| "Country music" is a term that | | | | the 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 all | | | | with live streaming audio feeds has become |
| like another's.Contemporary country music is | | | | uncountable. 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 an | | | | country 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 at | | | | Nashville station that brought the Grand Ol' |
| the largest venues. Indeed, as someone has | | | | Opry to America's airwaves and established |
| observed, country has replaced rock as the | | | | the careers of so many country stars over the |
| main face of American pop music.Only slightly | | | | course, literally, of decades. The WSM site |
| less noticeable is the surge of interest in | | | | provides a prominent "click to |
| what is called old-time music, a choice of | | | | listen" button for picking up the live |
| material and style of playing that hearken | | | | broadcast stream any time day night.A more |
| back to the genre's early days when it | | | | recent happy discovery is Classic Heartland, |
| emerged from the hills and hollers of | | | | an online-only station headquartered in |
| Appalachia, and other rural pockets of the | | | | Branson, Missouri. Rather than try to |
| American South, to claim a niche on the | | | | describe what you'll hear there, let the Web |
| then-new medium of radio, as well as in the | | | | site tell it: "Classic Heartland |
| burgeoning recording industry of the 1920s | | | | features independently-produced programs by |
| and 30s. For an excellent crash course in | | | | volunteers who love this music as much as you |
| the old-time music revival, give a listen to | | | | do. 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 the | | | | and alternative country music."A recent |
| same name).Bluegrass music has a large and | | | | Sunday's playlist included stirring country |
| devoted following all its own. Bluegrass | | | | gospel, some old-time tunes played by |
| festivals and competitions are numerous | | | | contemporary artists, and a few genuine gold |
| throughout the United States and even in many | | | | nuggets from the country music archives, |
| other parts of the world.Somewhere between | | | | including "North to Alaska" by |
| the original old-time country music of the | | | | Johnny Horton and "They're Gonna' Put Me |
| early 20th century, and contemporary country | | | | In the Movies" as rendered by Buck |
| as it developed from about the 1970s or '80s | | | | Owens.Classic Heartland Radio may be found at |
| onward, you'll find honky tonk--exemplified | | | | seeing as how everyone's taste in country |
| by the great Hank Williams--and the other | | | | music is different, the best suggestion for |
| pre-mainstream traditions and artists of the | | | | finding the ideal countrified audio stream is |
| 1950s and '60s. These gave way for a short | | | | to browse one of the directories of live |
| time to "outlaw" country, | | | | radio stations on the Web. Outstanding is |
| associated with the likes of Willie Nelson | | | | Mike'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 old | | | | whole 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 Carter | | | | radio and music junkie who writes on those |
| Family. And let's not forget the cowboy | | | | and other subjects for the Solid Gold Info |
| singers who rode high in the saddle in the | | | | Writers Consortium. Recently, he has written |
| '40s, and the Western swing bands, and | | | | an extensive review of new software that |
| ..."Country music" means all these | | | | anyone 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 so | | | | break them up into individual mp3 song |
| much of country music--it's rich legacy as | | | | files--a legal way to download virtually free |
| well as its living embodiment in today's | | | | music. |
| performers--is readily accessible. One of | | | | |