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Pickin' and Grinnin': Country Radio On the Web

"Country music" is a term thatthe easiest ways to enjoy it is via the
means different things to different people.Internet.The number of country radio stations
One fan's country music may not sound at allwith live streaming audio feeds has become
like another's.Contemporary country music isuncountable. But here are a couple of
one of the most popular genres on the radio.suggestions:To plug into the most important
It is truly mainstream popular music, with ancountry music station of all time, go to the
appeal that cuts across all demographics.WSM Web site at This is the pioneering
Its mega-stars regularly fill the seats atNashville station that brought the Grand Ol'
the largest venues. Indeed, as someone hasOpry to America's airwaves and established
observed, country has replaced rock as thethe careers of so many country stars over the
main face of American pop music.Only slightlycourse, literally, of decades. The WSM site
less noticeable is the surge of interest inprovides a prominent "click to
what is called old-time music, a choice oflisten" button for picking up the live
material and style of playing that hearkenbroadcast stream any time day night.A more
back to the genre's early days when itrecent happy discovery is Classic Heartland,
emerged from the hills and hollers ofan online-only station headquartered in
Appalachia, and other rural pockets of theBranson, Missouri. Rather than try to
American South, to claim a niche on thedescribe what you'll hear there, let the Web
then-new medium of radio, as well as in thesite tell it: "Classic Heartland
burgeoning recording industry of the 1920sfeatures independently-produced programs by
and 30s. For an excellent crash course involunteers who love this music as much as you
the old-time music revival, give a listen todo. In between these programs is our unique
the "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"blend of classic country, western, bluegrass
album (the soundtrack to the movie of theand alternative country music."A recent
same name).Bluegrass music has a large andSunday's playlist included stirring country
devoted following all its own. Bluegrassgospel, some old-time tunes played by
festivals and competitions are numerouscontemporary artists, and a few genuine gold
throughout the United States and even in manynuggets from the country music archives,
other parts of the world.Somewhere betweenincluding "North to Alaska" by
the original old-time country music of theJohnny Horton and "They're Gonna' Put Me
early 20th century, and contemporary countryIn the Movies" as rendered by Buck
as it developed from about the 1970s or '80sOwens.Classic Heartland Radio may be found at
onward, you'll find honky tonk--exemplifiedseeing as how everyone's taste in country
by the great Hank Williams--and the othermusic is different, the best suggestion for
pre-mainstream traditions and artists of thefinding the ideal countrified audio stream is
1950s and '60s. These gave way for a shortto browse one of the directories of live
time to "outlaw" country,radio stations on the Web. Outstanding is
associated with the likes of Willie NelsonMike's Radio World, which categorizes 3,000+
and Waylon Jennings.Then, reaching way back,stations by genre as well as location. One
there are people who love playing the oldwhole page is devoted to country music
recordings of the earliest country stars,stations. You can start here: Smith is a
such as Uncle Dave Macon and the Carterradio and music junkie who writes on those
Family. And let's not forget the cowboyand other subjects for the Solid Gold Info
singers who rode high in the saddle in theWriters Consortium. Recently, he has written
'40s, and the Western swing bands, andan extensive review of new software that
..."Country music" means all theseanyone can use to capture music audio
things and more. It's truly a diverse genre.streams from Internet radio broadcasts and
We're fortunate to live in an age when sobreak them up into individual mp3 song
much of country music--it's rich legacy asfiles--a legal way to download virtually free
well as its living embodiment in today'smusic.
performers--is readily accessible. One of



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