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: Walker Hayes, “Fancy Like” on YouTube Watch: Hardy Surprises a Soldier’s Family on Instagram  Read: The Police Report Summarizing the Kristy Lee and Heath Sanders Altercation on Taste of Country Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes 

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 Wallen’s return to radio good for the medium? He makes a strong case that it is. More: The latest on CRS Read: Morgan Wallen's Ban Has Quietly Been Lifted, at Variety Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes 

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 cover his antics with aggression. Also, new reports about frosty negotiations between CBS and the ACMs could signal a larger issue for awards shows in 2022 and beyond.    Read: CBS Balks at Airing 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards Over $22 Million Asking Price at...

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 Apple Music Radio expand his vision (XX). Listen to the end to hear great origin stories about Luke Combs and Kane Brown that will surprise you. GO: Tickets to the Whiskey Jam 10th Anniversary Show, July 26th at the Ryman Auditorium Listen: The Ward Guenther Show on Apple Music Radio Listen: Country...

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 Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini do (4:10)? How can we improve awards shows to keep them relevant (XX)? Read: 2021 CMT Awards winners, per People.  Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

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 (18:00) astute observations about the 2021 season of American Idol and (21:00) The Voice. Read: Everyone wants Garth Brooks on their side. He just wants everyone to get along, at the Washington Post. Read: 'The Voice winner is a former tween YouTube sensation - and he could change the show forever at the Washington Post. Read:...

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 family be slowly warming us up for a major reality television show?  Read: Kelly Clarkson takes over for Ellen at Deadline  Read: Kelly Clarkson’s Kellyoke Songs by Wide Open Country  Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

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.  He talks about his unusual path here, his tireless hustle, his rock star impulses and how and when news outlets should cover Morgan Wallen. 5:15 | “I write like rapper’s rap.”  15:00 | What the winner of the Chet Flippo Award gets in 2021  16:15 | The Rock...

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 outlets and music platforms to change course. Plus, what is news and what is hype when it comes to Morgan and other sensitive subjects? Read: Morgan Wallen returns to Kid Rock's bar, per the Tennessean. Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @BillyDukes

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 left CMT after over a decade of work. 2:00 | The Jake Owen paradox 18:00 | Getting paid as a country journalist 22:00 | Chet Flippo 31:00 | Why she split from CMT  Find Alison Bonaguro on Twitter @alisonbonaguro Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @BillyDukes

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. Eric Church and Alan Jackson are just two she's chatted with recently. Host Billy Dukes is on vacation this week so this is a replay of Ep. 9. She may not be a trained journalist, but the singer and songwriter has the chops and grit to be very, very...

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 Fit 4:00 | A new country music drama, called Monarch. 9:05 | Be cautious reporting on American Idol's Caleb Kennedy Read: Fox orders Monarch for the 2021-22 season per Variety Read: Caleb Kennedy dropped from American Idol, from the Spartanburg Herald-Tribune Tweet: Find...

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 consider but perhaps most of all consider who is not doing anything.  Kenny Chesney - Hold Luke Bryan - Buy Morgan Wallen - Sell Dan + Shay - Hold Miranda Lambert - Sell Maren Morris - Buy Carrie Underwood - Hold Jason Aldean - Buy Blake Shelton - Buy Eric Church...

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 Ep 55 conversation with Tyler Mahan Coe. Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter at @billydukes 

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 surprise you to hear his thoughts on "Outlaws" and "pop-country."  5:50 | Where did Tyler learn his journalism skills. 11:50 | Why Johnny Cash sucks 14:55 | Tyler’s take on the pop-country music debate is unique and hard to argue with 18:10 | The sound...

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. Alabama simply wouldn't stand a chance today.  Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes Listen: Kip Moore, "Good Life" on YouTube Listen: Tenille Arts, "Somebody Like That" on YouTube Watch: Alexandra Kay covering Randy Travis on TikTok

Eric Church's new Heart & Soul album is big and personal, but is it any good? Or is it as good?

ACM Ratings were down, but they don't have to stay that way.

Why isn't "Drunk (And I Wanna Go Home" all over country radio? And what it will take for that to change?

Morgan Wallen's words and actions left a bruise that can't heal if his fans keep acting like fools.

Everything you want to know about the 2021 ACM Awards and awards shows in general. ACM CEO Damon Whiteside on planning during a pandemic, choosing Mickey Guyton and artists who get snubbed.

Eric Church is first to announce a major tour for 2021. Should we trust him?

Virtually nobody built a Worst Dressed list after the 2021 Grammy Awards and they could be critically endangered in country music. The reasons why are complex.

ACM member and voter Angela Stefano reveals her ballot for the 2021 ACM Awards.