Comments on: Kellie Pickler Splits with Label; Emmylou Harris to Tour Australia; Stream Jerry Douglas’ Traveler

By: TX Music Jim

TX Music Jim — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:01:03 +0000

All i’m saying here is there are pockets and not just parts of Texas and Oklahoma were Tradtional Country or just music not pushed by the tradtional marketing machine out of Nashville thrive to varying degrees. My Lord this past april 35,000 folks came together in a field in Stephenville Texas for the annual Larry Joe Taylor music festival almost none of those artists have major label or mainstream radio support so yes there are a good number of folks making a living in music without the support of Major labels and the Nashville marketing machine. Pickler may have to be one of those if she chooses a more tradtional country sound.

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:37:45 +0000

Sugar Hill, Taylor Swift, blah blah blah – bringing a lot of record label experience to bear, are we?

“On any given weekend night I can drive 50 miles in any direction…”

Key word there is “weekend.” That’s 2 nights out of 7. And can you drive 50 miles in any direction from anywhere in Texas to see same? I thought not. Texas as a market has some value as a home for out-of-the-mainstream country music, but that’s in significant part because it’s so huge that even a small percentage of the audience adds up to something. Look at the most-listened country stations in the state and their playlists for some useful data on how different it is from the rest of the country.

By: scooter

scooter — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 08:51:19 +0000

I am really enjoying the Pickler album- I’m a fan now and really hope she finds a home that lets her do more of what she did on 100 proof. My favorite album so far this year.

By: badrockandroll

badrockandroll — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 04:33:36 +0000

I saw a commercial on canadian tv the other night for a money mart/Western union type place. It sure looked like Dale Watson singing in the background. Bear in mind I grew up with Johnny Cash Machine commercials, with the Man in Black extolling the virtues of early ATM use. Was that really Dale or some Canuck knock-off?

By: TX Music Jim

TX Music Jim — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 22:18:56 +0000

Tradtional contry has an audience. If Sunny needs to come home to Texas to make a living after the Nashville machine dumps her for being too country she has got a home with a vibirant live music scene that she can make a good living being a part of. She could bring Ms Pickler with her. On any given weekend night I can drive 50 miles in any direction and see bands like Dale Watson (tradtional Country) Asleep at the Wheel (western Swing) Reckless Kelly (roots rock) that draw big enough crowds to keep the club owners happy and the Texas Red Dirt Music Scene thriving. Major Labels are not necessary anymore. With satelite and internet radio and in Texas several succesful tradtional radio stations all of the above mentioned artists plus many more of many genere’s get played regularly.

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:22:21 +0000

I’m not surprised to hear about Kellie’s departure from Sony Nashville after the dismal sales figures for “100 Proof”. AirHead Country Radio doesn’t want traditional sounding country music and neither does Americana radio, so its a radio marketplace orphan these days. As for Leeann’s comment about Eden’s Edge, they haven’t had a single go higher than # 20 on the Top 40 charts thus far, so their future with Big Machine is not guaranteed no matter how much Scott Borchetta believes in them. Ditto for Sunny Sweeney on the sister Republic Nashville imprint. Singing traditional sounding country these days as a female artist at big Nashville labels is a quick way to find the exit door.

I hope the Ernest Tubb Record Shop can find a way to stay in business for the long run. Becoming the first US dealer to deeply discount ALL of the Bear Family label CD’s they stock would be a great place to start! (lol)

By: Adam Sheets

Adam Sheets — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:15:52 +0000

Not to mention that the Mavericks are now signed to Big Machine.

By: Ken Morton, Jr.

Ken Morton, Jr. — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:12:31 +0000

Leeann, good call on Big Machine. I had forgot all about Kellie’s close relationship with Taylor Swift.

By: Leeann Ward

Leeann Ward — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:47:45 +0000

I wouldn’t be surprised to see her go to Big Machine. I’d be surprised if she signed with Sugar Hill right now, because I’m guessing she’s not ready to give up on mainstream radio success just yet. A place like Big Machine is supporting acts like Edens Edge who isn’t afraid of sounding a little country, not to mention that Taylor Swift might be willing to put in a good word for her.:)

By: Ben Foster

Ben Foster — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:24:59 +0000

She and Joey+Rory would make a terrific one-two classic country punch for Sugar Hill.

Ditto to that!

It’s too bad Pickler hasn’t had much success with Sony, but hopefully their split will open the door for her to find a better outlet in the future. 100 Proof was such an excellent record, and I hope Pickler continues making fine music in such a vein.