The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

A friend who is into country music alerted me to the fact that Sam Hunt was one of three final candidates tonight for the Country Music Awards' "New Artist of the Year" award. Those three candidates were the new artists who received the highest number of votes from CM fans. The CMA were held tonight, and unfortunately Sam did not win the award, but that's was an impressive showing never the less.

I picked the following additional info about Sam's career on line:

"Sam Hunt co-wrote Kenny Chesney's 2012 hit "Come Over", for which he received an ASCAP award."

"Hunt's first single for MCA was "Leave the Night On", which went to number 1 on Country Airplay in October 2014 and received a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for one million certified downloads."

"On November 5, 2014, Hunt's album "Montevallo" debuted at number 1 on Top Country Albums and number 3 on the Billboard 200. It opened with 70,000 units sold. Five days later, he announced his first tour, Lipstick Graffiti. Tickets went on sale Friday, November 14. Within minutes—and in some cases seconds—of going on sale, the tour sold out at 15 of the venues."

I'm guessing had he had another hit come out prior to the awards he may have taken the award.

Only 2 of his songs from Montevallo have been released so far.

He not only wrote Chesney's hit Come Over, he also wrote or helped write Keith Urban's Cop Car & Billy Currington's We Are Tonight.

Sam seems to have the song writing thing going for him very well.

Proud of Sam.

It's kind of interesting that apparently Sam first explored a pro football career before moving to Nashville to concentrate on song writing. After playing for a couple of years at UAB (he transferred from Middle Tennessee St.) he was invited to training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs, but didn't make the team.

I don't know much about Country Music, but I have observed that in general singers who are capable of writing their own music usually have longer successful careers than those who depend singing songs written by others. I've always assumed that was because when they write a good song they have some power to determine who sings it.

For example, I love Bob Dylan, and his voice has a likable quirkiness once you a are used to it, but I doubt he would have had much of a chance to being a very popular vocal artist if he hadn't writen all of his own songs. I also think the Beatles weren't just a flash in the pan precisely be cause they wrote most of their own music. Elton John is another example. If that concept has any validity, Sam should continue doing well because he is evidently a very good song writer.

I'm usually not into country, but I will have to down load some of Sam's music.

If nothing else he's making some money as a songwriter.

Cajun, if you don't like country music, you might like Sam's music. I am not a country fan either, but enjoyed his album. Maybe because the critics of the album said it was not very country.

Good for Sam.

One reason writing your own music is better is that whenever another artist's music is used for commercial purposes, money must be paid to the composer (usually through ASCAP which handles royalties income). Remember the fuss stirred up when Yoko Ono (sp?) sold all the Beatle's song rights to Michael Jackson? Now, whenever Paul or Ringo play one of their old hits on a show, a royalty must be paid to Michael's estate.

Look at the wording in a Beck song & compare it to the wording in a Beyonce song.

I would just consider Sam's music as music & not worry about where it should be classified.

Good music is good music.

(04-20-2015 10:59 AM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Good for Sam.

One reason writing your own music is better is that whenever another artist's music is used for commercial purposes, money must be paid to the composer (usually through ASCAP which handles royalties income). Remember the fuss stirred up when Yoko Ono (sp?) sold all the Beatle's song rights to Michael Jackson? Now, whenever Paul or Ringo play one of their old hits on a show, a royalty must be paid to Michael's estate.

Actually the estate sold the library to Sony after Michael died to pay off extensive debts.

(04-20-2015 10:42 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  Cajun, if you don't like country music, you might like Sam's music. I am not a country fan either, but enjoyed his album. Maybe because the critics of the album said it was not very country.

Sam's argument is that he is country, but his music is influenced by many styles and genres. As a country music fan myself, I can say this: country fans are hard on artists who "aren't country enough", but they are forgiving when the country artist has a unique quality about him/her. In other words, I think glam-pop country is frowned upon, while orignal sounds with a unique style are forgiven. Sam will help redefine country music in his own style.

My family (wife and four kids) love to listen to Sam's album.

I've really enjoyed Sam's music, even if it isn't what I would call "country." Looking forward to seeing him play Riverbend up here in June, he is opening for Merle Haggard.