Ray,

The interesting thing about me moving here is seeing all this stuff from a few different angles. Every tme I hear people complain about the "state of the radio or country music busines" it just takes me back to so much I've heard over the years from so many people. When I moved here in 1988, there was this new singer coming on the scene that some people liked, was getting radio airplay but a BUNCH of industry people HATED! It was JOE DIFFIE. He had been playing for a while in this resturant bar in Hendersonville and I was involved with a couple of guys who were responsible for his record deal. They used to tell me all the stuff people said to them. "He was an overweight hack lounge singer that had no talent and it was a crime to have a record deal. " They really hated "JOHN DEERE GREEN" which they thought was a redneck "bro country" song, and was the same as many "Truck, tractor, farm songs" that all were out at that time.

There is always someone that does that. I have overheard so many dispariging comments by so many now considered "CLASSIC COUNTRY ARTISTS" GArth Brooks, ("just a rock and roller prancing on the stage with his big light, smoke and laser shows") Travis Tritt (Redneck Blues Singer masquerading as a country singer) same with "Hank Jr. " (Who had to do a video called "WE ARE YOUNG COUNTRY" to fight all the complaints of the current "weak crop of artists, like Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, Sweethearts of the Radio, and many others) The Oak Ridge Boys (Washed up Gospel has beens" ) Alabama and Exile (Rock bands that couldn't make it as rock and rollers") Lee Greenwood ("Vegas Lounge Singer") Shania Twain (Belly button with Def Lepard Drums.)

Every song has it's own detractors. "THE GAMBLER" was a "Long Winded updated weak version of "El Paso", done by another washed up rock and roll singer, Kenny Rogers.
So the only thing I have ever found constant here in the music is the COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS.

That's why I never tried to do that. Complaing accomplishes nothing. I don't care for much of the current crop of singers or songs. Rap country to me is an abomination, just like Rap itself, But who am I and what difference does it make to anybody? None.
And while I might not always like all "Bro country" I'll admit to having written a few myself because that is what the artist client wanted. Here is one by JOHN MAISON, an artist I worked with out of Detroit. I hope the link works, but it has all the stuff, hot girls, pick up trucks, lots of guys looking at all the girls. This was actually a few years before the current crop of Bro Dudes, so I guess I was ahead of my time, but it is stuff we do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj1EcFoZzoo