Kevin John Coyne

Retro Single Review: Alan Jackson, "I'll Try"

November 18, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 4

1995 | Peak: #1

As promises of never-ending love go, this isn’t terribly optimistic.

Retro Single Review: Tim McGraw, "Unbroken"

October 25, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 5

2002 | Peak: #1

“Unbroken” was the fourth consecutive #1 single from Set This Circus Down, a streak unmatched by any other Tim McGraw album.

Single Review: Little Big Town, "Tornado"

October 16, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 18

Even by Little Big Town standards, “Tornado” has a unique and cool sound. I can only guess that they were especially inspired by the song’s concept.

Single Review: Madonna, "Love Spent"

October 14, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 14

Thirty years ago, Madonna released her first single. In the years that followed, she dominated radio formats across the dial, but never released a single targeting the country market. Until now.

The Day the Music (Chart) Died

October 11, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 127

So, Billboard decided to completely change its chart methodology today:

Billboard unveils new methodology today for the long-standing Hot Country Songs, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Latin Songs charts. Each receive a major consumer-influenced face-lift, as digital download sales (tracked by Nielsen SoundScan) and streaming data (tracked by Nielsen BDS from such services as Spotify, Muve, Slacker, Rhapsody, Rdio and Xbox Music, among others) will now be factored into the 50-position rankings, along with existing radio airplay data monitored by Nielsen BDS. The makeovers will enable these charts to match the methodology applied to Billboard’s signature all-genre songs ranking, the Billboard Hot 100.

On the surface, this seems like a good idea. After all, the country singles chart included both sales and airplay data for decades, until switching to airplay-only in 1989. Declining availability of retail singles made this change necessary.

Retro Single Review: Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, "Say Forever You'll Be Mine"

October 1, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 2

1975 | Peak: #5

“Forever is the love,” they sing, “that is true and undemanding.”

Retro Single Review: Shania Twain, "When You Kiss Me"

October 1, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 1

2003 | Peak: #21 (U.K.)

What do you do when you’ve already got so many songs that are wedding and anniversary staples?

Single Review: Taylor Swift, "Begin Again"

September 28, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 24

The title of Taylor Swift’s new single is oddly appropriate, as her label hits the reset button at country radio.

“We are Never Ever Getting Back Together” was apparently too pop for her genre home base, though it will certainly continue to dominate top forty for a good long while. Country radio is now getting its own single, and it’s quite the genre exercise.

Single Review: Wade Hayes, "Is it Already Time"

September 23, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 7

As powerful as “Live Like You Were Dying” was, it was really about inspiring those who had nothing but life ahead of them. It bore little relevance to the experience of actually finding out your life might be coming to an end.

CU Archives: Kathy Mattea

September 22, 2012 Kevin John Coyne 2

For those of you just discovering Country Universe because of Ben Foster’s stellar review of Calling Me Home, here are some other Kathy Mattea features from our archives:

A Conversation with Kathy Mattea

This interview from March 2009 covers Mattea’s musical legacy, with a special focus on her Grammy-nominated Coal.

100 Greatest Women: #27. Kathy Mattea

Mattea’s entry on our 2008 countdown of the genre’s greatest women.

Favorite Songs by Favorite Artists: Kathy Mattea

Twenty-five of her best, written shortly after the release of Coal.

Classic Country Singles: “Where’ve You Been”

A look back at the single that earned Mattea her first Grammy award and won its songwriters several major honors as well.