Time to Let the Cowgirls in…

I will start by saying I love, Brandi Carlile. But after reading this article in Rolling Stone Magazine  about her new song, “Cowgirls”—where she calls out the NRA, and the male-dominated country music industry—I have to wonder if this helps or hurts getting more women played on country radio? Remember as we pay homage to these trail blazers many women have done this before; country is rich in bad ass women singers—no one today can come close to what Loretta did, ever. She sang about things no one dared to; I’m a student of this music and nothing has come close to Loretta’s “The Pill.” If you listen to country radio, you’ll hear more men then women these days and it makes zero sense—right now the girls are “keeping it country” with songs like “I Can Do Hard Things” by Jennifer Nettles and “Girl Going Nowhere” by Ashley Mcbryde. When you put those songs up against Luke Bryan’s “Knockin’ Boots” it makes that song look silly. But I like Luke, and every song doesn’t have to invoke my inner senses like a Renoir’s “Bal du moulin de la Galette”—some songs are meant to just make you feel good. I can tell you what I do love about Brandi, she’s a Country singer and doesn’t hide from that. The country radio format has always been a female driven format, you always know who you are talking to—moms and kids in the car. It may not be a coincidence that country radio ratings are down. Perhaps it’s time to let the cowgirls in…

RR