It’s really cool getting email from people that have discovered The Country Network since being added to Roku!  Roku is such a great platform that gives us the ability to reach people over the internet on their TV.  Thanks for all the great comments from the Roku users, keep them coming!

You know how songs mark certain times in your life, or they make you recall a memory every time you hear it?  What is your song or video?  Comment and let me know.

I’m sitting in my office working on the music that will be played in the upcoming days and I have The Country Network on in my office.  The video from a new artist named Teea Goans called “Letter From God” just came on and it reminds me just why I love my job!  I have programmed radio stations my entire career but never had the freedom like I do at The Country Network. To take music from unknown musicians like Teea Goans, Eric Lee Beddingfeild, Payton Rae and all the other Breaking Out artist’s and combine them with the best the major labels have to offer is truly exciting to me.  I realize I’m not finding the cure to cancer or saving starving babies but it is pretty cool to know we are helping someone achieve a dream!

In the good news department, if The Country Network is not on TV in your area you can now get us through Roku.  By a Roku box at your local electronics retailer like Best Buy…hook it up to the TV and internet and it’s country videos 24/7…The Country Network style!!

Check out the videos at the top of the page and see what I am excited about these days…

Thanks for watching The Country Network

CR

Thanks to everyone who has sent in comments and suggestions for programming on The Country Network, it is all helpful as we continue to build YOUR network.  We have several ways to stay in touch with us, our website, FaceBook and twitter, please continue to let us know what you like or don’t like.

This year marks 10 years since cowards (my word, not the networks) attacked our way of life. That day means something different to each and every one of us and it is something we will never forget.  The emotions, sense of loss, sorrow and in the end a country that picked itself up and stood taller, stronger and more united than ever before.

I was programming a station in Portland Oregon and was in the bathroom getting ready for work, worried about a couple of meetings that day when my wife called in to me and said “come see this”.  I remember there being something different in the tone of her voice, as I stepped into the bedroom in front of the TV she was watching, I was confused…one of the Twin Towers was on fire…no wait,   A plane crashed into it…no a jet crashed into it.  As the events unfolded that morning, the Pentagon is hit, a second jet hits the other tower and then a jet crashes in a field in Pennsylvania, I remember having this overwhelming feeling of “what kind of a world have I brought my son into”?  After all, he was only 11 months old and this disaster and uncertainty was all he will ever know.  As the days, weeks and months unfolded I was proud of the country I would raise my (now) 2 sons in and the example every citizen was setting for them.  It’s no Mayberry RFD and several things have changed since that fateful day in 2001 but still a great country to call home.

On 9/11/2011, as we all reflect on that day, lets remember the ones who lost their lives that day, the ones since that day protecting our way of life and the ones who have suffered the loss of loved ones and found the strength to move forward everyday.

Thanks for watching The Country Network

CR

As an artist you can create a profile and share your music with the community, update your fans, list your tour schedule and more and (wait for it…wait for it)…IT’S FREE!  That’s right, The Country Network wants you to have a place to display you music with like minded people…our audience and soon to be yours.  Go check out marysarahmusic, paytonraemusic or the Moonshine Bandits profiles and get started setting yours up, make sure you request me as a friend!

I love my job!  I get to listen to new music everyday and there is a lot of new music out there right now that is really good!  Not only are the major labels in Nashville turning out some great stuff but there is a wealth of new and undiscovered talent out there on YouTube, reverbnation.com and now inside tcncountry.com.

You have all met Amber Leigh, seen her video “I’m Not That Girl” on The Country Network, there is no other video network giving this independent artist any support.  Last week we featured a new artist named Payton Rae with a great response to her first video “Not Your Cinderella”, Payton was someone I first saw on YouTube and became very interested in her music and then was contacted about playing her new video and jumped at the chance.  At the same time I started playing Payton Rae I added new artist Eric Lee Beddingfield and his video “The Gospel According to Jones" which has a cameo appearance of George Jones.  I am going to let you in on a little secret that I found…Mary Sarah!  That’s all I am going say and one day you will write me and thank me!   Artist’s like these are the ones that we look for to feature in our “Breaking Out” programming on The Country Network (Monday nights @ 7pm), a show dedicated to this new and undiscovered group of artist’s that are not signed to major labels and in many cases no label at all.

On this page I have a video player and one of the channels is dedicated to Breaking Out videos, check it out.  I update the videos all the time with cool stuff I add to the Network.  This week I put the new video from Lucy Angel for their new single Serious in the player, this upbeat fun song was written by Anthony Smith, Chris Wallin and David Lee Murphy and it left me dreaming about turquoise guitars, hot blondes and searching eBay for and old Ford T-Bird convertible!

If you know any artist’s that have high quality videos have them contact me at this page, it can’t be something that was shot with a flip camera setting on a railroad track and must be a quality song and performance…no William Hung stuff.

Thanks for your support of The Country Network

CR

The head office has been all over me to write and update to my blog and to their credit they are right. I have been working on an update based on an idea that came from a conversation I had last week about the different flavors of country music.  Unfortunately it was turning into a small novel with no ending and last night I threw my hands in the air and walked away.  I proceeded to try and sleep, but all night long I could only think about “the blog” …damn you head office!  SO!  Here are the Cliff notes of the never to be published “Flavors of Country Music” novel. 

Everyday as the Program Director of The Country Network I listen to new music and without fail I hear something that that pushes the boundaries of what I consider country music.  Music has always and will always be in a constant state of evolution.  The influences that shaped the styles of George Jones, Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings are not the same ones that have influenced Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean or Toby Keith.  Their influences would most likely include George, Merle and Walyon along with The Eagles, Def Leopard and Jimmy Buffet.  The process of evolution in music takes place when an artist takes all of those influences that have shaped their opinions and tastes and filter them into an individual sound and create their art.

You and I could stand together in front of a very high priced piece of art and experience two different interpretations of meaning, the same thing is true with music.  The artist I love, you may not like, that doesn’t make either of us wrong it only means it is my kind of country is not yours.  As the Program Director at TCN it is my job to take all these different “flavors of country music” and blend them together in a way where everyone gets what they like without to much of any one flavor at once.

Thanks for watching The Country Network and if you have not signed up for the TCN community at www.tcncountry.com, check it out.

Today TCN debuted the new Taylor Swift video for her song “Sparks Fly” and just the mere mention of her name caused Sparks to Fly from the vocal minority that dislike her music, the group of country music fans that believe her music “is not country”. 

Several years ago the genre of rock music split into niche variations like soft, hard, punk, grunge and classic rock making it easier for the fans to find the type they like without sitting through the stuff they don’t like.  But, even they have crossover sounds that tend to muddy the waters from time to time.  Country music as a genre is hard to define because it is one body of music, the traditional influences are mixed with the progressive modern sounds or…George Strait to Keith Urban, Chris Young to Jason Aldean.  I was working at a new country radio station when this new artist came out, we started playing his music because it had a new fresh sound.  People complained, wrote letters telling me we were not a country station and that music was not country!  Garth went on to be the biggest selling artist of all time and moved country music into the mainstream music world.

My point is this…Taylor Swift may not be your cup of country tea but that doesn’t mean she is not country.  She has a very large and active fan base that loves her and has put her at the top of the country music ladder.  You cannot deny her drive, determination and showmanship!  I dare you to go to a Taylor Swift concert and not walk away a fan!

Thanks for your input and support of The Country Network.

CR

I am not sure who said “the only thing consistent is change” but it is true and everyday we go through change, some change we like some we don’t. 

I have been busy with the music library and making some changes based on the feedback you’ve given me over the last 2 months. 

The 3 biggest changes are with the music itself...

I’ve added another category for new music that will help us introduce you to new music faster. 

 I expanded the Breaking Out category to help expose the new and undiscovered acts like Amber Leigh, Marlee Scott, River City Gang and many more. 

 The third change is not about new music, it’s about the gold, some of your older favorites that don’t classify as a Legend quite yet.  I created a new category expanding the gold library by almost 100 songs!

Here the new videos added into rotation this week

Toby Keith - Made in America

Straight ahead Red, White and Blue Toby Keith!  You have to admire an artist that does as much for the men and women serving our country as Toby.

Phil Vassar - Let's Get Together

This is what made Phil famous as a songwriter and singer…fun, uptempo summer songs!  The video is great too.

JT Hodges - Hunt You Down      

A first time release for this new act on Toby’s label, this song was co-written by Randy Montana.

Donny & Marie Osmond - The Good Life

Yep!  The world famous brother and sister are moving beyond their successful show in Las Vegas…this song was written by a new artist Eric Paslay on the EMI Nashville label (the new home of Alan Jackson & Eric Church).

These adds are new undiscovered acts I hope you like…

DJ Miller - Between Sundays       

Darren Warren - Cowboy Up and Party Down

Marlee Scott - Beautiful Maybe

As always your comments are important so watch The Country Network and let me know you thoughts on the new adds and changes This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

TCN is YOUR network that plays videos 24/7 so your opinion counts.

New videos on The Country Network...

Josh Kelley has a new video for his new single "Gone Like That"!  Back when the label first sent me his new CD this song instantly became my favorite, I hope you like it too. 

Steve Holy just completed a new video for "Love Don't Run", this is one of the strongest songs Steve has had in awhile.

I've been going through alot of video's from new and undiscovered artist's, keep those links coming and keep those comments coming too, I love hearing from you and your thoughts about The Country Network.

This week we've had Amber Leigh hosting Breaking Out and she will be our host for the next few weeks.  Amber is a singer/songwrither out of Southern Florida and a amazing fiddle player, she is the type of talent that has everything it takes to be a superstar...skills, stage presence, personality and a great voice. 

It is that package that I like to give a chance on The Country Network, sure we play all the superstar stuff all day but I also want to provide a place for new and undiscovered talent to get expousure.  If you know anyone that has a broadcast quality video send me a link and I will watch it, we cannot accept all for airplay but I will make every effort to watch them all.

I received a video this week from an artist named Jason Lee McKinney called "Firefly", be watching for it starting 7/25 and let me know what you think.  Another video that I added to the rotation is by a group called River City Gang called "This Old Town" and the response has been very good...YES I am getting all of your emails!

Thanks for watching The Country Network, and for all the great feedback you are sending me.  It is my goal to play great videos and expose new artist and I will always value your feedback.

CR

Welcome to the Programming Director’s Corner! I will use this to let you know what is going on at The Country Network each week. Here you’ll be able to check out the new videos we’ve added to rotation, as well as some videos I am considering.

This page is also a way for you to communicate with me about what you like about The Country Network, what you might dislike abut The Country Network, and any ideas you have for future. You can even make requests to see your favorite videos.

One thing to remember about using this page: any requests or other comments might be used on the air unless otherwise requested by the person commenting.

Our sincerest thanks for watching The Country Network. We have the greatest fans in the world, and we’re dedicated to listening to you and constantly improving. We’re dedicated to remaining the only music video channel that plays country music videos, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and with your feedback, we’ll be the best version of TCN possible as well.

Thanks,

Cary Rolfe
EVP/Programming & Artist Relations