On Randall King Finally Getting a Single on Country Radio
Well it’s about damn time.
Randall King has been one of the leading young neotraditionalists in country music for years now, and has a million dollar voice to back it up. Folks in Texas we’re already hard behind him when he signed to Warner Music in 2019. The signing was a big indication that perhaps traditional country would be returning to the mainstream.
Since the signing, Randall has continued to do well, but hasn’t really reached that big mainstream star status like fellow Texans Cody Johnson and Parker McCollum. He seemed to have been lost in the shuffle, which can happen on major labels.
But now there is a positive sign that perhaps Randall King is finally getting his due. It only took half a decade and two album releases, but Warner Music is finally promoting a proper single to country radio. King’s “I Could Be That Rain” was the most-added track on country radio this week. 27 adds is not an eye-popping number, but much of country radio still doesn’t even know who this guy is, so we’ll take it.
Amid the positivity for Randall King though, there are some interesting questions and observations. In an era when virtually any male can release virtually any single and get it to #1 while the women struggle, why wait five years for Randall King? Perhaps it’s because Warner Music now sees an opening for a more traditional entertainer like Randall, including on country radio. With the success of Zach Top, Lainey Wilson, and Cody Johnson, why not maximize this resource already on your roster?
But of course, “I Could Be The Rain” happens to be one of the least traditional songs on Randall King’s current album Into the Neon released in January. Out of the 18 tracks, it’s the only one with what sounds like an electronic drum opening. This makes it advantageous for country radio, but lame as a difference maker on the mainstream country format. Maybe the logic is to get country radio familiar with Randall King first, and then unleash the hard stuff.
Now is not the time for mild songs and safe strategies though. Zach Top’s “Sounds Like The Radio” went from #24 to #22 on the radio charts this week, and is proving that traditional country songs can succeed. This is the moment to activate the traditionalists on your roster while the sound is hot and everything is moving in that direction.
Then of course it’s fair to ask if any of this really matters anymore? Why are we still even wondering and worrying about what country radio is doing when everything seems to be shifting away from the format? The answer is that radio has never mattered less than it does now, but that doesn’t mean radio doesn’t matter at all. It can still reach audiences that a pragmatic traditionalist like Randall King can find resonance with.
What would be even more cool is if we started seeing Randall King on some of the big festival rosters across independent and mainstream country, and other similar opportunities he seems to be continuously locked out of. Randall King has been in the major label “Artist Protection Program” for too long. No better time than now then to tap this traditional country music resource and put it into action.
August 7, 2024 @ 12:01 pm
Dude has been a safe bet to make it big for a while. Just had to wait for the people in the industry that make these things happen notice. He’s got the songs, and don’t even get me started on his looks!
August 7, 2024 @ 12:45 pm
As far as radio singles to introduce Randall King to a broader listening demographic are concerned, “Burns Like Her” is the clear favorite according to Spotify streaming data.
I’d either go with that as the most buzz worthy choice, or “Hang Of Hangin’ On” as my selfish favorite pick. “I Could Be That Rain” is doing okay in streaming, but not remotely close to the heights of “Burns Like Her”.
August 7, 2024 @ 1:08 pm
We had a festival in Utah last summer that is sponsored by a local radio station, and we went early that day to have good seats for Cody Johnson, and Ashley McBryde, and Randall was on before Ashley, and I was thoroughly impressed by the guy. It was also to go to a mainstream festival and see no performers from the bro country side of things on the roster. It gave me hope. I’m excited to hear he may be getting more traction.
August 7, 2024 @ 2:42 pm
I honestly feel sorry for this guy. I’ve seen him here a couple of times. He puts on a great show, has a killer voice singing real Country, and he’s drop dead gorgeous. Yet, no one in that town knows how to help him succeed? WTF?? It also comes as no shock to me that this song did not make the 11 cuts I chose (out of the 47 someone told him to put on Into The Neon) for my Neon playlist in January. In the meantime, his counterpart/peer Drake Milligan, with a 5 song EP, is tearing it up across the pond, filling theaters with crowds singing every word on top of opening shows here for Cody Johnson.
Randall’s career has been mismanaged at every turn. I hope for his sake this song does well, but since the top of the singles chart is so clogged with drivel the odds of him or even Zach Top going top 10 are slim. I see he’s headed to Europe for some shows, they’ll eat him up!!!
August 7, 2024 @ 8:15 pm
I’m suprised he’s not bigger but his day will come. When I first heard him I could immediately tell his stuff was better than almost all the other newcomers.
August 8, 2024 @ 2:10 am
…he puts on a good show, he has got a fine voice and he looks the part – then again, so does william michael morgan, drake milligan, zach top – not to mention jake worthington, ian munsik or jesse daniel. make no mistake, it is actually pretty crowded in the more traditional corner of country music and there is no shortage of promising talent. furthermore, the fact that cody johnson (so far) could not reach the airplay top spot with a great song like “dirt cheap” is a pretty telling indication that there is only so much appetite and airspace for this kind of sound in the greater scheme of things. still, good to see that randall king’s label is making an effort to get him into the radio.
August 8, 2024 @ 7:06 am
Cody Johnson is doing just fine on country radio. He’s got a couple of #1s, and “Dirt Cheap” got to #6. He’s not looking to release songs exclusively to go #1 like Cole Swindell and Thomas Rhett, because that’s their only avenue toward getting attention. Cody’s filling arenas and will do so regardless if radio plays him. It’s icing.
If Ian Munsick wants to be taken seriously, he needs to get a bass player and stop playing to backing tracks. He has a large audience, but that is his ceiling, not radio.
Randall’s label is making the effort, but this single is not traditional country. It’s a radio single from a traditional country artist. So we’ll see if that formula works.
The idea that every song must go #1 or it’s a failure is a huge part of the problem with country radio.
August 8, 2024 @ 2:57 am
Seems like Warner is going for the friendly approach with the pick of this song. So far they’ve done fuck all and this doesn’t look like it’s the masterstroke to get Randall in the spotlight. In the end, Randall will probably have to catch a break with a song they can’t ignore. In the meantime, no choice but to keep on playing and making music.
August 24, 2024 @ 3:10 pm
Saw him tonight and wasn’t impressed. Who’s gonna fill their shoes? Not Randall.
August 8, 2024 @ 8:32 am
It’s cool to dis radio these days. Say what you need to, but 80% or more adults still listen to the radio every day…. ok, kick start the “I never listen anymore vibe”.
August 8, 2024 @ 8:40 am
I agree, and tried to underscore that in the article. But I also think that it’s important to recognize that radio is no longer the only avenue towards fans like it was in previous eras. It’s also important to delineate the corporate country radio format, which is very rigid and virtually the same no matter where you hear it, and independent radio that plays local artists and can help support music on the local level.
August 8, 2024 @ 9:48 am
How relevant is radio these days? It is probably listened to by the older generation and the audience is shrinking. Most younger people probably stream. They can choose their songs and their playlists and they listen to what they want to hear. I have never been into radio and just cannot get into streaming. I still prefer a physical CD. I do like Randall King. Good straightforward country music and I do hope he can succeed.
August 8, 2024 @ 2:40 pm
I need to explore his music. He did a great cover of Alan Jackson’s “The One You’re Waiting On” a while back.
August 8, 2024 @ 5:51 pm
Randall King could be the next Alan Jackson, just more reckelss, but someone in the industry has a stick up his butt about it and won’t produce him that way.
Compared to Zach Top’s Tim Allen, Randall King is more Brad Pitt. I have his records and think his writing and musician pals are plenty sharp and radio-ready.
All the comments here about something being off with his management are spot on.
August 9, 2024 @ 7:35 am
Have thought for a while that some record companies sign individuals just to keep them down. Because, they are purposely promoting other “talent.”
In fact, i know that is what’s happening.
It is more sinister than just “We’re going to launch so and so, 11 months from now.”
Believe there is actual intent to quash certain artists.
Also believe there is collusion involving “competing” record companies, to keep some cream from rising to the top.
August 8, 2024 @ 10:37 pm
It’s nice to see Randall King get some of the attention he deserves. I think my first time to experience him perform was at a festival in Tyler, TX in 2021, and even though he had the second slot of the day, he had a large crowd. Even then, I thought he was going to be one to watch.
August 23, 2024 @ 10:36 am
I’m older generation 47, and I will be paying to stream my music now and forever .
I found Randall and other artist years ago after being fed up with the crap they mostly play on COUNTRY Stations . I do love some of the artist that do play more of the traditional stuff, but man they over kill on these songs and after a week I hate hearing them. Not to mention you have to put up with hearing songs that sound like they should be played on a pop station just to hear one good song.
Randall was one of the first artist I heard that made me think what the hell!!!! This guys is way more country and talented then what’s on the radio.
He’s got one of those voices that is so smooth and controlled that I can listen to his whole album and never want to turn it off.
I hope and pray this Guy and others make it , because I’m fed up with the so called country trend .