Thinking about whats been said in regards to us giving a voice so to speak about the country music genre, I wanted to look at what recognition it was currently getting, as well as the stereotypical country music festival that we have always known was out there and now of course thanks to previous blogs we have factual info about the festivals and what they do etc. After reading all the other recent blogs it does seem as though country is a pretty thriving genre with in itself. I then looked at the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Associastion) charts to see what i could find on country music. The late Slim Dusty, a prominant figure in the country music world, his family as a tribute to Slim, are soon to be embarking on a tour with the whole family who also are heavily involved with the country music world. They will be touring after the sucsess of their newly released #1 charting album “Reunion” which features three generations of the Dusty family on the one album. I thought it was quite interesting how a family has all gone in the same direction musically, which made me think about how the genre can become part of your genes to an extent! Looking at the success of this album with in the music industry itself as well as the other blogs on the genre shows how “Popular” music isnt just what is heard on “big city” if you will “mainstream” radio stations. Country music is a massive industry with in itself and although this page aims to “give a voice to country music” after reading recent blogs and looking in to ARIA charts, personally i dont feel we need to give country music a voice as they are heard loud and clearly, even looking at the success of the Dixi Chicks, Casey Chambers and Kieth Urban who are popular names with in their own genre and with in “mainstream” I feel however this page or blogs will be reitterating what success it has already had with in mainstream “popculture” and how it is already a “popculture” of its own!
From Sophie
I think the Slim Dust Family reunion just shows how strongly family based country music can be. Unlike generic pop songs country music is more of a way of life and i think in country towns, it has really strong roots.
For your comment on that fact that country music has a more mainstream coverage than we expected, i would have to somewhat disagree. However, i do agree with your comment that country music is “a triving genre within itself”. Country music is an extremely diverse and improtant genre and it is a huge industry, but I dont think it is particularly widely well known within the community. When you start to research it you do begin to realise what a large industry it is but did anyone really know this before we started to research it? I certainly didnt. I admit, i know the few country bands that have broken into the mainstream countdown e.g. Keith Urban and Dixi Chicks, but I still think the majority of country music unfortunately goes un-noticed or under publicised. However, i do think country music is starting to surge into the mainstream alot more than in the past, so hopefully within the next few years we will know alot more of the smaller bands, especially within out own country/industry.