COLUMNS
COLUMNS art could find a home within the billion-dollar industry that is modern day country music . I mean , I had so many thoughtful and complimentary reviews of New Kind of Outlaw , made it to Hockey Night in Canada commercial bumpers , and I ’ ve been nominated for Country Artist of the Year at the 2021 Western Canadian Music Awards , but I am the only nominee not aired on commercial country radio . So , on the strength of those achievements as an independent selfmanaged artist , it shows that my music is accessible , commercially viable , and speaks to people from many backgrounds — surely there could be a space for me and my music .
I recently had a consult with a radio promotion company with a solid track record of servicing to commercial country radio and the feedback I received was : “ The writing on these songs is likely too cerebral for the core mainstream country audience . They don ’ t like to have to think a whole bunch when trying to understand a song .”
It ’ s important for me to state that the person I met with was so lovely , very knowledgeable on the mechanics of commercial radio , and expressed genuine interest in working with me on a completely new project where they could be along every step of the way in making the decisions that could potentially ( no guarantees of course ) create a sound that wouldn ’ t drive the listener to punch the dial because sonically I would sound more like everyone else .
Well , that certainly seems to be what the gatekeepers want us to continue to believe , but I don ’ t think that is fully rooted in reality . I know so many country music lovers , myself included , who have stopped listening to commercial country radio because I feel like I am listening to one long song that never ends . On that note , we read further from the radio policy review : “ While Canadians appear to be generally satisfied with their listening experience on commercial radio , satisfaction falls when it comes to commercial radio ’ s variety of programming , diversity of songs , genres and artists , promotion of Canadian content . In fact , commercial radio ’ s over-reliance on popular music was identified as an issue by Canadians ” ( from Attitudes & Opinions Towards Commercial Radio in Canada - Final Report , Ipsos Public Affairs for CRTC ).
One of the final statements of the email I received was , “ As I mentioned , mainstream radio is not in the business of art .” But aren ’ t we called artists ?
In 2021 , is this really the legacy we are going
to continue to uphold ? Shouldn ’ t we have the final say of what our sound is without having to have countless middlemen interfering when for all of us creators , music is our medicine ? Can we move past the continued mainstream indoctrination of songs about the same shit and that sound the same , and give the audience a little more credit ? Just because this is the way things have been , why can ’ t it change and actually place more care and offer more freedom to the person who is actually producing the product ( i . e . the artist )? If we all stopped making music , how would the rest of the music industry pay their bills ?
I don ’ t think it is only BIPOC and LGBTQ2S + artists who are given this feedback or put in these boxes . I believe this issue impacts so many artists – if we don ’ t conform to what a small group of powerful corporations run by an even smaller group of powerful and wealthy people dictate as good for business , then we can stick to the outside tracks and find other ways to garner a livelihood . But of course , when it comes to country radio and according to Dr . Watson ’ s extensive report , these rules disproportionately impact marginalized groups the most and the ones who benefit to conforming to the formula are mostly cis / white / hetero men .
Again , why did I choose country music ? Because I love country music . Because I want the next small-town prairie Black Queer kid from Alberta to explore this style of music without hesitation because they have been represented by artists like me in the mainstream . Because I want to reclaim a piece of what has taken and co-opted from Black people for over 100 years now . Because it doesn ’ t make sense that during the month of June , CCMA will feature me for their Pride series and CMA will add my song to their Pride playlist , but I will never qualify for any of their awards because the artist I am today means I am not played on country radio , which is what qualifies you to be nominated .
I feel like there is space for it all on country radio . You can keep your formula if that ’ s what you want , but all artists like me are asking for is an equal playing field to bring our art to the party .
D ’ orjay The Singing Shaman was a late bloomer stepping on to the stage . Helping her clients and students heal to their most authentic selves and navigating years of her own personal limiting beliefs and experiences meant that she was 35 years old when she finally grabbed the microphone in a professional capacity . Her style of country music continues to evolve , honouring the classic country music she grew up on living in rural Alberta while also colouring outside the lines of what current mainstream country music has to offer . As a Black Queer woman , D ’ orjay is passionate , vocal , and committed to bringing diversity and inclusiveness to country music . www . dorjay . ca .
CANADIAN MUSICIAN 29