Shift to Swift - Media Meditation #2

Growing up my parents loved ROCK, some Hip-Hop and all other types of music... as long as it wasn't Country. Whenever I would go to my cousins' hou
se in Maryland all they would listen to was country and that's when my love for Country began. As the love affair blossomed, Carrie Underwood won American Idol therefore pushing my love to new limits. As time went on Taylor Swift became one of the top selling Country Artists of the decade and increased my love for Country even further.

source: Taylorswiftbiography.net

Although many Country music lovers would argue that both of these artists are Pop singers, one cannot deny the underlying Country roots that both ladies poses. Roots that ultimately come out when they perform.




Unlike Underwood, Swift came onto the music industry like a storm not too many years ago and was not discovered on American Idol. Both women have done extremely well in their careers, having all of their albums at least go platinum.

Unlike Swift, Underwood plays to her country roots in most of her songs with the pop being more subtle and hidden. It is this fact that makes her more popular among Country music lovers, and Swift more popular among Pop music lovers.

According to our Media and Culture textbook, Country music lovers only take up 9.2% of music lovers. Compared to the 17.6% that goes to news and talk radio that's not really that much. However, although country music is generally the most hated among the various genres in my experience, it is not the least appreciated, that spot goes to "oldies."

Whether they sing Country or Pop, these women aren't going to be going away. With some of the most diverse fan bases ever more songs and albums are sure to be in the works. Swifts new album "Speak Now" will be released on October 25th but is available for pre-order now on Amazon.com.