Going Country Means Big Bucks For Pop Stars
Gaga and
Bieber are both dipping into the country music waters. Lady Gaga has turned '
Born This Way' into a country beat, ostensibly titled, '
The Country Road Version,' and Bieber just released his video for '
That Should Be Me,' the remix he recorded with Grammy-winning country act Rascal Flatts.
What gives? Maybe the price of meat dresses and affected haircuts is rising. One thing is for sure: The country music market can represent a cash cow for celebs who can win over the genre's consumers.
Country music accounts for approximately 12 percent of the entire music market, which makes it a lucrative pool to tap into. But beyond sales, going country offers an artist the street cred with red-blooded Americans that so often eludes the average pop star.
Done properly, there is something intriguing and sexy about a pop star who is able to win the country market. Country fans are a fiercely loyal group, and gaining their affection shows that a star has real talent outside of the bubble gum bubble.
"Crossing over is usually a smart move. It shows versatility, something both Bieber and Lady Gaga demonstrate time and again,"
Us Weekly music editor Ian Drew told
PopEater. "It's smart because they throw it out there as a one-off, not a total switch to another entire genre."
Major corporations have hopped onto the country bandwagon in the past year. The CMA Music Festival had 60 corporate partners this year, 30 of which were new. These companies want Middle America on their side, and country is the route to reach that population; where their down-home heart beats in line with their toe-tapping on their front porch. This surge in interest from big brand names means that aligning with the genre makes both Gaga and Bieber more attractive to marketers.
It also makes them more attractive to consumers. The genre is largely driven by adult women who make the buying decisions for their households, rather than tweenagers. Gaga and Bieber want this audience's attention since these women are the decision makers who drive sales for all the ancillary products -- fragrances, consumer goods and concert tickets -- that actually make artists money these days.
But both Biebs and Gaga should tread carefully; there's a fine line between crossover sensation and poseur, warns Drew.
"One song is OK as it shows you are a virtuoso. More than that and you inch into pop poseur territory. It's fine if you're, say,
Kelly Clarkson or Jewel, where the line is finer. But [for] Gaga and Bieber, doing it just a touch is just right."
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Lady Gag-Gag is nothing more than kuntry at best! A klown in country clothing!
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Bieber and Gaga are NOT country singers!...MY opinion is that they are reaching out to Country to sell their songs like Taylor Swift had her songs played on POP radio stations, and should be short lived.... Taylor's fave is Country music....of course!
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Who is that butt-ugly woman with the tape on her boobs??
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Lady Gag Gag
WOW.. i totally agree with u ;)
gaga and bieber are about as country as a cadilac full of bros. driving in east st. louis
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lady gag gag is a guy rascal flatts what a dumb ideal i would fire the person who came up with that one
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I understand wanting to sing a song, and it "crosses over" (for instances......Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now". Fine. Great song, and everyone loves it. But this song Lady Gaga has is NOWHERE near what country is. Not today, or where it has been in the past. I'll agree with Happy.....Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood have had many of their songs on the pop charts, but these songs of Gaga's and Beiber's.......they will NOT be hitting NOWHERE ON THE COUNTRY CHARTS. If they do, I will be very surprised....SHOCKED, actually. I mean, if country radio is hardly playing Reba's country version of "If I Were A Boy"- which it ACTUALLY IS COUNTRY........by a COUNTRY LEGEND, then why would they play this crap? Your only successful, if you can pull it off- Reba & Kelly Clarkson (Because of You), Darius Rucker, Jewel, Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson (Don't You Wanna Stay). Those are some pop artists who have crossed over, or have collaborated with country artists to make a successful charting country hit. These singles....I doubt it.
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Jason and Lady GaGa does not belong in country music. They are not true country.
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They could have had chris browneye, fittty cent, kanyo and the rest of the clowns added as well. Just to give the story some real credibility!
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These POPTARTS need to stay in their own genre! Leave country ALONE! You are doing nothing but making fools of yourselves!
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Alan Jackson recorded a song about singers who "go country" to make money.
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"Murder on Music Row" with George Strait and Alan Jackson... that song would be very fitting for this article.
Hey if you have not heard the song Justin did with Rascal Flats, don't knock him till you've heard it.He's pretty darn good. And 'm nearly 60 and not a Beiber fan. And hey folks, any one who really knows talent knows, that Lady Ga Ga is way more, than a hack in clown suits. The girl is a mega talent, with great vocal skills , and musical abilities . I have been a huge country fan for half a century, but also a fan of all kinds and genres of GOOD music. Good is good and talent is talent in any field. I can go to a George Straight concert one night and a Lady GaGa the next and enjoy them both equally, because I can recognize talent and a good sound no matter who is putting it out. And any one with an ear and ability to recognize real talent should be able to do the same.
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Going country is a smart move for some pop stars. Kenny Rogers started his career in rock n roll with the song "I Just Dropped in to See What Condition My Condition Was In" and "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town." Both were top 40 rock and roll hits. Then, in a very smart and lucrative move - Rogers went country. His career as a rock singer would have fizzled. Instead, it flourished, and made him a rich man. Rock stars burn out, or look ridiculous trying to recapture their youth, still doing their same old act at age 50. With country music you can age gracefully. Country singers can still perform at age 70 years old and still sound great. Same with R&B.
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Bieber and Gaga are NOT country singers!...we dont want or need them thay are just out for headlines gage and bieber will never be country singers hank sr. patsy, freddy fener,jim reeves,johnny cash,johnny paycheck,george jones, and i could put more country singer on this list but gaga and bieder at the grand old opry it will be a cold day in hell so gaga get back under your rock bieber go back up north to Canada were you came from and let country music alone
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Lady Gaga is crap, but so is country music. I guess it all makes sense.
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Gaggag does country..lolol..sure some of the pioneers of country are all rolling in their graves right now, thinking what is this?..thanks aol, I needed a really good laugh this morning
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