Country music has changed so much over the last four years. Taylor Swift's single "I Knew You Were Trouble" was nowhere near close to being a country song, and even though Red was labeled as a country album, that song was never pushed to country radio because it was not a country song. It was a pop song. Carrie Underwood's title track from her debut album Some Hearts was released as a pop single from that record, sent to adult contemporary radio because it was a pop rock song. Not a country song. Even four years ago, Taylor Swift, who in many people's eyes, up until 2014 was country's biggest problem, sent her pop songs to pop radio and her country songs to country radio. The last pure pop song she ever sent to country radio was "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," and even she had the decency to make a 'country' version, by adding back some guitars and making the main riff a banjo. That was a problem in itself, but it's nowhere near close to the problem we have now.
Check out up and coming star Chris Lane. His EP is labeled as country, but his EP and his debut single "Fix" aren't country at all. It's like these artists are trying to pass their music off as country music because they think that it's easier to break into country music than it is to break into pop music. Country music is supposed to be welcoming, and accepting of influences from other genres., But it's not fair that these artists come in, trying to pass their non-country music off as country. In part, it's the fault of the labels. Maren Morris never said that she was a country artist. She called her music a mixture of folk rock, soul, and country. But when she signed with Sony, they labeled her as country music, putting her debut EP up on iTunes, with more than a few completely soul/pop songs on it, and labeling it as country music and only country music. Maybe the labels are the real problem. Maybe it's them trying to get these artists to make music that's not country, and labeling it as country because artists like Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett have gotten away with it.
As country music listeners, it's your job to help make a change. I don't care if you love Thomas Rhett, or Sam Hunt, or are in love with The Band Perry and Zac Brown Band's new singles. I get it if you are, because all of these acts create catchy, upbeat music. But they also create pop music. Please, if you have any respect for the greats that created country music, or even respect for some more recent classic stars like George Strait or the Dixie Chicks, request to hear the pop songs on pop radio instead. Sam Hunt's single "Take Your Time" was sent to pop radio as well as country. Take your requesting sprees there. Country music is always evolving, but pop stars masquerading as country is not evolving country music. Evolving country music is shown in some of the best country artists of today like Chris Stapleton, Maddie & Tae, Miranda Lambert, Mo Pitney, Kacey Musgraves, Ashley Monroe, Aubrie Sellers and more. They incorporate modern music into classic country styles. They are not pop stars. They are country. It's time for labels, artists and fans to learn the difference.
As country music listeners, it's your job to help make a change. I don't care if you love Thomas Rhett, or Sam Hunt, or are in love with The Band Perry and Zac Brown Band's new singles. I get it if you are, because all of these acts create catchy, upbeat music. But they also create pop music. Please, if you have any respect for the greats that created country music, or even respect for some more recent classic stars like George Strait or the Dixie Chicks, request to hear the pop songs on pop radio instead. Sam Hunt's single "Take Your Time" was sent to pop radio as well as country. Take your requesting sprees there. Country music is always evolving, but pop stars masquerading as country is not evolving country music. Evolving country music is shown in some of the best country artists of today like Chris Stapleton, Maddie & Tae, Miranda Lambert, Mo Pitney, Kacey Musgraves, Ashley Monroe, Aubrie Sellers and more. They incorporate modern music into classic country styles. They are not pop stars. They are country. It's time for labels, artists and fans to learn the difference.
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