Post 1: Takara Flowers

Country music is an American musical genre with roots in the Southeastern United States. It has been traditionally associated with white musicians, and this stereotype has persisted for decades. In recent years, however, country music has become more diverse, and there are many black, Latino, and other artists who have made significant contributions to the genre. To stop the stereotype that country music is only for white people, it is important to acknowledge this diversity and celebrate the contributions of artists of all backgrounds.

One way to combat the stereotype of country music being for white people is to feature more diverse artists in mainstream media. This means giving a platform to artists from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and highlighting their work in TV shows, radio stations, and social media. It also means including these artists in award shows and festivals that focus on country music. This will help to broaden the audience for country music and show that it is a genre that is truly for everyone, regardless of their race or ethnicity. Another way to combat the stereotype is to focus on the history of country music and its roots in African American culture. Many of the early pioneers of country music were influenced by blues and gospel music, which were created by black musicians. By acknowledging this history and celebrating the contributions of black artists to the genre, we can help to break down the stereotype that country music is only for white people. It is important to remember that country music has always been a diverse genre, and it is up to all of us to make sure that this diversity is celebrated and embraced.

In music today, there are still several racial stereotypes that persist. For example, Black artists are often pigeonholed into the genres of hip-hop, R&B, and rap, while white artists are given more freedom to explore various genres. Additionally, Latinx artists are sometimes exclusively associated with salsa and reggaetz while Asian artists are expected to only perform pop music. 

Post 2: Stephen

I think country music could improve its fan base by revising why country musicians make their music. Every other genre has a sense of purpose embedded in what they want others to hear. Rappers make music to boast about their lifestyle, reminisce about tough backgrounds, or reveal their rise to the top. Pop singers make music about fun times to relate to, something to dance to, and sometimes create trends to follow. Electronic musicians make music to party or get hype. (In my experience, I only hear this music at parties and raves. I personally don listen to this much nor do I know many people who do) If we think about why country musicians make music, we can come to a discernible purpose besides money. They often sing about a rural lifestyle but live the city life. They associate their imagery and branding with barn living and horse riding, but live in a huge mansion and drive luxury cars. At their worst, country music is just a poor imitation of what life might be for a blue collar worker. But unfortunately in the digital age of streaming, country music faces a tougher predicament compared to every other genre. There are fewer farmers, ranchers, and other country people who will stream music, so the country music audience is small and niche. I think country music can become popular again if they can overhaul the purpose of making music. They can maintain the general instrumentation like acoustic guitars but incorporate some other sounds. Country chord progressions should explore beyond the 2010àI-vi-IV-V progression. (I honestly think this is the only genre that continues to stick to this cliche and overdone progression, even pop music has evolved to have unique twists and progressions) Other racial stereotypes about music include: African Americans only involved in hip-hop and R&B, associating spanish/latin music with some ature)mplication, and senselessly labeling any nonwestern music as xotic/r “rare”. These harmful stereotypes that some ignorant people hold are uneducated generalizations about music or musicians in that category.

Post 3: Takara 

The roots of rock n roll can be traced back to African American music, which had a significant influence on its development. Pioneers of rock n roll such as Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were some of the early performers who played a critical role in shaping the genre.

During the 1960s, rock n roll grew in popularity across the United States and other parts of the world. It was the decade of the British Invasion, when bands such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Who became global superstars. They took the genre to new heights, experimenting with new sounds and pushing boundaries with their music. The 1970s saw the emergence of various sub-genres of rock n roll such as heavy metal, punk rock, and glam rock. Bands such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Ramones, Sex Pistols, and David Bowie made their mark on the music scene, influencing a new generation of musicians.

The future of rock n roll remains bright, with new artists and bands continuing to push the boundaries of the genre. The genre has seen a resurgence in recent years, with bands such as the Arctic Monkeys, the Black Keys, and Greta Van Fleet rapidly gaining popularity. These artists have taken inspiration from the pioneers of rock n roll while putting their unique twist on it. The genre is likely to continue evolving as new artists bring their own sound and vision to the music. While it is uncertain what the future holds for rock n roll, it is clear that the genre has left an indelible mark on music history and will continue to be an important part of popular culture for years to come.

Post 4: Marcos

As a consumer and lover of the genre, I think that rock and roll is, in general, a musical genre that has been characterized since it was born as a style of music that has taken elements from many other genres to form what is known purely as rock and roll. It has been shown throughout history that its evolution never stops since in a very short time of relative life that this genre has, many other sub-genres of this musical style have emerged and until today many music continues to be labeled as a new sub genre of rock and roll. Although, and we have to be honest, currently you do not hear or read many “famous” names of artists and bands as in the past, it does not mean that the genre is dying but that it has evolved towards other types of consumers, with other melodic tastes and other types of lyrics. Perhaps, alternative rock is what is possibly the most trending at the moment within this musical genre and there are also many collaborations by artists from other genres who are more famous at the moment with rock bands or artists, and have made hits that are on the list of top 10 most listened to year after year. And in my opinion there is no doubt that the genre is going to die, since it has also been demonstrated over the years that in any of its forms, it is a genre that encompasses many social classes and very varied age ranges. Culturally it is also a genre that has a lot to contribute from a musical point of view and influences fashion and dance within society.