> Country has enjoyed a resurgence this past year(2005) thanks
> in no small part to Artists like Big and Rich, Garth Brook's
> "tribute" song among others.
>
> But will that be enough to get country back on in the two
> biggest markets where it doesn't exist, New York and San
> Francisco?
>
Yeah, Country has definitely shown a resurgence of late though I think it's more due to artists like Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney along with newcomer Carrie Underwood... Keith is crossing over to several different formats including CHR/Pop, Hot AC and AC, but not Urban
, with 2 of his past Country hits at the moment... Carrie's 2x platinum in 7 weeks... this is amazing for a debut at any format, let alone Country... and she's owned the #1 song in the nation "Jesus Take The Wheel" for 3 weeks going on 4 now! Keith and Carrie in particular are doing what Shania and Faith did before them, and that's pull listeners away from other formats...
I think the die-hard Country fans really hate Big & Rich.... I see it and read it EVERYWHERE... Personally, I like their sound, but given that I'm more from a CHR/Pop/Hot AC background that isn't surprising... and I can hear Bon Jovi on both of my Country stations out here in So.Cal... how crazy is that??? I am NOT complaining one bit.
Kenny Chesney is also helping with the resurgence of the format... it also doesn't hurt that a lot of Country artists are crossing over to AC. Urban and LeAnn Rimes are leading that particular charge, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Carrie go there in '06 as well...
As for New York and San Francisco, when was the last time either of these markets even had a Country station???
I hear a lot of New Yorkers complaining on various Counrty boards and fansites that there is no Country station in their market. I'm sure people want it, but it's going to take time and someone willing to really do some research if they want something successful... Maybe the local JACK station (if it continues to flounder) will someday look at Country as an option... Believe it or not, Hot AC WPLJ has spun Big & Rich and "Comin' To Your City" more than a couple of times... that's about as close to Country as the NY market is getting at the moment...
San Francisco is altogether a different matter due to the city and it's unique demographics... First off, let me start by saying approximately 85-90% of today's Country artists are conservative in their political views... not to stereotype them, but the typical Country star is a Christian with a deep faith and is not surprisingly a Republican... San Francisco demographically is the most Liberal and Democratic major market in the entire nation... consequently, I just don't EVER seeing the format being viable out there...
