After looking through out all our blogs and posts ( I admit ive been very quiet in my contributions to the blogging on this site (stupid technology not doing what its told) however, in reading over every thing thats been said, researched and displayed about country music and, yes it is a shadow industry and I must say as ive mentioned previously how, now that we’ve mentioned it, country music is all around trying to break through into the mainstream. I then thought about, it is an industry just like any other industry, though although country music is there to entertain, people are still there to make money.
Searching through cmt.com I came across “The Top earners in Country Music”
Taken directly from the cmt.com site, when looking at the small article, I had only heard of three of the artists on the list, Keith Urban, Faith HIll and Tim McGraw, who although they are still doing quite well for them selves, arent the top of the lists. I think here is where the cracks in country music appear to an extent. Although they are the industry’s top earners, from some ones point of view for sees more top 40 charts and what is main stream and pop culture, these people arent recognised to their full extent! I understand that alot of the top earners are producers and what not. But I still feel they need more recognition in regards to their contributions not only to the country music industry, but to the entertainment and music industry alone!!!
By Sophie Adams
I thought it was interesting that you pointed out that some of the money Toby Keith made was from his association with Ford and a restaurant. In a book by Negus (1999) he points out that Country Music isn’t just performing it is also a business that is linked with merchandise and other companies. For example clothing companies such as RM Williams and like you said trucks and cars.
At the end of the day, it is an industry, and they want to make money I guess like most industries. But at least they stay connected with associations that are with in the country genre rather than just doing a coke deal or something!