Much of the rest of the country doesn't listen to country...and even much of the SE doesn't (inside the cities and suburbs at least). And this isn't against country or bluegrass, both of which I respect immensely, but it's a numbers game at the end of the day.
Js
Jack Harlow was a much bigger guest picker because of the demos. Rap/HH is just far bigger in the culture, nationwide, than country. I mean, he MIGHT be top-10 in rap/HH rn and he has 37mm monthly listeners. Morgan, some say...I don't follow, is #1 in country and has only 13mm monthly listeners. It's a demographic thing. It's very much a niche.
But I always come back to this, which is far more important as UT is concerned:
Imagine being a current player or recruit and seeing this guy as "the UT guest". Talk about negative recruiting.
He's just a hard pass because of being a total moron and a terrible look, if nothing else. Forget the rest for a moment. It would just be completely idiotic from a PR perspective.
Can't believe you're going to make me have to take up for Morgan Wallen (don't believe he's a racist, just don't care for his music); but, the bolded up top just isn't true. This year, Wallen sold out 2 nights at Madison Square Garden (the second night had to be added because of first night demand); same goes for LA, a second show had to be added in Los Angeles because of the demand for the first. This goes for many of his dates in CITIES all across this country. Of his 54 date US leg this year, 48 of those sold out in record time. Right now, his tour is the #5 grossing tour in the world for 2022.
Wallen also SHATTERED the record for pre adds on Apple in 2020, ahead of Harlow's That's What They All Say album. According to Chart Data, Drake is the #1 streaming artist of 2022, with 3 billion streams...followed by the likes of Young Boy, Taylor Swift, JuiceWRLD, The Weekend, Kanye, and Lil Durk. Wallen is #8 on that list, with 1.7 billion streams.
I guarantee you more people are going to Wallen Shows than Jack Harlow shows. Right now, I can still get tickets for Harlow's show in Seattle on Friday. Right now, I can still get tickets for his Vancouver show on Saturday. Right now, I can still get tickets for his Portland show on Sunday. If that had been Wallen, those tix would have been long gone.
Again, not a Wallen fan; but, if you think the cities, along with the rural, all across this country aren't listening to him, you're misinformed.
Js
Also, to add, Devo...all the streaming and subs and tour #'s, all they do is reveal to me just how bad the musical tastes are in this country, and the world, for that matter.