New faces at CMAs mark change in country music – WNEM TV 5

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – There’s a sea change going on in Music City and the Country Music Association Awards are right in the middle of it.

When country music’s biggest stars take the stage Thursday night, you’ll see many of your favorites from the last 10 years. But increasingly, new faces are dominating the genre as country’s fan base shifts to a younger-skewing audience.

“I think it’s great for the format because going forward you have this youth and vitality in the format, in the fan base,” lead nominee Eric Church said. “It’s a chance to grow a format that I don’t think we’ve ever had in country. I don’t know if it’s ever been like it is now, especially with young people, in country music.”

From Taylor Swift’s army of empowered young women to the power-drinking party boys who prefer Church and Jason Aldean, country’s audience is much different than it was 10 years ago and that’s reflected in the awards. Church benefited with five nominations, including first-time appearances in the album and male vocalist of the year categories.

He’s not the only one. Country performers who have tasted their most significant success within the last five years outnumber the more established stars who’ve counted hits for a decade or more. Those newer artists also received the lion’s share of the nominations.

via New faces at CMAs mark change in country music – WNEM TV 5.