Re: Is a age a factor in Country Music

Date: Sat, 31 May 2003 12:19:47 -0500
Newsgroups: rec.music.country.western
Size: 1,733 bytes

Rick Perrine wrote:
> I know this one could open up the door for flames, insults, etc. but hey whats
> the internet for anyways? My question. Does it seem to many of you that there
> is dicrimination age wise with country music on radio...with music labels? Much
> more so than pop music. it is not uncommon for hits from Rod Stewart, Elton
> John, Tina Turner, Cher. just to name a few in the over 50 group to still rank
> top ten songs often. Yet country artists as Crystal Gayle, Tanya Tucker, Dolly
> Parton, EmmyLou Harris, Ray Price, Merle Haggard or Loretta release new
> material all the time, but the radio seems to ignore? I was beginning to think
> they were even ignoring Randy Travis until this newest cd...Hey us oldies own
> radios and buy cd's too!!! Would love to hear your comments!
It seemed for a long time age did matter in country radio, but the
program directors knew they would have to learn to ignore someone's age
with George Strait still making hits and they knew what would happen if
they had quit playing Strait. When you look at the majority of the chart
makers now we are talking about those that are over 30. Huge difference
from 10 years ago, when the chart makers were in their 20's. Strait had
shown everyone you can be over 40 and still make great music. The
difference with Strait and the others, he flowed with the easy listening
country music with his last 4 albums where the ones you have listed are
true blue traditionalist, that you only would hear on traditional radio
stations and on special oldie shows that some of the stations airs on
the weekends.
I for one would love to hear new music from the established artist
thrown in with the younger guys and gals of country.