How to Find New Country Music Artists

How to Find New Country Music Artists

Country music is a constantly expanding form of music, with new artists always surfacing. While the radio stations spin the same greatest hits repeatedly, there are a variety of ways to find new country music by emerging artists and independent artists. Whether you are looking to find a new favorite artist or hear various styles of country music, there are some methods to find new artists. Below are some of the best methods to identify new country artists.

Attending Country Music Festivals:

One of the optimum ways of finding new country music artists is attending country music festivals. Festivals feature established stars and up-and-coming artists, allowing fans to watch a variety of performances in the same venue.

Popular country music festivals like Stagecoach, CMA Fest, and Tortuga Music Festival have both well-established artists and new artists. Along with that, the majority of the festivals also offer smaller stages that feature smaller artists, and that is the chance for the smaller artists to gain new fans. If you want to go find some new country music, do go spend some time over at those smaller stages instead of just watching the headliners.

At festivals, you also get to see live performances, which are often quite different from studio recordings. Hearing an artist live can make you relate to their music more. Also, festivals have vendors selling CDs, vinyl, and merchandise from emerging artists, so you get to support them directly.

Using Streaming Apps and Playlists:

Streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Pandora are great places to discover new country artists. These platforms use algorithms to recommend songs based on what you have listened to, introducing you to artists you may not have heard of otherwise.

Another of the best ways to find new country music through streaming apps is to explore curated playlists. Playlists such as "New Boots" on Spotify or "Country Next" on Apple Music showcase up-and-coming country artists. Most streaming services also feature "radio" capabilities where you can listen to songs similar to what the artists you are listening to, which helps you discover new artists naturally.

Another recommendation is to check out user-created playlists. There are many country fans who create and share playlists of independent or up-and-coming artists. You can type in terms like "best new country music" or "underrated country artists" and find some hidden treasures.

Visiting Bars and Honky Tonks (Especially in Nashville):

Live music bars are among the best venues for listening to emerging country music artists, and Nashville, Austin, and Memphis are well known for their vibrant country music scenes. Nashville, indeed, is known for its honky-tonks and small bars where fine musicians perform every night.

Broadway Street in Nashville has live country music bars along it that feature regularly performing artists seeking to make it big. Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, The Bluebird Cafe, and The Listening Room Cafe are some of the places that have launched several big country music acts. Visiting these places, you can hear uncut, uncensored performances and maybe spot the next big country music sensation before fame hits.

Even if you’re not in Nashville, most cities and towns have local bars that feature live country music. Keep an eye out for open mic nights and singer-songwriter showcases, as they often feature talented new artists trying to gain exposure.

Watching Live Music Events and TV Shows:

But another great way to find new country artists is by watching live concert performances and television specials dedicated to country music. Country music award shows like the CMA Awards, ACM Awards, and CMT Music Awards often include emerging artists alongside famous superstars. Most of the time, such performances introduce new talent to more people.

TV shows like American Idol, The Voice, and Nashville Star have also helped country artists achieve their career breakthroughs. Some artists like Carrie Underwood, Morgan Wallen, and Scotty McCreery rose to fame through these competitions. Watching these shows can introduce you to new artists before they become mainstream.

In addition, several country music channels and networks provide live performances and interviews with new artists. Networks like CMT and The Circle Network feature upcoming artists constantly, giving viewers the chance to listen to fresh faces.

Surfing YouTube and Social Media:

With today's digital age, YouTube and social media websites are excellent resources to discover new country music artists. Independent artists have most of their songs, music videos, and live performances available on YouTube, so it's easy for country music fans to discover new country music.

You can even discover playlists and recommendations of artists who are just about to surface by searching words like "upcoming country artists" or "best new country songs" on YouTube. There are even acoustic sessions, backstage videos, and duet tracks with other singers uploaded by the artists themselves so you learn them as people.

Social media like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter also prove effective in discovering new country music. Some artists utilize such platforms to promote their songs as well as engage with fans. TikTok, in particular, has been a huge platform where music is discovered, where viral trends help make a relatively unknown artist become incredibly popular overnight. Looking at country music hashtags and accounts dedicated to promoting new talent can introduce you to some great new artists.

Country Music Radio Shows and Podcasts:

Country music radio shows and podcasts are also among the best sources for discovering new artists. Most of the podcasts feature interviewing new country artists, discussing the new releases, and discussing trends in country music.

Some of the best country music podcasts include "Whiskey Riff Raff," "Bobbycast" by Bobby Bones, and "The Country Music Show." These pods have a tendency to make someone discover new artists and inform them of their music and life journey.

Similarly, country radio stations can feature new artists occasionally. Programs like "New Country Countdown" or radio stations like The Highway on SiriusXM play only new country songs by up-and-coming artists all the time.

Conclusion:

Discovering new country music artists takes some effort, but the reward is worth the trouble. No matter your style of discovering music, there are almost unlimited ways to discover new country music artists.

Attending festivals, attending live music performances, streaming, and following country music communities on the internet can all help you discover hidden gems and add new and interesting artists to your playlist. There is just so much available talent out there to find within the country genre of music, and by experimenting with these different methods, you will never be without new music to listen to. Start looking around, keep an open mind, and you might just find your new favorite country music artist!