Country Music People March 2021 | Page 4

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MUSIC PEOPLE
NEWS
MARCH 2021 Volume 52 Number 3 Issue 613
Editor Duncan Warwick
Contributors David Allan , Janet Aspley , Donnie Ayers , Craig Baguley , Tony Byworth , Larry Delaney , Don Cusic , Julie Flaskett , Michael Hingston , Stan Hitchcock , Tony Ives , Spencer Leigh , John Lomax III , Adrian Peel , Paul Riley , Alex Rossi , Chris Smith , Tom Travis , Walt Trott , Jack Watkins New release consultant : Steve Tidbury
Assistant editor / Special projects coordinator Kelly Gregory
Photographers Patricia Presley , Barry Dixon , Billie McAleer
Advertising Major Media Sales Adrian Major - adrian @ majormediasales . com
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JUST AS HE SEEMED TO HAVE THE country music world at his feet , the 27-year-old mulleted Somebody ’ s Problem singer Morgan Wallen has seen his records removed from hundreds of country radio playlists and streaming services as well as having his recording contact with Big Loud Records “ suspended immediately ” and “ indefinitely ” following the surfacing of a video of the singer using the N-word outside his Nashville home .

Just a week or two earlier Wallen ’ s sophomore release , Dangerous : The Double Album had debuted at # 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart ( all genres ) and broke records for the largest streaming week ever for a country album . Additionally , he also set a new record when 27 of the 30 songs on Dangerous landed in the Top 50 with six in the Top 10 . He was also the first artist ever to debut at # 1 on both the Top Country Albums and Hot Country Songs charts simultaneously . In the UK the album debuted at the top of the Official Country Albums chart and last year ’ s US smash single 7 Summers was playlisted by BBC Radio2 .
News of the video spread quickly and outlets reacted fast . Wallen ’ s records were pulled from rotation on Cumulus Media ’ s 400 + stations as well as iHeartMedia ’ s 800 + stations , his label , Big Loud Records , announced Wallen ’ s suspension in a Tweet , saying that “ such behaviour will not be tolerated .” CMT were also keen to distance themselves from the singer , who first came to fame on The Voice , and said in a statement , “ After learning of Morgan Wallen ’ s racial slur late last night , we are in the process of removing his appearances from all our platforms . We do not tolerate or condone words and actions that are in direct opposition to our core values that celebrate diversity , equity and inclusion .”
One day after the video came to light , industry tipsheet Country Aircheck reported that airplay for Wallen on country stations had dropped by 80 %.
Just a matter of months have passed since Wallen picked up the Best New Artist honour at the 2020 CMA Awards but the association

“ Wallen ’ s records were pulled from rotation on Cumulus Media ’ s 400 + stations as well as iHeartMedia ’ s 800 + stations , his label , Big Loud Records announced Wallen ’ s suspension in a Tweet , saying that “ such behaviour will not be tolerated .”

hinted that the likelihood of him being eligible for an award this year was slim in a Tweet saying , “ In light of Morgan Wallen ’ s recent use of a racial slur , CMA is removing his digital content from our platforms . We support our Country Music partners for taking swift action . We will confer further with our Board of Directors to review additional measures and will continue to examine our industry ’ s inclusivity efforts .”
Wallen was also removed from eligibility at this year ’ s ACM Awards with the Academy of Country Music stating , “ As a result of this unprecedented situation , the Academy will be reviewing our awards eligibility and submission process , ensuring our nominees consistently reflect the Academy ’ s integrity .”
The incriminating footage , reportedly recorded by a neighbours ‘ Ring ’ camera , shows Wallen outside his home seemingly with a group of friends shouting , “ Take care of this pu ** y a * s motherf *****,” before shouting , “ take care of this p * ssy ass n *** er ”.
Wallen was quick to issue an apology saying that he was “ embarrassed and sorry ” for the incident . “ I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back . There are no excuses to use this type of language , ever . I want to sincerely apologize for using the word . I promise to do better .”
Hole In The Bottle singer Kelsea Ballerini took to social media to say , “ The news out of Nashville tonight does not represent country music ,” while fellow star Maren Morris appeared to have the opposite view , tweeting , “ It actually IS representative of our town because this isn ’ t his first ‘ scuffle ’ and he just demolished a huge streaming record last month regardless . We all know it wasn ’ t his first time using that word . We keep them rich and protected at all

costs with no recourse .”
As the backlash continued to grow , up and coming Black country singer Mickey Guyton added , “ When I read comments saying ‘ this is not who we are ’ I laugh because this is exactly who country music is . I ’ ve witnessed it for 10 gd years . You guys should just read some of the vile comments hurled at me on a daily basis . It ’ s a cold hard truth to face but it is the truth .”
No stranger to controversy , it is not long
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