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A theory on why Country radio is hot

J

Jay_F

I recently read a few studies that found nationally country radio had a good Spring book. It was up more places than not. I noticed this myself as the Spring numbers started rolling in.

I have a theory on this mini-boom for country radio. My guess is that compared to other formats, less country listeners are switching to alternatives such as satellite radio, I-pods, internet radio and all the other new technology. This is not to say that no country listeners have interest in new technology, but that more country listeners are sticking with and spending time with traditional radio which is giving country radio a bigger piece of the pie.

There are some good songs and artists in country now which is probably the main reason for the uptrend. But perhaps my theory explains part of the puzzle?
 
> I recently read a few studies that found nationally country
> radio had a good Spring book. It was up more places than
> not. I noticed this myself as the Spring numbers started
> rolling in.
>
> I have a theory on this mini-boom for country radio. My
> guess is that compared to other formats, less country
> listeners are switching to alternatives such as satellite
> radio, I-pods, internet radio and all the other new
> technology. This is not to say that no country listeners
> have interest in new technology, but that more country
> listeners are sticking with and spending time with
> traditional radio which is giving country radio a bigger
> piece of the pie.
>
> There are some good songs and artists in country now which
> is probably the main reason for the uptrend. But perhaps my
> theory explains part of the puzzle?
>
where are these huge numbers? i havent seen them! urban seems to be getting the huge numbers! and i hate that format so i am not saying that because i am a fan of the music! i am not! what good songs? what good artists? i havent heard but 3 or 4 country songs on the radio since 2003..i hear mostly redneck pop...and i have xm...xm 10 america is the greatest country station in the country!<P ID="signature">______________
note to tvland...bring back wkrp!!!</P>
 
> > I recently read a few studies that found nationally
> country
> > radio had a good Spring book. It was up more places than
> > not. I noticed this myself as the Spring numbers started
> > rolling in.
> >
> > I have a theory on this mini-boom for country radio. My
> > guess is that compared to other formats, less country
> > listeners are switching to alternatives such as satellite
> > radio, I-pods, internet radio and all the other new
> > technology. This is not to say that no country listeners
> > have interest in new technology, but that more country
> > listeners are sticking with and spending time with
> > traditional radio which is giving country radio a bigger
> > piece of the pie.
> >
> > There are some good songs and artists in country now which
>
> > is probably the main reason for the uptrend. But perhaps
> my
> > theory explains part of the puzzle?
> >
> where are these huge numbers? i havent seen them! urban
> seems to be getting the huge numbers! and i hate that format
> so i am not saying that because i am a fan of the music! i
> am not! what good songs? what good artists? i havent heard
> but 3 or 4 country songs on the radio since 2003..i hear
> mostly redneck pop...and i have xm...xm 10 america is the
> greatest country station in the country!
>


I'm not saying country numbers are huge like they were in the early 90s. But nationally Country was up in Spring 05 compared to a year ago or even a quarter ago. I can think of several country stations that had their best ratings in years this past book. I read a few of the national ratings summaries, for Spring 05 country was up and so was classic rock (because Jack type stations are being classified as classic rock). News/Talk, AC, and oldies are down.
Rock and alternative formats are down compared to years past, I suspect these are the main listeners who have jumped on the new technology/listen to less traditional radio.

As far as good artists. "Good" is always going to be subjective, everyone has different tastes. What I mean by good are the core artists of the format that have wide appeal, Toby,Tim etc. and all the other artists and songs that test well. You might not like them personally (which is certainly your right), but many people do.
 
> > > I recently read a few studies that found nationally
> > country
> > > radio had a good Spring book. It was up more places than
>
> > > not. I noticed this myself as the Spring numbers started
>
> > > rolling in.
> > >
> > > I have a theory on this mini-boom for country radio. My
> > > guess is that compared to other formats, less country
> > > listeners are switching to alternatives such as
> satellite
> > > radio, I-pods, internet radio and all the other new
> > > technology. This is not to say that no country listeners
>
> > > have interest in new technology, but that more country
> > > listeners are sticking with and spending time with
> > > traditional radio which is giving country radio a bigger
>
> > > piece of the pie.
> > >
> > > There are some good songs and artists in country now
> which
> >
> > > is probably the main reason for the uptrend. But perhaps
>
> > my
> > > theory explains part of the puzzle?
> > >
> > where are these huge numbers? i havent seen them! urban
> > seems to be getting the huge numbers! and i hate that
> format
> > so i am not saying that because i am a fan of the music! i
>
> > am not! what good songs? what good artists? i havent heard
>
> > but 3 or 4 country songs on the radio since 2003..i hear
> > mostly redneck pop...and i have xm...xm 10 america is the
> > greatest country station in the country!
> >
>
>
> I'm not saying country numbers are huge like they were in
> the early 90s. But nationally Country was up in Spring 05
> compared to a year ago or even a quarter ago. I can think of
> several country stations that had their best ratings in
> years this past book. I read a few of the national ratings
> summaries, for Spring 05 country was up and so was classic
> rock (because Jack type stations are being classified as
> classic rock). News/Talk, AC, and oldies are down.
> Rock and alternative formats are down compared to years
> past, I suspect these are the main listeners who have jumped
> on the new technology/listen to less traditional radio.
>
> As far as good artists. "Good" is always going to be
> subjective, everyone has different tastes. What I mean by
> good are the core artists of the format that have wide
> appeal, Toby,Tim etc. and all the other artists and songs
> that test well. You might not like them personally (which is
> certainly your right), but many people do.
>
i can think of one good artist from this year..shooter jennings..tim is not country and toby is only part time country..lately he has been trying the anything for a buck hit just like the rest of the pack..again..redneck pop is not country..

country..waylon, willie, hank, hank jr, merle haggard,mel tillis, roy accuff, boxcar willie....pop..toby, shanai,faith,tim..anything on cmt..<P ID="signature">______________
note to tvland...bring back wkrp!!!</P>
 
> > > > I recently read a few studies that found nationally
> > > country
> > > > radio had a good Spring book. It was up more places
> than
> >
> > > > not. I noticed this myself as the Spring numbers
> started
> >
> > > > rolling in.
> > > >
> > > > I have a theory on this mini-boom for country radio.
> My
> > > > guess is that compared to other formats, less country
> > > > listeners are switching to alternatives such as
> > satellite
> > > > radio, I-pods, internet radio and all the other new
> > > > technology. This is not to say that no country
> listeners
> >
> > > > have interest in new technology, but that more country
>
> > > > listeners are sticking with and spending time with
> > > > traditional radio which is giving country radio a
> bigger
> >
> > > > piece of the pie.
> > > >
> > > > There are some good songs and artists in country now
> > which
> > >
> > > > is probably the main reason for the uptrend. But
> perhaps
> >
> > > my
> > > > theory explains part of the puzzle?
> > > >
> > > where are these huge numbers? i havent seen them! urban
> > > seems to be getting the huge numbers! and i hate that
> > format
> > > so i am not saying that because i am a fan of the music!
> i
> >
> > > am not! what good songs? what good artists? i havent
> heard
> >
> > > but 3 or 4 country songs on the radio since 2003..i hear
>
> > > mostly redneck pop...and i have xm...xm 10 america is
> the
> > > greatest country station in the country!
> > >
> >
> >
> > I'm not saying country numbers are huge like they were in
> > the early 90s. But nationally Country was up in Spring 05
> > compared to a year ago or even a quarter ago. I can think
> of
> > several country stations that had their best ratings in
> > years this past book. I read a few of the national ratings
>
> > summaries, for Spring 05 country was up and so was classic
>
> > rock (because Jack type stations are being classified as
> > classic rock). News/Talk, AC, and oldies are down.
> > Rock and alternative formats are down compared to years
> > past, I suspect these are the main listeners who have
> jumped
> > on the new technology/listen to less traditional radio.
> >
> > As far as good artists. "Good" is always going to be
> > subjective, everyone has different tastes. What I mean by
> > good are the core artists of the format that have wide
> > appeal, Toby,Tim etc. and all the other artists and songs
> > that test well. You might not like them personally (which
> is
> > certainly your right), but many people do.
> >
> i can think of one good artist from this year..shooter
> jennings..tim is not country and toby is only part time
> country..lately he has been trying the anything for a buck
> hit just like the rest of the pack..again..redneck pop is
> not country..
>
> country..waylon, willie, hank, hank jr, merle haggard,mel
> tillis, roy accuff, boxcar willie....pop..toby,
> shanai,faith,tim..anything on cmt..
>


You may be right about which artists are truly country and which ones are not. But in the scheme of things what matters (and what should matter) to radio is size of audience and the demos various formats attract.

I'm not saying there isn't a place for real country. It could work in some markets, although the demos might lean too old and too male (and possibly too downscale) compared to mainstream country. On the other hand, redneck pop as you call it (not a bad name for it) attracts a larger audience and better demos. Have you seen the screaming women at Kenny Chesney concerts? Advertisers love to reach that demo and lifegroup.
 
> > > > > I recently read a few studies that found nationally
> > > > country
> > > > > radio had a good Spring book. It was up more places
> > than
> > >
> > > > > not. I noticed this myself as the Spring numbers
> > started
> > >
> > > > > rolling in.
> > > > >
> > > > > I have a theory on this mini-boom for country radio.
>
> > My
> > > > > guess is that compared to other formats, less
> country
> > > > > listeners are switching to alternatives such as
> > > satellite
> > > > > radio, I-pods, internet radio and all the other new
> > > > > technology. This is not to say that no country
> > listeners
> > >
> > > > > have interest in new technology, but that more
> country
> >
> > > > > listeners are sticking with and spending time with
> > > > > traditional radio which is giving country radio a
> > bigger
> > >
> > > > > piece of the pie.
> > > > >
> > > > > There are some good songs and artists in country now
>
> > > which
> > > >
> > > > > is probably the main reason for the uptrend. But
> > perhaps
> > >
> > > > my
> > > > > theory explains part of the puzzle?
> > > > >
> > > > where are these huge numbers? i havent seen them!
> urban
> > > > seems to be getting the huge numbers! and i hate that
> > > format
> > > > so i am not saying that because i am a fan of the
> music!
> > i
> > >
> > > > am not! what good songs? what good artists? i havent
> > heard
> > >
> > > > but 3 or 4 country songs on the radio since 2003..i
> hear
> >
> > > > mostly redneck pop...and i have xm...xm 10 america is
> > the
> > > > greatest country station in the country!
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I'm not saying country numbers are huge like they were
> in
> > > the early 90s. But nationally Country was up in Spring
> 05
> > > compared to a year ago or even a quarter ago. I can
> think
> > of
> > > several country stations that had their best ratings in
> > > years this past book. I read a few of the national
> ratings
> >
> > > summaries, for Spring 05 country was up and so was
> classic
> >
> > > rock (because Jack type stations are being classified as
>
> > > classic rock). News/Talk, AC, and oldies are down.
> > > Rock and alternative formats are down compared to years
> > > past, I suspect these are the main listeners who have
> > jumped
> > > on the new technology/listen to less traditional radio.
> > >
> > > As far as good artists. "Good" is always going to be
> > > subjective, everyone has different tastes. What I mean
> by
> > > good are the core artists of the format that have wide
> > > appeal, Toby,Tim etc. and all the other artists and
> songs
> > > that test well. You might not like them personally
> (which
> > is
> > > certainly your right), but many people do.
> > >
> > i can think of one good artist from this year..shooter
> > jennings..tim is not country and toby is only part time
> > country..lately he has been trying the anything for a buck
>
> > hit just like the rest of the pack..again..redneck pop is
> > not country..
> >
> > country..waylon, willie, hank, hank jr, merle haggard,mel
> > tillis, roy accuff, boxcar willie....pop..toby,
> > shanai,faith,tim..anything on cmt..
> >
>
>
> You may be right about which artists are truly country and
> which ones are not. But in the scheme of things what matters
> (and what should matter) to radio is size of audience and
> the demos various formats attract.

unfortunatly i know. we had a classic country here that just flipped to smooth jazz..reason given to me by the office..they couldnt sell it..
>
> I'm not saying there isn't a place for real country. It
> could work in some markets, although the demos might lean
> too old and too male (and possibly too downscale) compared
> to mainstream country. On the other hand, redneck pop as you
> call it (not a bad name for it) attracts a larger audience
> and better demos. Have you seen the screaming women at Kenny
> Chesney concerts? Advertisers love to reach that demo and
> lifegroup.
>

again unfortunatly you are right...
<P ID="signature">______________
note to tvland...bring back wkrp!!!</P>
 
> > You may be right about which artists are truly country and
>
> > which ones are not. But in the scheme of things what
> matters
> > (and what should matter) to radio is size of audience and
> > the demos various formats attract.
>
> unfortunatly i know. we had a classic country here that just
> flipped to smooth jazz..reason given to me by the
> office..they couldnt sell it..
> >
> > I'm not saying there isn't a place for real country. It
> > could work in some markets, although the demos might lean
> > too old and too male (and possibly too downscale) compared
>
> > to mainstream country. On the other hand, redneck pop as
> you
> > call it (not a bad name for it) attracts a larger audience
>
> > and better demos. Have you seen the screaming women at
> Kenny
> > Chesney concerts? Advertisers love to reach that demo and
> > lifegroup.
> >
>
> again unfortunatly you are right...
>


I read your post Jay F yesterday and wanted to think about it before I answered and I think I have an idea on the upswing...

Country in the last year or so has been changin a little. About 4 years ago, country radio was starting to sound more like a/c than country and actually pulled some of the core listeners away from country (cause it sounded to much like pop to them)

Within the last 6 months to year, I've noticed most of the country artists who 4 years ago was going pop have added more country elements back into their music that the core males are slowly coming back from other music such as classic rock (plus new artists like Gretchen Wilson are making full on country records)but not enough that the females who came to country because of the artists and the music think it's too Hick country and leave... Country is starting to find it's balance again IMO.

Some of the numbers you possibly saw were for classic country also.
One of the elements I have seen come up in my area within the last year is the addition of classic country with the new country to appeal to both tastes. A lot of 80s that hadn't really aged has been added I found most often (such as Ronnie Milsap,Alabama,Restless Heart) but others are expanding to try to gather more of the older listening audience IMO.
Another side I found to be is weird, is the listener to classic country who doesn't like modern country at all. In some circles for the younger part of the demo, It's almost as an alternative if you will,they will listen to say Merle Haggard from the 1960's but hate anything out of Tim or Faith. I have found others who share that view who are in the olderer part of the demo also, but not for the same reasons.

To answer Smashed on the classic country station... Most of it's signal was the rural part of the parish (county) (compared to other every other station in that area) and I never really heard anything about the station in the media. Plus Dowdy gave it 6 months to basically grow legs..which it seems it didn't. My opinion is the smooth Jazz will be the same way..... (I don't know why they didn't decide to go back with a/c again)

To answer on the rock, I think numbers have been down lately due to quality of the product on rock radio as of late (most of it's is starting to sound cookie cutter). Add to that, the younger generation getting influenced more by Puff Daddy than Poppa roach (Plus who wants to listen to Mom and dad's music) and the numbers sink.
I think Jack-Fm is showing radio that people do like a little variety of new and classics if done right, cause right now the stations I see in my area increasing are ones who have expanded their playlist with classics/new music compared to say a year ago... New Rock can easily play on classic rock, just gotta do it right...

I am seeing a trend however personally with the younger crowd actually picking back up on some of the more mainstream rock groups from pop radio (plus IMO,rap is starting to get stale with the same stuff as it's last movement was 2-3 years ago with east/west coast styles being the last big thing nationally If I remember)

Urban's shooting up is due to people listening from pop and liking what they hear IMO, But my guess it's more the R&B than the Hip-Hop bringing it in (Let me rephrase as true hip hop such as 50 cent compared to rap/pop such as Black eyed Peas which are big right now)... Other than say ludacris,ying yang twins,eminem, and 50 cent most of the urban you hear right now is R&B usually on CHR/POP... plus add the CHR/Urban stations that are basically aimed more at whites and that ends my opinion on urban.

Hope this doesn't boar or offend, but this is what I've been seeing personally lately.

RFLA
 
> > > You may be right about which artists are truly country
> and
> >
> > > which ones are not. But in the scheme of things what
> > matters
> > > (and what should matter) to radio is size of audience
> and
> > > the demos various formats attract.
> >
> > unfortunatly i know. we had a classic country here that
> just
> > flipped to smooth jazz..reason given to me by the
> > office..they couldnt sell it..
> > >
> > > I'm not saying there isn't a place for real country. It
> > > could work in some markets, although the demos might
> lean
> > > too old and too male (and possibly too downscale)
> compared
> >
> > > to mainstream country. On the other hand, redneck pop as
>
> > you
> > > call it (not a bad name for it) attracts a larger
> audience
> >
> > > and better demos. Have you seen the screaming women at
> > Kenny
> > > Chesney concerts? Advertisers love to reach that demo
> and
> > > lifegroup.
> > >
> >
> > again unfortunatly you are right...
> >
>
>
> I read your post Jay F yesterday and wanted to think about
> it before I answered and I think I have an idea on the
> upswing...
>
> Country in the last year or so has been changin a little.
> About 4 years ago, country radio was starting to sound more
> like a/c than country and actually pulled some of the core
> listeners away from country (cause it sounded to much like
> pop to them)
>
> Within the last 6 months to year, I've noticed most of the
> country artists who 4 years ago was going pop have added
> more country elements back into their music that the core
> males are slowly coming back from other music such as
> classic rock (plus new artists like Gretchen Wilson are
> making full on country records)but not enough that the
> females who came to country because of the artists and the
> music think it's too Hick country and leave... Country is
> starting to find it's balance again IMO.
>
> Some of the numbers you possibly saw were for classic
> country also.
> One of the elements I have seen come up in my area within
> the last year is the addition of classic country with the
> new country to appeal to both tastes. A lot of 80s that
> hadn't really aged has been added I found most often (such
> as Ronnie Milsap,Alabama,Restless Heart) but others are
> expanding to try to gather more of the older listening
> audience IMO.
> Another side I found to be is weird, is the listener to
> classic country who doesn't like modern country at all. In
> some circles for the younger part of the demo, It's almost
> as an alternative if you will,they will listen to say Merle
> Haggard from the 1960's but hate anything out of Tim or
> Faith. I have found others who share that view who are in
> the olderer part of the demo also, but not for the same
> reasons.
>
> To answer Smashed on the classic country station... Most of
> it's signal was the rural part of the parish (county)
> (compared to other every other station in that area) and I
> never really heard anything about the station in the media.
> Plus Dowdy gave it 6 months to basically grow legs..which it
> seems it didn't. My opinion is the smooth Jazz will be the
> same way..... (I don't know why they didn't decide to go
> back with a/c again)
>
> To answer on the rock, I think numbers have been down lately
> due to quality of the product on rock radio as of late (most
> of it's is starting to sound cookie cutter). Add to that,
> the younger generation getting influenced more by Puff Daddy
> than Poppa roach (Plus who wants to listen to Mom and dad's
> music) and the numbers sink.
> I think Jack-Fm is showing radio that people do like a
> little variety of new and classics if done right, cause
> right now the stations I see in my area increasing are ones
> who have expanded their playlist with classics/new music
> compared to say a year ago... New Rock can easily play on
> classic rock, just gotta do it right...
>
> I am seeing a trend however personally with the younger
> crowd actually picking back up on some of the more
> mainstream rock groups from pop radio (plus IMO,rap is
> starting to get stale with the same stuff as it's last
> movement was 2-3 years ago with east/west coast styles being
> the last big thing nationally If I remember)
>
> Urban's shooting up is due to people listening from pop and
> liking what they hear IMO, But my guess it's more the R&B
> than the Hip-Hop bringing it in (Let me rephrase as true hip
> hop such as 50 cent compared to rap/pop such as Black eyed
> Peas which are big right now)... Other than say
> ludacris,ying yang twins,eminem, and 50 cent most of the
> urban you hear right now is R&B usually on CHR/POP... plus
> add the CHR/Urban stations that are basically aimed more at
> whites and that ends my opinion on urban.
>
> Hope this doesn't boar or offend, but this is what I've been
> seeing personally lately.
>
> RFLA
>


You didn't boar or offend me at all, I found your observations interesting. I think you nailed a lot of what's going on. I always like to get a feel for what's hot and what's not in music and different radio formats. Both radio as well as peoples tastes are in a constant state of change, so the subject is endlessley fascinating to me.

I have thoughts on all the formats you brought up. As for country, I think you are right, it's not quite as AC as it was a few years ago. Some of the songs really have an edge to them, "Hicktown" by Jason Aldean as an example of one that I really like. But it's not all edge, there's a lot of variety in the format right now, something for everyone.
 
I think there's an element of truth to your observations, although I think that no matter the format, the younger demos are more technologically savvy than the older demos.

I think a lot of what is going on is that the country music has upped its "hipness" factor with those who don't necessarily consider themselves country music fans. Country music always swings on a pendulum back and forth between pop and traditional sounds, and its swinging back toward the traditional side...but with a twist. Right now, the format is embracing its traditional stereotypes, but is doing so with a decidedly aggressive rock 'n roll attitude that is appealing to listeners who were born and raised on country music. Garth did that in the 90s and today I see Gretchen Wilson as a prime example in that there is no questioning the fact that she's a country artist, but there's a rock 'n' roll excitement and attitude that comes out in her music and her image. Besides being in radio, I'm also a karaoke host and it is truly interesting to see young women who normally sing Gwen Stefani, Sheryl Crow, or Pat Benetar also singing "Redneck Woman" or "Here For The Party". I think you can even look at the success of Larry the Cable Guy, who does stereotypical country redneck humor and yet I can go out and catch rock bands in the bars and have all of the patrons yelling "Git R Done!".

> I recently read a few studies that found nationally country
> radio had a good Spring book. It was up more places than
> not. I noticed this myself as the Spring numbers started
> rolling in.
>
> I have a theory on this mini-boom for country radio. My
> guess is that compared to other formats, less country
> listeners are switching to alternatives such as satellite
> radio, I-pods, internet radio and all the other new
> technology. This is not to say that no country listeners
> have interest in new technology, but that more country
> listeners are sticking with and spending time with
> traditional radio which is giving country radio a bigger
> piece of the pie.
>
> There are some good songs and artists in country now which
> is probably the main reason for the uptrend. But perhaps my
> theory explains part of the puzzle?
>
 
> You didn't boar or offend me at all, I found your
> observations interesting. I think you nailed a lot of what's
> going on. I always like to get a feel for what's hot and
> what's not in music and different radio formats. Both radio
> as well as peoples tastes are in a constant state of change,
> so the subject is endlessley fascinating to me.
>
> I have thoughts on all the formats you brought up. As for
> country, I think you are right, it's not quite as AC as it
> was a few years ago. Some of the songs really have an edge
> to them, "Hicktown" by Jason Aldean as an example of one
> that I really like. But it's not all edge, there's a lot of
> variety in the format right now, something for everyone.
>

I was mainly talking about some who glance thru and get offended at some of my opinions (as some can be overly sensative on here if you talk about their format the wrong way) but no problem.

Keith Thompson and I both seemed to express the same opinion but in different ways and I for one was burnt on the format about a year ago with the cookie cutter stuff coming out of Nashville for the longest time trying for the female a/c convert crowd. But nashville seems to have wised up with wilson and Keith Urban among others who show that hey real country is cool... (Speaking of Keith Urban, Heard one of his songs on a CHR/POP recently... "You'll think of me" with only slight changes for pop radio..pretty much true ,just like Tim's "Live like you were dying")

Speaking of cool songs right now, some of my personal likes that have a edge and are popular are "hicktown", the Montgomery Gentry cd and some others .. But one of them that I love that has great broad appeal is "your like coming home" by Lonestar (I've heard that Canadian country group/occasional US country charts appearing Emerson Drive also did the song, wonder how there's compares)..real drivy, females love basically anything from them..and sure beats the sappy song "Mr Mom" that still does it for the little league mom crowd but for me personally rates on my burned out scale like "Achey breaky heart" (even though Billy ray's song took a while to burn on me compared to this song)

RFLA
 
> I was mainly talking about some who glance thru and get
> offended at some of my opinions (as some can be overly
> sensative on here if you talk about their format the wrong
> way) but no problem.
>
> Keith Thompson and I both seemed to express the same opinion
> but in different ways and I for one was burnt on the format
> about a year ago with the cookie cutter stuff coming out of
> Nashville for the longest time trying for the female a/c
> convert crowd. But nashville seems to have wised up with
> wilson and Keith Urban among others who show that hey real
> country is cool... (Speaking of Keith Urban, Heard one of
> his songs on a CHR/POP recently... "You'll think of me" with
> only slight changes for pop radio..pretty much true ,just
> like Tim's "Live like you were dying")
>
> Speaking of cool songs right now, some of my personal likes
> that have a edge and are popular are "hicktown", the
> Montgomery Gentry cd and some others .. But one of them that
> I love that has great broad appeal is "your like coming
> home" by Lonestar (I've heard that Canadian country
> group/occasional US country charts appearing Emerson Drive
> also did the song, wonder how there's compares)..real drivy,
> females love basically anything from them..and sure beats
> the sappy song "Mr Mom" that still does it for the little
> league mom crowd but for me personally rates on my burned
> out scale like "Achey breaky heart" (even though Billy ray's
> song took a while to burn on me compared to this song)
>
> RFLA
>

Ho, ho, ho...you think you're burned on "Achy Breaky Heart," wait until you hear the new remake...by William Hung! Terrifying, but true! I played it last week just for shits and giggles, and my phones nearly exploded. The HungMan still has it, whatever it is.
<P ID="signature">______________
"Time, and quaaludes, and red wine..."
---David Bowie</P>
 
Here’s another theory which I don’t think I saw mentioned above…

Country may also be the new “default” format for the disenfranchised easy listening fan. Radio advertisers want nothing to do with the older demographic, but the fact remains that this group probably relies on radio the most. No iPods, no internet downloading. They prefer the old-fashioned simplicity of being able to “just turn on the radio.”

As standards, nostalgia, and true soft AC stations vanish from the airwaves, their listeners scramble to find an alternative. The AC format today has way too many irritants, oldies stations are moving into the ‘70s, and smooth jazz is too R&B-based. That leaves country, whose texture, in a sense, is the least offensive. Actually, the Alan Jackson – George Strait – Vince Gill brand of country sounds much more Soft AC-ish than what does pass as AC these days. Also, seeing Reba McEntire or Billy Ray Cyrus in their own television shows probably doesn’t hurt either.
 
> I think there's an element of truth to your observations,
> although I think that no matter the format, the younger
> demos are more technologically savvy than the older demos.
>
>
> I think a lot of what is going on is that the country music
> has upped its "hipness" factor with those who don't
> necessarily consider themselves country music fans. Country
> music always swings on a pendulum back and forth between pop
> and traditional sounds, and its swinging back toward the
> traditional side...but with a twist. Right now, the format
> is embracing its traditional stereotypes, but is doing so
> with a decidedly aggressive rock 'n roll attitude that is
> appealing to listeners who were born and raised on country
> music. Garth did that in the 90s and today I see Gretchen
> Wilson as a prime example in that there is no questioning
> the fact that she's a country artist, but there's a rock 'n'
> roll excitement and attitude that comes out in her music and
> her image. Besides being in radio, I'm also a karaoke host
> and it is truly interesting to see young women who normally
> sing Gwen Stefani, Sheryl Crow, or Pat Benetar also singing
> "Redneck Woman" or "Here For The Party". I think you can
> even look at the success of Larry the Cable Guy, who does
> stereotypical country redneck humor and yet I can go out and
> catch rock bands in the bars and have all of the patrons
> yelling "Git R Done!".


most traditional country fans are also classic rock fans..i like both metal and classic country..but i dont like redneck pop (90s pop country)..i turned on the radio the other day and listened for about 30 minutes to the local new country station. it took 30 minutes for them to play a pop song (shanai)..thats much longer than my tsl 6 months ago..about 30 seconds!! so things are improving..i currently like trick pony and shooter jennings ..
>
><P ID="signature">______________
note to tvland...bring back wkrp!!!</P>
 
> Have you seen the screaming women at Kenny
> Chesney concerts? Advertisers love to reach that demo and
> lifegroup.
>

Me too... unfortunately they're usually running away while screaming.
 
Another idea but in the same vein. Country listeners, because of the lifestyle, are easier for Arbitron to contact. Rock has a problem (actually any 18-34 station) because Arb is having increasing difficulties contacting them... no land-line. So we're seeing large wobbles in the 18-34 numbers month to month and it's even worse for 18-34 male numbers.
 
> Another idea but in the same vein. Country listeners,
> because of the lifestyle, are easier for Arbitron to
> contact. Rock has a problem (actually any 18-34 station)
> because Arb is having increasing difficulties contacting
> them... no land-line. So we're seeing large wobbles in the
> 18-34 numbers month to month and it's even worse for 18-34
> male numbers.
>


Here is my question of the week then.. If we are having problem reaching 18-34 YO cause they have no land line, explain to me How urban radio can show good numbers (like in my area where the number 1 station is a urban aimed at these same 18-35 YO) with no home phone?

RFLA
 
Re: Kenny Chesney & "real" country

> Have you seen the screaming women at Kenny Chesney concerts?
> Advertisers love to reach that demo and lifegroup.

I bet they wouldn't be screaming if Kenny took off his hat and they found out he's BALD! :)

And to those who are trying to define what does and doesn't qualify as "real" country... get a life! "Country music" is like "Spanish music": it's not a specific genre; it's just a general category. That's why it has encompassed so many different types of sounds over the years, and that's why people will like some types of country music, and will dislike other types.

Trying to group Merle Haggard together with Shania Twain is like trying to group the Backstreet Boys together with 50 Cent.... just because their music gets played on the same stations doesn't mean that they sound anything alike or appeal to the same fans.

<P ID="signature">______________
noiboc.jpg
</P>
 
> I recently read a few studies that found nationally country
> radio had a good Spring book. It was up more places than
> not. I noticed this myself as the Spring numbers started
> rolling in.
>
> I have a theory on this mini-boom for country radio. My
> guess is that compared to other formats, less country
> listeners are switching to alternatives such as satellite
> radio, I-pods, internet radio and all the other new
> technology. This is not to say that no country listeners
> have interest in new technology, but that more country
> listeners are sticking with and spending time with
> traditional radio which is giving country radio a bigger
> piece of the pie.
>
> There are some good songs and artists in country now which
> is probably the main reason for the uptrend. But perhaps my
> theory explains part of the puzzle?
>

I love country music! It's practically the only thing I listen to on the radio. And I enjoy the country stations I listen to! I don't need satellite radio.
 
> Here’s another theory which I don’t think I saw mentioned
> above…
>
> Country may also be the new “default” format for the
> disenfranchised easy listening fan. Radio advertisers want
> nothing to do with the older demographic, but the fact
> remains that this group probably relies on radio the most.
> No iPods, no internet downloading. They prefer the
> old-fashioned simplicity of being able to “just turn on the
> radio.”
>
> As standards, nostalgia, and true soft AC stations vanish
> from the airwaves, their listeners scramble to find an
> alternative. The AC format today has way too many
> irritants, oldies stations are moving into the ‘70s, and
> smooth jazz is too R&B-based. That leaves country, whose
> texture, in a sense, is the least offensive. Actually, the
> Alan Jackson – George Strait – Vince Gill brand of country
> sounds much more Soft AC-ish than what does pass as AC these
> days. Also, seeing Reba McEntire or Billy Ray Cyrus in
> their own television shows probably doesn’t hurt either.
>
There ya go, I agree. So much of the "new" country could have been on a folk station 15 years ago, now has nowhere else to go but country.

I also see a lot of country artists that are under the radar as far as radio goes: Outlaw country on Sirius, Americana on Yahoo.Launch. So many artist's that my kids find that I have never even heard of, but remind me of the Old Willie/Waylon days of Texas Country.

Chances are if Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell or the Eagles came out today, they would be played on the country stations more often than anything else.
 
> Chances are if Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell or the Eagles
> came out today, they would be played on the country stations
> more often than anything else.

Good examples. Add Stevie Nicks, Dan Fogelberg, John Mellencamp, America, early Olivia Newton-John, Crosby Stills & Nash, Delaney & Bonnie, or songs like Bruce Springsteen's "I'm On Fire" and "My Hometown."
 
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