After growing complaints that country music is overlooking women, Country Music Television (CMT) has announced that it will promote equal play (50/50), vowing to offer “complete parity between male and female artists” on its channels. That’s an increase from the 40/60 (female/male) ratio previously used.
Effective immediately all music video hours on CMT and CMT Music channels will have complete parity between male and female artists. That means 50/50. #CMTEqualPlay
— Country Music Television (@CMT) January 21, 2020
“Time is really up. All the talk about what can be done to support females in country music needs to transform into action,” tweeted Leslie Fram, senior vice president of music strategy.
Female country music artists, like Gretchen Wilson, Runaway June, and Brandi Carlile, praised CMT for “taking a stand.”
So brilliant of @FramLeslie and @CMT to have directed this back to the root of the problem. They will have to work hard on this, as they can only play what they are given! https://t.co/w8qEgGuj6P
— Gretchen Wilson (@gw27) January 22, 2020
— Runaway June (@runawayjune) January 21, 2020
Annnnnnnd @CMT gets to go down in country music history as leading this charge. ✊ c’mon country radio 📻 cowgirl up! https://t.co/Ifm6MjKWOe
— Brandi Carlile (@brandicarlile) January 21, 2020
“Cowgirl up!”
Even male country music artists like Darius Rucker and Jake Owen showed support of the move.
Love it!! https://t.co/rioFonQUIX
— Darius Rucker (@dariusrucker) January 22, 2020
I will always support women, artist or not. We, as the men of country music are ALL FOR “equal play”.. I have many artists friends that are women and I have two little girls. Also, one of my fave artists is @KaceyMusgraves. I even bought a sweatshirt at her show. Gonna 😴 in it. https://t.co/cHRDIdV5m3
— Jake Owen (@jakeowen) January 22, 2020
A huge step in the right direction, way to go CMT!
