October 26, 2020, Issue 728
Pt. 2: Examining Race In The Industry
In part one of this story, WXFL/Florence, AL OM/PD Fletcher Brown, Warner Music Nashville Dir./National Radio & Streaming James Marsh, BMG Dir./Creative Rakiyah Marshall and Big Loud VP/Marketing Candice Watkins discussed their experiences navigating an industry that is overwhelmingly white. Below, they discuss how ongoing events have shaped conversations with colleagues and what they hope for moving forward. [Ed. Note: Read the two parts combined here.] What has this year been like, and has the industry response moved Fletcher Brown James Marsh the needle for you? CW: You don’t get change without experiencing and talking about the tough things. So, while it’s been a tough year regarding racial unrest, we have an opportunity to lean Candice Rakiyah Watkins Marshall in, engage and hopefully change our sphere of influence in the country music industry. I’ve never had any hope that change is possible regarding racism. I’ve just thought it is what it is. For some reason, this year – in this very dark room – the door opened. There’s a small crack with light coming in. I don’t know if it’ll actually happen, but I have hope for change. The Nashville community actually engaged and leaned in, and I’ve never felt that in 14 years. (continued on page 15)
Brookelyn: Warner/WEA’s Morgan Evans “with” iHeartCountry’s Brooke Taylor at the 2020 iHeartCountry Festival.
Inside The CMT Music Awards
As with other awards shows and television viewing in general, the CMT Music Awards were down in viewers, though social streaming and engagement rose significantly. Below, VP/ Music Events Margaret Comeaux shares how the CMT team put together a locationally ambitious show in unusual circumstances. CA: With the postponements and shifting safety protocols, how many times did you ball up the paper and start over? MC: That goes back to June where the show Margaret has historically been. We knew along with the Comeaux rest of the entertainment and events world we
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