{"id":1301339,"date":"2018-12-07T14:46:57","date_gmt":"2018-12-07T21:46:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/?p=1801547"},"modified":"2018-12-07T14:46:57","modified_gmt":"2018-12-07T21:46:57","slug":"historic-chart-exposes-country-musics-gender-disparity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/music-news\/historic-chart-exposes-country-musics-gender-disparity\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic Chart Exposes Country Music\u2019s Gender Disparity"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/cmt.mtvnimages.com\/uri\/mgid:ao:image:cmt.com:661410?width=1200&amp;height=675&amp;.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"byline\">by <span class=\"author\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/author\/tinglel\/\" title=\"Posts by Lauren Tingle\" rel=\"author\">Lauren Tingle<\/a><\/span> <span class=\"date\">12\/7\/2018<\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n<p>While the leading women in country music and Americana woke up to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/1801533\/brandi-carlile-kacey-musgraves-maren-morris-lead-2019-country-and-americana-grammy-nominees\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">multiple Grammy nominations<\/a> on Friday (Dec. 7), the lack of women within the Top 20 on <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/articles\/columns\/chart-beat\/8488730\/no-women-country-airplay-chart-top-20\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Billboard<\/a><\/em>\u2019s Country Airplay chart made history this week.<\/p>\n<p>For the first time since the survey launched in 1990, there are no women listed in the Top 20, and the only female artist closest to breaking the ranking is Carrie Underwood with \u201cLove Wins,\u201d at No. 22.<\/p>\n<div class=\"deferred_content\">Embedded from <a href=\"http:\/\/media.mtvnservices.com\/embed\/mgid:arc:video:cmt.com:1636cb54-ff82-48a2-82f1-677af747e4ba\">media.mtvnservices.com<\/a>. <noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;iframe&quot;}\"> <\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>The coming weeks are just as bleak for female airplay on country radio. Within the Top 60, there are only seven female acts listed following Underwood. They are Mindy Smith (guests Kenny Chesney\u2019s \u201cBetter Boat,\u201d at No. 27), new Grammy nominee Kelsea Ballerini (\u201cMiss Me More,\u201d No. 32), Hillary Lindsey (appears on Randy Houser\u2019s \u201cWhat Whiskey Does,\u201d No. 40), Maddie &amp; Tae (\u201cFriends Don\u2019t,\u201d No. 41), Runaway June (\u201cBuy My Own Drinks,\u201d No. 44), Lauren Alaina (\u201cLadies of the \u201890s,\u201d No. 47) and Carly Pearce (\u201cCloser to You,\u201d No. 53).<\/p>\n<p>How this disparity between male-led singles and female-led songs came to fruition has been a long time in the making. And it\u2019s not just country radio\u2019s fault. Every country music entity has a part to play.<\/p>\n<p>RJ Curtis, the new Exec. Director of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryradioseminar.com\/mission\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Country Radio Broadcasters<\/a> who\u2019s worked in country radio for 30 years and previously programmed KZLA\/Los Angeles for 15, believes the problem is systemic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI hear so many people express frustration about the obvious disparity between male and female artist airplay,\u201d Curtis tells CMT.com. \u201cThey\u2019re not wrong about that, but I think it\u2019s an oversimplification to conclude terrestrial radio is the sole culprit, or, automatically guilty as charged.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a multi-layered, complicated situation,\u201d he adds. \u201cDuring the past two years in my previous role at [the country radio trade] <em>All Access<\/em>, I studied the numbers, and there are simply more male artists signed by labels than females, at a ratio of almost four-to-one. Radio does not participate in A&amp;R decisions; does not sign artists; does not record them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Part of Curtis\u2019 job at <em>All Access<\/em> was to speak regularly with country radio programmers nationwide. They are responsible for selecting which songs get added to broadcast playlists, which continue to shrink making country radio among the most competitive fields in Top 40 formats.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll insisted airplay decisions were based entirely on the quality of music on a song-by-song basis, not gender,\u201d he says. \u201cThat evaluation process was described similarly, whether I asked male or female programmers. Music taste is subjective.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere radio can play a productive and bold role is not simply playing all the music by all the female artists, but a lot more of the most impactful female artist and songs.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"deferred_content\">Embedded from <a href=\"http:\/\/media.mtvnservices.com\/embed\/mgid:arc:video:cmt.com:aa599f47-318f-4b35-b2c8-1962e39a685c\">media.mtvnservices.com<\/a>. <noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;iframe&quot;}\"> <\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>The reason why music fans should care about this issue is that country radio is still a significant player in determining their favorite artist\u2019s success. Major festivals, tours and television shows primarily book artists with recognizable radio hits. But in today\u2019s landscape, the only artists getting most of the airplay are men.<\/p>\n<p>Influencers are working to bring positive change for women in country music. The 2018 <em>CMT Artists of the Year<\/em> special was the first of its kind to honor not just female solo artists, but also performers in bands including Lady Antebellum\u2019s Hillary Scott and Little Big Town\u2019s Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman. The sixth annual <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/1800742\/little-big-towns-karen-fairchild-inducts-cmts-next-women-of-country\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">CMT Next Women of Country<\/a> showcase in November welcomed nine new additions and announced the sixth CMT Next Women of Country tour with Cassadee Pope, Clare Dunn and Hannah Ellis.<\/p>\n<p>CMT\u2019s Senior Vice President of Music &amp; Talent, Leslie Fram, spearheaded the Next Women program after seeing a need for country music women to be heard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I moved to Nashville seven years ago to work for CMT, I was coming from rock-alternative radio and some years in pop,\u201d Fram recalls. \u201cI discovered Ashley Monroe and Brandy Clark and fell in love with their pure voices and songs about heartache, coupled with true storytelling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFinding out that these artists and so many other women were not being supported was the impetus for CMT\u2019s \u2018Next Women Of Country\u2019 franchise. CMT has always supported female artists so we wanted to find an avenue to amplify this exposure for all the great new female talent in town.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cComing from radio \u2014 a male-dominated business, I found that women both on the business side and artists had to work harder to get their voices heard, earn respect and have the ability to grow. I want to continue to fight for equality and help create an equal playing field for these artists. It\u2019s important and vital for the future of our format.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"deferred_content\">Embedded from <a href=\"http:\/\/media.mtvnservices.com\/embed\/mgid:arc:video:cmt.com:520d99c6-1e82-4bae-8178-250241b45d9b\">media.mtvnservices.com<\/a>. <noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;iframe&quot;}\"> <\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>CMT\u2019s Cody Alan is hopeful that success among artists of color indicates a shift toward a more diverse country radio format.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith Jimmie Allen and Kane Brown both climbing the charts to No. 1 this year,\u201d Alan says, \u201cit\u2019s time to wrap our arms around talented artists for their abilities, and not discard them for their gender, race or simply not \u2018fitting in the box.\u2019 I am proud that CMT is leading the charge on our platforms. Our <em>Artists of the Year<\/em> special was a great example of how to truly embrace the influence of female stars in country music \u2014 past, present and future. The women of country add a perspective the music needs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the radio with <em>CMT After MidNite<\/em> and <em>CMT Radio Live<\/em>,\u201d Alan adds, \u201cwe\u2019re also dedicating air time and effort to waving the flag for females and diversity. By the way, all this is happening not just because the artist is female, but because female artists are making great music.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bobby Bones, the host of the nationally syndicated <em>Bobby Bones Show<\/em> and a recent <em>Dancing With the Stars<\/em> champion, has an hour-long national radio show, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iheartmedia.com\/press\/iheartmedia-expands-relationship-top-country-radio-host-and-multimedia-personality-bobby\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Women of iHeartCountry<\/a><\/em>, featuring music from established female artists and up-and-comers. When CMT.com spoke to Bones at a Musicians On Call benefit in October, he advocated for fair listens of all music.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor me, I would see so many awesome female artists not even getting a shot,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd if you get a shot, then, whatever happens, happens. I just saw very underserved artists, and I think everything should have a fair listen. To me, it\u2019s not so much about, \u2018Is it a dude? Or is it a woman? Is it a band?\u2019 It\u2019s, \u2018How can there be that many people that aren\u2019t getting a fair shake?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bones also said he believes record labels could do a better job in developing rising talent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s anyone that\u2019s actually aiding the women,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I think it\u2019s time for people to say, \u2018Hey let\u2019s take a look.\u2019 The labels haven\u2019t been developing artists. The labels won\u2019t bring someone on unless they have an exact place for them. But there are 72 dudes who sound exactly the same. But also I think it goes back to what\u2019s been successful in the past. Five, six years ago there was a sound that was successful, so they try to replicate that.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"deferred_content\">Embedded from <a href=\"http:\/\/media.mtvnservices.com\/embed\/mgid:arc:video:cmt.com:94021a61-b6e0-4e7d-9a89-ee8699f05646\">media.mtvnservices.com<\/a>. <noscript class=\"deferred_content\" data-deferred-info=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;iframe&quot;}\"> <\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>But country radio isn\u2019t without its bad apples. In a 2015 interview with the country radio trade, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryaircheck.com\/pdfs\/current052615.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Country Aircheck<\/a><\/em>, radio consultant Keith Hill infamously compared country radio to a salad where the lettuce is male artists and the tomatoes are females. In other words, he believed female-led songs should be used sparingly.<\/p>\n<p>The danger in publishing comments like Hill\u2019s is even though it\u2019s just one person\u2019s sexist opinion, imbalanced ideas like this are sometimes internalized by people in positions of power who can make decisions that can influence positive change.<\/p>\n<p>For example, several radio programmers and music supervisors attended the Live in the Vineyard festival where a 15-year-old Tegan Marie crushed a Saturday morning brunch with a series of originals, including her latest single, \u201cI Know How to Make a Boy Cry.\u201d Her songs, each one just as evocative as the number before, made her the obvious festival standout. But as attendees settled into the bus ride to the next destination, one radio programmer, who just signed a multi-year contract with major radio company that oversees 80 country stations nationwide, was overheard saying, \u201cThe only thing about female voices is that they just don\u2019t cut through.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe all have to play a part \u2014 whether you work for a record label, management company, streaming service, radio, etc.,\u201d Fram says. \u201cWe have to stop putting a band-aid on this issue. It\u2019s time to be bold and break some rules along the way. The self-fulling prophecy of, \u2018Women don\u2019t want to hear women,\u2019 \u2018Women don\u2019t stream,\u2019 \u2018Women\u2019s voices don\u2019t cut through,\u2019 \u2018The songs are just not great,\u2019 \u2018Women don\u2019t sell beer,\u2019 <em>has to stop<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLabels are still signing women,\u201d she adds. \u201cPublishing companies are still signing women. Yet there seems to be a big disconnect with people who program music. The fact that there are no females in the Top 20 is criminal [because] the level of talent in this town is beyond astounding. I am hopeful that the gatekeepers will open their ears, go to some shows and watch the fans to truly understand the level of engagement that is happening with fans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In where to go from here, the overall business has to be the change it wants to see and have patience. As Jason Isbell <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/1782929\/jason-isbell-on-the-nashville-sound-and-country-musics-responsibility\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">affirmed<\/a> with CMT.com in 2017, revolutions in music take time.<\/p>\n<div class=\"author\">\n<div class=\"description\">Lauren Tingle is a Tennessean and storyteller who eats music for breakfast, lunch and dinner. When she\u2019s not writing or rocking out, she enjoys yoga and getting lost in the great outdoors.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"WAnJHORD5M\"><p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/1801547\/historic-chart-exposes-country-musics-gender-disparity\/\">Historic Chart Exposes Country Music\u2019s Gender Disparity<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cmt.com\/news\/1801547\/historic-chart-exposes-country-musics-gender-disparity\/embed\/#?secret=WAnJHORD5M\" data-secret=\"WAnJHORD5M\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Historic Chart Exposes Country Music\u2019s Gender Disparity&#8221; &#8212; CMT News\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Lauren Tingle 12\/7\/2018 While the leading women in country music and Americana woke up to multiple Grammy nominations on Friday (Dec. 7), the lack of women within the Top 20 on Billboard\u2019s Country Airplay chart made history this week. For the first time since the survey launched in 1990, there are no women listed [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[159],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1301339","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-music-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-11 00:39:40","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1301339","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1301339"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1301339\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1301339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1301339"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1301339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}