Country Q&A: Week of October 30, 2008

By Neil Haislop

Danielle Peck photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

Each week country music expert Neil Haislop answers your questions!

Q: When is Danielle Peck's sophomore album going to be released?
(Charlaine, Teec Nos Pos, AZ)

A: Charlaine, Danielle Peck is close to finishing her sophomore album and is including new songs from it in her current show. But, the album is not completed yet so there’s no date certain for its release at this point.

Q: When is Keith Urban's song he sang at the music awards, "I Love Your Company," going to be released?
(Chris, Diamond Springs, CA)

A: Chris, the song your referring to, "Tu Compania" (Your Company), is another great song on Keith Urban’s, Love, Pain and the whole crazy thing album. But it will not be released as a single. Keith is currently putting the finishing touches on his next studio album that will be out early next year. He plans to release the first single from the new album early in November, so watch out for that announcement.

Q: Will Kenny Chesney's songs from 1991 ever be re-released to the public? They include "Where Did The Years Go’" "and more. They are so different from where he is today, but no doubt this would be a CD that every Chesney fan may want.
(Joe, Cincinnati, OH)

A: Joe, it’s unlikely that those old recordings will surface any time soon from Kenny Chesney himself. If he owns them and thinks they're important, or good enough, he might include them in some overall career collection. If Kenny or his current label don’t own those masters, the person that does might put them out to cash in on Kenny’s popularity. For now, that’s the only way they might get out.

Q: Who approves new music in Nashville? I was told it is Vince Gill. Is that correct? He is my all-time favorite singer and musician. Also, how on earth can a songwriter get their songs listened to? My brother and I made a CD. My brother wrote all of the songs and I would love for someone to just listen to them.
(Cheryl, Gravette, AR)

A: Cheryl you’ve asked two questions, but since I think they’re related, I’ll answer both briefly. First, I don’t know where you heard that Vince Gill approves new music in Nashville. Vince may approve his own music, and maybe some artist he’s producing, but neither Vince nor any other single person is a kind of Czar of Nashville’s new music.

Second, it’s difficult to send your music to any artist or publishing company that’s unsolicited by them. This is to protect against copyright infringement lawsuits and they don’t want to waste time listening to amateur music that usually isn’t good, or hasn’t been recommended to them by a music professional they know and respect. Best thing to do is what everybody else does — play your music out and see how many copies of your CD you can sell. If it’s a lot, and you get positive feedback from local professionals, you should then visit or move to Nashville to work to improve your music. Play it in Nashville and if it’s good, other writers, the music publishers and record companies will want to talk to you.

Q: I would like to know how in the world Toby Keith keeps getting passed up for any music nominations? He is the top-grossing country music star. I feel they are doing to him what they did to Hank Williams Jr. in the 80's.
(Tiffini, Gallipolis, OH)

A: Tiffini, Toby Keith’s relationship with Nashville is somewhat like what happened to Hank Williams Jr., except that Hank’s difficulty came when he was perceived of going against his father’s legacy to record more rock-oriented music that suddenly made Hank Jr. an outsider.

Toby Keith walked away from Nashville when they first rejected his brand of writing and singing. Since Toby was already a very successful regional performer and kept his career and home base in Oklahoma. Eventually a Music City Kingpin, Harold Shedd, heard his music, went to Oklahoma and signed him up. So Toby was never a favorite of country award shows and he didn’t court them. He just kept recording huge hits and sold millions of albums until first the ACM Awards and CMA gave him more attention. Because he remains happily outside the country music establishment, he feels he will tend to have trouble getting the kind of recognition his peers get with the hometown industry in Music City.

Q: In an ad for Carrie Underwood’s Hampton concert they are advertising $10 tickets for military personnel and government employees. How great that is for our servicemen and women and police and firemen. I think that should be standard for all country concerts as well as this rate for kids under 12. What do you think Neil? Should country music adopt this as a standard?
(Stephen, Benson, AZ)

A: Stephen, it is a great idea — and I think many country performers are doing the same or similar things already, particularly when they perform in areas close to military bases or other government installations. I don’t know that country music can adopt this as a standard practice. How somebody gives back is a personal choice for most artists who may support other causes as much as they can. Also, not every artist out there is a top headliner who can afford to reduce or give away tickets. Many may be trying to keep up with expenses and can’t afford to be so generous.