The hottest music star so far in 2021, Morgan Wallen, has suddenly become very cold. His music was tapped from Cumulus Media, the second largest radio chain in the country, from midnight CT after a storm erupted over being captured on video by a racial slur.
Cumulus, which is particularly powerful in the country radio sphere, sent an instruction to the program directors of all its 400 plus stations with the headline “MORGAN WALLEN – EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.” The message reads: “Unfortunately, the team, the country musician Morgan Wallen was captured on video on Sunday night due to a racial uproar. We will immediately force that all music from Morgan Wallen be removed from our playlists without exception. More to follow. ”
The directive was signed by Brian Philips, CEO of programming for the chain, and John Dimick, head of programming operations. In particular, no mention was made of the ban which was temporary or that more details about the incident had to be awaited.
Other radio stations across the country are expected to follow an at least temporary ban on Wallen’s music, despite the fact that his ‘Dangerous: The Double Album’ release is about to reach a fourth week at the top of the charts, setting a record for consecutive weeks at number 1 that has not been seen by a country artist since Garth Brooks in the late 90s.
Wallen issued a statement on Tuesday night after TMZ reported the incident for the first time, saying: ‘I am embarrassed and sorry. I used an unacceptable and inappropriate race loss that I wish I could take back. There are never excuses to use this type of language. I sincerely apologize for the use of the word. I promise to do better. ”
Late Tuesday night, Wallen’s representative said there would be no other immediate comment. Reps for Republic Records, which releases his music in association with Nashville’s Big Loud label, did not immediately request comments.
The video, which was posted on TMZ on Tuesday night and was reportedly recorded by Wallen’s neighbors, shows him shouting slander after a night out in Nashville. “Take care of this pussy hole,” Wallen can hear, followed by: “Take care of this pussy n –––.”
It was not the first time in recent months that Wallen has been embroiled in a scandal, although the previous instance has rolled off his back faster than this one could have done. In October 2020, he was seen partying in a Alabama masquerade, which cost him a ‘Saturday Night Live’ performance he was scheduled to do next weekend, but it was rescheduled for December after he apologized, and the show made it light. in a sketch in which he appeared.
While some fans have pointed out that Wallen seems to be using the term as a “loving term” among friends and not as infective, the zero-tolerance policy for the word would make it unlikely that he will soon be able to gain any repression among major media companies, no matter how fans may react when many of them wake up with the news that a hero of theirs Wednesday morning is in disgrace.
The Wallen scandal comes at a particularly inconvenient time for country music – not that there would ever have been a suitable one – as many involved in the genre have recently been involved in the public discussion of a racial settlement that they say is necessary in the country, the profiles of black artists who mostly existed on the fringes in an attempt to show that music takes small steps towards real diversity. Wallen’s statement, as currently the face of the genre, is probably a major setback in these endeavors and reinforces stereotypes … which even some stars in the format say are true stereotypes.
Maren Morris tweeted: ‘This is actually a representative of our city, because this is not his first’ bickering ‘and he just broke a big current record last month, regardless. We all know that this was not the first time he used the word. We keep them rich and protected at all costs, without using. ”
It’s actually a representative of our city, because it’s not his first ‘dispute’ and he just broke a big streaming record last month, regardless. We all know that this was not the first time he used the word. We keep them rich and protected at all costs, without using.
– MAREN MORRIS (@MarenMorris) 3 February 2021
Still others insisted it was a blip, not drawing. “The news from Nashville tonight does not represent country music,” Kelsea Ballerini tweeted.
This is not the first time he has used an “unacceptable” racial expression, and we all know that. What exactly are you going to do about it. Crickets are not working this time.
– Mickey Guyton (@MickeyGuyton) 3 February 2021
One of the few black singers with a large presence in contemporary country music, Mickey Guyton, quickly tweeted that this was not entirely unexpected. “The hatred runs deep. Smfh, ”TMZ’s story quotes. She then follows up on her post with: ‘This is not the first time he has used an’ unacceptable ‘racial expression, and we all know that. What exactly are you going to do about it. Crickets are not working this time. ”
How popular was Wallen’s music from Tuesday night? In addition to being by far the biggest selling and streaming album in any genre since “Dangerous: The Double Album” made its cardinal debut three weeks ago, Wallen currently also has five of the top 20 tracks on the Rolling Stone song chart . With the turn it has taken, Wallen’s album may still be streaming in large numbers, but it will not soon be using TV appearances or continued massive radio play.
The news tonight from Nashville does not represent country music.
– Kelsea Ballerini (@KelseaBallerini) 3 February 2021