This semester, as a part of the Country Music Project, I had the chance to engage in the country music community in a whole new light. I learned all about Willie Nelson, became abolsutely hooked on the show “Nashville,” watched the ACM’s, and read the Texas Music Magazine. Through these activities, I was able to connect with country music more than I ever thought I could, and learned a new appreciation for the music genre’s history and very promising future.
This semester, as a part of the Country Music Project, I had the chance to engage in the country music community in a whole new light. I learned all about Willie Nelson, became abolsutely hooked on the show “Nashville,” watched the ACM’s, and read the Texas Music Magazine.
https://storify.com/shamis_abby/abby-s-experience-in-country-music
This spring, I really immersed myself in country music. It has been something I have always dabbled in, but never fully immersed myself in before. Taking this class was a huge step for me to begin with. I did not know much about country music and its rich history, but I quickly found out how much I would come to learn and then fall in love with it. I started out hesitant, by bringing my parents to visit Willie in statue form in downtown Austin. He piqued my curiosity about Nashville, which made me look at the hit show in a whole new way. I could relate to how business-y the city is, and how different that is from Austin. I realized the creativity and freedom that Austin holds and how in Nashville the musical freedom does not always come so easily. I saw the way country music stars such as Tim McGraw were portrayed at the Oscars versus how country music stars were at the American Country Music Awards. And lastly, I read the Texas Music Magazine which provided me with a new group, Whisky Myers, that I happen to really like.
While doing all of these things, I became proud of myself for diving in to something that I haven’t always been the comfortable and familiar with. My pride quickly turned to hunger as I strove understand why country music is the way it is today. The broad category of country music and all of the subgenres that fit within this title can be confusing sometimes, but by taking the knowledge I had learned and applying it to real experiences made the knowledge more tangible. The subgenres project taught me the most about country music, and because of that I feel like I understand the genre so much better. Because I was able to apply my knowledge, I could understand the differences and similarities between Austin and Nashville. I could see how Nashville turned Willie to come to Austin. I could appreciate the way the artists were celebrated and revered for their creativity at the awards show. And I could open myself up to a new band, and be surprised at how much I like one of their songs, which quickly turned into exploring more of their music. When I look at my Storify, I see my semester in country music. But what stands out the most is how artist-oriented my semester has been. I came in knowing a couple of Dixie Chicks songs and a little bit of Kenny Chesney (thanks to my parents’ tastes), but am leaving the semester with a wealth of new artists to listen to.
Did aspiring country music stars still go door to door on music row with a guitar in hand hoping to land a record deal? Or did scouts from music companies do most of the work, finding artists performing live at small open mic venues? So I asked the Collins men, “What does it take to get a record deal these days?” Bradley was quick to answer with a reply that surprised me. Many artists BMI signs today come in with an already produced album of quality original songs. By this point the artist has released and promoted these songs, and preferably already gained a following. Bradley said the company was holding back on signing new artists and keeping them for two or more years waiting for their big break. The days of empty handed but talented artists are virtually over. Singers have to walk in with material to show, a fan base to prove the music’s potential and a lot of leg work already done. Artists like Sam Hunt used this approach and have seen amazing success.
