How racism became a marketing tool for country music
The top three songs in America right now are country tracks, and the top two hits are by artists facing allegations of racism. At the top of the charts is Jason Aldean: he shot to number one after releasing his music video "Try That In A Small Town," which included montages critical of the Black Lives Matter protests and showed Aldean singing in front of a courthouse where a Black teen was lynched. Morgan Wallen has the number two hit, and his popularity rose after being cancelled for using the N-word.
But this is not unprecedented for the genre. Brittany sits down with historian Amanda Martinez to talk about country music's history of marketing itself in opposition of Blackness for financial gain.
You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at [email protected].
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
But this is not unprecedented for the genre. Brittany sits down with historian Amanda Martinez to talk about country music's history of marketing itself in opposition of Blackness for financial gain.
You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at [email protected].
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
You May Also Like

Thomas Paine Podcast
mike moore

The Viall Files
Nick Viall

The Broadcasting Seeds Podcast
Bennett Tanton

Money Making Conversations Master Class
Rushion McDonald

Tilos Rádió heti podcast
Tilos Rádió

True Cheating Wives and Girlfriends Stories 2025 - True Cheating Stories Podcast
True Cheat Stories Official 2026
Alledaagse Vragen
NPO Luister / BNNVARA

Modern Wisdom
Chris Williamson

Ya salió el Peine
Pei Garza

De Grote Podcastlas
Leon Boelens, Max Gerritsen & Hugo Noordman
Community discussion