Since 2000, country music has evolved to reflect America’s increasingly polarized political environment. Conservative artists produced “bro-country”, targeted towards white male listeners opposed to gun control, feminism and minority rights; while progressive artists crafted Americana; this was traditional country combined with working class folk music.
Five years ago, Kacey Musgraves issued an alarm that country music had lost its identity among tailgating playlists and masculine posturing. But her changes took some time to take root.
Twang
Twang is an instrumental hallmark of country music. Country musicians use it on instruments derived from Hawaiian and European folk traditions – like steel guitar from Hawaiian music or fiddle from European folk – as well as more unique instruments like accordion or saxophone and some electronic ones; musical critics may describe its sound as either rough or gritty, though modern country artists Kacey Musgraves and Maren Morris often employ electric guitars when performing songs with the distinctive country sound.
Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers, Cody Jinks and Colter Wallen are among those creating music with crossover appeal that is distinct country with varied influences compared to what you hear on mainstream country radio stations.
These new voices are pushing country music in an exciting direction, although their trends may take time to become fully realized as country has long balanced innovation with preservation, with success often coming through terrestrial radio stations that favour conservative ideas. Sam Hunt and Maren Morris’ popularity have helped nudge country music toward more progressive ideas; yet these changes have yet to be accepted by radio or the industry as a whole.
Reba McEntire’s hit “Is There Life Out There,” about a woman seeking more from life than just raising children, challenged the domestic-lady stereotype prevalent in country music in the 1980s. Although her song didn’t exactly change things for good, it did spark conversations about just how narrow and harmful that stereotype had become.
Future success for women and black artists lies with them breaking through, but there is hope. One factor could be that current fans are more open-minded toward diverse sounds than those raised listening to Dwight Yoakam and Dixie Chicks; they want artists with distinct musical identities, personas and perspectives; that will become easier if Music Row stops forcing its singers to sound the same and begins backing artists who offer something truly individualistic.
Strings
Although country music seems unchanged over time, its evolution has actually been vast. This can be attributed to country artists’ constant efforts to reach new audiences and produce more popular tracks; one way this occurs is via strings – an integral component of country music as they add unique tones that add appeal. There are numerous types of strings available today each offering their own distinct sound!
One of the biggest changes that has taken place in country music recently has been the advent of electric guitars. While this change does not necessarily represent bad news, it does compromise some of its identity; for example, songs such as “He Stopped Loving Her Today” has much greater pop influences than songs like “Body Like a Back Road”.
Though electric guitars may be useful to some artists, it should not become the primary form of country music. Doing so would make it more difficult to distinguish the genre from other styles of music while simultaneously rendering old country songs less emotionally relatable and memorable.
Strings have revolutionized country music through the introduction of bluegrass style. This genre combines traditional country with old-time Americana sounds for an appealing combination of instruments and sounds that has resonated with wide range of audiences.
Country music has undergone another dramatic change with the rise of crossover artists. These are artists that enjoy success both within country music and pop music genres – examples include Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, and Sugarland – this trend has been growing for several years and it may continue into the future due to providing country artists an excellent chance at earning more income.
Electronics
As country music continues to change and evolve, artists are pushing its boundaries even further. Some have even added electronic sounds to their songs in order to make their music more interesting and broaden its appeal; these changes have contributed significantly to altering people’s perspectives of country music.
Country fans could only listen to country music through radio stations until recently; now with online streaming, country fans can listen anytime, anywhere – leading to an exponentially expanding country industry and the introduction of numerous new country artists into its fold.
During the ’90s, country music experienced a revival thanks to artists like Shania Twain and Garth Brooks. Women emerged as country music stars at this time; female vocalists brought new styles and sounds that changed its direction dramatically – something still felt today.
In the ’80s and ’90s, new artists emerged who brought fresh sounds to country music. By integrating rock influences and pop elements, these artists gave country music a whole new sound while making it more appealing to wider audiences – helping increase its popularity exponentially.
While some may criticize these trends, others have welcomed them with open arms. Many artists have also inspired younger musicians to compose their own versions of country music and create an entirely new generation of fans for this genre.
At first, contemporary country seemed destined to settle into its familiar “bro country” mold of cocky displays of masculinity and tailgating soundtracks. But with Kacey Musgraves and Sam Hunt’s arrival came a sign of change that may alter country music’s outlook, attitude and style.
Now, more artists are taking country music into the realms of indie and alt-rock by mixing it with distortion and anthemic choruses, giving it a more modern, edgy sound that appeals to a younger generation of country fans.
Pop
Country music is experiencing an amazing pop culture revival. Gen Z and millennials have propelled it to new heights, making it one of the world’s most beloved genres. This trend is not simply passing fad, but represents an exciting future for this genre – whether its country-pop sensations on American Idol or rock-soaked stadium shows, it is clear that more than just revival is occurring; rather this movement represents revolution.
Country music’s roots can be traced back to the 1920s when its first radio show – Grand Ole Opry – first introduced it on AM radio. From here it gained popularity during the 1930s due to the singing cowboy films featuring Gene Autry and Hank Williams that popularised it further. Western swing and honky-tonk styles eventually emerged at this time as well, featuring steel guitars with amplified instruments that created syncopated dance rhythms that appealed to audiences.
Many country music fans welcome this change as an evolution from country’s tradition, especially artists like Phoebe Bridgers who brings an innovative perspective by exploring themes neglected for decades – an enjoyable change from Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean’s bro-country sound.
Contemporary country has also evolved to reflect modern society’s priorities of marriage, divorce and raising children – providing a welcome alternative to its more hedonistic roots in past years.
Notable also is that most popular country artists today are female. This shows a shift in audience demographics and created a more inclusive industry filled with artists willing to break free from convention and showcase their unique perspectives.
Noteworthy is the rapid transformations taking place across music genres besides country. Jazz no longer sounds the way it did back in 1960, while rock has undergone several dramatic alterations over the years as the industry enters its Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event phase. This trend will likely continue over time.