I'm sure 95% of us here don't listen to country (myself included), but I noticed something interesting:

It seems to me that all the really super-popular country groups/artists as of late (Dixie Chicks, Shania, LeAnn Rimes, blahblahblah) are sounding less and less country, yet becoming more amd more popular. This leads me to believe that nobody - not even country fans - really likes country music anymore. I'm guessing that in 10 or so years, all country artists will sound like a cross between Michael Bolton and Train.

pretty soon they will sound like Blink 182 singing about neon lights

This sounds accurate (referring more to Antihero, but who knows, Duddy?)

I like country.

And my theory about country is my theory about a lot of music. Mainstream jabronis of a specific music type do one thing, and people who don't listen to it recognize it by what mainstream dudes do. Whereas the underground musicians do another thing, and thats what people should listen to.

Suprisingly there are a lot of country singers out there that are underground. I'd name a few, but you obviously wouldn't recognize the names.

Plus anyone that listens to Shania Twain should be ashamed of themselves.

Same thing happens with most music genders...
Why do you think rock and rock are becoming more and more polular and sometimes you can't even tell the difference?

I know only the coolest of the cool people of the world are down with the underground scene, but my point is that the underground ain't what's makin the money; the popular, mainstream stuff is. Must be because people are listening to it.

If people listen, they won't really be underground. People will accuse them of selling out even though all they did was catch some notice. Yet, everyone will then drop them like a....a....damn cliche....hot potato.

I love country. I hate country pop. That's all it is, most modern country. Pop with a twang and a stupid accent. Some of it is still good though. Garth Brooks does and always will rawk ass, and Nickel Creek are simply fucking amazing. But what's happening to country is what's happening to all music; the music companies are trying their best to encourage bland artists and discourage the creative. Bland=predictable. Predictable means they can chart how much money they make in advance. A sound business decision. Too bad they're raping and mangling a beautiful art form.

yeah most of those arguments sound about right

underground country music scene?

for some reason that seems really funny to me
maybe because country music isn't popular at all here