On this episode of "Inside Music Curation: Curating Country", the Feed Media Group team talks about country music in 2024, emerging artists, and the art of selecting the best country music workout songs.
Inside Music Curation Episode 47 | Curating Country
Go behind the scenes with the Feed.fm music curators to better understand how they engage with music, and what goes into creating music stations that work for a variety of businesses and use cases. Plus, hear about the latest trends in music as we look ahead to upcoming summer releases.
00:00:00 - 00:25:00
On "Inside Music Curation: Curating Country", the team at Feed Media Group discusses the evolution and current trends in curating country music for businesses, particularly in the fitness industry. Three years ago, country music was considered a challenge due to its traditional, slower tempo. However, its popularity has surged, and it's now a staple in their programming. Factors contributing to this shift include the deconstruction of genres, streaming trends, and cross-pollination between genres. Country music's influence from Nashville and artists experimenting with different genres, like pop, dance, hip-hop, and rock, are also driving its growth. Social media platforms, such as TikTok, have played a significant role in popularizing shorter, catchy country songs. The curators also discuss the blurring lines between country and other genres, such as hip-hop, and the excitement surrounding the fusion of rock and country music. Country music's diversity and versatility are highlighted, with uptempo party songs and slower, contemplative Americana-style songs coexisting. The team encourages businesses and individuals to explore country music's growth and expansion.
00:00:00 In this section of the "Inside Music Curation: Curating Country" video, the team at Feed Media Group discusses the evolution of curating country music for businesses, particularly in the fitness industry. Three years ago, country music was considered a challenge to curate for high-impact fitness stations due to its traditional, slower tempo. However, country music has become increasingly popular and is now a nucleus of their programming. The team attributes this to the deconstruction of genres in the 2020s, streaming trends, and cross-pollination between genres. Mike, a team member who recently moved to Nashville, shares his observations of the city's influence on country music, leading to more pop, dance, hip-hop, and rock crossovers. Additionally, artists are making money through touring and live performances, which requires keeping the energy high for audiences.
00:05:00 In this section of the "Inside Music Curation: Curating Country" video, the curators discuss the impact of social media platforms like TikTok on country music. They note how shorter, catchy songs are gaining popularity, with artists like Morgan Wallen experimenting with genres and collaborating with artists from different backgrounds. They also mention Diplo's country album and the trend of integrating electronic music with country. They highlight the strong songwriting scene in Nashville and the changing musical landscape, with less emphasis on the old guard and more acceptance of experimentation. The curators also discuss how country music is showing up in various forms of media, such as film and TV, and how this is affecting the genre. They conclude by mentioning the increasing number of country songs charting on both country and pop stations.
00:10:00 In this section of the video, the curators discuss the blurring lines between country and other genres, specifically hip-hop. They mention Morgan Wallen as an example of an artist who incorporates trap beats into country music, creating a stylistic co-mingling that was less common 10-15 years ago. They highlight the regionality and shared history between country and hip-hop, as well as the importance of honoring influences and maintaining the genre's canon. The conversation also touches upon the controversy surrounding Beyoncé's country-infused music and the need for acceptance of various styles within the country music genre. Overall, the curators express excitement about the organic blending of genres and the reclamation of musical roots.
00:15:00 In this section of the video. curators discuss the exciting fusion of rock and country music. Curators with a background in rock music are discovering new artists who bring rock and grunge elements to country, making it an exciting time in the genre. Dolly Parton is also part of this trend, collaborating with new artists, leading to a more diverse and inclusive country music scene. Artists like Orville Peek are gaining popularity in the LGBTQ community and releasing collaborative albums with diverse artists. The Feed.fm music curators aim to represent as much musical diversity as possible, advocating for representation of women and LGBTQ artists in country music. When curating country music for fitness, curators recommend leaning into upbeat, double-time styles and incorporating classic country songs with a fun, down-home feel.
00:20:00 In this section of the video, they discuss the diversity and versatility of country music. They note that there are uptempo party songs with trap beats, as well as slower, more contemplative Americana-style songs with beautiful instrumentation. Mike mentions avoiding songs about drinking and being drunk for workout playlists. They also discuss the potential for country music in various genres, such as wellness and relaxation, and mention the influence of artists like Lana Del Rey and Post Malone. They reflect on how country music is becoming more accepted and less of a social outlier, with a wider range of styles and artists available to listeners.
00:25:00 In this section of the "Inside Music Curation: Curating Country" YouTube video, Feed.fm Director of Curation Eric "Stens" Stensvaag, expresses excitement about the evolution and hybridization of music genres, using country and hard rock as examples. He shares a personal anecdote about discovering a new appreciation for country music, despite not typically being drawn to the genre. Stens encourages businesses and individuals to explore country music, highlighting its growth and expansion in recent years.
Thank you for checking out Inside Music Curation, we hope you enjoyed this discussion. Stay tuned for more exciting conversations on music curation in future episodes.
About the live video series:
At Feed Media Group (FMG), our music curation team excels at handpicking music for businesses. While technology and analytics play a vital role in the curation process, it is the expertise, curiosity, and ability of our music curators to bring the world around us into focus that truly sets our unified music system apart.
By staying attuned to pop culture trends and understanding the wider societal context of songs, we are able to craft exceptional music stations. It is this connection, context, and attention to detail that distinguishes our stations from those generated by even the most advanced algorithms used by major streaming platforms.
Come on a journey with us as we delve into the fascinating world of curating music for businesses and brands. We will explore everything from the practical applications to the user experience, taking a deep dive into genres, audience preferences, data analysis, and the latest trends.
Live on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn, select Wednesdays at 1pm Pacific.
2 min