I'm not really a country music fan,but I'm not sure I agree with that. Yeah,there is as much "formula pap" out there in country music as any other branch,but just because people agree to play that crap in order to "make their bones",there is no reason to believe they can't and won't do better once they make a name for themselves.
OK,not being a CM fan,I may be stepping into it now,but I consider Alan Jackson to be a example of this. I figured he was just a mediocre talent that was most likely doing music others wrote and produced for him,and his real "talent" lay in his management. Boy,was I wrong! I forgot where I saw him now,but he was doing a bluegrass tribute with a banjo,and the man was smoking! He had also done a pretty decent Eagles cover earlier.I gotta admit it,he impressed me as being a true musician who not only has talent,but is in love with what's he's doing.
OK,not being a CM fan,I may be stepping into it now,but I consider Alan Jackson to be a example of this. I figured he was just a mediocre talent that was most likely doing music others wrote and produced for him,and his real "talent" lay in his management. Boy,was I wrong!
Good example. But for evey Alan Jackson there are (it seems like) a million Garth Brooks or Faith Hills that just keep pumping out the pap crap. And a lot of the really good ones, like Allison Kraus or Patty Loveless, who worked their up through the alt-country ranks rather than being groomed by the big labels.