The New York area has always been known for certain things musically – Frank Sinatra’s New York New York, Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind, or even the Beastie Boys No Sleep till Brooklyn, but country music? Well, as of 9:47 am on January 24, people in the New York area were able to turn on their radio stations to 94.7 and hear How Country Feels by Randy Houser coming through their speakers.
“Country music? But this is the north. Keep that stuff down in the south,” said Senior Kristin Visentin in response to being told New York now has a full-time country music station. She is not alone. Many people are not fond of the banjo strumming, American- flag-loving lyrics found in most country songs since we were raised in an area where rappers, rock, and top 40 superstars rule the radio waves. But after a 17 year hiatus during which no New York station was devoted entirely to country, the demand for country music finally won out.
Attitudes may be changing in the Northeast when an artist like Jason Aldean is able to sell out Madison Square Garden in ten minutes, or someone like Kenny Chesney is able to headline and sell out Met Life Stadium in each of the last two summers. People opening their country music boundaries may partly be a function of the crossover success of such artists as Taylor Swift (who many country fans do not even consider part of their genre anymore).
“People who sit there and say they hate country because it makes no sense and is all about drinking, girls, and a dead dog have to realize rap is all about drugs, sex, and drinking. So they have no leg to stand on and should give this upbeat happy genre a chance,” said Senior and country fan Courtney Paganelli.
Nash 94.7 accompanied the kick off of the new station with a concert at Roseland Ballroom in New York City. Fans entered online to win tickets for one of three nights, February 18, 19, or 20, with different artists performing every night. Hundreds of country listeners packed into the ballroom patiently awaiting performances by artists like Darius Rucker (previously known as Hootie from Hootie and the Blowfish), Blake Shelton, and Lady Antebellum.
“Hopefully this radio station has more success than ones in the past” said Paganelli “I think it will, because people are finding out that deep down they do have a heart for country music.”