This time, from Forbes Magazine, which says: "Country music has an esteem problem. Not a self-esteem problem. The country business just doesn't think it gets enough respect from New Yorkers. So, Nashville has moved itself to Manhattan..
"OK, we bite. But the thing is, country is doing just fine without New York's blessing. Even if, say, most New Yorkers had never heard of Kenny Chesney until his quickie romance with actress Renee Zellwegger, the rest of the country certainly has: The star sold 3 million albums last year in the U.S.--more than anyone except Usher, Norah Jones and Eminem; not to mention $51 million worth of concert tickets--better than Sting or Elton John.
"In fact, seven of last year's 25 top-grossing U.S. concert tours were country acts, according to Pollstar. Country dominates radio, with more than 2,000 stations playing the music. And while country's last sales boom peaked in the early 1990s, the genre has actually eked out a few share points in a slumping market. Three of the top-selling albums of 2004 were country albums. And through the first week of November, U.S. buyers had purchased some 51.6 million country albums this year, or about 11% of total sales, according Nielsen SoundScan. Five years ago, country music represented 8.5% of the market. (Meanwhile rap and R&B sales now dominate, accounting for 37% of all sales)..."
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