Scott Borchetta Lashes Out Against Beer & Tailgate Songs
The Season of Discontent in country music continues with yet another big name country music personality lending his voice to decrying the wayward trajectory of the genre. But this time it’s not a performing artist, it is Scott Borchetta, the label owner of Big Machine Records, affectionately known at Saving Country Music as the Country Music Anti-Christ, and arguably the most powerful man in the country music business.
Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine label is the home of Taylor Swift, Rascall Flatts, Tim McGraw, Brantley Gilbert, and most importantly in 2013, Florida Georgia Line, whose song “Cruise” shattered all manner of records in 2013, including becoming the longest-running #1 song in the history of country music. However as Saving Country Music contributor Deb Bose pointed out in August, the record is virtually meaningless because of how it was achieved, and because it was bolstered by a remix with rapper Nelly. NPR’s Neda Ulaby also pointed this out recently in a piece entitled, “How A Hip-Hop Remix Helped Make ‘Cruise’ The Year’s Biggest Country Hit” (listen below).
In the piece, Scott Borchetta is asked to comment on what some are calling the “bro-country” phenomenon, and Scott Borchetta, just like many of his artist contemporaries, states that he believes country music has gone too far with all the references to alcohol and tailgates, and needs to get back to music with more substance.
“Everybody in Nashville must be drinking 24-7. We’re a bunch of drunks down here,” Borchetta jokes to NPR, but then turns serious. “There’s too much, to be honest with you. We can’t keep talking about Fireball and Coors Light and having the tailgate down, etc.”
But what Borchetta says next is the most intriguing portion of his comments. “So we’ll task our writers and artists to dig a little deeper.”
This is something that would be easy for anyone else to say, but few like Borchetta actually have the power to task writers and artists to do anything. Sure, Borchetta may just be paying lip service to what he believes the NPR crowd wants to hear. In October Saving Country Music pointed out that Borchetta was personally responsible for Justin Moore’s sophomoric song “I’d Want It To Be Yours,” and this isn’t the first time that someone has called out country music’s wayward trajectory in 2013 while also being personally responsible for it. But here at the end of 2013, everywhere you look there is criticism being levied at country music’s beer and tailgate songs, and a smart and savvy businessman like Borchetta must see that the trend is not sustainable, begging the question if the tide has turned for country truck songs.
Borchetta is actually not the first label executive to speak out about country’s recent flight from substance. Though he’s known mostly as a performer, Toby Keith is the owner of the Show Dog Universal label and helped start Big Machine with Scott Borchetta before the two labels split. Keith had some critical comments about both hip-hop in country and beer/tailgate songs himself in October, saying,
You hear the hip-hop thing start kicking in, and you start going, ‘Is that what we gotta do now to have a hit?’ I don’t know how to do that. Is that what I need every one of my songs to sound like now?”¦You start playing [deep songs] to a twenty-something audience, and it’s like, ‘Naw, man, there ain’t no mud on that tire. That ain’t about a Budweiser can. That ain’t about a chicken dancing out by the river. That ain’t about smoking a joint by the haystack. That’s about somebody dying and shit.’”
December 28, 2013 @ 9:27 am
Toby Keith is the Kanye West of Pop Country.
Scott Borchetta Lashes Out Against Beer & Tailgate Songs » Texas Music Scene
December 28, 2013 @ 9:29 am
[…] Scott Borchetta Lashes Out Against Beer & Tailgate Songs […]
December 28, 2013 @ 9:31 am
Hell has frozen over. Though to be fair when he is talking about songs with a little more depth he is probably thinking along the lines of songs like “Stealing Cinderella” or any number of sappy songs to counter balance the party anthems.
December 28, 2013 @ 9:37 am
Hah, I goddamn called it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIFomfwGrJw
Sooner or later, the trend was going to have reached its peak and those who have the business mind to see the other side of the apex are going to be looking to jump ship before they lose everything – and it looks like that’s finally arrived. The interesting (if queasy) question is what he’s going to look to replace bro-country with, because bro-country’s appeal as a brand – particularly to young people – is going to be a tough one to replicate.
December 28, 2013 @ 10:04 am
Sonically, we could see the rise of the sort of dance club style of music similar to Jerrod Niemann’s “Drink To That All Night.” Lyrically, who knows, but I don’t see the point of looking at these quotes as anything but a positive sign. Big label presidents are seeing the sameness of radio country as a problem. Does that mean we’re going to go back to the days of hearing Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt songs on the radio? Of course not. But it could mean the edging back toward the songwriting aspect of music, and this is something we should encourage instead of the reactionary reefing Scott Borchetta and Toby Keith in the nuts and saying “Whatever happens next will suck even more.” How about we be pragmatic and trying to influence where country goes next? Let our voices be heard and be pragmatic? I don’t see this to be anything but a very positive sign. Are most of these people criticizing modern country hypocrites? Of course, but it doesn’t mean they’re not right, and that their actions won’t follow their words.
December 28, 2013 @ 10:32 am
Yep, I agree that even though these guys may be flaming hypocrites it doesn’t mean we should just attack them when in reality what they are saying is accurate. What I think is realistic to expect is for these execs to push for more balance in what their acts put out. How about more songs about a wider range of life beyond the partying and chasing girls in a cornfield? And how about at least an effort to appeal to the more traditional leaning fans?
I think the bigger overriding issue is one of maturity. The mainstream country music of the last few years has just become profoundly immature and muting that would be a very good start.
December 28, 2013 @ 10:48 pm
Not to splash cold water on you gentleman, but are either of you old enough to remember Billy Ray Cyrus. He showed Nashvegas you can pump out a few hits, make millions. Dump the act get a new one and do same thing, over and over and over again.
You can be pragmatic or you can realize if you listened to Country Music prior to 1990’s you heard last REAL country music, now it all sounds, looks and smells the same like M-O-N-E-Y.
Borchetta is floating a trial balloon, see which way wind is blowing so he can shift focus and then in a couple of years be hailed as man who saved country music. He knows they reaching saturation point with the crap they spewing out, so he is checking to see if time is right to sell before market crashes and cash in now.
Expecting Nashvegas/Austin to change it ways, is about like the prisoner who is going to jail for umpteenth time and promising he has learned his lesson. My daddy had a pointed saying, wish in one hand and whiz in other see which one fills up first
December 28, 2013 @ 11:13 pm
“if you listened to Country Music prior to 1990”²s you heard last REAL country music…”
Huh, I was listening to Sturgill Simpson an hour ago. Sounded as real as ever to me.
I’m tired of these idiotic country music conspiracy theories. So Borchetta has this masterfully-calculated plan that this quote is some malevolent part of, instead of just answering a question off-the-cuff with an honest answer. Why would I ever put my faith and time into a theory that we are all being controlled on high by rich people, and pretty much everything worth fighting for is hopeless? Conspiracy theories are for people who are too powerless to take control of their own destinies. Nobody oppresses anyone more than themselves. In the end, Borchetta is just a dude that has to wipe his own ass like the rest of us.
Give up on country music and all the amazing artists still making it all you want. Me, I’m still fighting. Call me stupid, but the fact that Borchetta said what he said, and his Head of Publicity feels the need to pipe up in this very comments section says that people are listening.
December 30, 2013 @ 5:05 pm
Great post.
December 28, 2013 @ 9:47 am
I really hate to see what a “deep” song from FGL would be.
December 28, 2013 @ 10:29 am
Florida Georgia Line’s “Stay” is the #1 song in the country right now, and is a hell of a lot more “deep” and story-based than either “Cruise” or “‘Round Here.” Is it good? In my opinion, hell no. But it’s better. Change doesn’t happen overnight. I choose to remain positive.
December 28, 2013 @ 10:34 am
And Black Stone Cherry did it so much better too. Haha
December 28, 2013 @ 11:02 am
I understand what you are saying, I just don’t see those guys ever putting out a song that astounds the fans of songwriting. If they prove me wrong, it would be a positive for everyone.
January 8, 2014 @ 8:33 am
Georgia Florida Line? You can’t fix stupid.
December 28, 2013 @ 10:06 am
Maybe he’d be more believable if he donated all the millions he’s made from exactly what he’s complaining about to charity or something?
The man doesn’t care about the substance of country music, he cares about profit. If putting out crap and talking about how good it is makes money, he’ll do it. If complaining about crap makess money, he’ll do that to. His words have no value. He is very good at making money though, I’ll give him that no question.
December 28, 2013 @ 10:25 am
“The man doesn”™t care about the substance of country music, he cares about profit.”
Right, and that’s why he has to be ahead of the trends in country music instead of behind them. And right now, the future doesn’t look very rosy for beer/tailgate songs, and if country labels continue to produce them, fans will begin to flee the genre, and nobody knows this better than Scott Borchetta. Trust me, when you have Scott Borchetta and Toby Keith basically saying the same things, that means that they not only feel this, and this is the sentiment pervading the population, it probably also means they have market research to back it up. Here in 2013 we are arguably experiencing the biggest public backlash against the direction of country music the format has ever seen this side of 1975. Borchetta may be an evil, money hungry son-of-a-bitch, but that doesn’t mean he’s stupid. He understands when enough is enough, and it’s time to move on.
I have no idea if Scott Borchetta gives any money to charity, but his biggest artist was just named the most charitable celebrity in 2013, for whatever that is worth:
http://www.dosomething.org/blog/top-20-celebs-gone-good-2013
December 28, 2013 @ 2:56 pm
I’m more inclined to trust the authenticity of Borchetta than Keith. We already know that Toby Keith is willing to take advantage of one of the greatest tragedies in American History by writing songs that supposedly “support” our military. After he released all that patriotic crap to make big bucks off a tragedy, how can we trust him?
December 28, 2013 @ 10:53 pm
How can we trust one of the SHEEP, who whines endlessly about GM Jerry, but pours all his hard earned cash down the toilet and flushes it away. I trust Toby Keith over ANYONE who supports one of the biggest cash grabbing fools in America
December 29, 2013 @ 1:24 am
That’s a pretty big accusation against Toby Keith. Where is the proof that his post-9/11 songs were just for money?
December 28, 2013 @ 4:42 pm
“Right, and that”™s why he has to be ahead of the trends in country music instead of behind them.”
Douchebags like Borchetta don’t follow trends in country music, they tell the sheeple what they are supposed to like. They create the trends, and the sheeple follow. These things don’t happen organically.
December 28, 2013 @ 6:00 pm
Any businessman that ignores the consumer’s wishes is bound to fail. The fact is that the drastic shift in mainstream country music over the past 3 years have been too much to swallow for a vast number of listeners, and many of them have tuned out entirely. This is not a sustainable business model.
December 28, 2013 @ 6:26 pm
I am not going to adhere to the idea that we as fans and artists are powerless to change what country music is, and where it is going. Sure, some people like Scott Borchetta may have more sway than others. But this idea that everything is 100% controlled including people’s tastes I think is inaccurate, and conspiracy theory. So country music consumers are sheeple, only listening to what they’re told to listen to? Then let’s wake them up. Let’s figure out ways to reach them and let them know that they have choices and an alternative.
December 28, 2013 @ 11:03 pm
Seriously how much is Taylor paying you to promote her generosity?? I mean she made over 100 MILLION in last 2 years, gives out a pittance to a few HIGHLY PUBLICIZED charities. I mean this girl’s publicist deserves EVERY penny they making, they get her more positive press than Obama with his media flacks can. I mean if someone sneezes and she says god bless you, it is front page news and she is reknighted as the second coming of Mother Teresa…does the Nashvegas music media not have ANY integrity.
So “saving country music” rants and raves abut the man who foisted the pop princess/queen of DRECK Taylor Swift on poor country music fans..this is all you go in way of scorn. No wonder country music is as dead as George Jones, if swelling with pride over Taylors publicists work is worthy of praise by this rag/blog/website
December 28, 2013 @ 11:22 pm
Okay John, so am I supposed to just shutter the website and completely give up because you think country music died in 1990? Fuck that, I’m in this for the long haul, and your negative attitude isn’t going to stop me any more than Scott Borchetta will. Country music belong to us, the people, and folks who would have us just hand over the term are as much of the problem as anyone.
And who is “swelling with pride” about Taylor Swift’s charitable donations? For the love of Pete, I simply mentioned it in passing as a response to a comment. I didn’t cue up a specific article to shower her with praise. But what am I supposed to do, criticize her for being the most charitable celebrity in 2013 as recognized by a not-for-profit, third-party organization? Good God man your negativity is really pretty sinister.
December 28, 2013 @ 3:53 pm
As head of communications for the Big Machine Label Group, it’s really interesting to see the conversation you all are having here. While everyone is entitled to their own opinions about the sounds/songs/artists they may or may not like, I was insulted to see your comment about Borchetta and charitable giving. Scott and Sandi Borchetta are some of the most giving people I have ever met. They contribute a significant amount of time and money to multiple organizations that help in the fields of medicine and education. Did you know that Borchetta helped supply over 15 million meals to the hungry this past year? Or that Big Machine helped the Special Olympics collect hundreds of thousands of dollars? Probably not. That”™s not the intent of Borchetta”™s efforts.
One thing Borchetta often preaches to the Big Machine Label Group staff is the idea that “the more we make, the more we can give.”
So please carry on with your conversations about the state of Country music, but don’t make false assumptions about Borchetta and his charitable giving efforts. Because you were wrong.
Best,
Jake Basden
Big Machine Label Group
December 28, 2013 @ 4:52 pm
Come on Jake. No one was questioning Scott’s charitable donations. Although most of us adults realize when talking about corporations, donations are nothing more than a PR investment or a tax write off.
What I was saying was his statement is nothing but hot air because he’s sitting on a giant pile of money he made off pedaling the same crap he’s complaining about now. You can’t complain about cake while your mouth is full cake (give the cake away if you want me to take your complaints about cake seriously).
If the man means what he says and makes an effort to invest more money in legitimate country music artists, I’ll be the first one to compliment him. I bet Trigger would too. One thing everyone really likes about Trigger is his ability to mercilessly call some one out on their crap and then still be one of the first people in line to give them credit where credit is do.
Right now though… when I hit the button on my radio to go to a pop station and hear a Taylor Swift pop song, and then hit a country music station preset and hear the same pop song, I despise your record label (my ability to choose to listen to country music on the radio has been taken away). When FGL gets credit for the biggest selling single in country music history because Billboard rigged the charts, I despise your company. When I can’t listen to a country music station without hearing songs that songs that sound like pop or rap or that sound like theme songs for the punk/douche immature crowd, I despise your company.
December 28, 2013 @ 6:10 pm
To be fair, an individual or corporation donating to charity gets back much less in reduced taxes than they gave in charity.
Let’s say an individual donates x to a charity. If the individual is in the top tax bracket (40%), he/she would get back at most 0.4x in tax deduction. Therefore, the amount that he/she donated is still 2.5 times greater than the tax deduction.
December 28, 2013 @ 6:23 pm
It would be nice if the music you guys produce on your record label was actually country music.
January 2, 2014 @ 2:42 pm
I’ve been in the music business for over 50 years and see the trends change and come back around 360 again I think now what we’re going to see is not definition of genre but just great songs.
December 28, 2013 @ 10:11 am
My take from this is Borchetta is basically saying “you cretins will like what I tell you to like”
December 28, 2013 @ 10:25 am
Brantley…”Bottoms Up”. Really?
I had no idea he was responsible for that mess, too.
December 28, 2013 @ 10:31 am
The question we need to ask ourselves now is: If we get the meaningful, good country music that we want can we be happy getting it with someone like Borchetta still at the helm? I can’t ever like the guy or respect him but if this is the start of taking back our genre I’ll take it. I’m with Trig, this is good news and opens the door even more for us to influence what happens next.
December 28, 2013 @ 10:58 am
I think this sucks, I wished this guy would keep supporting the bubble gum country, Aldean, Bryan, and the outlaw Justin moore would keep playing there little bud light songs, and everything stay just the way it is. Why? Well because I love watching Whitey Morgan, Sturgil Simpson, and Dale Watson play music in a 300 person theater or Bar, I don’t want to ever have to watch them play in a stadium or amphitheatre.
December 28, 2013 @ 2:42 pm
That’s a really douchey thing to say. You don’t want your favorite artists to succeed because it won’t be as pure for you? Hell, I’d love to see Whitey Morgan make it big. I’d kill to see Dale Watson up in front of a crowd of thousands, playing sold out shows. I want to see all the real outlaws on national tours, not hopping around the South doing little gigs. But hey, that would ruin all their authenticity right?
December 28, 2013 @ 3:03 pm
Whitey Morgan, Dale Watson, and Sturgill Simpson would love to pack out a 300-capacity bar on a nightly basis, and if they were, they would be making a much better living playing music than they are. They may play those sized venues, but if they have 75 people at their shows, they’re stoked. And until the get to the 300-something draw and more, they aren’t even close to having to worry about how mainstream label politics or trends are effecting them.
December 29, 2013 @ 10:06 am
I’ve seen Whitey and Sturgil play with less than ten people in attendance. Nothing about that was cool, they deserve radio play and greater exposure.
December 30, 2013 @ 2:01 pm
Well said Trigger! For NYE I’ll go see Chris Wall and Brian Burns to an accoustic song swap show in a small place that holds around 100 people if they get 100 people they will be happy that means a 2k door 80% of that is 1600( 20% usually goes to the venue) split 2 ways that is 800 apiece but wait there is an opener who will get a couple hundred bucks so leaves 700 a peice but wait hotel, gas etc. Hard way to make a living and the scenario i’m using is a good night at a decent cover charge because it is NYE. Guys who are independent don’t have time to worry about label polotics.
December 29, 2013 @ 9:15 pm
In my own opinion this is backward thinking. But then again I’m not that well versed on country culture. I came to country (especially the traditional and the alt.country) through power pop. I consider myself a pop fan so I have no beef on the music but my problem is mostly on some of the lyrics on artists like FGL, Jason Aldean, and the likes.
For me to see Dale Watson and Sturgill Simpson on a big arena is just like seeing Alan Jackson and George Strait on an arena. The crowd may be big but the music stays the same. However, I would like artists to not forget where they came from. They may play an arena but they should not forget to play in a small bar or an intimate venue once in a while.
This is my opinion on this matters.
December 28, 2013 @ 11:05 am
maybe I should get out to nashville….
December 28, 2013 @ 11:32 am
Mr. Borchetta appears to be having his Dr. Frankenstein moment; he finally seems to realize that the audience for the “monster” he helped create is pretty much a dead-end, and that the party can’t last forever.
Still, there’s no telling how much more of this chicks-trucks-and-beer bro-country stuff is still in the pipeline; even if Music Row were to gets its act together tomorrow, it may be a while before we notice any change on the radio or on albums. (Also, it’ll be interesting to see just what Borchetta and company consider “substance”…)
December 28, 2013 @ 12:16 pm
I don’t buy this one little bit. This guy is a businessman, not a curator. His job is to maximize sales, and if the company is publicly held, shareholder value. It seems that he (or someone) feels the need to respond to the buzz around that funny video, in order to spin it favorably (“Hey, we’re the good guys! We call entertainers ‘artists’ and everything!”)
These songs are what their core audience wants to hear, and they’ll continue to be Open For Business.
December 28, 2013 @ 3:07 pm
But the tastes of their core audience might be changing, however incrementally. You want to talk about business and shareholders? What will any financial planner tell you is the key to a healthy financial portfolio? Diversity. Diversity is how you hedge against risk. And right now, there’s absolutely no diversity in mainstream male country music. If the backlash against bro-country grows and that is all the country industry has to offer to radio, it could blow up in their face. Scott Borchetta is a smart businessman, and I’m sure these are the types of things that keep him up at night.
December 28, 2013 @ 4:15 pm
Mark:
Just wanted you to know that Scott conducted the interview with NPR on December 17th, before that video was ever published. And he has led a conversation about the the concerns mentioned in these posts for the past several months. (He is always several steps ahead of the game!!)
It’s important for Big Machine to know what you and others are thinking. We don’t take anyone’s comments lightly. We are not looking to only create music for one type of fan. Our roster should be a great indicator of that. Whether it’s The Mavericks or Tim McGraw or Florida Georgia Line. We treat every artist as their own brand, give them the creative freedom to produce a project, and then we take it to the marketplace. At that point, the fans decide……
Also, Big Machine is NOT a public company. We are proud to have just been named the #1 Independent Record Label by Billboard for 2013!
Regards,
Jake Basden
Big Machine Label Group
December 28, 2013 @ 5:40 pm
Jake, thank you for response.
I should say that my viewpoint is informed by my experiences as a player and writer. The few labels that I’ve dealt with directly were businesses first, and I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with that. However, I would say that their stated goals and actions were usually different. The timing of reading this when “that video” is getting attention led me to assume that Scott’s comments were in response. That is my baggage so I’ll set that aside.
I’m always hopeful when those in the entertainment industry commit to higher quality. I notice though that this seems more successful in areas of smaller audience. Graphic arts, dance and drama appear better able to support ambitious works, whereas film, music (and literature!) are consistently revisiting themes familiar to the retail buyer. In those areas we see songs and stories re-told for many years. However, this isn’t always the case and thank goodness for that.
I’m hopeful too about your company. I know little about you, but I wish you every success. The folk musics of our country deserve as much attention as we can give; they are our stories and the sound of a culture. We love them and it sounds like you do too. Indeed I hope you find the great examples of our songs that people are singing today.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. May god bless.
Mark Chandler
Washington, D.C.
December 28, 2013 @ 6:53 pm
You give them creative freedom and yet every song sounds the same?
December 29, 2013 @ 1:19 am
It is possible that their albums contain a wider variety of material, but the songs being released to radio sound the same.
December 29, 2013 @ 6:38 am
valid point.
December 29, 2013 @ 9:33 pm
I’m sure if Mr. Borchetta didn’t give FGL creative freedom they will not sound like they sound now. Prior to signing to Big Machine, FGL was an independent band doing the kind of music they do. Cruise was written before Big Machine. Sure Big Machine suggested a remix with Nelly would be great for the FGL brand but upon listening to FGL’s brand of music, that isn’t changing much really. Just adding a few beats and raps here and there.
The reality is no matter how much we dislike their brand of music, there are genuine people out there who would actually prefer the sound of FGL, Jason Aldean, and the likes over Sturgill or Joey Alcorn. And these people are not uneducated like how they seem to be portrayed on most music video. Some of these people I knew have degrees and PhD’s.
But judging from that NPR interview there might come a time when Borchetta will interfere with the lyrical content on future releases. And that might be a good thing if only to lessen the songs about tailgates and dirt roads on country radio.
December 28, 2013 @ 1:52 pm
I am definitely not surprised about this. 2013 has made mainstream country the laughing stalk of the music world to everyone who wasn’t hypnotized by Luke Bryans sparkly jeans and everyone else’s twirling wallet chains. I’ve been posting a lot of stuff related to country music on a metal forum, and even those guys, people who don’t even listen to country music, even they knew it was a travesty that Florida Georgia Line is now viewed as having the all time number one country song. Even they realized that “1994” is an especially vile “song”. Every music magazine and music website that is mentioning country music was talking about “Bro-Country”, the massive amount of in-fighting and complaining amongst artists, and the fact that female artists were by far outclassing most of the male artists, but yet were nowhere to be seen on the charts or on the radio. Any businessperson who has had any kind of success has to know that it’s time for some major changes.
December 28, 2013 @ 1:55 pm
This is an interesting comment from a business perspective rather than an artistic perspective. He may be pandering but hopefully there is something more behind the comment. Maybe he sees that to sustain the genre for long term profits, the core country audience is demanding more substance. He has access to more data on his customers than perhaps anyone in the industry and if the data is pointing to an audience that wants more story based songs rather than cliche truck songs and laundry lists, this is hopefully positive sign for the genre. Will there always be FGL “Cruise” songs and “My Kinda Night” songs? Sure. Those songs are what teenagers are buying. But hopefully they can share the charts with songs of more substance in 2014.
December 28, 2013 @ 2:01 pm
I am going to stay positive. However, on the drive to work yesterday it had occurred to me just how long its been since I listened to the local country station (due to all the “Bro-Country”. I flipped the station on and the first words I heard were “Ice cold beer” didn’t even figure out which song it was because I switched it off.
December 28, 2013 @ 4:21 pm
i think hes talking in terms of money, the beer and titty songs arent making as much as they did, and the greedy capitalists need to find another cash cow. its all about $$$
December 28, 2013 @ 5:39 pm
So many people are so negative about this. Okay, maybe he is just paying lip service here, but I don”™t think so, I think country music became such a ridiculous spectacle in 2013 that the music world in general couldn”™t help but stare and laugh, causing everyone from the artists to the fans to the label owners look like idiots. On top of that we saw mainstream rock and entertainment magazines shouting praises for artists like Jason Isbell, Ashley Monroe, Brandy Clark, etc. Any smart businessperson is going to see that there is money in at least moving towards a “deeper” direction.
Yeah, it”™s money-driven, but so what really? This is a really big label run by a businessman, of course it”™s going to be directed by money-driven decisions. But it”™s still a good decision. Yeah, we would all love to hear Sturgill Simpson or Hell Bound Glory on the radio and getting the popularity and recognition that they deserve, and we know that this isn”™t going to accomplish that, so we just disregard the whole thing. But this is still a small positive step, and the only way we are going to have a chance of having those big changes is if we start with these small positive steps.
We complained at the top of our lungs about how horrible country music had become, and we were joined in those complaints by a number of artists. And then mainstream music and entertainment publications heard us and they said: “Yeah, you”™re right, this stuff sucks!” And now a person who is in charge of a giant label who put that crap out heard everyone and said “Okay, I get it, we need to do something about this”. Yes, it”™s money-driven, and yeah, it”™s probably not going to be a huge change. But this is literally the best result we could have realistically expected to get.
And we still complain ”¦ I don”™t get it.
Maybe this will all amount to nothing and 2014 will be even worse, but being that dour at this point just seems needlessly pessimistic,
December 28, 2013 @ 6:36 pm
Scott Borchetta had three things he could have said in response to NPR’s question:
1) “Country music is whatever country fans want to listen to.” — which has been his stock answer about these types of questions in the past.
2) Nothing. No comment.
3) What he said.
Now as music fans who generally agree with what Scott Borchetta said, why are we chastising him for saying basically what we agree with, what seems to be the prevailing sentiment, and what seems to be the obvious answer? Would we have rather he said one of the other two alternatives?
I understand, there are many folks that are disgruntled with Scott Borchetta and Big Machine Records for various reasons, and no matter what Scott Borchetta says, they’re going to hate it, or at least be suspicious of it. But the Head of Publicity for Big Machine Records is right here in this comments section, responding to people’s grievances. This in itself proves that people are listening, and are concerned about this issue.
January 2, 2014 @ 3:41 am
People are probably angrier at him after his statement than they would have been if he had simply said “no comment.” By verbally acknowledging the fact that there is a problem, he becomes vulnerable to charges of hypocrisy (making a negative assessment of the current state of mainstream country while at the same time being partially responsible for it.) Actions speak louder than words. Let’s see if Big Machine Records promotes substantive songs and artists over the coming year.
The Mavericks’ In Time was a good start.
December 28, 2013 @ 7:09 pm
I think this is a good thing. Kind of like WalMart saying they want to “go green”…kind of seems disingenuous, but if anyone can make huge sweeping changes, it’s them.
December 28, 2013 @ 7:32 pm
It’s funny you mention metal. I’m a metal fan and everyone else in my family listens to country. Alot of the stuff that gets played constantly on country radio right now, if the limited sample I hear is any indication, really reminds me of where metal was in the late 80s in the final years before it basically died as a profitable genre of music (Poison, Warrant, other associated glam bands, etc.).
December 28, 2013 @ 11:16 pm
That is exactly what I have been thinking for a while. Lyrically speaking it’s degenerating into little more than good time / party songs, a huge amount of the appeal is focused on the appearance of the singer and how attractive they are to the opposite sex. Musically speaking the genres are both miles away from where they originated.
It makes me wonder what is going to take the place of grunge in the comparison. Americana perhaps?
December 28, 2013 @ 7:33 pm
Oops, that was supposed to be a response to Synthetic Paper…
December 29, 2013 @ 8:47 am
Keep in mind that the fact that you are reading THIS website puts you in a very small percentage of people who care intensely for music. For most people, music is background noise in the car or something to socialize to.
The great unwashed masses will eat what they are fed because for the most part they just dont give a shit. If your audience is ok with Big Macs why bother with prime rib?
December 29, 2013 @ 11:48 am
I believe everyone has a right to good music, just like everyone has a right to good food, water, employment, housing, etc. If the “unwashed masses” don’t know any better, then it is our job to teach them, educate them, find avenues of outreach, and let them know that they have alternatives. Educated consumers make better choices. And believe it or not, I see the effects of that attempt at outreach by this site every single day, and I see it happening in the greater outside world, and this quote from Scott Borchetta is just another example. I make people angry all the time with things that I post here with the purpose of courting everyday, passive music fans. I have no desire to preach to a choir. We need to take the message directly to the people who need it the most, not laugh them off.
December 29, 2013 @ 10:35 am
Isn’t this a case of the pot calling the kettle black? I would listen to drinking and tailgate songs over that shit they call music from Taylor Swift and Brantley Dilbert. Have any of you heard Swift’s new single? It’s disgusting. It’s all pop with no country in it. I will never listen to modern country radio again because of it.
December 31, 2013 @ 10:32 pm
Actually, I’m kind of the opposite to you. I have no problem at all with pop-country music, provided it is GOOD music. Don’t automatically assume a song/album is bad just because it is a certain genre. I do have a problem with it being called “country music”, as it is way to pop for country, however the problem is that this type of music (e.g. Carrie Underwood/Lady Antebellum) is also considered too country for pop music. It has no place. The easiest solution would be just to separate Pop-Country and Traditional-Country. But, what we should do is completely eliminate Bro-Country. My problem is not that it is hip-hop influenced, but the lyrics and themes are very sexist. All these songs that males sing about pickup trucks, partying, women serving beer, women shaking their asses. Just stop it.
I swear, if I hear one more song about a truck I will pull a Carrie Underwood and take a Louisville Slugger to the headlights of the damn truck.
December 29, 2013 @ 10:44 am
Ordinary soldiers, facing combat…respond to war in all sorts of ways. Music has always been an antidote for depression.
The half has not been told of the percentage of people who care intensely for music. Repeat deployments, active-duty soldiers have little time for blogging.
Family members who spend their nights praying….need music, too. Bluegrass music is good medicine. There isn’t a single genre out there that can take my anxiety away like Bluegrass. It’s always worked for me.
December 29, 2013 @ 11:54 am
Well, that’s an easy one to explain. Taylor Swift was never really country. She basically used the genre as a jump to a pop career to begin with. Hell, I can tune into a local pop station and hear her right along side Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake and the like.
That has been a problem with Country music for quite awhile. It is seen as an easy market to penetrate. Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, Darius Rucker, Sheryl Crowe etc. have all dipped into the market either to launch a career or to keep one going.
December 29, 2013 @ 5:23 pm
Their idea of “deep” is a song off of their new deluxe edition of their full-length debut titled “Take It Out On Me”……..which is basically a song about a narrator who addresses a girl who is in a distressing at best, abusive at worst relationship: “Hey, if you need to let out all that pent-up emotion burning deep inside of you, lay it all out on me!”
The ugly part of it all is that some of the lyrics suggest the narrator’s intention is more into pressuring her to have angry sex with him, and he has less consideration for the subject’s actual feelings! =P
December 29, 2013 @ 6:06 pm
Great, even Scott Borchetta says there are too many drinking and party (bro) songs! Initially I got excited about this like it’s some of the best news all year. But how many bro country artists are on Scott’s label? I’m thinking about 1 if we count FGL but maybe they are original bros everyone copied. Let’s hope ALL labels, artists and radio agrees with Scott and gets rid of bro country and all weak songs SOON! Women already recorded far better and more original country songs radio isn’t playing. Why not?
My main issue with Big Machine is them pushing pop. If they, other labels and radio will stop putting pure pop and other weak songs on country radio I could enjoy listening again. Nothing in the music world burns me up more than the country radio I used to love playing pop and weak crappy songs while ignoring the far better country songs that brought me to the format.
I’ll get excited when Billboard reverses their terrbible move to count pop airplay for the hot country chart, labels stop sending pure pop (not country/pop) and other weak songs to country radio and they stop playing them. And when country radio gives country women a lot more than just 15% of the chart and keeps at least 3-4 solo females making the best country music in the top 10 at all times, starting with Kellie Pickler since her songs are the best of all artists they aren’t keeping up there.
December 29, 2013 @ 8:46 pm
Fuck Scott Borchetta. He’s a textbook example of how label execs abuse their power. As I’m sure you know, but not a lot of people know, is that artists rarely get to pick their singles for radio. And it’s a shame because a lot of these artists’ best songs on their CDs never get released to the radio, except for this bro country shit. I’m gonna throw Aldean out there, who I know you hate. But go into his albums, and there are great songs on there that are solid country songs that in some elements resemble traditional sounds. Not so much on his newer stuff but back when he first started out he had some killer songs that should have been put out there. Back In This Cigarette, Even If I Wanted To, Asphalt Cowboy, etc. And I’ve been at a show of his where he went on and said he’s wanted some of these songs to be singles but it’s in the execs hands and “they think they know what they’re doing, but they don’t know shit,” and I don’t think that could have been said any better. I think it’s ridiculous that these artists are the ones going out playing every night and recording everything but don’t get to pick what goes out to radio, unless its like their 4th or 5th single. Yeah the artists take a lot of the blame for the current state of country music but I think more of the blame needs to be pushed onto these head dumbasses, and because of that I would like to see more of the older artists starting their own labels and doing it how it should be done. When you got singers converting to the country genre and sounding more country than actual country artists there’s a big fuckin problem (Sheryl Crow, Darius Rucker somewhat, and I know Justin Timberlake will probably put out a better record than half this shit out there now). Just some thoughts, summing everything up, Music Row is a disaster.
December 29, 2013 @ 9:01 pm
Maybe Scott Borchetta would stick to his words. After all he said “we’ll”, future tense. Let’s say what will happen to Big Machine’s 2014 releases. Jack Ingram used to be on his label. The Mavericks is currently on his label. Maybe he’ll instruct those artists (since most of his artists also write their own stuff) and some outside songwriters to write more meaningful songs. Not necessarily traditional country, I don’t think Borchetta would go that deep, but atleast a pop-country with lyrics that can resonate emotionally.
December 30, 2013 @ 7:24 am
maybe this is relevant to this”¦
from an article on your links at the top:
“In early August, Billboard reported that album sales hit an all-time cumulative low of 4.68 million for the week ending July 28. That 4.68 million figure represented every single album sold over the course of seven days ”” for the sake of comparison, consider that ‘N Sync by itself moved more than half that number the week its second album, No Strings Attached, debuted in 2000. The previous record low had been set just one week prior, when sales checked in at 4.71 million. “
December 30, 2013 @ 2:28 pm
I am a Texas songwriter who writes some serious songs and some fun songs…I believe that is what country music is…entertaining 🙂
December 30, 2013 @ 2:30 pm
HERE’S YOU SOME COUNTRY SONGS
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jerry%20hunter%20demos&sm=1
December 30, 2013 @ 2:49 pm
Scott YOU are some of the problem! Look at the songs your label puts out. There are tons of great songs in this town that are with indepth subjects, lyrics that make you think and are back to country roots but still have a current feel. NO one wants to listen & give many great writers a chance to be heard or send their material so it can be heard. I so much rather listen to Indie artists & writers because THAT is where real country & REAL grown up songs are. Love to discuss this with you over a coffee.
December 30, 2013 @ 3:22 pm
How about a nice, smooth love song every now and again, instead of constant Bro Country laced with hip hop and rap?
http://www.reverbnation.com/kentuckycountry/song/13116339-i-dont-even-have-to-dream-anymore
December 31, 2013 @ 12:19 pm
If you’re looking for a ‘nice, smooth love song’, might I suggest Chris Young’s latest release, ‘Who I Am With You’…
It doesn’t get any smoother than this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3si_zfD7bs
December 30, 2013 @ 4:10 pm
Scott has a point with one exception. Nathan Osmond (Nephew to Donny & Marie Osmond) has an exceptional song & video titled “The Tailgate Song” in which Nathan uses Dad’s Old Fashioned Root Beer instead of beer. Pretty cool song / video and set’s a good example for the kids. Scott needs to add Nathan Osmond to Big Machine Records!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhsENN3YQIQ
December 30, 2013 @ 6:35 pm
Actually there may be some truth to this…I just sent a few songs to a contact in Nashville that is meeting soon with Scott. And he told me Scott told him the same thing in their discussions….they are supposedly looking for harder, edgier songs with a more Ameicana feel…something a few other insiders have told me….it’s the only reason they listen to my songs..since I don’t write pop country
Something like this….maybe…
http://www.reverbnation.com/jebbarry/song/19411426-hank-sure-got-right-your-cheatin
December 30, 2013 @ 6:41 pm
Being in the business long enough and to see what trends and the cycle country music is going through, yes what we hear now is a fad that will not be long lasting and what we need are songs that will have “staying power” and when you listen to today’s songs there are not many that would fit into that category. What people are wanting is the sounds and songs of the 90’s which I saw coming a few years back and have seen huge success from the programming I do on my radio station, but it was just a matter of time before it would cycle around and with Garth Brooks coming out on the road and George Strait retiring after this coming year you will see a swing of what the country fan wants to hear more of and that is the more deeper songs and they can be fun uptempo songs without talking about tailgates and beers although there’s nothing wrong with having a beer or two when listening, (I do)….but we don’t need anymore songs about them. So many of these songs are pushed to radio and then of course pushed onto the fans on local radio and this is also why you see more people listening to the internet…….Texas Country is not alternative country, look at Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, George Strait, Willie Nelson….to name a few from Texas…Oh maybe you have heard or not of Granger Smith or Wade Bowen??….well if not check those guys out and wade has a great song about a truck, listen to it because it isn’t what you think…..Ladies and Gentleman that is not alternative country but REAL country!
December 30, 2013 @ 7:00 pm
Oh yeah and one more thing with radio, isn’t it funny how all the consultants make their stations play the same damn 15 songs every 2 hours?? None of the personalities/music directors/program directors have enough balls to take a stand because they are afraid of losing their job because it is getting tougher to find a job since everyone seems to be syndicated morning shows that are pop/Top 40 style and not real country jocks that live the country lifestyle…..Country listeners are smart people and have a good income and like to hear things that are real, they can relate too, and know BS when they hear it
December 30, 2013 @ 8:58 pm
I agree with the post regarding Nathan Osmond. I have seen Osmond in concert and he is the real deal. Nothing sugar coated like his aunt and uncle. Nathan Osmond is hard core country and puts his heart and soul into it. I look to see him signed by a major label in 2014.
December 31, 2013 @ 9:35 am
Hey Scott- i gotcha booze and party lyrics right here!
I spent the night in the slammer in mobile Alabama
I was kicking up shit just like you wouldn’t know
Sold my pony to pay my alimony, now I got an empty trailer and a heart full of woe
I went downtown, my truck broke down
there was transmission parts there laying on the ground
Took it to a garage where they said with with a smile:
“Better get comfortable boyyyy, ’cause it’s gonna take a while”
I didn’t walk far when I found me a bar
Moonshine whiskey shots straight from a jar
Put some quarters in the jukebox, played some Brooks and Dunn
Figured while I’s there I’d have a little fun
I was dancing like crazy with a girl named Dawn
her jeans so tight like they was painted on
along comes a gomer, I think his name was Homer
He gave me a look like something’s going on
he said “Hey there stranger, you’re in real danger”
then he pushed me aside and grabbed her by the arm
She said “Hey, I hardly even know ya!”
that set him off like a nuclear bomb
The next thing you know he punched me in the mouth
My head went north as my ass went south
The cops came by and they threw me in their car
“You should’ve known better boyyyy..then to walk in that bar!”
I spent the night in the slammer in Mobile Alabama
with a bad hangover over and stitches in my head
Used my hat for a pillow, my jacket for a cover
Starin’ at the judge with my eyes all red
Went to the garage, picked up my truck
paid my money and they wished me “Good luck!”
drove to the border with a police escort
they waved bye byyyyyye..and sent me on my way
now sing along
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0butv8PluU
UA deep twang records
January 3, 2014 @ 9:16 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlSzKpGK7KU
December 31, 2013 @ 2:03 pm
maybe if the labels would actually listen to unknown songwriters they might find some meaningful songs. i was in nashville 15 years as it got more and more closed to independant writers and finally left. i have meaningful songs at http://www.hitquarters.com/suzanneravgiala if scott is really interested in the song, not who the publisher is.
January 2, 2014 @ 4:05 am
after waching this video http://gawker.com/proof-that-every-country-music-song-this-year-was-exact-1488547290
I turned on my local country music radio station for my 20 minute drive from work. So wouldn’t you know it Blake Shelton “Boys round here” came on and for the first time ever I listened to about 45 seconds of it and all of the categories he mentioned were in it. Then 2 other songs came on I think 1 was from Florida Georgia line and the other by jake owen and again all of those trucks, riverbank, moon/sunset, dirt roads, begging girls, tight jeans…..2013 year of terrible “country” music
January 2, 2014 @ 11:27 am
Dear Mr Borchetta, I am proud to live in a state (Texas) where I have easy access to meaningful music and never have to listen to the crap that you and your ilk produce. Thankfully our artists told y’all to jump in the lake long ago. our artist get to sing what they want when they want to sing it, and guess what else… they don’t have to dress and act like a bunch of fairies when they do it.
January 3, 2014 @ 9:20 am
I’M AN OLD TEXAS SONGWRITER….please check out some of my songs on YOUTUBE….They are under “JERRY HUNTER DEMOS”…I think you just might like’em
January 3, 2014 @ 4:42 am
Too add my two cents in: I’ll take Scott Borchetta seriously if and when he’ll bring back the same man who rescued me from suicide on a 9/11 Anniversary (not making that up) thanks to his album “Live: Wherever You Are”. I’m talking about none other than Jack Ingram.
PS: For the record, I’m actually kidding about that, I rather have Jack Ingram be part of a better label where he can really be himself and not get bitten in the ass for it.
January 5, 2014 @ 12:13 am
These dumbed down songs of today will not connect to the events of your life.
Ten years from now, you won’t remember any of these lyrics. You won’t be able to pinpoint where you were and who you were with if you ever hear them again.
Why was the music of the 60’s and 70’s so good? It was a time of musical renaissance for every genre.
Those standards crap all over these wholesale knock-offs. “Country girl shake it for me” will not be the words you remember. Hey Joe…Hey Joe…Joe Diffie will make you cringe then and now.
Cruise…yuck, I need a bucket.
Colonel Slade actually says this in his speech: Al Pacino, Scent of a Woman….
“I don”™t know if Charlie”™s silence here today is right or wrong; I”™m not a judge or jury. But I can tell you this: he won”™t sell anybody out to buy his future!”
Colonel Slade praises Charlie’s actions as the hard choice. He received a standing ovation.
This speech won Al Pacino the Oscar.
Reflecting On 2014: The Bros, The Synths & The Swift Departures | For The Country Record
December 31, 2014 @ 7:11 am
[…] would see its gender balance readdressed, and I agreed, but it didn”™t stop Scott Borchetta from making promises he couldn”™t keep about “tasking” his writers to delve deeper. Several months later, bro kings […]