Your Take: Teen Sensations

Given that teenagers are easily to manipulate, its no surprise producer driven Nashville loves them. Sure they can surprise, Leeanne Rhymes “Blue” sounded like Patsy Cline had come back in a 13 year old body. But given the drama worthy of a VH1 “Behind the Music” episode with her personal life, I have to ask why any parents allow their children to either act or perform until they are adults.

Jessica Andrews hit big at what, 15, 16?

What about Marie Osmond? She was 14 when Paper Roses hit #1 on the country and adult contemporary charts and #5 on the pop charts in 1973!

Letting my 80’s roots show, probably my favorite teenage singer was Tiffany. And I remember telling my dad that she was the greatest singer ever and would be a lengend.

I’m not a fan of the teen stars of today so much, and I wasn’t old enough to remember the artists I do like as teen stars. Hank Williams Jr., Tanya Tucker, and Wynonna were all singing adult songs when they hit as teenagers, so when I found their music and even knowing they were basically children when they recorded that music, I don’t usually think about that Tanya was only 15 when she recorded ‘What’s Your Mama’s Name Child’ or that a teenage Hank Williams Jr. recorded ‘Standing In the Shadows’ or ‘Cajun Baby’. It’s all good music to me.

That’s the main difference I see with today’s teen stars – way back when, they were trying their damnedest to appeal to the adult market, since adults made up the bulk of the record-buying public. But now that the tides have turned and labels are focusing their energy and resources on selling to the teenage crowd, the tone and mood of the music is bound to change to reflect actual teenage problems. And in the process, the adult fans of the genre are left very disenchanted.

Zany Jones I’m not going to get into the Taylor thing right now, but I’ll tell you I agree with the rest of what you said, good music is not about the money.

To quote Dusty (George Strait) Chandler, “In the early days, it was all about the music. We did it because we loved it. Lately it seems like it’s just for the smoke, and the glitz, and the money. And it’s real easy to get caught up in that.”

Finally someone who gets it and plans to do something about it. Good Luck with changing the Country Music ‘Industry’.

It isn’t so much about Taylor ever being a teen sensation as it is about the Industry’s failure to realize that it is hiding under a false Pop Business Model facade with a Traditional Country Music Model in place. And I agree…the fact that Country Music seems to be too focused on one demographic of listener is making it difficult to take any of the Artists it is promoting today as “serious” artists, let alone the music they are playing on the radio by them. Taylor is simply playing a role to bring in a younger demographic of listener, and that is her only role. To me, the Industry is shooting itself in the foot and has a foolish strategy because it has let personality and image take over quality, creativity, and talent to appease that audience they are catering to exclusively. They are basically just playing poker with a pair of Queens (Taylor and Carrie), and trying to bluff the audience into believing they have a Full House. They keep throwing cards down on the table hoping they can somehow turn a Deuce into an Ace (Daughtry performing at the CMA’s just to bring in more fans who otherwise would not watch the show, Crossover Artists like Kid Rock, Jewel, and Darius Rucker going to Country are good examples). The problem is they have thrown out the good hand that got them to the table in the first place. I just hope they kept an Ace up their sleeve somewhere, and play it. But right now, I’m not sure if there are any Aces left in the deck. Maybe it’s time they threw out their hand they are currently playing and reshuffle the deck and deal a new hand before it’s too late and they put all their money on the hand they are currently playing that is sure to get beaten eventually. A royal flush always beats a pair anyway.
So my answer to the question is…There really is no comparison of Taylor and the other teens who made it in Country Music. Because back then it was all about the money for the love of music, and today it is obviously about something else entirely…music for the love of money. There roles have been reversed, and it is killing the Industry and the quality and creativity of art. And to use another analogy, instead of the Country Music Industry creating something new, they simply change the color of the taco and put a fancy new name on it: “Black Jack Taco” (“New Country”)…and act like it’s something new. I’m just wondering what they will come up with next when people stop buying their current offering. And if people will buy it. Stay tuned…

Phil: When do you suppose people will stop buying this current offering? It’s here and people are buying it by the truckloads. Do you have a guestimation of when you believe this current state of country music will fade away? When will the “Industry” have to count their losses, because it looks to me like they will be counting their winnings?

Daughtry singing at the CMA’s will only add to an already entertaining group of performances!

I have to say, I agree with Phil. The way that industry executives are over promoting new artists, and trying to force out what little older, quality country music there is out there will bring some interest in the short term, but eventually people will get sick of it.

I am personally more optimistic, because I think that with the internet and mass communication devices available it will be easier for people to find some level of quality music, from those who do it because they love it. But sadly, the industry probably will just reach the point that the fans will stop caring, the mainstream will pick up the bulk of ‘country’ fans with the pop garbage, and country music will fade into obscurity to the point that no station will find it viable to play anything close to traditional country. Those of us who do like country will be left to reminisce in the glory of some old Haggard and Strait.

Hopefully, time will reveal musicians from today to be great, just as it did with the greats of the past. We would never know of the longevity of the emotions in any of Hank’s music if we didn’t have decades to hear it, evaluate it, and re-evaluate it. Classics are not made over night.

I’m digging Blaine Larsen, but maybe it’s just the local connection.

I think it has always been about the money, its a business and if they dont sell product they go under. In the old days if a record label had one big artist they could make enough money they could sign a lot of smaller artist and take a chance. It is not that way anymore. I remember when the Beatles came out and every band in England got signed to a record deal then Jefferson Airplane came out and every San Francisco band got signed, then Guns n Roses and every band in L.A. got a record deal, now its Nashvilles turn. Every pretty blonde girl in Nashville that can sing will get a deal but its not Taylors fault. She was just a 16 year old girl that put out a record that people liked enough to go out and buy it. I wonder how many of the people that complain about where country music is go out and buy cds of the artist they like? Put your money where your mouth is. All record labels are hurting and they are not going to put out music if it does not sell. Its ok if you dont like Taylors music but like it or not Taylor is helping to keep the boat afloat for awhile.

“I wonder how many of the people that complain about where country music is go out and buy cds of the artist they like? Put your money where your mouth is.”

I’ve wondered about that myself… you’d think that since so many people prefer the traditional country that the latest Patty Loveless and Tanya Tucker albums (i.e.) would’ve sold a lot better than Toby Keith’s latest

It’s called marketing and promotion Nicolas…and right now the Industry is not marketing and promoting Patty Loveless and Tanya Tucker like they are Toby Keith because it does not fit in with their “New” Country brand they are focusing on exclusively. I’ve already explained the Traditional business model that Country Music uses, and how male artists are still given at least 5 times more radio play than female artists (maybe more). And then the Industry focuses its marketing and promotion on a couple of female artists at any given time to be the “Queens” of Country Music (the awards that Carrie and Taylor have won are more about the marketing and promotion than they are about the actual awards). It’s been going on for years. Tanya and Patty have had their day. Which explains why Carrie and Taylor are the only two current female artists who get the bulk of the radio play, make the Top 10 regularly on the charts at the moment, and are selling “truckloads” of music. I’m not even sure if comparing Patty Loveless and Tanya Tucker to Toby Keith is a very good example anyway, or if it even touches on the point I was trying to make about the current strategy Country Music is employing to bring in a new audience of listeners and disregard a huge demographic of listeners in the process. Maybe a better question would be why is it that the Industry is so focused on Carrie and Taylor to bring in these new listeners, and then giving all the radio play to male artists? And then in the process setting up a personality and popularity contest between all the other female artists just to get their songs heard on the radio by trying to copy what already worked for Carrie and/or Taylor by bringing in their own already established fanbase to compete with Carrie and Taylor (which is fruitless since the Industry is spending all of its money marketing and promoting Carrie and Taylor and gives them preferential treatment). It makes no sense to me. It doesn’t take too much thought or analysis to figure out what the Industry is doing…It’s nothing new that’s for sure. I just so happened to disagree with its strategy and dated Traditional business model (and trying to employ the same practices that work under a Pop Business Model in their Traditional Business Model at the same time). It’s a recipe for disaster in my opinion.
But your question is valid, even if the premises of the question are faulty because you do not take into account the male/female Artist gender gap that is still prevalent in Country Music today. The answer and conclusion is still the same either way.

Personally I don’t care about the age of the performer I just ask that they not be boring.

Teenagers a few decades ago had experienced much more of life (real life, not some mediated version of it) then the teenagers of today, so when Loretta was singing about life in the holler and motherhood and Dolly was singing about a coat of many colors it was more interesting then some mall sentimentality that sounds like it was recited from a Freshman notebook.

As far as capturing new listeners, I’ll come down on the side of Americana for getting new ears that wouldn’t normally listen to mainstream country radio than whatever product needs to be produced to bring in the Disney crowd.

Phil you are dead on with the pop model analogy. Nashville is going down the same slippery slope that the rest of the music industry did during the past two decades. Pop hits that radio ready for mass consumption which by their very nature must be short on depth. And we all know depth is needed for quality.

While much of the music biz has been suffering this decade, country music was experienceing some growth. It was built on a solid foundation of artists and a sound that appeals to many ages and demographics. Not so over the past couple of years. Pickin’s getting a bit slim of late.

Good thing the internet allows us all access to so many artists. The Americana scene is going great right now and while artists such as Buddy & Julie Miller will never sell close to what the Taylors and Carries do, at least great music gets out there and is easy to find.

Check out OtisGibb’s Grandpa Walked a Picket Line. Is it Nashville? Hardly. Is it even country? Sort of. What it is is great sonwriting and craft. If you like the Jamey Johnson check this out.

@ phil . it’s the gunsmoke syndrome , gunsmoke hits tv and bam! nothing on but westerns . that is why we have songs that sound to country not being played on radio , it’s the all or nothing attitude of radio.
Jewel tried for many years (8 i think) to have her songs played on country radio and her label would NOT even attempt it. when her contract was up she signed with somebody else.
It doesn’t bother me that musicians stretch the boundries of there genre but the all or nothing attitude of radio does bother me , they don’t get that we have room in our heads for more than one thought , they don’t understand that some days it’s desperado and others its life in the fast lane.

Phil,

It’s been tested time and time again, the female demographic (and many of the male demographics) like to hear male voices more than female voices. While I would love to have even a 60-40% or 50-50%, of male-female split on the airwaves, the testing proves otherwise. Like everything else, it’s not perfect and it never will be unless testing reflects a change in perception.

As for Carrie or Taylor, they’re not focusing their attention on them specifically except for the fact that both have huge cross-genre fan bases which help drive up their album sales #’s.

Don’t forget that if a station tests a song, more often than not the artist doesn’t get played (at first), even if the artist is liked by 9-10 people.

As for this topic at hand, I don’t mind teen artists if the music fits in with the genre.

“He is taking over as the Grand Ole Opry spokesman and master of ceremonies.”

Huh?

Waynoe: Don’t forget the hair and the shiney, shiney outfits.

…there are only a few out there, who wear them gracefully. he’s one of them.

Steve: Marty does not wear Nudie, he wears Manuel.

Nudie was a deigner. Manuel studied under him. Probably clothed.

I remember many many years ago. I went to Opryland they use to have an Opry Star of the day show. It was Lester Flatt the day I was there. He had the cutest mandolin player back then. Any care to guess who it was :D

re: Marty’s coiffeur (and clothing)

Entertainment Weekly writer Kate Meyers raved, “Marty Stuart reeks of style. Country style.” Stuart outlined his key to success: “The four things a hillbilly singer needs are a Cadillac, a Nudie [cowboy] suit, the right hairdo, and a pair of pointy-toed boots.” And don’t forget about the hair; curious about his massive pompadour, Meyers wondered, “What does it take to achieve such a resplendent coiffure?” The answer, according to Stuart: “About four minutes, a 60-mile-an-hour wind, a $1 hairbrush, and an 87-cent can of Aqua Net.”

http://www.martystuart.com/Bio-MusGuide.htm

And from an EW article: (1992)

Starting at the top, Stuart’s striking black mane, specked with well-earned gray, is ”a cross between Albert Einstein, Porter Wagoner, and a few Apaches,” he says, hybridizing again. Often tied in a black or pink bandanna headband, his hair is fastidiously sculpted. What does it take to achieve such a resplendent coiffure? ”About four minutes, a 60-mile-an-hour wind, a $1 hairbrush, and an 87-cent can of Aqua Net.”

His wardrobe is equally meticulous: The Levi’s must be faded, the T-shirts black or bleach-white (he buys them — and dog food for his bloodhound, Oscar — at Wal-Mart). The only color is provided by his hand-tooled cowboy boots and his rhinestone-studded jackets, made by renowned country designers Nudie and Manuel. (Stuart doesn’t buy the matching pants; if you wore too many rhinestones, he says, ”you’d get beat up.”) Throw in an Indian concho belt here, a silver bracelet there, and you’ve got Stuart wear.

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,311804,00.html

Thomas: Secret Vampire?

Thanks for the follow up comments to Marty. He’s unique to say the least.

Jon, you obviously are not knowledgeable about country music. Don’t reply unless you know what you are talking about. LOL

Honestly, I only care about genres when I want somebody off my radio – I’ll complain about Gloriana on a country station but not John Mellencamp. Good music is good music, just find us some.

Alan Jackson has some nudie suits, originals – that name makes me uncomfortable.