Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY (Monday, Sept. 30) Advertisement Marty Stuart born in Philadelphia, Miss., 1958. Oak Ridge Boys' "Gonna Take A Lot Of River" hits No. 1 in Radio & Records, 1988. Elvis Presley's "Welcome To My World" album certifies gold, 1977. Frances Preston and George Jones elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, 1992. MUSIC AND MORE CLINT SAYS RECORD COMPANY UNFAIR Country singer Clint Black was among the artists who testified at a California state Senate hearing about how they're treated by the record industry. The hearings are examining musicians' claims the industry mistreats them, at times illegally, with questionable contracts and accounting practices. Black told a Senate panel last week his record company claimed he still owed them money for expenses, even after he sold $20 million in albums. VETERAN OPRY MEMBERS IRKED AT CHANGES The Grand Ole Opry's recent efforts to build its audience by attracting younger fans has struck a nerve in some of the Opry's longtime cast members. The Nashville Tennessean says three veteran members -- Stonewall Jackson, Del Reeves and Charlie Louvin -- are criticizing the direction Opry General Manager Pete Fisher is taking the Friday and Saturday night shows. Advertisement Fisher has stopped using the "members only" approach to booking the shows, now including new talent like SHeDAISY and Elizabeth Cook. At times that puts members like Louvin out of the show. Louvin says it's just fine to book contemporary acts, but not without the talent that sustained the Opry for its 77-year history. Jackson said Fisher was downright disrespectful to him, that Fisher told him he was "too old and too country" to be in Opry shows anymore. Fisher said in a statement the Opry seeks to broaden the shows' audience with a balanced mix of music from yesterday and today, and to showcase promising acts of tomorrow. WHAT'S NEXT FOR DIXIE CHICKS? With their "Home" album still flying, what's next for the Dixie Chicks? It depends on which Chick you talk to. Martie Maguire says she's inspired to write songs for their next album, telling LAUNCH she's ready to do some writing with bandmates Natalie Maines and Emily Robinson. They've already done some writing with other songwriters for the follow-up to "Home." But Natalie says: "I haven't even gotten that far, I have no clue. Things come to me like, 'This is what we have to do.'" Advertisement "Home" has been No. 1 on the Billboard country album chart since it debuted a month ago. It slipped to No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200 after three weeks at No. 1.
