In light of romanticizing the new year and all the new things that will come with it despite the fact that nothing truly changes with the simple flip of a calendar, I will make some predictions for the coming year in music.
Predictions might be the wrong word – perhaps “hopes” or “wishes” is more appropriate. Call it wishful thinking, call it bias, but the following is what I”d like to see happen in the realm of music for the United States in 2016.
First, the taboo of genres in the lives of trendy young adults, the bane of many millennial ears that didn”t grow up in the sticks: country.
At the risk of losing some readers” respect, I proudly categorize myself as a country music fan and a column defending my undying love of Jason Aldean is soon to come. Still, I”ve had my beef with the genre, mostly thanks to the mixed feelings I have toward rising artists who have been fairly questioned as to whether they are truly “country.”
Artists like Sam Hunt, who incorporates spoken word and dance vibes into his songs, as well as Thomas Rhett, who seems to be moving away from his traditionally twang-y roots with his upbeat, pop-ish hit “Crash and Burn,” come to mind.
Lyndsie Kiebert
Many country fans are up in arms in recent years, particularly 2015, about how hits like these are “not country music.” But the reality is that this is the country music of now. The same thing happened when George Strait-level stardom was passed on to the likes of Luke Bryan – genres grow and change with the demands of the fans. My hope is that in 2016 this debate is put to rest. Haters should boycott the radio if they feel so inclined, because this is modern country – and it”s growing on me.
Next, this resistance from artists to embrace the age of music streaming is getting old, and it”s time in 2016 that services like Spotify, SoundCloud and their smaller contemporaries are utilized by everyone from international pop stars to small town bands.
Yes, monetary concerns are real, and artists like Taylor Swift make a fair point in worrying that all who are a part of the music-making process are fairly paid, but even these concerns can”t stop the inevitable.
Music streaming is real, and it is here. Actually, it has been unavoidably prevalent since 2012, or earlier, depending upon the streaming service in question. It is time this truth is faced, and if healthy financial debates follow, that”s all the better.
Lastly, I have high hopes that in 2016 there will be a renewed focus on the quality of the music and less focus on the appearances and actions of the people behind the albums.
This isn”t a disparaging dig at Miley and the like – though while I don”t always condone her public behavior, I do support her right to express herself, and that applies to all artists.
In 2016, I want less E! News-type entertainment fluff that only fuels the loss of focus and more music coverage for the sake of the artistry.
This might be more of wishlist than a set of predictions, but hey, one can hope.
Lyndsie Kiebert can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @lyndsie_kiebert