Slipping between the mainstream cracks...

Some artists fall between radio genres. Jewel is one example. She struggles with airplay on country radio, but isn't credible on pop stations any longer.

Singer-songwriter Corey Smith falls in this void as well, but until now it didn't seem to matter. He sells out shows and moves albums. Without a doubt he is “making it.”

On February 11 (before his gig at the Lincoln Theatre) I have an appointment with Corey and his management team. They'll come in and play a few songs, presumably to gain airplay on QDR. I'm a fan of his, so I can't help but be suspicious.

Will he starting writing songs that are purposely more “radio friendly?”

Will he drag an old timer like George Jones into the studio with him to give a new album country grit?

I hope he follows the lead of Zac Brown, an artist who didn't bend his sound to satisfy radio. Anything else would sound insincere, and country listeners can pick out insincerity like an eight point buck in a field of wheat.