Short Updates and Other Notes

Men Must Do More to Support Women in Country Music, Fanboying and Other Stuff

So much is happening this week, so I figured it was time for a few brief updates.

1. International Women’s History Month is a sad reminder of our lack of progress.
   My extremely unscientific Instagram study of country music festival lineups seems to prove that we’ve made absolutely no progress towards gender equality. In the past few weeks, I’ve seen more festive announcements than I could count that have no women on the bill — not just a limited number of women, none.
   

   Within this context, Natalie Weiner of

   Don't Rock The Inbox
   takes on the seemingly futility of these heritage/history month events and the proliferation of puffery announcements during these months. And I agree, and so do many more people than you’d expect.

   While Trigger of Saving Country Music seems to blame those talking about this matter in “political” terms (even though this is a completely political/power dynamic issue, but whatever), he names gender inequality as the last issue left to “solve” in order to save country music.

   During Black History Month, this Toni Morrison quote made the rounds: “In this country, American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.” We need to do more to platform more women across the country music space, because they make great country music, not only because we need to have more women on the bill. Weiner notes that women picked as the “Next Women of Country” just want to be country singers — because, you know, that is what they are. The hyphen shouldn’t be used.

   

   Diversity, Equity and Inclusion isn’t some side project of the woke left; it improves our experience and art. Giving the stage to women makes the festival better because it's different, and when consuming art and entertainment, different is critical. And it’s not like there aren’t women making pop country, alt-country, bluegrass (though they are a bit better at this) or even Bro Country.

   Shifting perspective, hearing “authentic” stories from people who have different authentic experiences makes us better people.
   
   We shouldn’t have to talk about this anymore — but here we are talking about it again.
   

2. The Fanboy Journalism
   There are a few bands and folks in this industry that I’m always ready to show love. And one of those bands is Johnny Marfa & The Lights. Last night Marfa and his band of crazy pickers and blowers hosted a vinyl release party at the swanky Desert 5 Spot in Hollywood. The album is wonderful fun, beautifully produced and balanced. If you collect records or have a turntable, do me a solid and buy one for your collection. Hit me up if you need help getting your hands on a copy.

   

   Get a hard copy today.

3. Big News Coming Next Week
   I’m very pleased to drum up excitement for an announcement next week. These pre-announcements are much maligned by haters of the game, but I’ve always wanted to make one and I’m excited to announce that I have an announcement next week. Watch this (and other) places for more updates.
   

4. Bigger Stories in the Works

   I hope to finish my piece responding to the legitimate critiques of my piece that was sort of about Zach Top. I’ll be jumping back into the authenticity argument and get to quote Supreme Court Justices and rulings on pornography. Good times. The LA Sound story is in the research and interview stage — but it’ll be good.

So until next time, keep on listening to great country music.