Country singer Rissi Palmer always found it strange that black people were never talked about in the history of country music. Now, as a radio host, she's setting the record straight. RSFutureofMusic
Though Martell enjoyed modest radio success, shifting label priorities left Martell without an outlet to release music and she ceased recording. That story of falling through the cracks resonated with Palmer, who attempted to break through on country radio in the mid-2000s before legal issues with her label derailed things. “I could have very easily ended up the same way Linda did, meaning, never making music again,” Palmer says.
“I didn’t want people to think this is two hours of black people whining to each other about why they can’t make it… I wanted to make sure people got a well-rounded idea of what it’s like and what we’re up against” But the tone of the show is lively, upbeat. “I didn’t want people to think this is two hours of black people whining to each other about why they can’t make it,” Palmer says. “It’s very obvious when you hear the academics speaking or people that are outside of being artists, that it reinforces what we talk about in every episode. I wanted to make sure people got a well-rounded idea of what it’s like and what we’re up against.
Asked whether she’s noticed any improvements around race in country music over the last couple years, Palmer points out positive efforts by CMT and the ACM to make programming and voting more inclusive. The labels in Nashville still have a way to go, she says, and it’s going to take more than signing a few black performers. “I don’t mean run out and sign the first person of color you find and then you’re like, ‘Go us, we did it!’” she says.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
WondaGurl, a.k.a. Ebony Oshunrinde -- Future 25At 24 years old, Canadian producer Ebony Oshunrinde — better known as WondaGurl — has built a career most music-business veterans twice her age would envy. RSFutureOfMusic
Read more »
Dreaming in Color: The Good Lord Birdad 'This is not a famous battle,' Ethan Hawke said of Showtime’s TheGoodLordBird, 'there’s so many stories that get shoved down our throats, and this one is essential to understanding our nation, who we are, who we have been, and what the truth is”
Read more »
The guy who founded Facebook’s VR company is now building ‘invincible technomancers’ for U.S. troops and just raised $450 millionAnduril founder Palmer Luckey announced Thursday that his new company raised an additional $450 million in funding to troops into 'invincible technomancers.'
Read more »
Liam Neeson on If He's Planning to Step Away From Action MoviesLiam Neeson's action movie days aren't behind him just yet.
Read more »
‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Can’t Stop Talking About Savannah Guthrie’s First Episode as Guest Host‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Can’t Stop Talking About Savannah Guthrie as a Guest Host
Read more »