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Rucker Proves That Sometimes, The Best Marketing Is No Marketing At All
Don’t look now, but Darius Rucker, lead singer of 90s rock group Hootie & The Blowfish, has a country hit on his hands. “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” currently sits at number 14 on Billboard’s country singles chart and continues to pick up spins. What you probably haven’t heard is that Rucker […]
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Jessica Simpson Is The Highest Charting Debut Solo Artist
Jessica Simpson made history by becoming the highest charting debut solo artist in the history of Billboard’s country singles chart for her song “Come On Over.”
John Bohannon says John Hiatt’s formula becomes closer to perfect with each album and Same Old Man follows in that lineage.
His ability to relate to an audience through repetition and […]Continue reading "Jessica Simpson Is The Highest Charting Debut Solo Artist"
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Jumping Ship: Reflections on Americana Music
It was hard times for roots based country acts in the 90s. Garth and Shania delivered an enormous audience to country music that the Nashville establishment had no intention of losing, and people who were playing “traditional” country music were being increasingly marginalized in favor of those who were playing a more pop-based variety. Country […]
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Satellite Radio’s Opportunity
A government ruling on the legality of the proposed Sirius-XM merger is expected soon. The merger will require approval from two government agencies: the Department of Justice must investigate the merger for violations of antitrust law and the Federal Communications Commission must decide whether the merger will serve the public interest. I don’t possess […]
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Trisha Yearwood - “This is Me You’re Talking To”
To prepare for this review, I re-listened to most of Trisha Yearwood’s single releases in an ultimately futile attempt to discover a better vocal performance. Some, such as “I Don’t Paint Myself into Corners” and “The Song Remembers When,” come close, but I believe that “This is Me You’re Talking To” represents Trisha Yearwood’s best […]
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The Year in Review: Top 20 Country Music News Stories of 2007
The 9513 began as a country music news site. During the past year we have diversified our content but daily news roundups remain popular among our readers. Thus, it’s only fitting that our Year in Review series for 2007 ends with a roundup of the year’s top country music news stories.
20. Sammy Kershaw’s Troubles. I […]Continue reading "The Year in Review: Top 20 Country Music News Stories of 2007"
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The Year in Review: Comeback Kids
This is the first of a series of Year in Review articles that will appear on The 9513 between now and the new year.
In my mind, Porter Wagoner will forever epitomize country music in 2007.
Some may object to my hanging an entire year on the back of an artist who didn’t sniff the radio […] -
The Decline of Country Radio
For the most part, I have little patience for individuals who exhibit unmitigated scorn for popular music. There’s something uniquely arrogant – yet also cowardly – about dismissing all hit songs as some kind of opiate for the masses. Nevertheless, in the past several months, I have become increasingly disenchanted and unsatisfied with mainstream country […]
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Texas Country on Radio Free Texas
With the advent of iTunes and MySpace, music on the internet exploded, which led to podcasting and internet radio station. The Beaumont Enterprise reports that thirty million Americans have listened to internet radio within the past week. I don’t listen to a lot of radio, period, but when I do listen to internet radio, one […]
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Forgotten Artists: Goldie Hill Had Carl Smith and Goldie Hill been born 30 or 40 years later, they might have been like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw–the dominant married couple in country music.
Forgotten Artist: Wynn Stewart Both Buck Owens and Merle Haggard have cited Wynn Stewart as a major influence on their careers, yet somehow, he was never able to translate his enormous talent into extended and consistent success for himself.
Miranda Lambert - “More Like Her” This kind of material, as opposed to her tough-chick-done-wrong romps like “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and “Gunpowder and Lead,” is where her real promise lies
Joey Rory - “Cheater, Cheater” It’s actually downright frivolous, but that just makes it all the more fun. And really, are you allowed to say “ho” on country radio?
Josh Gracin - “Unbelievable (Ann Marie)” Despite initial marketing that touted the album as deep and personal, “Unbelievable (Ann Marie)” is anything but deep or personal.
Josh Turner - "Everything Is Fine" Turner is the rare example of an artist who records material that’s both quality and trademark.
Darryl Worley - "Tequila On Ice" A groovy mid-tempo that sways, a refreshing reprieve from the exhausting pace of a format that clamors for loud music and swelling choruses.
Blake Shelton - "She Wouldn't Be Gone" It’s all about nailing the melody rather than providing a legitimate interpretation that accentuates the lyrical content, although Shelton does do a pretty good job of injecting what limited emotion he can.
Don’t look now, but Darius Rucker, lead singer of 90s rock group Hootie & The Blowfish, has a country hit on his hands. What you probably haven’t heard is that Rucker is the first black artist to chart a single in the country top 20 since Charley Pride last did it in 1988.
News that former Sugarland member and co-founder Kristen Hall is suing her ex-mates, to the tune of $1.5 million, goes a long way towards providing a bit of context regarding the Atlanta singer/songwriter’s sudden departure from the group.
In Memory of Don Helms (1927 - 2008) Helms dated back to a time when an excellent four or five piece band and a good singer were all that were needed to make great country music. No drums, no light shows, no production tricks in the recording studio–just good music.Current Discussion
- Matt B.: and Why should we care when or where Shania records a record. It isn't relevant...
- Lynn: I was also surprised by the use of "Only in America." Not because it was a count...
- Troy: k can we stop talking bout Mutt and Shaina yes the are very successful people an...
- paul: It doesn't look like Mutt moved on since he is begging Shania to take him back a...
- paul: Stormy, once again you fail to look at the facts. Shania and Mutt will work out ...
- Paul W Dennis: Photocrap really is a hoot ! The Del McCoury idea is interesting - let's see...
- Stormy: Mutt's already moved on. In the event of divorce half a studio is equal to 0 ...
- Paul W Dennis: What is really sad, Chris, is that 15+ years after the fall of the Soviet Union,...
- Paul: Does she have access to the studios? lmao!!! They are half in her name. My guess...
- Paul: Stormy, you are totally clueless. Shania has 4 studios that are half in her name...
