The history of country music is as complex and multicultural as the history of the United States itself. While for some listeners, “country” music is synonymous with “corny,” for others it is rich with depth and authenticity. While party-centric “bro country” might have dominated the charts in the 2010s, the genre has been going through a bit of a reinvention lately.

Pop industry giant Beyoncé stoked conversation in releasing her Cowboy Carter album, controversially declaring it to be part of the country genre. The Houston native has waded into this cultural debate before, when a performance of her twangy 2016 song `Daddy Lessons’ with The Chicks at the Country Music Awards got tepid reception. Many musical choices on the new album give direct nods to Black country artists, as well as Black culture that has shaped country and pop sounds for generations.

Much like musical curator Beyoncé, Universal Production Music has an appreciation for the full spectrum of American sound. Affordable and flexible, our licensing offerings can help round out your project’s aesthetic, whether it’s a down-home feel for your movie about childhood in the Mississippi Delta or ominous Wild West guitars for your true-crime podcast.

 

What Qualifies as ‘Country Music’ Anyway?

Like all genres, country music has evolved over the years, blending many sounds and traditions. Some purists might see bluegrass as the root of all modern country, but this hallowed genre is itself an amalgamation. Early bluegrass music flourished in and around the Appalachian Mountains, and was often referred to as “country,” “hillbilly” or “mountain music.” Its origins and aesthetics can be traced all the way back to settlers from Ireland, Scotland, and England in the 1600s, and it was characterized by themes of rural life and struggle.

This hillbilly music was influenced by the gospel and blues music of enslaved people from Africa and their descendants in the Mississippi Delta region. The invention and popularity of the radio in the early 1900s brought these once-remote sounds to a much larger audience, and artists like Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, and Lester Flatt would popularize the genre through the 1940s and 60s on audio and visual airwaves. Check out our bluegrass country playlist for a more traditional soundscape that recalls generations-old storytelling.

 

A Genre of Authenticity and Personality

From charismatic Black performers on the famed pre-integration ‘Chitlin Circuit’ to the iconic ‘Man in Black,’ Johnny Cash, country is a genre of personality-fueled performance. Explore our country vocal tracks if you’re looking for an authentic sound full of attitude.

Beyoncé has something to prove with Cowboy Carter, and to help her get her point across, she’s recruited the help of some of country’s greatest personalities. Dolly Parton introduces a modern twist on her classic song ‘Jolene’ before being featured on ‘Tyrant’ later in the album. Willie Nelson and Linda Martell introduce other tracks in the style of radio and TV hosts, rubber-stamping Queen Bey’s forays into the genre.

The ambitious album works as a country music history lesson as well as a thesis statement about the genre’s flexibility and multifaceted legacy. Tracks like ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ and ‘Alligator Tears’ might not sound much different than your typical Country Hot 100 entries, but ‘Spaghetti’ comes in hot with modern trap music references, and ‘Ya Ya’ mixes together about every type of pop music that’s existed since 1950 into one bombastic dance party. ‘Riverdance’ is a fun ode to Irish traditions that shaped bluegrass.

If someone has a rigid opinion on what “qualifies” as country music, chances are that you can find an exception. If you’re interested in finding a unique country twang for your next media project, register to access a library of high quality tracks from Universal Production Music. Discover different country sounds to choose from and get inspired by infinite possibilities.