Who is the audience for Country?

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 28 Apr 2002 9:16 pm

We've discussed here many times what makes for country music, for good country music, bad country, pop country, traditional, alt.country, and so on. But it seems to me the litmus test of country music would be how well it sits with the audience in the place(s) which gave it its birth and for whom country music expresses their way of life. I don't mean Nashville and Bakersfield, etc, because I think that's was more where it was recorded than necessarily where its real roots lay (?). I think of country's roots as being out there in rural America.... among the folks out on the farm, running the mill, minding the mom 'n' pop store on the main drag in a one horse town. The place of corn and wheat fields to the horizon, big red barns, cattle ranches, silos, 2-lane roads, and pickup truck that are used for real hauling (not the show pieces I see in Silicon Valley). What do these people out in the real "country" part of our nation listen to? Does Nashville pass muster with them? Or have radio and TV homogenized our culture so much that there's as much Brittany Spears on the tractor radio as there is Merle Haggard?

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Bill L | My steel page | Email | My music | Steeler birthdays | Over 50?

J W Hock · Post by **J W Hock** » 29 Apr 2002 5:34 am

I live in a predominately rural , agricultural area in south central Texas . Guess what the "country" kids listen to here ? Gangsta rap and urban hip hop ! (yes on their tractor tape decks too). As far as the adults are concerned I don't think they listen to much music period much less country.
As stated before on this forum, country music has become the music of adult suburbia . Music for suburbanites that romanticise and dream about rural living. Not that there is anything wrong with that . It's just bound to have an effect on the music"s sound. It already has.

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 29 Apr 2002 6:28 am

JW, that was a great answer, sad as it may be. I was afraid that's where things had gone.

What gets played on the rural country radio stations out where you are? The standard new Nashville material, or older country from a generation or two back?

J W Hock · Post by **J W Hock** » 29 Apr 2002 7:20 am

For the most part they play the usual suspects. There is a local DJ that does a fairly decent two-hour country oldies show weekdays mid-mornings for the non-working retired crowd. Sounds pretty grim doesn't it !

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 29 Apr 2002 8:42 am

... Or have radio and TV homogenized our culture so much that there's as much Brittany Spears on the tractor radio as there is Merle Haggard?

Not on my tractor!

The target audience for country radio today seems to be women from 25-35 years of age. I've pretty much completely tuned out. I rely on Theresa to let me know when a good one hits the airwaves.

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HagFan

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 29 Apr 2002 10:15 am

Whoever wants to listen. Do we have to live in the country, own a tractor, know how to milk a cow, play a steel guitar, grow corn, heard of Ray Price or know all the oldies to be allowed to be a part of the country music audience. Ron--I'm 62 years old and don't mind a bit to play a gig for 25 to 35 year old women (

that includes you, Teresa, if you would like to hear me play). Joe

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 29 Apr 2002 11:28 am

Joe,
I'd love to hear you play steel! People need to realize it's just an instrument and has no limits! If ONE is interested, we've accomplished something! Interest! Theresa[This message was edited by Theresa Galbraith on 29 April 2002 at 12:30 PM.]

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 29 Apr 2002 3:08 pm

Ron,
I hope you meant that as a compliment. I love traditional country too! Theresa

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 7 May 2002 9:23 am

Of course I did. I associate you with that target demographic as well as appreciate you on keeping me up only on what I NEED know about modern country radio.

Now who was that last guy you recommended that sounds like Keith Whitley?

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HagFan

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 7 May 2002 2:29 pm

Ron,
Kevin Denny reminds me of Keith alot! His new single is "That's Just Jessie!" Darrell Worley is another artist that reminds me of Keith. Great steel work on both, you won't be disappointed!

Thanks, Theresa [This message was edited by Theresa Galbraith on 07 May 2002 at 03:30 PM.]

Kenneth Kotsay · Post by **Kenneth Kotsay** » 7 May 2002 4:51 pm

NO MORE C&W FOR ME, I LISTEN TO JAZZ, BLUES, SWING, CHRISTIAN MUSIC AND CLASSICAL AND YES TRADITIONAL C&W FROM MY RECORD/CASSETTE/CD COLLECTION.

WILL I EVER GO TO NASHVILLE......NEVER, EVEN IF IT WAS TOTALLY FREE.

KEN

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 7 May 2002 5:47 pm

The top 40 country sound is popular here in Sonoma County among young conservative types. The older honky-tonk sounds aren't very popular, but authentic bluegrass sounds are popular among the terminally hip.

The most popular live music around here is blues, though.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 8 May 2002 2:15 am

In the clubs that I play , they want it all, the new stuff, the old stuff ,Waltz Across Texas to Mercury Blues and Honky Tonk Woman to Johnny B. Good ! I'm ok with that.."Not that there's anything wrong with that"

tp[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 08 May 2002 at 03:22 AM.]

Leigh Howell · Post by **Leigh Howell** » 8 May 2002 3:18 pm

I had a country band for many many years,and as much as I would have liked to play just down home country all night, It just was'nt possible. We always played a large share of country but,we had to play some Chuck Berry,Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Daniels, The Eagles, and others. I used to sing "My Way",mostly because there was a group of people at the club every night that wanted it. And they spent a lot of money. (There's that common denominator(SP?)money again! But thats the way it goes in the entertainment business. Sometime you can play what you please, but not if you want to do it for your lifes work. We all know there are many artists that record songs that become hit records, and they dont like them! But they make a lot of money from them!! There's that word Money Again!!!
Now I get to do as I please in my music room!!! The luxury is, all i have to please is myself!!!

Leroy Riggs · Post by **Leroy Riggs** » 9 May 2002 8:57 am

The Denver area is pretty much tradional country--at least the bands that are pulling good crowds sing a lot of the older music. This leads to, in general, older audiences. Intrestingly, several bands who have excellent singers are not doing well at all because of the modern 'counry' that they sing. In most cases, you can count their entire audience (mostly young poeple) on two hands.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 9 May 2002 10:06 am

Bill,
You mentioned Phil as being a one hit wonder. I don't think so and his song writing alone proves that!
Country music always has been, whatever touches ones heart. It's for audiences young and old! All ages!

Theresa

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 9 May 2002 1:40 pm

James,
Noooo,Nooooo,
I disagree with you! We live in 2002, kids growing up today are listening to Country Music on the radio! Theresa

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 10 May 2002 12:43 pm

I still don't know what we are calling country music. Is it music with lots of
steel and fiddle, is it music with a singer
with a southern accent, is it music with or
without drums, is it music with a doghouse
bass or an electric bass, is it hillbilly or western music? Seems like there has always
been more than one type of country music.
People used to tell me that I played that "hillbilly stuff". Now they say that they never liked that country music but now they like what I'm playing. The band that I play with now plays mostly new country--Alan Jackson, Gary Allen, Brooks and Dunn. You lose a few and you gain a few! Joe

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 10 May 2002 3:03 pm

Joe,
I like what you play. Sounds country to me!

Theresa