The Country Music Media Podcast
The ultimate country music insider podcast. Each Monday, the Country Music Media Podcast features guests involved in timely issues who are willing to offer refreshing candor, unparalleled expertise and rare insight into the singers, songs and stories that define country music today. Journalists and hosts from radio, print, digital and country music trade publications will join the Country Music Media Podcast with information and anecdotes that slipped away, but shouldn’t have. On Thursday, host Billy Dukes offers his own perspectives and analysis on the issues facing country music today and how we can make change for the better. Please subscribe and if you like what you hear, rate and review us. Have questions or suggestions? Email billydukes@gmail.com.
Episodes
70 episodes
A Mid-Year Diversity Scorecard
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: A mid-year diversity scorecard. Plus, country media showed rare patience in covering a charged story and two feel good stories to wrap Season 1 of the podcast. Listen: Wa...
•
Episode 69
•
16:45
Country Radio's Golden Rule Changed for Morgan Wallen — RJ Curtis Explains Why
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: CRB Executive Director RJ Curtis, who’s spent 40 years in radio and digital media, talks about how a fundamental radio rule has seemingly changed and tries to explain why. Plus, is Morgan W...
•
Episode 68
•
43:53
Kid Rock + the Do Nothing All Stars
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Kid Rock plays above the rules, so there’s no way to hold him accountable for calling someone a “f—-t.” That lack of leverage works both ways however and the media should absolutely c...
•
Episode 67
•
14:46
Meet Ward Guenther - The Best A&R Man In Nashville
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Whiskey Jam co-founder Ward Guenther talks about the 10th anniversary of Whiskey Jam, if the showcase can get too big (12:45) and how his shows on ...
•
Episode 66
•
34:34
Grading the 2021 CMT Awards - Hosts, Performances + More
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: The 2021 CMT Awards were the first country awards show shot in front of a live audience, but did that make much of a difference? Which songs should have been cut (2:30)? How did hosts K...
•
Episode 65
•
21:24
Garth Brooks Doesn’t Talk Politics, Until Now - Emily Yahr On Her Kennedy Center Honors Profile
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast, Washington Post reporter Emily Yahr talks about her profile on Garth Brooks ahead of the Kennedy Center Honors. Plus...
•
Episode 64
•
28:31
A Luke Bryan Reality Show? Don’t Act Surprised
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast, why Kelly Clarkson earning Ellen DeGeneres’ time slot is very, very good news for country music. Plus, could Luke Bryan and his f...
•
Episode 63
•
14:06
Does Objectivity Exist In Country Music Media? Marcus Dowling Explores What’s Right + Wrong
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: does objectivity exist in country music media? Should it? Marcus Dowling just won the Rolling Stone Chet Flippo Award for Excellence in Country Music and it’s fair to say he did it his way....
•
Episode 62
•
54:39
Morgan Wallen's Ban Is Doing More Harm Than Good
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: a recent decision by the Country Music Association made it clear. What was once a conversation about Morgan Wallen and race in country music, is becoming a fight. It's time for media outlet...
•
Episode 61
•
15:04
Alison Bonaguro, On Leaving CMT, Chet Flippo + the Jake Owen Paradox
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Journalist Alison Bonaguro helps us understand Jake Owen and why his best days might be ahead of him. She also talks about her mentor, the late journalism legend Chet Flippo, and why she le...
•
Episode 60
•
44:52
Good Conversations Aren't the Same as Good Interviews - Kelleigh Bannen (Replay)
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Apple Music Country host Kelleigh Bannen was still finding her way when we chatted in November 2020. The platform is nearing its 1-year anniversary and she continues to get every A-lister imaginable...
•
Episode 59
•
39:30
The Whole World’s Gone Country, But Why?
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: country music isn't just going to Hollywood? Our genre is going to New York City and Las Vegas as well. But why? Plus: 2:30 | Kane Brown + Kelsea Ballerini are the Perfect Fit4:...
•
Episode 58
•
12:51
If Maren Morris Was a Stock, Should You Buy, Sell or Hold?
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: It's the Q2 2021 Stock Report. If country artists were a publicly traded business, which would be worth your money this month. With new albums and tours on the horizon there is a lot to con...
•
Episode 57
•
23:52
Miranda Lambert’s 'The Marfa Tapes': A One-Word Review
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: A one-word review of Miranda Lambert's The Marfa Tapes album with Jon Randall and Jack Ingram, Morgan Wallen's BBMA expulsion and unpacking some of the important moments from the E...
•
Episode 56
•
14:55
Tyler Mahan Coe: Cocaine & Rhinestones Host On Country Today, Country Media Today, and Season 2
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Tyler Mahan Coe, host of Cocaine & Rhinestones talks about Season 2, which debuted in April 2021. He also has strong, well-educated opinions on country today and country media today. It will sur...
•
Episode 55
•
1:00:50
Kip Moore’s Good Life Is ... Different, Plus Bad Band Names
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Kip Moore dropped a new song called "Good Life" that asks his long time fans to adjust to something new. Plus Rascal Flatts may not be done and how a bad band or song name can doom the artist. Alaba...
•
Episode 54
•
10:09
Eric Church’s ‘Heart & Soul’: The Good, the Bad + the Unbelievable w/ Grady Smith, Angella Sharpe, Marty Kurtz
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Eric Church's new Heart & Soul album is big and personal, but is it any good? Three members of the media join Billy Dukes to discuss the triple album project, including Angella...
•
Episode 53
•
55:56
The Future of Country Music, Part 2: We Can Grow Without Selling Our Soul
The ACM Awards were great, for country music fans. But for everyone else? Well, the 2021 ACM’s poor ratings showed that there just wasn’t much for the non-country audience, which is a problem. This week we look at ways the genre can grow withou...
•
Episode 52
•
16:41
Miranda Lambert + Elle King’s “Drunk (And I Wanna Go Home)” Isn’t On Country Radio - Why?
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Chart expert Chris Owen explains what needs to happen for Elle King’s duet with Miranda Lambert to hit country radio. It’s complicated and takes some major label cooperation. Is it likely? ...
•
Episode 51
•
32:31
Morgan Wallen Fans Are Hustling Backwards
Morgan Wallen fans should consider that they might be doing more harm than good. Three signs holding two billboards apiece in Nashville continue pressing on a bruise in the country music industry that hasn’t had enough time to heal properly.&nb...
•
Episode 50
•
18:22
ACM CEO Damon Whiteside On Hosting In 2021, Carrie Underwood’s Snubs, the Streaming Future of Awards Shows
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: ACM CEO Damon Whiteside joins Billy Dukes for a wide-ranging conversation about the 2021 Awards (April 18 on CBS) and the future of awards shows. Are these pandemic changes permanent? Did C...
•
Episode 49
•
39:18
Should We Trust Eric Church?
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Billy Dukes explores the lengths Eric Church went to in planning his new Gather Again Tour. Do you feel it’s safe enough to attend large-venue country concerts? Also, Billy looks at...
•
Episode 48
•
13:50
Worst Dressed Lists Are Endangered Species
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Fewer media outlets — and far fewer country music media outlets — are building Worst Dressed lists using red carpet pictures from an awards show. With the 2021 ACM Awards coming up, we brin...
•
Episode 47
•
9:12
ACM Awards Voting: Angela Stefano Reveals Her Ballot
This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: The Boot's Angela Stefano reveals her ballot (8:00) for the 2021 ACM Awards. Billy also shares who he'd vote for if he were a voting member. Then (30:00) should fans be allowed to vote again and (32...
•
Episode 46
•
41:19