R.I.P. “Bro-Country” (2011-2014)
On Monday, September 22nd, the subset of American country music known to many by its nickname “Bro-Country,” died at its home in Nashville, TN. It was three-years-old. Bro-Country is survived by its family and close friends, including Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert, Cole Swindell, Chase Rice, Thomas Rhett, Dallas Davidson, and dozens of other lesser-known country music artists and songwriters. Though the specific cause of death has yet to be ruled on by the local medical examiner, preliminary findings appear to show that Bro-Country had been exhaustively over-utilized over the last few months and years until it finally passed away from overexposure. Bro-Country’s death is definitely being considered the result of “foul play”.
Though the exact date of birth of Bro-Country has never been specifically determined, many place its origins in early 2011 with what was initially called “checklist” or “laundry list” country music. Regularly listing off mundane artifacts of country living such as ice cold beer, pickup trucks, tailgates, dirt roads, hot girls, cutoffs, moonshine, mud, and many other country calling cards, songs like Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” and Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” went on to become some of the biggest country music songs during Bro-Country’s life. The name “Bro-Country” wasn’t coined until August of 2013 when culture writer Jody Rosen’s dissertation on the subject described Bro-Country as a, “tatted, gym-toned, party-hearty young American white dude.”
Florida Georgia Line’s song “Cruise” very much typified Bro-Country’s life and legacy, and when the single became the longest-running #1 song in the history of country music, the troubles for Bro-Country began. Predictions of Bro-Country becoming a hyper trend that would grow old prematurely began to spread, and so did public dissent about Bro-Country in what became known as the Season of Discontent. Things began to look especially bleak for Bro-Country when Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta said in December of 2013, “There’s too much, to be honest with you. We can’t keep talking about Fireball and Coors Light and having the tailgate down, etc. So we’ll task our writers and artists to dig a little deeper.”
In 2014, enemies of Bro-Country began to emerge from the country music industry itself, and anti Bro-Country songs like Maddie & Tae’s “Girl In A Country Song” were released to radio, exacerbating Bro-Country’s health problems. Even Bro-Country proponents who had recently given a rosy prognosis for its future, like Sony Music Nashville’s CEO Gary Overton who once said Bro-Country’s demise was “nowhere in the foreseeable future” is now saying “There’s a saturation point.” New albums from Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney purposefully avoid Bro-Country. In some ways it seems fitting that Bro-Country would pass away on the last official day of summer, since the party themes and good times of Bro-Country seemed to be perpetually stuck in the year’s warmest months.
Of course there will be some who will not be able to come to grips with the death of Bro-Country, especially many of Bro-Country’s friends who made lots of money during Bro-Country’s life—many of the same people who refused to acknowledge the problems Bro-Country was facing in the first place. There will be people who attempt to carry on Bro-Country’s legacy by singing about the things Bro-Country loved like beer and tailgates, and they may even find some success in the short term. But eventually they will have to face Bro-Country’s death, or be like the mullet-wearing uncle stuck in the glory days.
Bro-Country is scheduled to be buried in the rubble of the historic RCA Studio ‘A’ building set to be bulldozed on Music Row in Nashville. And in Bro-Country’s memory, an edifice to gentrification and homogenization will be erected in the form of a 147,000 square foot condominium complex on the location.
R.I.P. Bro-Country, you smelled extremely manly.
September 22, 2014 @ 6:16 pm
I just had a 70’s flashback. Disco is dead – yay happy days are back!
September 22, 2014 @ 6:21 pm
So you think it’s finally over? Is it going to be safe to tune into mainstream country radio again and not hear about how country we all are, how to be country, tailgating, beers, and getting our favorite girl in our truck and taking them to the river, lake and/or beach (and sometimes the bonfire)?
Or is it going to be replaced by the recent crossover trend where every artist has to have songs that have that fake R&B 90’s beat and a super heavy dose of auto tune that makes my hairs stand up every time I hear it.
September 22, 2014 @ 6:50 pm
I do think it’s finally over, though there will be some residual singles and maybe even some hits as Music Row continues to work through excess inventory. But the truth is it’s been over for months.
I am in no way guaranteeing that whatever era eventually proceeds Bro-Country will be anything better and that it will be safe to turn on the radio. But I do think that in the few months the last thing you’ll want in your country single is references to beer and tailgates.
September 23, 2014 @ 11:25 am
Honest Frikkin Story –
I pitched a song earlier this year, and received the critique:
“While the story development and imagery are strong, this publisher is looking for HITS. The song lacks in this area. Focus more on current country themes like partying, drinking on the tailgate, girls in short-shorts, etc. Melodically, this feels more like Waylon Jennings than anything on the radio. Focus more on repeating triplets or rhythmic patterns similar to Florida Georgia Line’s “This is How We Roll” or Blake Shelton’s “Boys Round Here”.
This was an actual critique. SMH
September 24, 2014 @ 6:04 pm
That’s just awful
September 26, 2014 @ 9:10 am
Wow. I thought that I was cynical, and this response (to your song) still surprises me with its brazenness. “Are you sure Hank done it this way”, indeed.
September 23, 2014 @ 1:32 am
You’re right Joshua. It’s going to be replaced by: Metrosexual-“Country”. The earliest examples of this style are Dan&Shay, and Sam Hunt.
September 23, 2014 @ 2:10 pm
I think we’re going with EMO-Country here. It’s not quite as non-PC.
September 24, 2014 @ 6:04 pm
That’s just as bad
September 26, 2014 @ 9:15 am
I won’t say “better the devil you know” in this case, because the devil we know (bro-country) is awful, but I concur in that the coming devil could be just as bad if not worse. I know it makes one a terrible person to be pessimistic, but is it so terrible if the pessimism is warranted, based on more than trend in recent decades? The only thing which gave me any hope was the neo-traditional movement, and that was practically stifled in its infancy.
September 22, 2014 @ 6:25 pm
Douchebilly, we hardly knew ye.
September 23, 2014 @ 6:51 pm
that’s douche William to you ma’am…
September 22, 2014 @ 6:44 pm
I think it’s a little early to officially declare it dead. I think we’re going to have to see what populates FGL’s new album and how the songs fare on the charts. I think we’re going to have to wait and see what Luke Bryan includes on his next album. We may be able to declare its health state as “critical” and on the verge of death, but officially dead…I’m not able to call a flatline with a T.O.D. quite yet. God willing, I wish I could, but I don’t think we can.
September 22, 2014 @ 6:53 pm
Florida Georgia Line’s new album will be awful and full of cliches. But just like their next single “Sun Daze” it will be awful in a way that doesn’t rely on beer, tailgates, or dirt roads. There may be one or two of those songs, but that will simply be to hedge their bets. And if it is all bro country, the jokes on them. Let’s appreciate that the leadership in the lapse of Bro-Country’s reign is coming from Scott Borchetta who FGL is signed with.
September 22, 2014 @ 6:45 pm
The only way for Country music to really be back at this point is for someone to make a George Strait-style entrance. I’m not saying we need another “Unwound” but we do need another Steel-Guitar cryer.
Until then I’m sticking with my picks: Wade Bowen, Sarah Darling, Jack Ingram, Randy Rogers and Sunny Sweeney.
September 22, 2014 @ 6:47 pm
Don’t forget Hayes Carll and Elizabeth Cook. Also, give Karyn Rochelle’s album a chance…it’s really good.
September 22, 2014 @ 7:24 pm
Actually just got a copy of Karyn Rochelle’s record thanks to it being on sale at the Saturday 6:30 PM show at the Philips Arena to see Garth Brooks.
Which to give a brief review of the show: Nearly lost my voice because I was trying to get myself amongst the crowd while singing along. But biggest highlight for me, I was at section 316 Row K Seat 21 (behind the stage), and apparently while Garth was going to our side during FILP and while I was trying to get his attention…apparently he might’ve seen me and pointed back at me and screamed “YEAH!”
Also as a challenge from a friend of mine whose a comedian, he told me to go take some pictures of that night…I went 100 steps further and recorded every second of the show on the voice recorder app on my phone, 2 and a half hours recorded from start to finish.
My biggest complaint: during People Loving People, plenty of idiots around my section were getting up out of there seat to IDK either use the bathroom or get another beer. What is it with people walking out on a singers new song and not even getting a chance to hear it. I’m sorry but that is 1000% rude and disrespectful.
Now going back to Karyn Rochelle: I’m gonna wait until November 11th when Garth’s new CD comes out and by the time that happens, Wade Bowen’s new record will also be out on October 28th which I plan to pre-order this weekend, I also plan to get Sunny Sweeney’s new record at the same time. By the time I get all these records, I’m gonna play all these on shuffle…I’m gonna have a busy music listening season.
September 22, 2014 @ 8:05 pm
Saw Garth in Chicago in the 13th, and he put on a great show. I have his new album pre-ordered. Also looking forward to Wade Bowen’s new album. The first single is spectacular.
September 22, 2014 @ 6:55 pm
I don’t believe country is “back” in any way. What I do think we’re seeing however is a much needed shift in momentum. Where it ends up remains to be seen.
September 22, 2014 @ 7:50 pm
By the way: did I ever tell you that Jack Ingram rescued me from suicide on a 9/11 anniversary in 2006? All thanks to his album Live: Wherever You Are
October 14, 2014 @ 9:27 am
If a song saves you, you’re probably full of crap anyway. Emo bullshit.
September 23, 2014 @ 9:14 am
Trig I have a burning question (that’s sort of off topic) but still fairly relevant as they were mentioned above…do you plan to cover any material by Randy Rogers Band? They’re one of my favorite newer acts but I don’t hear much about Randy on here
September 23, 2014 @ 2:03 pm
I’ve talked about Randy Rogers on the site multiple times, though admittedly it is mostly in passing. I’m sure there’s a full feature in the offing. There’s just so many artists and one of me.
September 23, 2014 @ 8:26 pm
J, I feel where your coming from. People like RRB, Wade, Stoney, Casey Donahew, Boland, william Clark green, etc have been my antidote to mainstream radio for several years now. Even some of the newer folks like Cody Johnson, Mike Ryan and Sam Riggs too. All these folks comprise roughly 90% of what I listen to, mixed in with stuff like Isbell and Sturgill. I would love nothing more than to get on this site ( which I do numerous times, everyday ) and see reviews and stories about the popular red dirt/ texas scene. But in Triggers defense, and I believe he’s stated before that the texas/red dirt scene is so big, it’s nearly impossible to cover it all. I feel like if I want to I can also go out and find new music in this genre I’ve never heard everyday of the week if I wanted. So I can see where it would be hard for one person. BTW if u pre-ordered wades new album you can get his song ” West Texas Rain “. I must say, one of the better songs I’ve heard in a while.
September 22, 2014 @ 10:23 pm
Can’t wait for wade’s new album. It may not be all about fiddle or steel guitar but it will be damn good music. Listened to a song of the new album called ” west texas rain ” it was awesome! To top it off him and randy rogers are going to release a record of their live acoustic show first of next year. Really can’t wait for that. That’s an awesome show. Well worth the money and the miles traveled.
September 23, 2014 @ 4:45 pm
We are actually in an incredibly good period of country music right now. It’s just not on mainstream radio. There is some amazing music out there. If you can find it.
September 22, 2014 @ 6:48 pm
I wouldn’t say it’s dead yet it still has clear channel backing it, and it’s still on the radio give it three months more and it’ll fully die it’s merely brain dead now.
September 22, 2014 @ 7:01 pm
I think Tim McGraw started all of this when got a “BBQ stain on his white t-shirt . . . “
September 22, 2014 @ 7:59 pm
Yes that line always makes me cringe. That and “whiskey makes my baby feel a little frisky.”
But he’s sung some great ones too.
I’ll always have time for Tim McGraw just because of his association with this performance: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TKK7AXLOUNo
September 23, 2014 @ 1:46 pm
“Whiskey makes my baby feel a little frisky” is from a Luke Bryan song (“Rain is a Good Thing”). But I understand that it all sounds pretty much the same.
September 23, 2014 @ 4:19 pm
Oops. Well that’s good to know. The universe makes a tiny bit more sense 🙂
September 23, 2014 @ 8:41 am
I always blamed Big & Rich for bringing hip hop into the country mainstream. A little bit of Montgomery Gentry with their excessive testosterone & hillbilly anthems. And of course, McGraw himself.
September 23, 2014 @ 12:57 pm
McGraw’s music until “Truck Yeah” was pretty much the opposite of bro-country, both in terms of themes and demographic appeal.
September 23, 2014 @ 2:35 pm
I dunno…
Indian Outlaw is pretty much the stupidest, most ignorant song I’ve ever heard that wasn’t talking about girl’s asses & jacked up pickups. Kind of seems like it would appeal to the moronic bro country crowd.
But he did cover Ryan Adams, so maybe that cancels it out?
September 23, 2014 @ 3:18 pm
“Indian Outlaw” is from over 20 years ago.
I am talking about his output all the way from the mid-90s up until “Truck Yeah”.
September 24, 2014 @ 10:11 am
It was also co-written by rockabilly legend Jumpin’ Gene Simmons.
September 22, 2014 @ 7:03 pm
I’ve never been so exhilarated by an obituary . Although I’ve long since buried mainstream country radio in favour of the plethora of options now available to serious music fans. Nevertheless , a bit of wishful blogging can’t hurt in our time of mourning the passing of this ‘blip’ in country music’s history . R.I.P …what’s its name ?
September 22, 2014 @ 7:54 pm
trigger its slowly shifiting but what would you consider shelton’s “Doing what she likes” or “Neon Lights” they’re both pretty lyrically weak and silly. Sonically, melodically, and song structure isn’t going to change for quite a while, but I do think the lyrical references are going to change but I’m not sure its going to be as much as you think.
September 22, 2014 @ 8:25 pm
I think “Neon Lights” is a perfect example of this shift from Bro-Country. Blake Shelton has already said his next album is going to be a drinking and heartbreak album, so that is another along with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney who are purposefully moving away from Bro-Country. Of course they’re still “weak,” but do we expect Music Row to turn on a dime and start putting out albums like Sturgill Simpson overnight? And I do think the change is happening in both the sonic and lyrical realm.
“I”™m not sure its going to be as much as you think.”
I’m not saying how much I think it’s going to be. I really have no idea. But I think it’s a foregone conclusion, and honestly, has been for months, that everything is moving away from the stereotypical Bro-Country style.
September 22, 2014 @ 8:38 pm
Im just curious if you have an opinion on cry baby Jason saying newer artists should be more original and basically insinuating that they have copied “his” style along with Luke and Florida Georgia Line’s. Im still wrapping my head around the concept that Jason feels he is “original.”
September 22, 2014 @ 9:50 pm
I didn’t read that as him saying newer artists should be original or that he was criticizing artists as much as he was making a statement on the way it is. He said the curse of Nashville is the market being flooded with similar acts once something or someone starts taking off and it’s true. No different than what happened with bro country. Nashville goes through long periods when everything is boringly the same.
September 23, 2014 @ 8:46 am
That always happens when a scene explodes.
Remember when Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden blew up?
Only to be followed by watered down novelties over the next few years like Staind, Creed, Nickelback…
But Aldean is crazy… he completely aped his style from Big & Rich and Montgomery Gentry amongst others, so he’s at best second wave bro country. FGL are the Nickelback of the bunch, taking things to their worst.
September 23, 2014 @ 12:13 am
Despite the lack of weight behind his words, the fact that even Jason Aldean is chirping at the moment about how far things have gone is yet another sign that it’s the end of the Bro-Country era.
September 23, 2014 @ 2:21 pm
As long as he puts out singles like “Burnin It Down”, I can never take anything he says about Country Music seriously.
September 22, 2014 @ 7:56 pm
The songwriters I know in nashville are discouraged from writing bro country stuff right now but at the same time if you write a pop hit they’ll take it. they just don’t want beer trucks.
September 22, 2014 @ 8:51 pm
Looks like there is going to be a glut of security guards in Nashville soon…
Would anyone consider Little Big Town bro-country? Lyrically, songs like Pontoon and Day Drinking certainly fit the mold but the band obviously does not. I only ask, because I hope they go away with the rest of the turds.
September 23, 2014 @ 2:21 pm
They’re one of the longer-running mainstream acts. I doubt they’re going anywhere anytime soon.
September 23, 2014 @ 5:47 pm
THANK YOU.
LBT and Sugarland top my list of insipid, annoying groups that have absolutely nothing to say with their “music”.
I loathe “Pontoon” every time I hear it, which, thankfully, is not much these days. It’s further proof that if you have a catchy hook or riff, you can literally put any kind of inane words to it and call it a song.
December 30, 2014 @ 10:31 pm
I often wonder what most people would say makes lyrics “good”. For me one way would be taking an everyday thing and looking at it from a whole new creative angle, makes ya say “huh i never thought of it that way”. A few other ways would be using interesting rhymes rather than cliche ones and using alliteration and all those other poetic elements. But for me the number one thing that makes lyrics great is for it to be relatable, if it makes me think of times i’ve spent with my friends, or things i’ve struggled with in the past i’m struggling with currently, thats when lyrics really hit me. When a song lets you put your own memories into it that is true greatness
September 23, 2014 @ 5:59 pm
“Pontoon” and “Day Drinking” have some bro-country elements, but songs like “Sober” and “Tornado” definitely do not.
September 22, 2014 @ 9:33 pm
Man, please let this be true!
Seriously, though, I have been noticing a definite shift in our local country station. After 7PM, the station used to play bro-country in almost nonstop rotation. Over the last few weeks, though, more substantive songs (such as Tim McGraw’s “Meanwhile Back at Mama’s”) have crept in to a significant extent during the time slot.
I think the future of country radio looks optimistic. Of course, when you are at rock bottom, there is only one way to go…
September 22, 2014 @ 9:42 pm
The Big Revival is out, some really quality songs on there for him, glad to see a rebound after “life on a rock” seemed to have been a dud. Looking forward to a review?
At first glance at the titles, it could be your average country album, but I think the underlying meaning of loving life really does shine through (despite his beach rock feel you get, especially through “florabama”. Also, “save it for a rainy day” is a great heart-break song that BS is probably crying over because it’s not on his record.
September 23, 2014 @ 12:11 am
There’s a good six albums coming out on Tuesday that people are already breathing down my neck for reviews. I’m sure I’ll get around to all of them eventually.
September 23, 2014 @ 12:00 pm
Haha you better!
September 22, 2014 @ 10:00 pm
Looking back, the one positive outcome of bro-country in my life is that the lack of good songs on country radio stimulated me to discover the great songs of classic country. It is unlikely that I would have ever even considered classic country (or stayed with SCM, for that matter) if the quality of country radio had remained like it was as late as early 2011.
What worries me right now is that the bro-country years may have driven out a vast number of listeners who care about well-written lyrics and melodic music. I wonder if that damage can ever be repaired.
September 22, 2014 @ 10:54 pm
Bro country ? What’s that lol?I’m from Alabama and I couldn’t tell u the last time I listened to radio here. All I listen to is my iPod and two radio stations out of texas on my phone. Koke Fm and 95.9 the Ranch is all I listen too for radio music. That’s where I get my music from. And this website of course 😉 texas has it figured out. Wish everybody else would figure it out ha.
September 22, 2014 @ 11:55 pm
Is it too soon to piss on its grave?
September 23, 2014 @ 5:08 am
The Davidson County coroner has now ruled cause of death by asphyxiation, specifically due to an apparent immersion in a reservoir of Axe shower gel. Mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography have revealed a 99.98% probability that the scent was Black Chill.
The deceased’s belongings including an Affliction t-shirt, a tailored pair of distressed jeans, and a wallet chain have been claimed by next-of-kin Straight Up Pop Music.
September 23, 2014 @ 6:36 am
Trig, your lips to the good Lord’s ears! I hope you are right about this.
September 23, 2014 @ 8:34 am
“I promised myself I wouldn’t crrryyyyy……………..(straining)………………party on!”
September 23, 2014 @ 8:50 am
Does the mighty return of Garth Brooks and his Chris Gaines single mark a shift to sensitive, soft country? Some of these new boy bands on the radio seem to suggest that might be the next invasion…
September 23, 2014 @ 9:19 am
I’d guess that the answer is yes. Before the age of bro country, mainstream country’s core audience had been women for a long time. I doubt the end of bro country means that Nashville will start catering to the classic country fans that Blake Shelton called old farts and jackasses. Country radio might need to move away from bro country to hold onto the 35 year old soccer mom – advertisers like her because she does most of the family’s shopping, and she’ll stick to the same station for many years as long as they play soft adult contemporary stuff.
September 23, 2014 @ 9:52 am
That totally makes sense. I remember speaking with the director of CMT Canada a few years back & asking him why they choose the music they do & why the majority of their programming is reality shows and cooking shows and that sort of thing…
His answer? The mainstream country demographic is 35-45 year old stay at home soccer moms.
Which seems to fly in the face of the 14-20 year old party hearty bro country demographic. So, if it’s not financially stable in the long term, it is understandable that it is simply a temporary fad.
September 24, 2014 @ 11:18 pm
This same 35-45 stay at home mother demographic also explains why we are unlikely to get independent minded or ground breaking country music from country radio. This demographic has tastes that are mainstream, uncontroversial, and fairly conservative. According to surveys, younger women and professional women tend to be more secular and vote overwhelmingly Democrat, while stay at home moms tend to be religious and lean Republican. The demographic that likes Tim and Faith duets and cries when they hear the Martina McBride cancer song on the radio is not likely to support folks like Kacey Musgraves …
September 25, 2014 @ 12:31 am
This may represent a golden opportunity for Brandy Clark, then. She can appeal to stay-at-home moms while employing unconventional, innovative lyrics and themes.
September 26, 2014 @ 6:55 am
Eric, I don’t think this demographic typically looks for unconventional, innovative lyrics and themes. They are mainstream consumers who prefer the conventional and familiar. That is why acts like Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, etc appealed to this group.
I don’t think the typical 35 year old suburban soccer mom these days is a hard core traditional country listener either. Even some mainstream artists from 10-20 years ago like Reba and Lee Ann Womack would be too traditional, and too country, for many of today’s suburban mothers.
September 26, 2014 @ 11:02 am
I guess that makes me an anomaly then. I am one of the stay-at-home, housewife, politically conservative, religious, older women, who detests both “bro-country” and namby-pamby adult-contemporary-sounding, or “pop” country. I like my country to be hard-core country, all the way back to Hank Williams Sr, Jimmie Rodgers, and the Original Carter Family. Oh, and bluegrass, with as much “high lonesome” tenor as possible.
September 26, 2014 @ 9:24 pm
Melanie, it is good that there are people with music tastes like yours in country’s audience. I’m guessing that you are older than 35. I’m also guessing that you have spent a substantial amount of time living in a rural area or in the South.
Unfortunately I don’t think most 30-something suburban housewives prefer that their country station play mostly old classic country. From what I’ve seen, they typically like a mix of 1990s mainstream country (or “Prime Country” on Sirius XM) and adult contemporary sounding soft country.
September 26, 2014 @ 9:43 pm
Well, if country radio rolls the clock back to the time when the main audience was middle-aged suburban housewives, then I will be very happy.
Of course, I would be happiest if mainstream country radio started to play late 80’s/early 90’s style country music (George Strait, early Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Tracy Lawrence, Alan Jackson, Keith Whitley, Patty Loveless, Pam Tillis, Alison Krauss, Trisha Yearwood, Reba, etc.), but that would probably be wishful thinking. In order to hear such songs on Bay Area radio, we may need to start a campaign to get Cumulus to start a NASH Icons station here.
September 23, 2014 @ 2:04 pm
Garth Brooks’ new single marks absolutely positively nothing in the way of trends in either country music or even Garth Brooks. Garth though he would charm the world with his world peace message and it was a huge mistake to release that single. I predict it is the most “soft” song on his entire new album.
September 25, 2014 @ 11:58 am
Typical Brooks marketing ploy. His diehard fans will give him a pass for releasing this wiener, and those who didn’t like him before wouldn’t like him now regardless of what he releases. This release is specifically geared toward those who aren’t familiar with his body of work and don’t really dig country but are willing to give him a listen because of the hype surrounding his comeback.
I think it’s funny that people think he’s going to be some kind of savior. Everything Scott Borchetta has done that folks find so offensive is right out of Garth’s marketing playbook.
September 23, 2014 @ 9:31 am
Hugh Prestwood looks at the evolution of country music
https://sites.google.com/site/hughprestwoodblog/music-biz-demographics-fantasy
September 24, 2014 @ 10:48 pm
Looks like this was written before bro-country came along.
September 23, 2014 @ 9:56 am
Speaking of Sam Hunt, why the hell are all of these guys former college football washouts? I like six man football and Country-Western too, but the proportion of these guys in current country is quite odd. Just an observation
September 23, 2014 @ 10:32 am
Trigger, out of all the bro-country artists that have come over the past 3 years, would you consider Blake Shelton to bro-country? Or more on the traditional side? Despite “boys around here” and “neon light”.
September 23, 2014 @ 12:31 pm
I use to really enjoy Blake Shelton’s music. Especially his cover of “Goodbye Time”. But since his start on The Voice, I consider him a trend chasing, smart ass, sell out POS. Not quite bro country, but equally useless.
September 23, 2014 @ 2:00 pm
I would call Blake Shelton mainstream country pop with traditional leanings early in his career, and Bo-Country leanings later. I would NOT consider him a core Bro-Country artist though.
September 23, 2014 @ 10:36 am
This is extremely premature, Kyle. You are going to be so very disappointed.
September 23, 2014 @ 11:22 am
Go whine somewhere else, we have put up with your shitty fucking music for too long, it’s time to say good bye to the Tailgate Tyrants!
September 23, 2014 @ 10:51 am
Though I do hope you are correct, I don’t know if bro-country is dead quite yet. I mean the #1 and #2 songs this week are “Where It’s At” and “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight.” Plus “Burnin’ It Down,” “Ready Set Roll,” “Small Town Throwdown,” “Leave the Night On,” “Sunshine & Whiskey” and “Later On” are all in the Top 15 on radio. When 8 of the top 15 songs on the radio are bro, does that really mean bro-country has died?
Add to that the fact that Chase Bryant, Dean Alexander and John King are all relying on bro songs to break them through to the masses and I’m not positive bro has died. I get the feeling that, if anything, bro is just evolving a little. So instead of all the songs taking place in a truck by the river drinking whiskey, some songs will be at the beach in a Jeep drinking Corona.
And I agree with the commenter who said Sam Hunt and Dan+Shay probably exemplify what we will see more of in the future. Basically, a more watered down, mom-friendly, version of bro-country.
September 23, 2014 @ 1:58 pm
I don’t consider “Leave The Night On” or “Burnin’ It Down” Bro-Country, though they might have some slight leanings in the lyricism. I think they are much more this metrosexual-country that very well may replaced Bro-County.
What I’m seeing similarly from a lot of people disagreeing with my assessment is that they are painting Bro-Country with too wide a brush, or they think that I’m saying country is going to dramatically improve overnight or that Florida Georgia Line and Luke Bryan are completely done. Of course that’s not true, and of course there’s still going to be some more Bro-Country hits. But overall I am hearing a dramatic shift in country away from country that is only going to become more pronounced as time goes on. Left and right artists are distancing from the term because of the stigma (yet another story today about it: http://theboot.com/tyler-farr-bro-country/), and when you have the two biggest power brokers in Nashville in Scott Borchetta and Gary Overton saying it’s done. Then yes, it’s done, because they will decree it as such.
September 23, 2014 @ 4:56 pm
I think I agree that pure bro has already hit it’s peak. Metro-bro may become more popular in the next two years.
That Tyler Farr article has bizarre. He says he hates the term bro-country and would like to smack the person who coined the term (I’m guessing he doesn’t know that a woman came up with the name). But then goes on to say that he does make music about trucks, hot girls and parties because he grew up in a small town where there was nothing to do but drink and party. Jason Aldean said about the same thing to Billboard last week. Basically, they hate being called bro country but they won’t stop making bro music.
Also, I’m sick of this idea that small towns can only inspire boring, repetitive songs about trucks and beer. If you can’t find writing inspiration from a small town, that’s your fault.
And just because you grew up in a small town doesn’t mean you need to spend the rest of your life singing about being 17 years old. Start singing songs about being an adult. If all you did as a teen was drive around and listen to the radio, tell me about what you do as an adult.
September 25, 2014 @ 2:32 pm
“And just because you grew up in a small town doesn”™t mean you need to spend the rest of your life singing about being 17 years old. Start singing songs about being an adult. If all you did as a teen was drive around and listen to the radio, tell me about what you do as an adult”
Isn’t that the truth. Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton grew up in rural isolation, much less a small town (as did many of the classic country greats) and their subject matter was much more varied than that, so that’s just an excuse and a cop-out.
Good grief, the classic country artists often grew up without much exposure to the “outside” even through the wide ranging mass media of today, and the topics and subjects of classic country were much more wide-ranging than they are now. That goes back to these people thinking that everything must be self-referential now.
September 26, 2014 @ 11:15 am
And the few times that they bother to open their eyes and look at the great, big, happening world around them, they believe that they must mount a soapbox and sing about a “cause”, instead of just having something interesting to say about all the things , even just everyday things, which go on in this universe.
September 27, 2014 @ 1:57 pm
That would require them to have grown up. These people are stuck in teenager land because that’s when they feel they truly “lived.” This is why we have no depth from these buffoons. They have never done anything worthy of writing about. They are a face on a CD cover. Nothing more.
September 23, 2014 @ 11:18 am
Does this mean Maddie & Tae will have to go out and get real jobs?
September 24, 2014 @ 11:22 pm
Yes, I’d like to see them work for a living instead of milking the bro country fad. Hooters is hiring (:
September 25, 2014 @ 12:26 am
“Hooters is hiring (:”
Sounds like something a bro-country fan would say.
September 23, 2014 @ 11:30 am
This is a good point brought up by my friend…”I want to point out the comment from Big Machine’s Scott Borchetta is the most incriminating piece of evidence against the music industry stretching back farther than the Bro Country Era. The fact that he has to go back to ‘their’ writers explains the lack of originality and constant churn and burn. This as opposed to fresh songs from people off the street or out of bars etc that actually might have lived their experiences. Not to say some of these writers don’t so the same, but his statement definitely brings that into question.”. Great point, Rusty!
September 23, 2014 @ 12:06 pm
Thank god for country musicians like Lydia Loveless, Sturgill Simpson, and William Elliot Whitmore. Raw, mean, and honest country music that keeps getting better and better. The funny thing is that they all tour and play a lot of punk rock clubs because the country music venues won’t book them. Sturgill Simpson’s appearance on Conan, and David Letterman recently should be a sign of changes to come, and hopefully a shift away from the fluff country that’s out there now.
Here’s a couple links to hear their stuff –
Lydia Loveless – “Back on the Bottle” –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhKDWckR2bs
Sturgill Simpson – “You can have the crown” –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNV16tz1NK0
William Elliot Whitmore – “Diggin’ my Grave” –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nECtWsah2po
September 23, 2014 @ 12:22 pm
Trigg, I hope you are right but I fear that you are wrong. Most of my friends that are in their mid twenties and even younger love Florida-Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Tyler Farr and others. Hell, Brantley Gilbert came to where I live and he had the biggest show on his tour (unfortnately).
It could just be that as the seasons change people are not doing as much with cut-off jeans, fishing, partying outside and riding in their truck.
September 23, 2014 @ 12:27 pm
Nobody is saying that Florida Georgia Line and Luke Bryan are going anywhere, or that bad music on country radio is going anywhere. But as far as songs that focus on the common Bro-Country tropes, they’re already gone. As I said, there may be a few more dying whimpers from Bro-Country, but it reached critical mass 9 months ago, and in truth has been dead for a long time.
September 23, 2014 @ 12:55 pm
Well, of course males of that age demographic constitute the core fan base for bro-country. The problem is that bro-country has alienated most everyone else.
September 23, 2014 @ 12:37 pm
Please show me mercy! I will be back later 4 followup after yard work & shower.
I BEG 4 MERCY!
My mom is sick, 3mgs of quomotin”SP” lol 4 a blood clot in leg, I think she’s dying. My take but noone elses. This will destroy my family. esp, mom. I just want to help here is all.
I BEG 4 MERCY! SORRY!
I’m just readin’ headlines 4 u’re advice or what u’re tellin’ me.
I’ll take the GREAT CHARLIE DANIELS taste of country advice, if I’m granted.
If Austin’s twitter about wall having patches over & over was for me, & something beautiful, if granted a millionth chance to start over, thank you Austin 4 that twitter. If granted a millionth chance then Austin saved my life. more than you all know. Thank you Austin if given chance.
September 23, 2014 @ 2:10 pm
What the hell are you talking about?
September 23, 2014 @ 4:57 pm
Glad it’s dying out, but I fear what comes next may be worse. I’ll just keep listening to Jamey Johnson, Eric Church, old Garth, etc.
September 24, 2014 @ 7:39 am
…but the stench of Axe body spray lingers on… and on…
September 24, 2014 @ 3:43 pm
Please be true!!!!
I think Country radio would be so much better without Jason, Luke and FGL!!
September 24, 2014 @ 6:06 pm
I tuned in to both of my local crappy country stations and couldn’t stand it. That awful Jason Aldean song with those f—– electronic drumbeats. Arrgg -_-
September 25, 2014 @ 6:41 am
You neglected to mention BLAKE (the one who put the Bro in Bro country) SHELTON! May his music die like his painful career and may he have to resort to delivering those pizzas in his Pizza Hut commercials!
That is all.
September 26, 2014 @ 2:07 pm
I JUST HAD A REVALATION FROM COUNTRY MUSIC JESUS!
The mainstream style of bro-country is about to be replaced by southern rock/country rock artist such as Tge Cadillac Three and Blackberry Smoke. The exact date is unknown but it’s could be sometime between April 2014-June 2017. Let’s hope it happens!(I made up those dates by the way)
September 28, 2014 @ 2:52 pm
I doubt that I will like hard-rock country much more than bro-country. The backbone of country is supposed to lie in soft, melodic music (i.e. the more acoustic, the better).
September 29, 2014 @ 5:03 pm
Well if you like Eric Church then you probably would like it. Anyway I like my country on both sides hard but soft at the same time.
September 29, 2014 @ 7:37 pm
why would you want to kill bro country that was the only thing that got country music more fans more listeners. country was getting kinda boring with all the singing about losing that girl or heartbreak songs. we needed songs like cruise to have a more uplifting feel in our bodies to kinda make you feel like life goes on and you can still have fun. with all the things going on in todays world the last thing we need is more depressing songs. country clubs/bars are getting more attention more customers due to bro country. i say it should not die off id rather be happy than be sad all the time
September 30, 2014 @ 2:22 am
It is possible to write about happiness despite difficult circumstances using lyrics that do not insult the listener’s intelligence.
Here is a great example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDXLmYyFu4I
September 30, 2014 @ 12:57 pm
You want more country listeners get someone to do a country cover of Free Bird or even Enter Sandman. You’d get a lot of southern junkies and metal heads attracted to it that way and then they might start listenin to other artist that’s what I did with rock.
September 30, 2014 @ 1:00 pm
Here’s another thought, imagine LINKIN PARK goin country, it might be bad but the again it might be awesome.
October 1, 2014 @ 2:24 pm
Hey Trigg I got an idea, make a fake news on LINKIN PARK or Metallica or Thousand Foot Krutch or heck all 3 goin country just to see what people would say.
October 3, 2014 @ 12:31 pm
Here’s to the untimely death of bro-country. It’s still untimely if it dies way AFTER its time, right?
October 24, 2014 @ 1:09 pm
Its a joke that Daryle Singletary is not the #1 selling artist in country music today. What a travesty that the best singer in the world is “too country” to be played on the radio.