Why People Don't Trust Country Radio 

Hey y'all!! This one has a provocative title, but it really isn't some big exposé. It's just my attempt to make sense of how radio and the "system" of country music works, and to be honest, that's neither bad nor good. It just is. If anything, I hope vids like this can help people let go of some resentment about the machine, but also let em know why it's okay to tune it out if they're not into it. Anyway -- this is long and less edited than usual so I hope you enjoy it!!

I think Cody’s got a next album title “Too Rodeo for Radio” lol

Used to play country radio at my retail job. No one, and I mean NO ONE, deserves to go through the torture of hearing “body like a back road” play 15 times during your shift. 😭

Country fans: "I like how they're playing more traditional sounding songs on the radio" Country radio: "Here's a pandering piece of garbage from Chase Rice and FGL that'll go to #1 even though nobody likes it"

I have a lot of respect for McCain to say that while he was offended by something the Dixie Chicks said he still stood up for their right to free speech. We really need more of that these days..

You mean people don’t wanna hear “ridin roads” 100 times a day?

My local station just changed their music, their new slogans is "playing the classics and the new one, when they're good enough"

"I'm not willing to suckle to the power teet" This is why I love Cody Johnson & that line made me spit out my beer, so you owe me one CoJo!🤣🔥🙏🏾

.I’m extremely big Cody Johnson fan he’s One of the main artists I do play on repeat....

I can't believe how prescient McCain's statement about media conglomeration was. Thats more relevant now than it ever has been.

I listen to a lot of Country radio... it's called an aux cable

"Sturgill Simpson isn't able to be sung along to" Me: WELL I BEEN SPENDIN' ALL MY MONEY ON WEED N PILLS

If dear rodeo didn’t make it as a single the whole radio industry needs a reboot. Imagine if George Strait would have released “dear rodeo” back in the 90s

It makes me so sad that a song like Dear Rodeo which literally features a living country legend, Reba McEntire, only peaks at #34, but a song like Good Time by Niko Moon (which is one of the absolute worst songs I have heard and the farthest thing from country music, but that's a rant for a different time) peaks at #1. I'm in school pursuing a bachelors in radio with the hopes of working in country radio and bringing change to the industry, but I know it's going to be a battle.

I'll be honest, I don't listen to country radio because I don't like ads. Just use spotify.

I think I need a, " too rodeo for radio" shirt I'd wear it to the next rodeo

Need George Strait back on the radio.

Cody Johnson is ridiculously underrated. He's on my driving playlist while I drive to work every morning

This is the best Grady Smith video ever. Don’t @ me @Grady Smith

I love how you close off the video saying "I don't know if this is a good video or not" as if it isn't an S tier video. Solid work as always Grady!

Definitely one of my favorite videos from you, Grady... I am a DJ for a country station in my small hometown in Southern Illinois. It is a "today's hits" country station. Ya know... Kane Brown, Keith Urban, Sam Hunt, Dan & Shay, etc. I DJ from 2-6 pm every weekday, and during those 4 hours, I play what most of us would call real country. Old & new.... Tyler, CoJo, Brooks & Dunn, Garth, George, etc. I feel that more stations should be "real country" based instead of "today's hits." People want to hear real country, so I think more DJs should play what the people want to hear. It's never bad to mix things up every once in a while..

Like Bryan is the king of being a radio artist, his music is directly for radio and money without any artistic or care put in to it, that's all it is

I was a casual Cody Johnson fan before this. I’m a huge fan after! Glad to see someone who is passionate about their music, not about their wallet

I was at the show Cody talks about where the drums fell off the stage at 22:00. They fell off and he didnt once stop the show. Finished the song, told the crowd they paid for a show and theyre getting the show. The drums got set back up and they fell back into the next song. As a drummer myself that earned my respect.

We used to have three to five “country” stations in my area that played very few pre 2000’s songs and did the same top 40 tracks over and over. Then an awesome station started and they play music from the 60’s to early 2000’s. Now the other stations are playing less pop country and more old fashioned stuff. I love it and I’ve started listening to radio again!

My number 1 source of country music discovery is this channel now. Get artist recommendations here then do a deep dive in the similar artist categories through spotify.

Grady - long time subscriber here. This is your best work yet. Bravo - More of this!!

Been a CoJo diehard since he was Pre-Nashville . Can’t wait to finally see him live in a few weeks!!

“Too rodeo for radio” now that’s a song cody needs to make to talk about all the things wrong with new country music and country radio

Imma say it like it is, country radio is ass. Besides XM they have great country stations. Radio is the reason we get a lot of bad new country songs and albums that are just basically pop music with a country guy singing it.

That's why it's so refreshing to me to listen to "Prime 30" or "Throwback 30" on Prime Country/Y2Kountry, because country music was so much different years ago, than it is today. I was listening to a countdown of the top 30 songs from this week in 2005, and the first song on the list was Jamie O'Neal's "Somebody's Hero", a great song about a mother/daughter relationship. Even one song that flopped on country radio from a few years back that I love is Little Big Town's "When Someone Stops Loving You".

Great video analysis. We recently canceled Sirius radio in my wifes car and have been listening to broadcast country radio in our area. They play the same 10 songs over and over...and over and over endlessly. We now use her Bluetooth connection to play the stuff we really want to hear. Back in the day before corporate takeovers and remote programming our local station had a saying. "We don't play the hits...we make the hits". Keep up the good work.

Didn’t even release dear rodeo flopped on radio. To be honest haven’t listened to the radio in probably near two years now

Great video Grady, you explained everything very well. I live in the UK, I got into country music on holidays to the USA listening to country radio in the hire cars. These days I get 90% of my country music from Apple Music, their playlists are much broader and include up and coming artists & artists that are too country for radio. We do have 3 national country stations here in the UK, they are much the same as the US stations in what music they play, they tend to focus on pop country. Times are changing, I think in the UK radio doesn’t have quite the influence as it does as in the USA, if good music is being made people WILL find it, nearly everyone is using streaming services now and these are great for discovering music that you’d never hear played on the radio. Oh and your channel has introduced me to plenty of great artists that I never hear on the radio, so thanks!

I went to a Luke Combs concert 2 years ago with cojo opening, wish people would have payed more attention to him.

This is one of my absolute favourite videos you've ever done! Other than doing deep dives into artists and their work, and reviewing singles, talking about the mechanisms that run the country music industry is so essential. A lot of people are not aware of it, especially those who get frustrated about their loved artists not making it big. Thank you for doing this, this kind of assessment is much needed. These are the conversations that might help make a gradual shift. If not, still, knowledge is power.

This is a really good point about the Telecommunications Act of 1996. It essentially destroyed even local rock scenes all throughout the country. Which is why music today, at least from a radio perspective, is so homogeneous and plain.

Cody Johnson and Randall King… my two favorite artists. I only caught wind of them when I headed out to Baylor for college in 2014. I’m from Florida. And I’m so happy I did! Texas country is just better. Can’t wait for Cojo to come to my hometown in Jupiter, FL this September.

This is the best video you have ever done. It was cathartic listening to you pull the curtain back on all of the machinations of the Country Radio machine. Keep up the great work.

I just love your channel, how you talk to us like we're just hangin' out together and how you share all kinds of interesting and cool tidbits!!!

When I first started driving radio was the main way I discovered new music, but in the last couple of years, I'd say since 2018, you and youtube in general have been my main way to discover new artists.

This video was amazing, I loved the deep-dive format and would love to see more of it in the future! Now my take on the subject. I am in my early 20's and everyone my age that I know, especially involved in the agriculture space, only listens to more independent artists. Often, I think artists like Kane Brown and Thomas Rhett are supposed to target my demographic, but from my experience most young country fans couldn't care less about those artists. CoJo, Parker McCollum, Koe Wetzel, and Tyler Childers were all the buzz when I was in college. I think it goes to show that building a strong following is possible, and these artists truly are able to reach all kinds of people, especially a demographic I think country radio does try to target. Plus, Dear Rodeo was huge in my social circles (admittedly I did rodeo myself haha). While "too rodeo for radio" is funny, it is kind of disheartening to see rodeo rejected from the country radio space as it is a part of country music history. It makes me curious about who country radio's target audience actually is? Pop fans? Casual listeners? Either way, I will stop rambling, love the video it was super interesting!

Awesome video! It's always informative and cool to see videos like this that delve into industry stuff and the state of country as a whole. I used to listen to radio primarily but have now just gone to Amazon Music/Spotify now since I'm incredibly fed up with the frequency that they play songs that are basically pop music and have zero substance.

I love your channel for the recommendations that you give. I don't listen to the radio, so this channel is how I discover new artists.

Always love these industry focused videos. I know a lot less about country music industry vs the movie industry, but I think it’s interesting how for both, artists have to try to balance their willingness to play ball with the higher ups with their own creative choices and self respect.

This was such a fantastic video. I learned so much, and really appreciate your take on this!

Fascinating, well researched and well analysed video Grady. Nice one!

Love this video! Cody Johnson is the best. I’m very happy that my local radio in Canada plays him pretty regularly.

Well I guess Amarillo by Morning is too Rodeo for radio now

What a brilliant and thought provoking video Grady. Cody is such an intelligent “regular guy” wrapped in country talent. In fact, I think his cover of “Whoever’s In New England” is my most watched video this year. The way he interprets lyrics is amazing. And I think it’s not realistic to think that SOME OF today’s hit songs will ever stand the test of time, and they WILL NOT be reinterpreted in 20 years by a new up-and-comer. Bring back all the songs that either have meaningful lyrics, have stunning vocals or instrumentals, or make you want to tip one back and hit the dance floor. Country radio should be promoting the genre. Period. Well done again Grady!

Man, I enjoy all your videos - but this one is just A++ from start to finish. The Cody clips, the interviews you cite, you giving context where needed, the R2D2 transition sound, and just your non-naive vibe throughout - all great stuff. Excited to be able to point people to this for a long time to come.

Great channel! I love how specific and detailed you get about music. I appreciate the hard work.

This is probably one of my favorite videos of yours Grady. I live in OKC and we have 2 mainstream country stations that play the same few artists over & over. Aldean, FGL, Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Thomas Rhett constantly. I mean, "Die A Happy Man" is still in their rotation. Thank goodness for Spotify!

Love this video. I love when you do behind the scenes of the country music industry.

I'm not a huge country fan, but I grew up around it and have a love for it. This whole video explains very well how I was feeling about the current state of country. Great video!

Grady: Thanks for another amazing video! I love when you shine a spotlight on artists that might not get very much exposure in traditional outlets. Your features have turned me on to Kip Moore, Ashley McBride, and now Cody Johnson. And you've helped me articulate what I don't quite like about FGL and such :o)

This video is so enlightening and so true! Great video! We luckily have a station here that plays the classics from the 50s up to 2000. They do drop a brand new George Strait single on the station from time to time but it's mostly the classics. I've heard a lot of songs on there from artists that I didn't think got played on radio at all anymore.

Found Cody Johnson in 2014 and man I've been a devoted fan since. One of the most talented and realest artists I've ever found. I really really hope he stays who he is and keeps the mindset he has because people like him are ALWAYS going to have the most loyal fans. Fans want real, and they get behind the person just as much as the music. And you can't get better than that

Wow so good. Seriously one of the most informative and interesting videos you have done especially for indie country artist like ourselves

Great video! I loved the original Dear Rodeo release since it came out a number of years ago and I was always surprised that this great singer wasn’t being played on radio.

Loved this video a lot, and it really got me thinking about a station I often listen to. My favorite radio station is really big and corporate. They're one of the biggest in the nation, and are even owned by Cumulus. Interestingly enough, I discovered Cody Johnson through them 4 years ago. I got into country in 2017 when I started listening to that station a ton, and at the time they were playing Cody Johnson's Wild As You and With You I Am ALL the time. They were the most popular songs on the station for a few months, I couldn't go an hour without hearing at least one or the other. (Also this was before he was signed too, keep that in mind) I was also introduced to Aaron Watson and Casey Donnahew through them, as a few of their songs were played regularly. It wasn't until I discovered this channel and really got into the genre more that I realized these artists weren't super mainstream, and that it's odd for a station this big to play artists like that. Now this station plays popular songs from the 90s to present day, and I've always loved them because the mix of music is so good. They're playing all kinds of great stuff every once in a while, from Carry On by Pat Green to Stars Over Texas by Tracy Lawrence. Heck the other day I heard Oh Tonight by Josh Abbott Band and Kacey Musgraves. What major corporate station would ever play that? And yeah, I still hear Cody Johnson's songs too every now and then thrown into the mix. They really do a good job of balancing out the pop and traditional and the new and old, even with songs like Famous Friends being played a little too much. You go from Whatever It Is by ZBB to To Be Loved By You by Parker McCollum to The Chair by George Strait (who they play every single day at 5:00); The songs from today aren't just the pop crap, and you never know what great oldies are gonna be played. It's just so good. They also have a show on Sunday nights that only plays Red Dirt for 2 hours. It blows my mind that they even do this, especially now after watching this video. It's all legit; the best texas artists from the 90s to today, and they've been doing it for forever. No idea how it's allowed, but I hope it never stops. I genuinely believe that there isn't another station this big and corporate that's this good. To me, they're a ray of hope amongst all the other giant country stations out there, proof that not all giant stations suck, and I'll support them to the end. Oh and we NEED Too Rodeo for Radio merch. I'd wear that on a t-shirt any day

Really interesting and thorough analysis, I really enjoyed it

Great video Grady! Very interesting to hear more about the inner workings of radio

Grady Smith, you continue to impress me with every video. Keep ups the great work

Excellent video, I love Cody Johnson and I really feel this sentiment. Even my children hate how country radio plays the same songs over and over.

Excellent video. I learned a lot. Well done!

I haven’t listened to music radio since grunge of the 90s. My dad always listens to country so I have solid, traditional base for country. I actually listen to Grady’s suggestions for new artists or sometimes suggestions from Spotify.

Amazing video! So informative and honest

I really appreciate these videos you post. Thanks for what you do, here on RU-vid.

I'm from Brazil so I never listen to country radio. I've been listening to country since I was 13 and usually I just search to find new artists and songs. Cody is one of them Love his music.

Great information! I love Cody Johnson, and I’m glad he is staying true to himself

I've watched your videos pretty consistently for a few years and I'm afraid this may sound sarcastic but I really mean it. When you mentioned the telecommunications act of 1996 you got my sub! Keep the great content coming Grady.

Well done video! Probably one of my favorites

I’m super late to the party with this comment, but I love that you mentioned Charlottesville Radio Group! I work for the company that owns them at a similar radio group in northwest Iowa. Our PD is here in the building and she is also our morning show host. I’d say we’re pretty listener-oriented; you can still call in and request music through the work day! But yeah, at the end of the day we still have a catalog of signed artist and don’t have any independent artists in our library which is a big bummer. The PD’s from all the radio groups in the corporation have virtual meetings where they discuss what new songs fit in their market. I’m proud to say we’re not playing Fancy Like on our airwaves! 🤣 always love your content, Grady!!

Such an essential video. It took me a few years to twig this but this expose is very kind to the mechanics of getting hits, and thus sales, and thus tours, and thus MONEY! I like that.

My favorite video of yours in a long time.

Good video Grady, great insight

Everything that Cody Johnson says in this video is absolutely true. This is the one of the many reasons why I have stopped listening to KUZZ here in Bakersfield, CA and country radio in general. I buy my mp3s and CDs from Amazon and eBay. And then I download them onto my music app on my phone and listen to them all day long. No commercials, no interruptions, just me and my favorite songs throughout the day.

This was a great video. Thank you! I just found a new artist to enjoy.

Really enjoyed that Grady. What’ll be interesting to see is if and when Radio will succumb to the same pressures as TV in the longer term.

This was such an interesting video! Would love to hear more about what country radio plays and doesn’t play.

Great video, Grady!

I love listening to your RU-vid videos. I am an avid country music listener. Most of the people that I know that say they hate country music is because every song is about your woman leaving or dog dying. Now all of the people that say they no longer listen to country music is because it’s too poppy. To those I say you need to actually listen to deeper cuts on the album, that most artists refuse to release. I agree with you, that you can find so many good country songs through the digital outlets, i listen to Pandora. We need more singers like Cody Johnson that are willing to buck the system. I really appreciate all of your videos, keep em coming.

As an independent radio professional, I agree with your assessment of the radio industry. I am fortunate to work for station owners who give me carte blanche when picking music. The result is a mix of modern and classic country, independent country, bluegrass and select americana tracks that (PD's take notice) has a TSL (time spent listening) of 6-13 hours a day and listenership that is 10% of the population in the listening area according to Nielsen. What that means to people who aren't radio insiders is that a format that plays what people actually like is truly popular and can make money if there's a dedicated sales staff to sell it. It is also a case for ownership caps, which is another topic entirely.

Love this vid! Great job Grady!

I will have to listen to some more Cody Johnson, I love his values and authenticity of his music!

Excellent . Great analysis . Keep it up man.

Cody has been my favorite for years now. I have this feeling that “til you can’t” could be one that makes it to radio eventually.

There is so much truth to this video! Thank you! Liked and Shared!

Excellent video dude!

You do great work! Never underestimate your influence!

Well said, Grady 👏 great video! Walked away from Cumulus stations ten years ago and never looked back!

I remember in the 90s when hit songs would race up to the top of the charts in 5 to 10 weeks, spend 3 to 7 weeks at the top, and then as the song moves down, the next single is released. Garth Brooks, George Strait, Alan Jackson or Tim McGraw were known to do that. Today, the songs move snail like. If the charts back then were happening now, Luke Combs and Gabby Barret songs would be spending 2 to 3 months at #1 on the Radio.

Amazing work Grady!

Very informative, thanks!

Great video. Both you and Cody are spot on. I hear his new song already.... Dear country radio, I'd be lying if I tried to tell you that I care about you... You fill in the rest!

Wow! Dear rodeo is a great song, hard to believe it kinda flopped. I'm in Texas and hear it on the radio often.

This is an incredible video, very interesting, I didn’t realize half of this was the case until now

I am a huge Aaron Watson fan and never saw Cody Johnson in his stratosphere until I heard "Dear Radio." Good job, Cody!

Thanks for making this video, I know you had been alluding to this for some time. My favourite thing about our local country radio is the on air DJ's they have really embedded themselves in the community and you can really see their passion for our city and the local talent coming out of it. My least favourite thing is every station in local radio station makes it sound like they are totally unique. Listening to the radio on the internet, I have switched to the local radio station of the next major city and they are playing the exact same song at the exact same time, run the same contests and all of the programming is very cookie-cutter.