Classic country
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Classic Country is a radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.
This genre generally follows one of two formats:
Those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden Age (including Hank Williams, George Jones and Johnny Cash).
Those focusing on hits from the 1960s (including the above-mentioned performers), some pre-1960 music, latter-day Golden Age stars and innovators such as Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard) to newer recurrent hits from current-day artists such as George Strait, Tim McGraw and Alan Jackson.
Dividing line
With a few exceptions, the classic country genre has struggled as a radio format (unlike mainstream country stations). While it has a fiercely loyal audience, classic country stations often struggle to find advertisers. Advertisers, meanwhile, are primarily interested in the 18- to 49-year-old demographic age group, and classic country usually attracts an older audience.
For perhaps that reason, country music fans are often (stereotypically) divided into two camps:
The younger country music fan, especially if he or she is younger than 30 years old. Many of them have zero – if not less – interest in music from such artists as Loretta Lynn and Hank Williams; sometimes, they are former rock and pop music fans.
The classic country fan who is at least 55 years old and -- with a few exceptions -- often dislikes country music produced after 1990 (around the time Garth Brooks rose to fame). A frequent criticism is that a majority of post-1990 country music is inferior to that of classic country artists, and that the newer music is little more than repackaged pop and rock music (particularly the music of artists such as Shania Twain and Faith Hill).
Both stereotypes are often unfair. Many younger people have purchased music from and are self-proclaimed fans of classic country artists such as Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. And, many older people who enjoy country music do indeed enjoy newer music from artists like Kenny Chesney and Gretchen Wilson (as well as the classics).
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