William Michael Morgan
The 2021 Country Music Christmas Playlist
There is just something that makes the elements of country music exceptionally complimentary to Christmas carols and Holiday music. The sense of comfort and home that is conferred by country music is similar to the one many feel listening to Christmas songs.
April Verch, Brian Callihan, Chris Canterbury, Christmas, Cody Johnson, Cody Webb, Cowboy Mouth, Curtis Grimes, Darryl Worley, David Adam Byrnes, Doug Stone, Drake Milligan, Eric Strickland, Erin Enderlin, Holly Tucker, India Ramey, Jay Bragg, JD Shelburne, Jenee Fleenor, Joe Newberry, Jordan Robert Kirk, Josh Turner, Lainey Wilson, Lori McKenna, Makenzie Phipps, Mary Sarah, Mikayla Lane, Morgan Wade, Nashvillains, Nefesh Mountain, Pistol Annies, Randall King, Randy Travis, Reba McEntire, Rhonda Vincent, Skip Ewing, Steve Warnier, Tami Neilson, Tammy Rogers, Thomm Jutz, We Banjo 3, William Michael Morgan
The Best Mainstream Country Albums of the Decade (2010-2019)
We've already run down the Greatest Country Albums of the Decade, and in there, albums in the mainstream were given fair competition to be included, and some made the cut. But in the spirit of inclusiveness and impartiality, let's make sure the great records from the mainstream get their due as well.
Alan Jackson, Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark, Caitlyn Smith, Chris Stapleton, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, George Strait, Jamey Johnson, Jon Pardi, Kacey Musgraves, Kalie Shorr, Kellie Pickler, Kip Moore, Miranda Lambert, Mo Pitney, Pistol Annies, Randy Houser, Reba McEntire, William Michael Morgan
Sam Hunt (Yes, Sam Hunt) Says His New Music Is More "Traditional"
Yes, you read that headline correctly. Sam Hunt will be heading into the studio soon to start recording his long-delayed second album. And according to the man himself, he says the music he's working on is more oriented towards traditional country music than the R&B pop of his previous album released now nearly five years ago.
Sam Hunt, William Michael Morgan
Ashley Monroe No Longer Signed with Warner Music Nashville
Singer, songwriter, performer, and Pistol Annies member Ashley Monroe is no longer singed with Warner Music Nashville, Saving Country Music has confirmed. Monroe exited the label on May 1st. No reason has been given by Monroe's management, or Warner Nashville for the departure.
Angaleena Presley, Ashley Monroe, Blake Shelton, Brandy Clark, Dave Cobb, Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies, Raelynn, Vince Gill, William Michael Morgan
Kelsea Ballerini is a Terrible Pick for the Grand Ole Opry
Trigger Random Notes 127 Comments
As a country music fan, you just want to proudly be able to profess to people your appreciation for this music that you hold such a passion for. You want to believe in its institutions, and that the best and the brightest of a generation are foisted forward and given the greatest opportunities.
Carly Pearce, Charles Esten, Chris Janson, Elizabeth Cook, Grand Ole Opry, Holly Williams, Jim Lauderdale, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Miranda Lambert, William Michael Morgan
William Michael Morgan Dropped From Warner Music Nashville
William Michael Morgan has been dropped by his label Warner Music Nashville, Saving Country Music has confirmed. The 25-year-old from Vicksburg, Mississippi had recently released a succession of five songs he said he was using to test the waters for the direction of new music for an album.
William Michael Morgan Speaks Out About the State of Country Music
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William Michael Morgan is not just sticking up for real country music with his music, he's doing it with his words as well. After pop country site Taste of Country posted a tweet asking, "Who's Saving 'Real' Country Music?" with a host of artists tagged on it, including Jon Pardi, Kacey Musgraves, Midland, Mo Pitney, […]
Alan Jackson Puts Tour Openers Up For a Vote of Undiscovered Artists
If you needed any further evidence of just how boss Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson is, appreciate that on his upcoming 2019 tour, instead of sifting through the usual cast of major label characters in search for openers, he's delved deep into the well of undiscovered country music talent.
Alan Jackson, Amanda Daughtry, Anna Laprad, Chris Monhollen, Emily Vince & Neal, Eric Holmgren, Francelle, Gary Gibson, George Dunn, Jake Shafer, James Carothers, Jay Bragg, Joel Shewmake, Justin Andrews, Kayley Hill, Lindsay Bowman, Lucas Barela, Luke Lander, Mark Box, Martin McDaniel, Mindy Campbell, Randy Houser, Sarah Martin, Steel Blossoms, The Skahls, Warren Garrett, William Michael Morgan
Alan Jackson Bestows Big Opportunity to Lower Broadway Regulars on Upcoming Tour
Country Music legend and Hall of Famer Alan Jackson recently announced the first round of tour dates for his upcoming 2019 arena tour to the excitement of many. And now three other names have been added to select stops which you may have not heard before, but you should be paying attention to.
Alan Jackson, Amanda Daughtry, James Carothers, Jay Bragg, Joshua Hedley, Randy Houser, Tom Buller, William Michael Morgan
Alan Jackson Announces New Tour Dates for 2019
Yes, Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson will tour in 2019, and we've now got the dates to prove it. After announcing a few dates earlier this week, he let some more loose on Thursday (12-13), with more to come soon. Starting on January 25th, he'll be heading out on an arena tour that will see him hit multiple stops.
Alan Jackson, Randy Houser, William Michael Morgan
William Michael Morgan Says Fans Will Help Set Direction of New Music
William Michael Morgan has been keeping us on our toes lately, releasing three separate songs without a ton of fanfare, leaving us guessing to which one may materialize into a bona fide new single. Well it turns out there is a method to this William Michael Morgan madness: he's testing us.
Brokenhearted, Talking To A Girl, Tonight Girl, William Michael Morgan
William Michael Morgan Criticizes Modern Country's Sunny Disposition in "Brokenhearted"
William Michael Morgan has sent us selling our stock, and then buying it all back again just in a matter of a couple of weeks. The first taste from his upcoming and unannounced sophomore record was a song called "Tonight Girl." And then here comes "Brokenhearted."
Brokenhearted, Chris Stapleton, Jon Pardi, Mo Pitney, Review, Tonight Girl, William Michael Morgan
The crush of new releases of cool country and roots music has been pretty incredible over the past couple of weeks, and to help keep you up-to-date, the Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist has been freshly provisioned. You can also find a supplemental list of all the records you should probably be aware of.
Belle Plaine, Colter Wall, Dillon Carmichael, THe Bottle Rockets, Tom Buller, Whitey Morgan and the 78's, William Michael Morgan
Alan Jackson: "I Love Chris Stapleton. But What He's Making Now Really Isn't Real Country"
Alan Jackson isn't one to pull punches, or to not say what's on his mind when somebody asks him. His Hall of Fame career has been marked by taking hard stances for the cause of real country music. Alan Jackson was recently interviewed as part of a GQ feature, and had some interesting things to say about Chris Stapleton.
Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton, Cody Jinks, Dillon Carmichael, Mo Pitney, William Michael Morgan, Zephaniah OHora
The Release of Jon Pardi's "She Ain't In It" as a Single is a Big Moment
What Jon Pardi has done over the last year is prove that an artist can stick to a more traditional style, and not only sustain, but turn in career marks, even in this difficult environment for traditional artists in the mainstream, and a stacked field for artists looking to be launched. "She Ain't In It" is a classic country crooning heartbreak song…
Clint Daniels, Dustin Lynch, Jon Pardi, Midland, She Ain't In It, William Michael Morgan, Wynn Varble
Single Review – William Michael Morgan's "Vinyl"
With all the talk about the cheeky machismo of Midland lately, including many assigning the trio savior status for finally returning a semblance of traditional country back to the mainstream of country, folks seem have forgotten that William Michael Morgan did that very thing with a single called "I Met A Girl" in 2016.
Jon Pardi, Midland, Review, Shane McAnally, Vinyl, William Michael Morgan
Important Developments From This Week's Country Radio Charts
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As we continue to ponder what country radio might look like after the impending implosion of iHeartMedia and corporate radio as we know it, some very interesting developments emerged on the country radio charts this week.
Aaron Watson, Carly Pierce, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Either Way, John Mayer, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Midland, Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt, Tin Man, William Michael Morgan
Shut The F*** Up Whiskey Riff, Country Music DOES Have a Definition
Country music is not just a commodity or even a form artistic expression. It is an integral part of people's lives and has been the foundation for their cultural identities for generations. It's what binds them to their homes and ancestry, and is interwoven into the very fabric of who they are as people.
Conway Twitty, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams, Kane Brown, Merle Haggard, Sam Hunt, Waylon Jennings, Whiskey Riff, William Michael Morgan
Andrew Dorff Was The Kind of Songwriter Nashville Needed More Of (RIP)
Andrew Dorff was the kind of mainstream country music songwriter Nashville needed more of—someone who wrote the sleeper hits of surprising depth and humanity compared to most radio singles, and the solid album cuts from mainstream artists you may otherwise write off.
Andrew Dorff, Bleed Red, missing, Ronnie Dunn, William Michael Morgan
The Best of Mainstream Country Music in 2016
If 90% of mainstream country music is garbage, then it stands to reason that 10% of it is at least decent, if not good or great. That calculus hasn't really changed much recently, even as mainstream country has improved. What has changed is that 10% is actually finding traction on radio, at awards shows, and is making fierce inroads into the 90%'s monopoly.
Brandy Clark, Chris Janson, Craig Morgan, Drake White, Eric Church, Jon Pardi, Miranda Lambert, Mo Pitney, Ronnie Dunn, Tim McGraw, William Michael Morgan
Chris Stapleton Is #1 Country Artist in All of 2016 According to Billboard's Compiled Metrics
Though Stapleton may fall short of the touring numbers of names like Luke Bryan, or may not have the airplay of Florida Georgia Line, the incredible performance of his debut album 'Traveller' has put him in unprecedented territory, while still putting up a decent showing in touring and track sales too.
Billboard, Chris Stapleton, Jon Pardi, Sturgill Simpson, William Michael Morgan
Song Review – Aaron Watson's "Outta Style"
What's going "outta style" is Bro-Country and songs that chase trends, while traditional country has once again proved to be the timeless influence in country music that always comes back to the forefront. This should bode well for an artist like Aaron Watson if he sticks to what he does best.
Aaron Watson, Outta Style, Review, William Michael Morgan
If You Can't Be Happy as a Country Fan Now, You Never Will Be
When Saving Country Music started in 2009, the biggest artist in country music was Taylor Swift. Now, it's arguably Chris Stapleton. Independent artists are finding support like never before, allowing them to be able to completely sidestep the pitfalls of the mainstream industry and still have sustainable, and in many cases, very successful careers.
Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Sam Hunt, Sturgill Simpson, William Michael Morgan
After Historic Sales Week, Americana Positioned to Become Major Rival to Mainstream Country
One of the reasons we feel so surprised at Americana's success and so many have been so slow to recognize it is because it has been a slow and steady process. Because of Americana's model of sustainability, the revolution has been plodding, yet purposeful. And now it's success is palpable, and measurable by industry-standard metrics.
Americana, Billboard, Bob Weir, Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, John Prine, Jon Pardi, Margo Price, Mo Pitney, Sturgill Simpson, William Michael Morgan
RD on Forgiveness For Me But Not For Thee: On Jason Isbell & George Jones