Key Takeaways
- Aaron Lewis described country music as 'popified' and 'less American,' attributing changes to industry consolidation.
- Lewis detailed music industry exploitation, including 'indentured servant' contracts and negligible streaming payments.
- Public criticisms of President Obama and a border incident led to Lewis being labeled 'racist' by media.
- Lewis expressed concerns over generational responsibility and the dismantling of the 'fabric of this country.'
- Questioning the Ukraine-Russia war narrative resulted in backlash, though Lewis's record label president defended his free speech.
- Lewis critiques Bruce Springsteen for losing touch with working-class origins and engaging in 'virtue signaling'.
Deep Dive
- Guest Aaron Lewis described modern country music as unrecognizable, stating it has undergone a 'popification' due to an 'infiltration by California' and industry consolidation.
- He claims the genre has become 'less American' and 'more international,' lacking its pure soul, resembling a 'land of the misfit toys'.
- Lewis transitioned to country after his contract with the rock band Stained concluded, facing challenges as he had to rebuild his audience in a new genre.
- The guest and host debated whether traditional country artists like Merle Haggard could succeed in today's contemporary country radio scene.
- Aaron Lewis reported being blacklisted from country radio due to his opinions, yet completed 175-180 sold-out shows last year.
- He characterized artists as 'indentured servants' to record labels, noting all payments are loans, with 25% going to the label before management, legal, and tax deductions.
- Lewis claimed he generated 80 times more revenue for his label than he received and stated that, despite over a billion Spotify streams, he received no substantial payment due to intermediaries.
- Record labels adopted '360 deals' over the past 28 years, entitling them to a share of artists' merchandise and live performance earnings.
- Aaron Lewis stated that conflicts with corporate entities over his political views began around the time of the 2008 Obama election.
- He publicly criticized President Obama's actions as 'unconstitutional' and 'borderline treasonous' to TMZ, leading to him being labeled a 'racist'.
- An incident at a border-area show where Lewis stated, 'I don't speak Spanish. I'm American,' resulted in media backlash, including a 'hit piece' from Perez Hilton.
- Lewis engaged in heated political discussions with his record label president, while the host noted the division of people by 'partisan addiction'.
- Aaron Lewis recounted a 'lonely' childhood living in a hunting camp in Vermont, later transitioning to a middle-class neighborhood after his father's $1,500 investment.
- He maintains a deep passion for hunting and fishing, detailing deer season traditions at his family farm in Danby, Vermont, and a personal shift from rifle to bow hunting.
- Lewis highlighted his enjoyment of upland bird hunting, particularly quail, contrasting it with the more strenuous New England grouse hunting.
- He described grouse hunting as a 'poor man's sport' due to its difficulty, while quail hunting is a 'rich man's sport' due to costs and scarcity of wild birds.
- Aaron Lewis criticized Bruce Springsteen as a 'disgusting display' who has forgotten his working-class origins, claiming he 'duped' the public with the 'anti-American song' 'Born in the USA'.
- He asserted his generation grew up in an 'unracially driven' society, judging character over skin color, calling it 'the best our country has ever been'.
- Lewis argued that 'Democrats and communists' 'thrive in chaos' and create division to prevent 'shared country pride', a sentiment the host echoed.
- Lewis expressed concern that generational responsibility has been neglected for 30 years and that the 'fabric of this country' is being dismantled.
- Aaron Lewis noted a societal shift from unquestioned feelings of safety and trust to these feelings being 'extinct', stating he lives where a house key is not needed.
- Since the COVID-19 shutdown, he has traveled across America primarily by bus, observing the country firsthand.
- After 30 years on the road, Lewis reports observing the crumbling of 'flyover states,' with boarded-up businesses and deserted downtowns where local shops are replaced by chains like Dollar General.
- The host questioned why politicians prioritize international issues like Iran or Ukraine while rural areas in their own states decline.
- Aaron Lewis's 2022 statement suggesting listening to Vladimir Putin led to significant backlash, including the loss of external employees.
- The host emphasized that artists should be allowed to express unconventional views in a healthy society, as their role is to pursue truth and challenge assumptions.
- Lewis stated that his sales were unaffected despite a song being widely disliked by industry figures, confirming an industry call for his cancellation and the loss of his record deal.
- His controversial song, 'Am I the Only One,' was a patriotic critique of COVID-19 shutdowns and perceived government overreach.
- Aaron Lewis stated he could perform country music indefinitely, unlike his more taxing 'Stained' performances, but acknowledged the business aspect can diminish the love for music.
- The host drew an analogy between the music business and the porn industry, asserting that making a good thing a business diminishes it.
- Lewis described music industry profiteers as 'leeches' who parasite off artists' creations, though he expressed gratitude for his record label president's support.
- He named Kid Rock as a 'good guy' in the industry and stated he would not want his children to enter the music business due to sacrifices and missed life events.