Music Banter - View Single Post - What's Missing in Country Music Today?
View Single Post
Old 04-13-2015, 01:29 PM   #10 (permalink)
PlayMoreMusic
Groupie
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 1
Default

The answer to this question changes depending on if you're specifically referring to the "pop country radio / awards show industry" or the whole of country music as a genre.

If the former, the answer is "Pretty much everything that defines traditional country music as country music except some of the instrumentation and the accent - and even that some of the time." Though, there are plenty of exceptions.

If the latter, then the answer is "Nothing. True, honest, heartfelt, country music is still out there and being created and released every day. You just need to stop turning on pop country radio expecting to find it."

Find what you consider true country artists, then find interviews with them and take notes on other artists they collaborate with, listen to, etc. Find small town venues who have live music and cater to country music types and fans, the ones who host full-time gigging acoustic singer-songwriters. Check out their music. Check out the venue's calendar to see who else is on it. Follow these artists on social media and see who they talk about and who they play shows with.

And when you do find "pop country radio" songs that resonate with you, it likely means there's a talented country songwriter somewhere in the background. Look up who wrote the song and go find them via their website and social media. Many of them are gigging musicians who release their own music. Who knows, you might even find that you much prefer their own version of the song to the one with that Nashville polish and production.

If you really care about music and discovering new artists you'll like, it doesn't require much effort. Maybe a little more than turning your car's radio knob, but let's not be lazy. And you might even find yourself expanding your musical horizons into the related Folk, Americana, and Bluegrass genres. When you get to real, heartfelt music, it often spans genres or rides that edge.
PlayMoreMusic is offline   Reply With Quote