Why Is Country Music The Only Genre Still Selling Units?

The whole music industry is going through a huge change right now. I’m sure every one knows the story. No one is buying cd’s anymore, everyone is downloading songs, usually illegally.

While this is the case for almost all genre’s of music, one genre and market seems to be exempt. Country Music.

Country music is the most popular radio format throughout the United States, except right here in the tri-state area. Everywhere across the nation Country Music rules the airwaves. Which, is surprising, because most people say “i like all types of music… except country”.

Yet somehow the Nashville cd industry continues to churn out huge music stars. Country Music stars have, for the past 10 years or so been merging genre’s with pop and rock.

So why is country music so damn popular? My theory is it mixes humor, drama, and feel good emotions without a blink of the eye. There is no sense of being hip in country music. A good country song tells a story, which people can relate to. Hank Williams invented it and they’ve been trying to perfect it ever sense.

Johnny Cash is revered by rockers as a real bad-ass.

Willie Nelson, well, who doesn’t love Willie? (He smoked a joint on the roof of the White House).

Brad Paisley can really shred guitar with the best of them. That Sugarland song “Stay”, that is powerful. Taylor Swift actually writes her own songs and can perform.

I could go on and on and on with individual artists.

I purpose, that since country was born out of the blues (some argue they were born simultaneously) country music is America’s music. It has no pretension. It can be funny, it can make you weep, it can make you think, it can make you rock out, it can do it all. And today country music is being mixed with rock guitars, and I have to say I really like hearing an electric guitar and a banjo playing together.

Country music is turning out some really good music these days. Great artists with great songs and real talent and it does not come off as manufactured or fake. It has the same appeal grunge did, country stars look like joe everyman up there on stage. And it does not seem as corny as it used to. (however, on an editorial note… fuck Rascal Flatts, they suck. they sound like a pop group, and they come off as so fucking fake. i hope their career ends soon)

Honestly, rhinestones? And those big cowboy hats? I doubt many country artists are actual cowboys, there aren’t many real cowboys anyway. But I guess it looks cool. And hey, if Willie Nelson likes country, then you can’t argue with Willie.

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