UWP academic staff member makes the music charts
PLATTEVILLE - Since 1972, University of Wisconsin-Platteville academic staff member Stephen Shepherd has been making country music. Recently, Shepherd has been advancing up the music charts in the United States and Europe.
Shepherd released his second and fourth albums only in Europe. "I wanted to see how they would go," Shepherd said. "The market was easier to break into."
Shepherd's highest chart ranking in Europe came from his song "Uzis in the Barn," which was listed at number two in France on the European Country Music Association chart. "Uzis in the Barn" showcases what Shepherd calls intellectual country music. According to Shepherd, the song is a satire of the fear of terrorists striking even in small communities.
His first and third albums were released in Europe and the United States. Since February, Shepherd's songs have appeared on a number of U.S. and European music charts. In April, his song "Lazy Hazy" was number six on Airplay Access and number 21 on Airplay Direct. According to Shepherd, Airplay Access and Airplay Direct are two major U.S. music download services for U.S. radio stations. "100 Proof Woman" also appeared at number 15 and "Hello Country Music" at 16 on Airplay Direct.
According to Shepherd, perhaps the most significant chart listing of his singer/songwriting career appeared in May and June. On Tuesday, New Music Weekly, a major U.S. chart from Los Angeles, listed "Lazy Hazy" on its main chart at number 36 against record label artists such as Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift, and on its Top 30 Indie Chart at number 18. Last week the New Music Weekly Main Chart listed the song at 39 and the Top 30 Indie Chart at 21. "Lazy Hazy" has been on the New Music Weekly charts for 11 weeks and has climbed the charts steadily each week after debuting at number 83.
"Music has changed dramatically in the past few years to my benefit," Shepherd said. "The Internet has opened up possibilities."
According to Shepherd, music on the Internet has created access to more talent and an environment of instantaneous feedback. Shepherd wrote music for over 30 years before anything made the charts, which he said, only made him more persistent. "Keep at it," Shepherd said. "I didn't give up and the music is going well."
For more information about Shepherd's music, contact him at (563) 587-1947 or s.shepherd@mchsi.com.
Contact: Stephen Shepherd, academic staff, UWP Humanities Department, (608) 342-1869, s.shepherd@mchsi.com Written by: Kyle Scherwinski, writer, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, scherwinskik@uwplatt.edu
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