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Get out your cowboy boots and hats, as apparently, Minneapolis/St. Paul is a hotbed for country music.
Garth Brooks has just started his record setting 11-show at Target Center, selling over 188,000 tickets and a recent Star Tribune article mentioned 4 of the 5 upcoming area stadium concerts in the metro will be country themed—a two-night stand at Target Field from Kenny Chesney w/ Jason Aldean (only one is announced thus far), Luke Bryan/Florida Georgia Line coming to TCF Bank Stadium in June, and Zac Brown Band expected at a stadium in August.
The only other stadium show on the horizon for 2015 is pop boy band One Direction at TCF in late July… what happened?!?
Despite Minneapolis/St. Paul being the 14th biggest metro area (according to the 2010 census) and 16th largest radio market, it ranks as 4th in terms of country music ticket sales, an impressive but no less puzzling accomplishment.
Country music has been more appealing to the masses for years, with the lines between country and pop blurring further and bands like The Eagles and Lynyrd Skynyrd easily becoming a part of either genre.
Rock stars like Darius Rucker, Sheryl Crow, Jewel, and Kid Rock have all taken a turn towards Country (with varying degrees of success), Taylor Swift has moved from country-pop to full on Pop with her 1.3 million unit selling 1989, and this week’s CMA Awards telecast included help on performances from non-Country acts Meghan Trainor, Ariana Grande, and The Doobie Brothers. Country is clearly now more the mainstream.
Concert promoters no doubt love a full house, but also reap the benefits of additional liquor sales with these acts, as the Strib article mentioned Eric Church’s September show at Target Center as being the second highest beverage-per-person sales, in the venue’s history.
Need more proof?- Country radio is the #1 radio format nationwide of people 18-54 and the Twin Cities ranks highest in viewership for ABC’s “Nashville” series…ugh.
What happened to Rock? There’s still hope with U2 due to tour next year, a new Foo Fighters record just around the corner, and a hope that Tool’s long-awaited new album might see the light of day in 2015.
Many promising alternative bands that W♥M covers are hitting the busy local club circuit and Electronica in its many variations, is still packing venues area wide.
So Rock is not quite dead yet, though clearly needs a strong comeback. In the meantime, get out your boots, Stetson hat, and Wrangler jeans, as apparently Minneapolis is still crazy for country.
Garth Brooks has just started his record setting 11-show at Target Center, selling over 188,000 tickets and a recent Star Tribune article mentioned 4 of the 5 upcoming area stadium concerts in the metro will be country themed—a two-night stand at Target Field from Kenny Chesney w/ Jason Aldean (only one is announced thus far), Luke Bryan/Florida Georgia Line coming to TCF Bank Stadium in June, and Zac Brown Band expected at a stadium in August.
The only other stadium show on the horizon for 2015 is pop boy band One Direction at TCF in late July… what happened?!?
Despite Minneapolis/St. Paul being the 14th biggest metro area (according to the 2010 census) and 16th largest radio market, it ranks as 4th in terms of country music ticket sales, an impressive but no less puzzling accomplishment.
Country music has been more appealing to the masses for years, with the lines between country and pop blurring further and bands like The Eagles and Lynyrd Skynyrd easily becoming a part of either genre.
Rock stars like Darius Rucker, Sheryl Crow, Jewel, and Kid Rock have all taken a turn towards Country (with varying degrees of success), Taylor Swift has moved from country-pop to full on Pop with her 1.3 million unit selling 1989, and this week’s CMA Awards telecast included help on performances from non-Country acts Meghan Trainor, Ariana Grande, and The Doobie Brothers. Country is clearly now more the mainstream.
Eric Church at Target Center
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Need more proof?- Country radio is the #1 radio format nationwide of people 18-54 and the Twin Cities ranks highest in viewership for ABC’s “Nashville” series…ugh.
What happened to Rock? There’s still hope with U2 due to tour next year, a new Foo Fighters record just around the corner, and a hope that Tool’s long-awaited new album might see the light of day in 2015.
Many promising alternative bands that W♥M covers are hitting the busy local club circuit and Electronica in its many variations, is still packing venues area wide.
So Rock is not quite dead yet, though clearly needs a strong comeback. In the meantime, get out your boots, Stetson hat, and Wrangler jeans, as apparently Minneapolis is still crazy for country.