This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: A mid-year diversity scorecard. Plus, country media showed rare patience in covering a charged story and two feel good stories to wrap Season 1 of the podcast. 

Listen: Walker Hayes, “Fancy Like” on YouTube

Watch: Hardy Surprises a Soldier’s Family on Instagram 

Read: The Police Report Summarizing the Kristy Lee and Heath Sanders Altercation on Taste of Country

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: CRB Executive Director RJ Curtis, who’s spent 40 years in radio and digital media, talks about how a fundamental radio rule has seemingly changed and tries to explain why. Plus, is Morgan Wallen’s return to radio good for the medium? He makes a strong case that it is.

More: The latest on CRS

Read: Morgan Wallen's Ban Has Quietly Been Lifted, at Variety

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes 

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Kid Rock plays above the rules, so there’s no way to hold him accountable for calling someone a “f—-t.”  That lack of leverage works both ways however and the media should absolutely cover his antics with aggression. Also, new reports about frosty negotiations between CBS and the ACMs could signal a larger issue for awards shows in 2022 and beyond.   

Read: CBS Balks at Airing 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards Over $22 Million Asking Price at The Wrap.

Read: Kid Rock's "Apology" after he's caught using a homophobic slur, at TMZ.

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: Whiskey Jam co-founder Ward Guenther talks about the 10th anniversary of Whiskey Jam, if the showcase can get too big (12:45) and how his shows on Apple Music Radio expand his vision (XX). Listen to the end to hear great origin stories about Luke Combs and Kane Brown that will surprise you.

GO: Tickets to the Whiskey Jam 10th Anniversary Show, July 26th at the Ryman Auditorium

Listen: The Ward Guenther Show on Apple Music Radio

Listen: Country Risers Radio With Ward Guenther on Apple Music Radio

Listen: Country Roads Radio on Apple Music Radio 

More: Find Whiskey Jam on Instagram

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: The 2021 CMT Awards were the first country awards show shot in front of a live audience, but did that make much of a difference?
Which songs should have been cut (2:30)? How did hosts Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini do (4:10)? How can we improve awards shows to keep them relevant (XX)?

Read: 2021 CMT Awards winners, per People. 

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast, Washington Post reporter Emily Yahr talks about her profile on Garth Brooks ahead of the Kennedy Center Honors. Plus (18:00) astute observations about the 2021 season of American Idol and (21:00) The Voice.

Read: Everyone wants Garth Brooks on their side. He just wants everyone to get along, at the Washington Post.

Read: 'The Voice winner is a former tween YouTube sensation - and he could change the show forever at the Washington Post.

Read: This season of 'American Idol' was a close competition - until one very strategic move by the winner, at the Washington Post.

Tweet: Find Emily Yahr on Twitter at @EmilyYahr

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter at @billydukes

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast, why Kelly Clarkson earning Ellen DeGeneres’ time slot is very, very good news for country music. Plus, could Luke Bryan and his family be slowly warming us up for a major reality television show? 

Read: Kelly Clarkson takes over for Ellen at Deadline 

Read: Kelly Clarkson’s Kellyoke Songs by Wide Open Country 

Tweet: Find Billy Dukes on Twitter @billydukes

This week on the Country Music Media Podcast: does objectivity exist in country music media? Should it? Marcus Dowling just won the Rolling Stone Chet Flippo Award for Excellence in Country Music and it’s fair to say he did it his way.  He talks about his unusual path here, his tireless hustle, his rock star impulses and how and when news outlets should cover Morgan Wallen.

5:15 | “I write like rapper’s rap.” 

15:00 | What the winner of the Chet Flippo Award gets in 2021 

16:15 | The Rock Star Journalist 

22:00 | What’s the deal with Medium for journalists?

29:00 | When should news outlets cover Morgan Wallen? 

42:00 | Is it time to lift the ban?

52:30 | Luke Combs' attempts to do the right thing. 

Read: "On Colostomies, Country Music, And Morgan Wallen’s Return"  at Medium

Tweet: Find Marcus Dowling on Twitter @marcuskdowling

Photos: Find Marcus Dowling on Instagram

More: Marcus Dowling's LinkTree