Country Music People March 2021 | страница 5

BACKLASH TO

MORGAN WALLEN ’ S

RACIST SLUR

since he was caught violating Covid restrictions which led to him being dropped from a Saturday Night Live performance . He was also involved in a fracas in Downtown Nashville following which he was arrested and charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct . iHeart Radio ’ s Bobby Bones , whose syndicated radio show makes him one of the most influential people in country music , immediately ceased playing Wallen ’ s music and whilst admitting he is not pro ‘ cancel culture ’ said , “ There is no room for that word , there is no room for a limited view on any race or sex . I like Morgan Wallen as a person , this I don ’ t like one bit .”
It wasn ’ t long since Wallen chose the Bobby Bones Show to publicly apologise following being caught on a TikTok video partying despite lockdown restrictions .
With the heft of social media deploring his actions , widespread condemnation , lack of support amongst his peers , the decision by his label to “ suspend ” him and country radio to drop the superstar it became questionable that Wallen ’ s apology would be enough to save the career of the biggest artist to hit country music in years . Certainly his mainstream career looked in doubt . However , in the days after the scandal broke sales of Wallen ’ s albums and songs skyrocketed . His album still occupied the top slot on the iTunes chart the following day and his previous album , If I Know Me , which had been at # 54 shot to # 2 . Billboard reported that his album sales rose by 593 % on the day following ( Feb 3 ) with downloads up 261 % and overall sales of Wallen ’ s catalogue of albums and songs increasing by 339 %.
As CMP went to press Wallen ’ s album was celebrating six weeks as America ’ s number one making him the first male artist to enjoy six consecutive weeks at the top since rapper Drake in 2016 .
Morgan Wallen also tops both on-demand streaming and ‘ overall album consumption units ’ as fans rally to show thier support .
MARCH 2021 - cmp 5