JAKARTA - Country singer Morgan Wallen achieved commercial success in early 2021. His latest album, Dangerous: The Double Album, released on January 8, immediately took first place on the US Billboard charts.
This second album has sold more than 265 thousand copies in its first week of release. A career opening at the start of a fresh year for a country singer.
However, this did not last long. An incident that was caught on video was spread on the internet. On February 2, TMZ media released a video featuring Wallen screaming violently at his neighbors after causing a scene.
The video, shot on Sunday, January 31, shows Wallen and his friends returning home after going to Nashville. When it reached midnight, they talked loudly and honked many times.
One of the 7 Summers singer neighbors recorded the incident. The climax was when one of the neighbors came out to warn them, Wallen replied by saying harsh language.
Morgan Wallen also gave his official statement. He apologized for committing racial insults. “I use racially insulting words that don't deserve to be accepted. There is no reason to use language like this. I'm sorry for using that word. I promise I'll be better".
Peak of Popularity
The singer, whose real name is Morgan Cole Wallen, started his career by competing on the show The Voice as Adam Levine's team. After being eliminated, Wallen signed a cooperation contract with Panacea Records.
When releasing his first album, If I Know Me with Big Loud Records, this 27-year-old singer ranked at the 13th. This popularity has increased along with the various controversies he did.
In 2020, Morgan Wallen received criticism for his video partying in a bar in Alabama during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wallen did not wear a mask, violated social distancing, and kissed several women.
The incident took place a week before his television debut on Saturday Night Live (SNL). After that, SNL producers said they canceled Wallen's appearance and replaced him with Jack White.
When he appeared in December, Wallen made the incident a public joke, and fans responded positively to his performance.
The End of Morgan Wallen's Career?
The case of speaking harshly influenced Morgan Wallen's current popularity. Through social media, his fans on social media claim that Wallen uses harsh words as affection but not curse.
However, this scandal made Morgan Wallen's song removed from major radio playlists in the United States, including iHeartRadio and Entercom. Though Wallen spent three weeks on the Billboard charts and set the biggest record for a country album.
His record label, Big Loud Records terminated his exclusive contract with Morgan Wallen. As well As with the record label Republic Records, which partnered with Big Loud Records to promote Wallen's career globally.
- Big Loud (@BigLoud) February 3, 2021
The two of them agreed to break the contract for an indefinite period. It is likely that Wallen will not be able to do a commercial on television or a music awards show coming up in the coming months.
Music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora as well as the CMT television channel removed all content related to Morgan Wallen. Some photos and tracks cannot be played.
This massive boycott happened instantly after Morgan Wallen was named the most successful country artist on the streaming service. He also nearly got a record one month on the charts and this achievement came after country artist Garth Brooks in the 1990s.
Country musicians also raised their voices on this case. Jason Isbell, a country musician who worked with Wallen. "This is an opportunity for the country music industry to make a place for other people, and there are many black musicians who deserve this".
Wallen's behavior is disgusting and horrifying. I think this is an opportunity for the country music industry to give that spot to somebody who deserves it, and there are lots of black artists who deserve it. https://t.co/14B77zLgMR
- Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) February 3, 2021
However, not a few feel that the Morgan Wallen case will not have such a big impact on his career. The racism that occurs in the country music industry is difficult to break, so it takes collective efforts from listeners to provide a place for better musicians.
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