Laura Klonowski
For several years now the UK Country Music market has been growing at a rapid rate thanks in part to US drama Nashville, and it has now been confirmed that it is the fastest growing genre in Britain right now.
The steady growth has been majorly impacted by the Millennial generation in recent years with homegrown acts Ward Thomas and The Shires in particular striking a chord with this age demographic since bursting onto the scene in 2014.
Further proof that Country in the UK is now a strong player in the charts and live scene comes in the form of Country Hits Radio which launched on Friday (April 5th). It is Britain’s very first national radio station dedicated to playing all Country music across its airwaves.
Fans of the Country genre here in the UK have shouted loud and proud in recent times that this genre is here to stay. In 2016, Ward Thomas made history by becoming the very first British Country act to score an all genre number one album with their sophomore release ‘Cartwheels’, while The Shires are officially the country’s fastest selling homegrown Country act.
Other British and Irish acts taking the scene by storm include the likes of Andy Brown, Catherine McGrath, and Una Healy, while international acts such as Sarah Darling, Danielle Bradbery, Shania Twain, Lady Antebellum, and Carrie Underwood regularly sell out tours across the UK.
Country to Country (C2C) Festival has also played an integral part of the growth of Country in the UK and since its launch in 2013, it has sold out the O2 Arena across the weekend every time.
Britain now boasts an array of Country Music festivals up and down the country including the likes of British Country Music Festival, Black Deer, Buckle and Boots, Nashville Meets London, Country Music Week and many more, all of which welcome thousands of dedicated fans.
Further proof comes in sales stats too. According to the British Phonographic Industry, last year 1.7 million albums were sold while 300 million songs were streamed online.
Country Hits Radio host, Una Healy sums it up, telling ITV News: “People are loving it and not realising that they’re loving country music because we have pop artists working with country stars as well.”
Are you excited about the growth of Country here in the UK? Let us know your thoughts over on Twitter @CelebMix.
