Vince Gill Discouraged by 'Mind-Numbing' Country Music

I work in the music Biz in Nash as a writer. I totally agree with Vince. One thing also people don't realize is that it takes a phenomenal amount of $$ to get a song pushed onto radio. Songs are not "hits" the way you may believe, it's who is spending the money and pushing crappy songs onto the public. I hear incredible songs and talent in Nashville that you will never ever ever ever hear. It's a small group of guys that write the majority of the stuff, and a small group of folks in control of the radio. Oh and music being stolen is not the main culprit of the industry. 98% of what is downloaded off the net is porn. Music accounts for a mere 2%. People are disconnected , and just don't care about music anymore like they used to. They are exposed to so much, nothing is that big of a deal. So talent gets completely bypassed in this town.

Yes ! You go Vince, You are so right about it. You nailed it spot on!i want to hear more REAL COUNTRY ARTST'S! Not just another karoke artist. Ha Ha Ha! That is why i listen to older country REAL country! But i can say i do like country music's Badboy Christian Lee, He is a true country boy from Okla that write's and sing's his own style. And if you go listen to him you will see! He ( Christian ) Is a TRUE talent and naot on a major label, But like he say's " I could be on a major, But then no one would ever hear my soul, They would hear what the label's want me to sing, and that is not me! I OWN MY SOUL! "

Go check him out.
www.reverbnation.com/christianleeredneckoutlaw

TOTALLY agree with Vince, not for who he is, but what is what is.
No one will ever convince me country is country, cause it's NOT!
Something is wrong when the greats like Diffie, Tritt, and Gill do not get major label support anymore. But then again, which is why the major labels are in trouble. THEY DON'T KNOW REAL COUNTRY and the sounds of a unique voice and style of a true artist anymore.Too many voices today sound the same you cannot tell who's on the radio today. Chris who? But we always remember Haggard and Jones, those unique voices, such as Vince Gill, Buck Owens, or even Tom T. Hall and Watson, along with the fact that country music, is what they lived and sang. Not today's so called rock n roll garbage! I do love classic rock as well, but it's not played on country radio! Real country music makes me want to sit by a fire or go for a nice Sunday drive, or go fishing. Today's so called country like Underwood, Cagle and Swift make me want to pull my hair out! IT'S NOT COUNTRY! Play those irritating child like voices on other stations, not country!

To KK and similar close-minded people who keep saying that Today's Country is not Country; They said the same thing in the 70s, 80s, 90s, & 00s and the artists that they whined about then are the artists (including Mr. Pure Prairie League rocker Vince Gill) that you pig-headed people are referring to as "real" Country. Duh.

I agree with Vince. Today's country sux! It is NOT country!

Welcome to the 21st Century, Mr. Gill! While I agree that it is awful that traditional artists are being pushed in the shadows (Jones, Haggard, etc.) it's just that there is so MUCH out there now. Sure, a song costs .99-$1.29 these days but there is also less overhead cost (less cardboard, ink, paper, vinyl, plastic, etc.). What do you propose? That songs sell for $5 a pop so artists can feel better about themselves? Also, does it make an artist more cerebral to put down popular music? Sure, there is some bubblegum out there but, even though I enjoy steak, I can also enjoy bubblegum! I'm sure that there are some who would put various Vince Gill releases in both categories. If people like it, it sells. If you have x number of fans you should at least be able to sell x number of units unless an artist is more concerned about what they want rather than what fans want. If you're doing it for yourself then enjoy it yourself! If you have the music-buying audience in mind you might have to consider what they want. We don't always want heady, preaching songs. Sometimes we like to have our minds numbed for a bit and we don't want our wallets emptied for the enjoyment. A penny today isn't worth what it was in the 60s and yet everybody wants more of them. Sometimes "creative brains" take that all into consideration and roll with the punches like the rest of the country. I love your music, Vince. Your singing and your guitar playing are phenomenal. Your live performances are stunning. I am a fan. Times are tough. It's not that the music is being devalued, it's that money is becoming increasingly over-valued. That's what is mind, heart, and soul numbing. Think I'll go chew on some bubble gum and stop thinking about it for a bit.

"Watch" Vince perform, the banner reads...not "listen, hmmm? Of course, first the requisite ad with the requisite "hot chick" - for a phone that probably can fart, for 99cents!!
I love Vince and wish him the best; all ya can do is put out yer best and hope the spirit of the people will rise to the occasion. BillyGoat

Buy music don't steal it. Then make sure you buy "real" music in whatever catagory your tastes fall into. Turn off bad radio stations!! And teach your children well. The day of the album has gone vince you need to get over it, your song is now worth 99cent full stop, regardless to whatever else sells for 99C. Make good music that is all, In fact I'd say there is more good music out there right now than ever before the ony problem is there's eve more bad stuff you have to get through to find it!! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Willie-Kelly/330097110386526

Mr. Gill,
You have the spotlight on you, and hopefully the attention of the industry and legions of loyal fans. If you truly want to change things(and I pray that you do), please continue to support good music. There are so many talented men I know that are stuck on Broadway(some for years), just waiting to be heard. It is such a shame that they are stuck playing covers while the incredible music they have written goes unheard. I wish someone would give these guys a chance, but because they are not crafted by the machine, write their own music(no team of writers work for them), and play and sing without the help of music engineering, no record companies even glance in their direction. I feel that these guys and gals could be the future of GOOD country music if someone would only open a door or shine a light if not on them, at least in their general direction. I PRAY that country music will make a U-turn and go in a different direction, not only because the crap on the radio makes me cringe so hard, I could vomit, but as the wife of a talented, overlooked, and hard working musician, I would like to see my husband achieve some of the success he deserves.
Nicole Wolfe

I completely agree with Vince!!! It is a shame when country artists with real talent are left with no record deal and can't get played on the radio anymore! This has happened to 3 of the very best of the best voices in country music, Vince Gill, Doug Stone and John Berry!!! Radio just forces fans to think that they want to hear the music that they are paid to play when the truth is often the opposite!!!