired of the cultural appropriation going on in country music!”
November 11, 2018 @ 1:01 pm
Where’s Waylon when you need him? Well, there’s always youtube.
November 11, 2018 @ 3:08 pm
Okay look at all the accomplishments kane has made.. The book of genniss records, country music hall of fame..ect i grew up on country music.. Toby, allen, keith, conway twitty, reba, Shania, ect.. I love old school country and i wasnt a fan of the more modern country until i stumbled upon Kane. Not only does he have an AMAZING voice no auto tune btw. But he is a down to earth country boy born n raised. He isnt a “poser” yes some of his songs are a little different but none the less he isnt only singing about his wife left him, drinking beer, horses and tractors.. He sings about his life and i can relate to many songs in different ways. I get kane because i get teased all the time for being a mixed girl growing up in the hood listening to country and loving it! One of MY favorite songs is watermelon crawl my kids n i jam out to it a few times a week! Lol so yes i know real boot scootin boogie! Now would i put kane in the same exact category as brooks n dunn? No. Theres older country and theres newer country just as in rock and r&b times change trends change. Does that make kane “less country” no. Does that make him a poser? No. Hes young hes only 25 u have to give it to him he did get his rise off modern day technology ie Instagram, facebook, YouTube but he didn’t DEPEND on anyone else to get him there. He didnt take hand outs or no for an answer. He made his way by pure tallent. Now hes currently at the NUMBER ONE spot AGAIN.. Selling sold out concerts, and obviously on your mind! NUMBERS DONT LIE!!! let the man shine! Time will tell ya all u need to know. Period. #TEAMKB
November 11, 2018 @ 8:05 pm
There is so much going on here I don’t even know where to start.
I’ll just say this post perfectly encapsulates your typical Kane Brown fan and leave it at that.
November 12, 2018 @ 8:29 am
Sold out shows or No.1 hit on the radio are not valid indicators nowadays.
McDonald sold billions of burgers. Are you implying that McDonald have the best burgers? Quite the opposite. It’s junk food.
Radio is junk music. So yes, Kane Brown is selling junk music.
There is no doubt that making country music is irrelevant is an objective. That’s truly what’s happening here.
Country music is now irrelevant on the radio. If it would be revelant, country radio would respect the genre and put forward songs that are truly country.
It’s not that there is a lack of country songs. New country songs are released every month by several independant artists.
November 11, 2018 @ 3:34 pm
The future of country music, no thanks I’d rather live in the past. And damn is he fugly!
November 11, 2018 @ 7:14 pm
Supporters have commented on Kane Brown’s voice. I agree that his voice taken as musical sound waves is very appealing–for me it’s his strong suit.
Using pure sound wave standards, then compared to Kane Brown, vocalists like Steve Young, Billy Joe Shaver, or Ray Wiley Hubbard are far inferior.
But (contrary to popular tv), voice is much more than voice quality–it’s the phrasing, the variations, the surprises, and yes the songs themselves (whether the singer or someone else wrote them). I’ll take the outlaws over the guy in the outlaw suit any day.
Maybe Kane Brown will evolve and mature. Young, Shaver, and Hubbard did. For my taste, however, their debut albums were leagues above Brown’s, in terms of depth and feeling and faithfulness to the spirit of country music. I hope Brown does become the great country star he’s portrayed as, rather than just this year’s pop star. But he’s got some catching up to do. Before he becomes the future of country music, he should become acquainted with its past.
November 12, 2018 @ 6:56 am
So. Much. This.
I live with the rest of my family, and they watch the Voice. I work late and come home to find them flocked around their fancy tv that won’t let me play duck hunt or gyromite or nothig, and they’re watching the voice.
There’s a lot of technical singers who hit high notes and have dexterity.
But apparently “I’m a critical person” for my usual response.
“Fuzz, you gotta hear this kid!”
“Wake me up when he can sing The Grand Tour or Chiseled in Stone.”
“Why are you so critical?”
“Because these lame kids have no control, no subtlety, everything is high notes and fancy tricks”
November 11, 2018 @ 7:33 pm
Note how there are no middle-aged dudes on here defending Kane Brown’s “music”. Just soccer moms who lap up this mindless, computer-produced soft R&B cack. This shit ain’t country, and Kane Brown ain’t a country musician. Much like Walker Hayes, Brown would get destroyed in a true R&B pop format because he doesn’t have the vocal talent. Instead, this crap gets foisted off on country music, and the soccer moms eat it up.
November 12, 2018 @ 9:51 am
”……mindless, computer-produced soft R&B crack…..”
yeah …that description works for me
November 11, 2018 @ 9:03 pm
If Kane is the future of Country music, I’ll take a hard pass. I’ll keep my favorite band of all time Marshall Tucker (southern rockers sure but 1000 times more country than today’s hippity hoppity bullshit country), Waylon, Willie, Hag, DAC, G. Clark, Jimmie, Hank, Marty R. and so on. Modern guys like Childers, Wall, Jinks, Whitey, Luke Bell, Eady, are about all that’s worth paying attention to nowadays.
November 12, 2018 @ 5:26 am
“Kane Browns success indicates a new direction in country music” Translation: there are way too many white, straight, conservative males who listen to country music, so lets undermine the legacy of country music with our publication to so we can destroy conservatism and traditional values from the inside out.
November 12, 2018 @ 6:55 am
There is good music out there you just have to dig for it. Go listen to some CJ Solar y’all will feel better. I actually attended a KB show a couple years back in a small venue operated by a family member. They allowed cameras as a rule but Kane refused. Strange for a guy who social mediad his way into music. He then called me a liar online until others backed me up. He’s a weasel and his music is all about crossover dollars.
November 12, 2018 @ 7:22 am
I’m about as traditional leaning as it gets when it comes to country music – loving and all the greats like Merle, Loretta, Waylon, and Dolly and also the more modern acts like Margo Price, Jason Isbell, Sarah Shook, and Colter Wall. But I have to say, I gave this Kane Brown album a listen over the weekend and it’s really not that bad all things considered. I’d say Sam Hunt and all the bro country over past several years are the worst offenders. I found Kane’s album pretty diverse with songs to appeal to a more traditional fan (Homesick), 90’s country throwback songs (Short Skirt Weather), and then the usual trend chasing bro songs (Good As You). I’m not saying Kane Brown is country music or should be cerebrated, but in the larger picture of what’s being played on mainstream county radio, Kane definitely isn’t the worst.
November 12, 2018 @ 10:37 am
Comparing Kane Brown as a singer to Charley Pride is a non-starter. Many of the best singers today aren’t as good as Charley is right now, much less when he was at his peak. Kane Brown on his best day isn’t as good as Charley Pride on his worst day.
November 12, 2018 @ 11:39 am
lee ann womack is just hating she HAS NOT HAD A HIT SINCE WHEN,IS SHE COUNTRY? WHO IS SHE TO SAY WHAT COUNTRY IS OR ISNT?????DONT YOU THINK THERE OTHER MORE IMPORTANT THING TO WORRY ABOUT….I LISTEN TO EVERYTHING LIKE THE OLD COUNTRY SOMETIMES LITTLE TOO SAD IT WOULD MAKE ME CRY…SO I STOP LISTENING.BUT BE GRATEFUL THAT HE IS DOING SOMETHING,INSTEAD ARE PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STATE AND JUST GETTING INTO TROUBLE…YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL YOU ALL HAVEONE THING IN COMMON,AND THAT MUSIC……SO, SO, LUCKY YOU PEOPLE HAVE THAT TALENET.THERE PLENTY OF HATE IN THE WORLD DONT ADD TO. IS COUNTRY,STARS SUPPORT THE GOOD WELL TOWARDS OTHERS ,SO MAYBE SHE NOT COUNTRY!!YOU DONT HEARD ANY OF THE OTHERS SAYING ANYTHING….GEORGE,ALAN,REBA,DOLLY..SO JUST SHUT UP LEE ANN WO TO BE SOMETHING.
November 12, 2018 @ 5:25 pm
Wtf did I just read? The irony of saying Lee Ann Womack isn’t country while defending Kane Brown is beautiful.
November 12, 2018 @ 5:34 pm
You need to have a doctor take a look at that before it gets infected.
November 12, 2018 @ 6:11 pm
SINCE WHEN,IS SHE COUNTRY?
Uh, pretty much since her first album.
November 12, 2018 @ 7:12 pm
Tiffany? Did you stroke out at the end there? Get well soon. We’re all waiting with bated breath for you to finish that incredibly coherent and well planned out thought.
November 14, 2018 @ 1:53 am
Ms. Tiffany:
What you have posted is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever read. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response was there anything even CLOSE to what could be considered a rational thought. And everyone on this board is now dumber for having read it.
I award you no points. And may God have mercy on your soul.
November 12, 2018 @ 6:01 pm
Kane Brown looks fine, and I think he has an outstanding voice.
Just as a fellow human being, it’s easy to root for him, imo. The abuse he went thru as a kid, also what he went thru in the teen years. It’s hard to believe so recently there was such outward racism in a high school. It’s of course not acceptable for him to change the Country Genre in any wrong way, but aside from that, you feel bad for anyone who went thru that, and want them to have a lot of success.
What Lee Ann said, about him being “…..a new direction for Music Row……”—what I don’t get then, is why was he passed over for the CMA Awards nominations? There was a feature on SCM about that, but if Music Row likes what he’s doing, why not be awarded for it—if they are associated with the CMA’s.
It seems that when Kane is featured with an article here, a lot of his fans come on, who don’t usually comment. It seems there is always a misunderstanding, that commenters here are against him, not just his being in Country Music. They don’t seem to get what the message is about, and take it personally against him, each time. Maybe consider writing a feature on exactly why he is wrong for the Country Genre, aiming it at those fans who don’t ever seem to understand. Just a suggestion.
November 12, 2018 @ 7:07 pm
I definitely get what you’re saying and agree with your main points, but realistically if Trig went in depth (he may already have) about why he isn’t country. You would still have his fans on here saying we are all old darts and jackasses and racists. We would get it, but they would put fingers in their ears and shout we are wrong then are right
November 13, 2018 @ 4:10 pm
63Guild, Thank you for the nice reply. Maybe you’re right, It does seem it’s the same type of comments from his fans, saying the same things, but I was thinking maybe they don’t get the message here. I thought if an article was directed at them, specifically, maybe they would respond differently (?). It seems worth a try, or every article about Kane could have these same negative comments from his fans throughout, as every other time, etc.,etc.
November 12, 2018 @ 6:23 pm
Here’s the iTunes PR tripe:
“‘Coming from my first album, I still didn’t feel accepted by Nashville,’ rising country star Kanbe Brown told Apple Music”
Right, because Kane Brown just does his own thing, industry be damned.
LOLzLOlZlOLzLOLZ
“In a genre sometimes criticized as conservative, Brown stood out from the beginning. Yes, he looked different — heavily tattooed, rocking diamond earrings, mixed-race in a predominantly white scene”
Yes, our new hero is a fly in the buttermilk! Who writes this racist bullshit and passes it off as anti-racist?
“The Georgia native gained fans and record label interest by posting performance videos on Facebook, rather than emerging fully formed via the usual industry machine”
ROFL
“‘People have a picture of what they think country should look like,’ Brown said”
Ya, they all be racist yo!
“undeniably country”
It’s pop music that co-opts country instruments.
November 12, 2018 @ 7:23 pm
WTAF is wrong with the bunch of you? This kid has taken more crap in every direction. Have y’all took the time to really look in the mirror? Kane Brown is a breath of fresh air in a once stagnant room. He’s brought a new take to country, and it’s not pop/country. Leave the young man alone…like the rest of the artists he’s doing his thing…y’all worry your own houses!!!
P.Saturday. Aren’t we dealing with enough Bullshit???
November 12, 2018 @ 11:11 pm
Hes not country
August 13, 2020 @ 10:01 am
I am with you Linda…..Listen to “Coldspot” , “GrandDaddy’s Chair”, “Don’t go City On Me” , or “Hit the Gas” ….those are all Kane songs that are as Country as anything today’s country Artists are putting out….and he can also be diverse enough to sing with a Latin singer and R & B king….come on people…..he is a hard worker and is doing what he loves…
November 12, 2018 @ 8:10 pm
I sort-of lost respect for Rolling Stone when I read their dismissive reviews of heavy metal albums – and we’re talking current 2000-teens HM groups, not nu-metal or 80’s bands, many of which may not have aged well (though by no means all).
It looks like the writers at RS Country (I assume it’s basically the same organisation) have also lost their grip on what Country Music actually is too.
November 13, 2018 @ 7:50 am
Good points Kapam. RS has a view of country music not rooted in reality. They are attempting to create an alternate universe based solely on their politics. Trig has had plenty to say about this. Last time I checked, music is supposed to be for entertainment, an escape from the stresses we all face in the real world.
As for KB, he’s an entertainer who appeals to a certain demographic. I’m definitely not on board his brand of milky drivel sugar coated nonsense and shame on Abusin’ Music Row for daring to call it country. As for me I’m currently listening to some Gene Watson!
November 14, 2018 @ 8:42 am
I waited until I gave this album a couple of full spins to chime in here. I actually like his voice and remember enjoying the first EP but then I saw him play here on a Sunday night @ Joe’s Live a couple of years ago to about 100 of us. I guess the mom/daughter combos that permeate the landscape of this Pop Country thing going on (and in this thread) hadn’t caught on to him yet. As a performer he’s not my cup of tea. This album has a few good songs that are Country and a bunch that aren’t. I can’t really stand the hand clap/finger snap thing that’s in way too many songs. I’m just glad when our Christmas show headliner was announced last week it was Luke Combs and not Kane……LOL I’ll take Luke over Kane everyday of the week. 🙂