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Karen Gonzlez
Professor Mary Gomrad
ENC 1102
18 March 2015
Country Music Fandom Culture: A Review of Literature
Introduction
Since the early 1920s, the country music fandom culture has encountered a problem that
has prolonged until todays society. With non-country music listeners being so close-minded and
ignorant, negativity was immediately received on the country music genre, and thus the spark of
stereotypes lingering around the music and fans. In fact this diverse, popular genre of music has
evidently never fit the criteria of the music being traditional or western that often times critics
has made it out to be (Hill 92). Others have even noted that country music shouldnt be so
quickly judged because not every song is about chugging beer on your trucks tailgate or
drinking tea out by the porch on a Sunday after church (Jankowski 2). Now that country music is
expanding and diversifying, it is essential for all music listeners and consumers to take a serious
look at the problem and consider whether or not this stereotype placed upon the genre is a
misconception long overdue.
Country Music Fans Today
The demographics of the Country Music Fandom Culture surprisingly vary throughout
the United States. According to the 2014 New Heartland Group in Paul Jankowskis piece in
Forbes Magazine, in the United States there is an estimate of 102 million country music
consumers and the age spans from 18 to 54. In 2013, it was also seen that the country music fans
annual household has increased over the years, averaging $75,000. This fan base is also

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described as the most ardent and loyal of any fan base, and it is most evident in the sold out,
daily attendance of thousands of people in country music festivals and concerts (1).
There is also a whole organization in dedication for country music and its fans known as
the Country Music Association (CMA). This is an association composed of members that apply
to join and that are dedicated to endorsing and expanding the reach of Country Music worldwide.
Today, CMA has more than 7,100 members actively involved in 40 different countries around the
world. Being a member has its perks, and when applying online to join you may see those
benefits and you can see how you can help country music keep growing. Also, in this association
that is deliberately devoted to the development of the industry and genre as a whole, country
music artists are and have been supported for over 50 years. They are recognized with all the
hard work they do in the CMA Awards. (CMA Digital, 2015). Fans may stay updated on the
country world by joining associations as such, following artists and groups on social media,
attending concerts and festivals, and simply tuning in on their local country radio station.
Stereotypes of the Country Music Fandom
Stereotypes are fixed preconceptions people have of other groups and cultures, normally
leading to be the only thing they think of those groups of people. All kinds of groups face some
form of stereotypes and negativity towards them. This is definitely a major problem that the
Country Music Fandom faces. In Jankowskis same piece, he interviewed Chris Ackerman who
is Vice President of Coleman Insights, and mentioned that the major stereotypes placed upon
country music listeners are that theyre rural, theyre downscale, and theyre not tech-savvy
(2). Further stereotypical comments are also in reference to the genre as a whole. Majority of
society still views country music as country music artist, Luke Bryan, points out as country and

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western. This is the general overview of how country music producers and fans are perceived
by non-country music listeners and society as a whole. However, it is slowly becoming evident
that these comments about the music and fans are not true, and that country music being the
growing and diverse genre it is, that the fans in fact rarely meet the hillbilly stereotype that has
long been labeled to them (Hill 92).
Country Musicians Take on the Stereotypes
With the audience expanding and attracting fans of all different cultures, country music
has become an extremely attractive target for marketers and has even become mainstream music,
once again diminishing those stereotypes. Luke Bryan again even pointed out that every genre
face stereotypes, You assume a rock artist is a drug addict, you assume a country artist is rolled
out from under the trailer. Those are just natural stereotypes. He goes on to say people are
slowly getting out of that comfort zone and accepting all types of music of today I think whats
so great about music is that people are really giving all genres now a fair start. Maybe the
stereotypes are getting less and less prominent.
Darius Rucker, another fellow country music artist also comments on the stereotypes
placed upon the genre, To have that stereotype of my dog died or my wife left me, that whole
stereotype that they love to live with, he continues by explaining that people should take the
time and sit down and actually listen to a country song. He explains how his music is nothing
like that, For me, I dont sing about pickup trucks and stuff like that because thats not a life I
livedclichs are clichs, there are a lot of guys that dont write about that stuff but there are a
lot of guys that do and it works. In this very same interview, Grady Smith, from Entertainment

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Weekly provides his insight on how Darius Rucker adds diversity in the country music world,
since there isnt a lot of African-American artists in this specific genre.
Conclusion
The persistent stereotypes that have been attached to country music and the fandom have
been around nearly since the early 1920s. Despite the fact that the genres various sub-genres
and aural diversity has easily defied those classifications (Hill 92). Or that the audience is a large
group of both white- and blue-collar and more affluent than even the country industry believed
(Jankowski 2). Since it seems that these stereotypes and labels wont be going away soon
enough, the country music performers and fandom and non-country music consumers will have
to arrive to an agreement that places satisfaction for everyone. Hence to reach such arrangement,
this enduring negativity towards the genre should be analyzed and seized with the power of
social media and communication.

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Country Music Fandom Culture: An Annotated Bibliography
Hill, Jeremy. "Country Music Is Wherever The Soul Of A Country Music Fan Is: Opryland
U.S.A. And The Importance Of Home In Country Music." Southern Cultures 17.4
(2011): 91-92. Humanities Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
The beginning of this essay offers a brief history of country music and the
stereotypes that go along with the music and fans. Jeremy Hill, points out that country
music and the fans in fact does overpass those stereotypes. She states that the music has
never been the traditional, hillbilly and country aspect many has made it out to be,
instead they include variation and growing roots.
Friedlander, Kari. "Luke Bryan Laughs Off Country Music Stereotypes, Talks Growing
Popularity Of Genre." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 16 Aug. 2013.
Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
In this interview, country music artist, Luke Bryan, shares his thoughts about the
stereotypes surrounding the genre. In his responses, he provides insight on how
stereotypes are placed upon all types of music and how he feels that as the audience
continues to grow and diversify, that those stereotypes soon will diminish. This source
supports my other sources by illustrating that this in fact in an issue faced by this fandom
and how country music is becoming more mainstream than ever creating a diverse path
for country music.
Jankowski, Paul. "Country Music Is A Powerful Opportunity For Brands." Forbes. Forbes
Magazine, 29 Oct. 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.

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The piece written by Paul Jankowski in Forbes Magazine offers the demographics
of the country music fans in America today. This source gives the facts and statistics that
describe the fandom that aid in refuting those stereotypical comments. Along with the
facts, it provides graphical images to further establish the growth of country music and
the fans providing consistency with my other sources.
"Home - CMA World." CMA World. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
This Web page is one that is in dedication to country music and organized by an
association known as the Country Music Association. This source provides a description
of a group of the fans today and all the events, festivals, and award shows they have for
the genre of music. It provides the positive and contrary aspect to the music and fans,
unlike the negativity caused by the stereotypes.
"Darius Rucker Digs His Boots Deeper Into Country - Radio.com Essentials." YouTube.
YouTube, 21 May 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
This interview with African American country performer, Darius Rucker,
demonstrates the misunderstanding that the artists and fans are all hillbillies and only
sing about beer and trucks. He shares that his songs are about what he faced in his life
and that others should take the time and listen to the lyrics of a country song. He also is
given as an example of the variety within the country music world since there arent
many African American artists.

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Appendix 1 Survey
Statements

Strongly
Agree

Agree

Neither
Agree or
Disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

Country music lyrics are only about

chugging beer, driving trucks, and
drinking tea.
Country music fans are/present
themselves as non-educated and rural
men and women.
Young people who prefer country music
tend to lead an alcoholic life.
The media only shows stereotypical
country music fans as white, hillbillies
wearing cowboy hats and boots because
that is what the audience expects.
The majority of country music fans grew
up in trailer park homes.

Appendix 2 Interview Questions

1. In three words, how would you describe the fans of the country music genre?
2. Do you believe most, if not all, country music fans fit into the stereotypes of: uneducated,
drunks, truck drivers, rowdy, white, rednecks, etc.?
3. If you were asked to imitate how country music performers and/or fans spoke, how
would that sound like?
4. Do you believe that only White Americans/Caucasians listen to country? How about the
artists?
5. Would you consider country music to be a popular, growing and mainstream choice of
music?