country hasn’t been country in a while
In Boston, seen for years as a place where country was not popular, the sole country station WKLB 102.5 slowly got higher ratings till it was in the top 3. Owned by Greater Media. Recently Clear Channel figured they could tap into the country market so they flipped their own WEDX 101.7 from elec dance music to country as WBWL 101.7 The Bull. Hot new country. Both stations are not necessarily courting Bubbas in their 40s and 50s. Actually the core audience is now 17 to 28 and mostly female who love the “bro” performers, male singers.
They say country is the new top 40 with this younger audience, and they quickly sell out shows (Kenny Chesney at Gillette Stadium). Turns out many of these “fans” are primarily there to party, often showing up half-drunk to begin with and the music is secondary, The Keith Urban show (he’s actually from Australia, mate) had many arrested for drunk and disorderly and more than a few were not a legal age and you have this.
It’s a culture of getting smashed at concerts (ironically enough the previous format of 101.7, elec dance music, had many people of the same age taking the drug “molly” and winding up leaving EDM shows in ambulances or even dying).
Again younger people listening to today’s country, with vocoder vocals, rap, etc. Both of these Boston country stations are indeed going after the young audience—who’s playing? Who cares, let’s party! Yeah, it’s nothing new, just as years ago people our age (I’m 52) would get drunk or stoned as we attended rock shows...