Will Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina Be Welcomed at Country Radio?

By On 05/18/2011 · 188 Comments · In American Idol, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery

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When Season 10 wraps up, and the record contracts are signed, will Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina be welcomed at country radio? Here’s an industry insider who believes…maybe not.

We turned again to Facebook to gauge the industry’s reaction to McCreery and Alaina, asking people for their thoughts on the future of these two teens in the country format. The reaction was largely negative, particularly toward McCreery. But one widely respected programmer, KEEY (K102) Minneapolis’ Gregg Swedberg, had a completely different view.

Rivers predicts both Idols will have a “one and done” career, a reference to the number of albums they’ll ever get to release.

Two programmers, WFRE Frederick, Md., PD Jess Wright and KUZZ Bakersfield, Calif., MD Toni-Marie, already have other plans for the day a label rep wants to bring McCreery by their stations for a visit.

Says Wright, “If Scotty McCreery gets signed, I’m gonna need to change my phone number.”

YIKES. Wright goes on to explain, “Carrie Underwood actually had talent from the beginning. Scotty really doesn’t. For him, being on ‘American Idol’ is only a blessing because it’s the only thing the label will be able to point to as a reason to play his music.”  DOUBLE YIKES.

Adds Toni-Marie, “I wish people would quit comparing this kid to Josh Turner. He attempts to sound like him, but the only thing he is successful at is looking like the kid on MAD magazines . . . Maybe Scotty does have some potential. I don’t see it, but he needs someone to teach him to be who Scotty is. Quit doing JT covers and doing that weird eye thing that only Queen Reba can get away with.”

Adds KIIM Tucson, Ariz., PD Buzz Jackson, “Scotty hasn’t demonstrated that he can be anything but creepy.”

The assessment of Lauren Alaina isn’t quite so negative–PDs recognize her talent, but believe she’s still too inexperienced,  “I think Lauren could take it, but she is still very young and I don’t know that she can handle it yet, says Toni-Marie, ” Maybe with the right people behind her and parents who hopefully brought her up well, she can do it.”

KJJY Des Moines, Iowa, MD Eddie Hatfield agrees. “Lauren has a shot if she’s handled correctly. People seem to like her. There will be a curiosity factor on Scotty’s first single. If it isn’t great, that will be it for him.”

One widely respected programmer, KEEY (K102) Minneapolis’ Gregg Swedberg, had a completely different view, “Maybe I’m nuts, but I love both of them,” he says. “Scotty is more than just a Josh Turner clone . . . Lauren still needs to get some experience, but the girl can sing. It all comes down to the songs. If they’re smart (and they are), they’ll get the best songs they can, because a 25 million person launch pad is nothing to sneeze at.”

The consensus seems to be: Country music is NOT a dumping ground for Idol contestants. Carrie succeeded, but she’s a one-in-a-million talent.  Both Scotty and Lauren are going to have to prove themselves to country PDs, just like everyone else.  Unfortunatly, both–especially Scotty-are going into the game with some negative perceptions.

While Carrie succeeded spectacularly,  there are your Phil Staceys and Kristie Lee Cooks who failed right out of the gate–getting dropped by their respective labels after only one album.  Danny Gokey is chugging along in the format, but the jury is still out on whether he’s got a long career in country radio or not.  We’ll see if Scotty and Lauren can eventually win the PDs over.

 

 
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  • PerfectStorm

    Danny’s not interesting but the fact that an Idol was so openly hostile to another Idol was and it’s difficult to let efforts to revise history stand. Not even the tenacity of a few Gokey fans can dedouche Danny’s comment about Scotty. But as this article shows Scotty’s got bigger hurdles to pass to make it in country music, as does Danny

    Oh, like how another contestant from Danny’s season also criticized the runner up of America’s Got Talent and the 4th runner up this season? Even Carrie Underwood said she didn’t know who Scotty was a singer and she did not want to be confused with who she is hearing on the radio.

    Regarding the article on Scotty. I would think those hurdles would apply to someone like Casey James, who has yet to even release any music, after almost a year leaving Idol. At least Danny has a debut album to show, and is now working on his second album. That’s a lot more than some of the Top 2 and at least one winner who never got sophomore albums from their original labels.

    BTW, Danny has also said that Lauren Alaina is his favorite this season – that he loves the tone of her voice.

  • RightNow

    Tweets from Matt Bjorke, Country music journalist for Roughstock.com. Interesting – because he has been a huge supporter of Scotty’s.

    On “Amazed” I see a young mess in Scotty McCreery for the first time. He’s just not good here. It’s painful. #idol10

    It should be Haley and Lauren in the finale but it’ll be Scotty and one of them. #idol10

    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz – is it over yet? #idol10 “She Believes In Me.”

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! “She Believes In Me” from Kenny Rogers #idol10

  • kokko

    I have been critical about Scotty and am so glad that there are people in the Country Music industry who really know the business shared my views on this JT impersonator.

    Unfortunately it seems that he might very well be in the Top 2 or even winning the show. To me Scotty is best suit to be a contestant in America Got Talent, that he could be the male equivalent of Jackie Evanko, who rose to short term fame due to the novelty in the disconnect between her age and her seemingly psuedo operatic voice.

    I would hope the article would make people be less critical about Danny being in the Country Music genre – if a seemingly innocent young guy who is seen to be so blessed with the “talents” of such a deep traditional country voice and who is also coming from the South would meet with such resistance from Country radios, can you imagine the uphill battles that Danny had to fight to get where he is now – that he still managed to get two top 40 hits, one went as high as 22 is actually pretty amazing.

    I don’t think Scotty will be in direct competition to Danny – and if Scotty is in Top 2 I am sure the AI machine will do its job in promoting the heck out of his debut album, so I will not be surprised that Scotty will outsell Danny, but that’s okay, I know there are many things that Scotty or any other contestants could not take away from Danny – that Danny first album debuted #3 in the Country Billboard chart, that Danny first album is the best AI debut album in 2010 (sold more than Lee and Crystal), that he keeps manage to sell well in his concerts, that he is opening for the biggest act in Country Music – Taylor Swift – in the coming months, etc etc.

    When we step out of the AI bubble it is easier to see reality.

  • top3FAV3

    SCOTTY is awesome!! Everyone knows that!!

  • LVD

    Regarding the article on Scotty. I would think those hurdles would apply to someone like Casey James, who has yet to even release any music, after almost a year leaving Idol. At least Danny has a debut album to show, and is now working on his second album. That’s a lot more than some of the Top 2 and at least one winner who never got sophomore albums from their original labels.

    CaseyJ has never had a bad review from country people. He does have his own unique sound and identity, which seems to be the main criticism levelled at Scotty.

    I think a lot will depend on the songs that are chosen for Scotty and how much support the label will be willing to give him, but that is exactly the same for any idol or new artist for that matter.

  • happyhexer

    Also, there was Nashville Star which ran for about 4 seasons and none of the winners have done well in country music and that was a show for only country singers. The most well known name who is a huge success was 3rd place finisher in Season 3: Miranda Lambert.

    Actually, one winner of Nashville Star is doing well, Chris Young. He won in 2006. Although his first CD didn’t set anything on fire, his second CD has seemed to launch his career. He’s now had four #1 songs in a row. Miranda is more well-known and more successful, but she’s also had three more years in the industry to cement her career. I don’t know whether one would call Chris a huge success at this point, but he’s doing well.

  • happyhexer

    But I just don’t see Country wanting another female given the fact that it’s pretty much dominated by females.

    That hasn’t been my perception of the current country music scene at all, nor does it reflect what I hear on my local country radio stations. There are a handful of well-known females — Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Reba, maybe Martina McBride and Sara Evans. But there is an entire boatload of male country singers. Country music in general is not kind to female singers. (Look how long it took for a woman to win entertainer of the year.)

    So on the one hand, Scotty may have an easier time because he’s male. On the other hand, he will be competing against an awful lot of male country singers, including a lot of newer, younger artists. IMO, there aren’t that many good female country singers right now, so there might be more room for Lauren.

  • happyhexer

    These program directors seem to be among the “make or break” people in the business.

    Yes, they are the gatekeepers of radio. It is difficult to reach a wide audience without radio, and people are not likely to buy what they don’t hear. It is possible, but much more difficult, to sell music and become successful without the support of radio.

  • happyhexer

    Country music is NOT the dumping ground for people who can’t make it anywhere else.

    Thank you, PamReid!

    A dj does not have to like the music he/she plays…they play what the bosses tell them to.

    True, but the Phyllis Stark article was quoting PDs — program directors — and they are the bosses who tell the DJs what to play.

  • happyhexer

    Danny’s not interesting but the fact that an Idol was so openly hostile to another Idol was and it’s difficult to let efforts to revise history stand. Not even the tenacity of a few Gokey fans can dedouche Danny’s comment about Scotty. But as this article shows Scotty’s got bigger hurdles to pass to make it in country music, as does Danny.

    I respectfully disagree with everything stated except the fact that both Scotty and Danny have hurdles to jump to make it in country music, which I think is true. But this is all opinion, not fact. YMMV, and all that. To the quoted poster, Danny is not interesting; to me, he is. IMO, Danny did not express himself well, but I see nothing in what he said that is “openly hostile.” Danny didn’t call Scotty (or anyone else) a douche, for example. Now those program directors quoted by Phyllis Stark? If a program director saying that they will make sure they are unavailable when an artist makes the rounds of radio stations isn’t openly hostile, it’s pretty darn close.

  • bean99

    I think it’s a little too soon for them to write off Scotty. Maybe they should wait until he has an actual single and cd to critique. I said this in another thread but pretty much everyone I know who watches the show likes Scotty including my dh. No idea if that will lead to sales but it can’t hurt.

    I’m not altogether sure that Lauren should go country although that’s the way they’ve played it on Idol. I see her more as a Kelly Clarkson type of singer.

  • happyhexer

    bean99, you may be right. I am not a big Scotty or Lauren fan, mainly because of their youth. I don’t always feel like they connect with the music. But that said, they are young and they will learn. For radio station PDs to prejudge and say they won’t meet an artist or give their music a fair shake leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. Think the PDs are forgetting that the public own the airwaves; they only lease them.

  • Kylee

    Testing.

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