The hottest music star so far in 2021, Morgan Wallen, suddenly became very cold. His music was pulled from Cumulus Media, the country’s second largest radio network, after midnight at CT, after a storm broke out because of his video capture using racial slander.
Cumulus, who is especially powerful in the country radio sphere, sent a directive to the program directors of all his more than 400 stations with the heading “MORGAN WALLEN – EXTREMELY IMPORTANT”. The message read: “Team, unfortunately country music star Morgan Wallen was captured on video on Sunday night using racial slander. With immediate effect, we request that all Morgan Wallen songs be removed from our playlists, without exception. More to follow. “
The directive was signed by Brian Philips, EVP of network programming, and John Dimick, head of programming operations at the company. Notably, no mention was made of the ban being temporary or of waiting for more details about the incident.
Other radio stations across the country are expected to follow with at least a temporary ban on Wallen’s music, despite the fact that their release of “Dangerous: The Double Album” is about to have a fourth week at the top of the charts, establishing a record for consecutive weeks at number 1 not seen by a country artist since Garth Brooks in the late 90s.
Wallen issued a statement Tuesday night after TMZ first reported the incident, saying: “I am ashamed and sorry. I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slander that I wish I could remove. There is no excuse for using this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using that word. I promise to do better. “
On Tuesday night, Wallen’s representative said there would be no further immediate comment. Reps for Republic Records, which releases its music in conjunction with Nashville’s Big Loud label, did not immediately return requests for comment.
The video, posted on TMZ Tuesday night and reportedly recorded by Wallen’s neighbors, shows him shouting bad words after a night in Nashville. “Take care of that motherfucker,” Wallen can be heard saying, followed by: “Take care of that ass n –––.”
It was not the first time in recent months that Wallen was involved in a scandal, although the previous situation rolled off his back more quickly than this. In October 2020, he was seen at a maskless party in Alabama, which cost him a Saturday Night Live performance he was scheduled to do the following weekend – but it was rescheduled for December after he apologized. , and the show paid no attention to a sketch in which he appeared.
While some fans have pointed out that Wallen seemed to be using the term as a “loving term” among friends and not as insulting, the zero-tolerance policy for the word is unlikely to bring any reprieve anytime soon among major media companies, regardless of fans can react when many of them wake up to the news that their hero is in disgrace on Wednesday morning.
The Wallen scandal comes at a particularly inopportune moment for country music – not that there was an opportune one – as many involved with the genre recently got involved in publicly discussing a racial calculation that they consider necessary in the country, trying to boost the profiles of black artists that existed mainly on the margins in an effort to show that music is taking small steps towards real diversity. Wallen’s statement, as the face of the genre now, is likely to represent a huge setback in these efforts and will reinforce stereotypes … which even some stars of the format say are true stereotypes.
Maren Morris tweeted: “It is actually representative of our city because this is not his first ‘fight’ and he just demolished a huge streaming record last month, regardless. We all know that it was not the first time that he used that word. We keep them rich and protected at all costs, without resources ”.
In fact, it is representative of our city because this is not his first “fight” and he just demolished a huge streaming record last month, regardless. We all know that it was not the first time that he used that word. We keep them rich and protected at all costs, without resources.
– MAREN MORRIS (@MarenMorris) February 3, 2021
Still, others insisted that it was a speck, not emblematic. “Nashville news tonight doesn’t represent country music,” tweeted Kelsea Ballerini.
This is not the first time he has used that “unacceptable” racial slander and we all know that. So, what exactly are you going to do about it. The crickets will not work this time.
– Mickey Guyton (@MickeyGuyton) February 3, 2021
One of the few black singers with a greater presence in contemporary country music, Mickey Guyton, was quick to tweet that this was not entirely unexpected. “The hate is deep. Smfh ”, quoting the history of TMZ. She then continued her post with: “This is not the first time he has used that ‘unacceptable’ racial slander and we all know that. So, what exactly are you going to do about it. The crickets will not work this time. “
How popular was Wallen’s music, going on Tuesday night? In addition to having by far the biggest selling and streaming album in any genre since “Dangerous: The Double Album” made its blockbuster debut three weeks ago, Wallen currently also has five of the 20 most popular tracks on the Rolling song chart Stone. With the roll it is on, Wallen’s album may continue to be broadcast in significant numbers, but it won’t be with the help of TV appearances or continued massive radio play anytime soon.
Nashville’s news tonight doesn’t represent country music.
– Kelsea Ballerini (@KelseaBallerini) February 3, 2021