Is Country Music Popular In Europe?
Ever wondered if country music, a genre deeply rooted in American culture, has found a footing in Europe? Well, the straightforward answer is yes.
Country music is popular in Europe with many established country singers having scored platinum albums, while the UK & Ireland have thriving local scenes with cult followings.
Even if country music may not seem like the hottest thing in Europe, a quick look will see country music festivals sold out in many major markets.
This comes alongside some parts of Europe spawning their own country subgenres, with charts dedicated entirely to the genre. In this article, we’ll dive into just how popular the genre is, and where it’s most listened to throughout Europe.
How Popular Is Country Music in Europe?
Europe is often seen as mainstream music’s second biggest region behind North America. Throughout the decades, regions such as the UK, Scandinavia and Germany have produced global megastars regardless if they were rock, pop or even electronica.
Yet these regions have yet to produce country music on a scale quite like the United States. This has been a stigma that has questioned the popularity of country music across Europe. It’s particularly strange considering that other markets such as Australia and New Zealand have produced country music stars of their own.
But a quick look at history soon changes this stigma. And it goes as far back as the 1960s with legendary singer Johnny Cash. Cash’s biggest hit – “Ring of Fire”- proves this as the 1963 hit sold more copies in the UK than in the US. The single itself has sold 600,000 units going platinum in the UK, while only selling 500,000 in the US and going gold.
It’s a similar situation with Kenny Roger’s 1978 song “The Gambler” which earned platinum status in the UK as well as going gold in Denmark. The 600,000 units sold in the UK almost matched that in the US where the song shifted 780,000 units since release.
Are Female Country Acts Successful in Europe?
Country music’s popularity in Europe is best underlined by how successful female acts have been.
The best proof of this comes from Canadian singer Shania Twain. Her 1997 album Come on Over shattered records worldwide with Europe being no exception. According to the IFPI, 18% (7 million) of the 40 million copies sold worldwide came from Europe earning a 7xPlatinum certification. Furthermore, it is ranked within the top 20 best-selling records in British chart history.
Taylor Swift is another act that has broken boundaries in Europe. Before shifting to a more poppier style in the 2010s, Swift’s earlier albums sent shockwaves across the region. Her 2008 album Fearless showcases this perfectly. It has earned platinum status in Denmark and the UK as well as going 2xPlatinum in Ireland.
This success has shown that country acts can have mainstream success in Europe and break records with an iconic southern drawl.
Do Europeans Listen to Country Today?
Moving away from the mainstream, it’s still not hard to find a burgeoning country scene across the continent. As the 21st century has progressed, there are more and more signs that country music is popular in Europe.
The scenes change quite dramatically as you shift from region to region but the same love and passion can be found wherever you look. So how is country music popular in Europe today?
Britain’s Growing Love
For British country music fans, there couldn’t be a better time to be getting into the scene. Until the 21st century, country music was very much a sub-genre in the UK. However, that’s no longer the case.
The genre is skyrocketing in popularity no matter where you look. For example, the Official Charts Company launch the UK Country Chart to cope with the growing demand in the mid-2000s.
This would spill over into the mainstream in the 2010s with breakthrough achievements within the Official Albums Chart.
Firstly, The Shires became the first British country act to score a top ten album when their debut Brave reached number 10 in March 2015. Female duo Ward Thomas would outdo them one year later though. Their second album Cartwheels topped the album charts in September 2016, fending off the likes of Barbara Streisand and The Carpenters to become the first British country act to have a number one album.
All this huge success showcases just why country music is fast becoming one of the most popular genres in the UK.
Country and Irish
Irish musicians always like to take genres and add their natural flair to them. This comes in with the use of traditional instruments and songwriting styles. Unsurprisingly, country music has been no exception.
Often a traditional home for country music in Europe, Irish acts have created a unique subgenre that is almost inescapable – “Country and Irish”.
The sound uses traditional Irish fiddles alongside guitars and drums to give a more rural feel, and also often sees songs played more often in a slower tempo. It’s sounds that are heard throughout radio stations and TV channels in both Ireland and the UK.
Another example of this success can be seen in Nathan Carter. Carter is arguably Ireland’s biggest country singer having notched up 2 number one albums and his 2012 cover of “Wagon Wheel” charting in both the UK & Ireland.
Alongside Carter’s success, Derek Ryan has found huge success as a mainstream act. Switching from Celtic folk music to Irish Country, Ryan has not only scored 2 number one albums, but his record label – Ryan Records – provides a platform for local artists to prosper and find success.
Scandinavia‘s Nordic Twist
You will find artists of all genres throughout Scandinavia, and country music in particular has grown hugely in popularity in recent years.
For those wondering if country music is popular in Europe’s northern reaches, just take a look at the Norwegian country scene. It is flourishing and is led by a surprising fleet of top names. The best example of this is Marit Larsen.
Larsen found most of her fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s as part of pop act M2M. After the group disbanded, Larsen turned to country music as her main output. Her success has been unparalleled, scoring 2 number one albums with albums Under The Surface and The Chase going platinum. On top of that, her albums have also charted in Germany and Switzerland, adding to her continental reach.
Sweden’s contribution to country music is notorious but just as iconic. This comes in the form of the electro-country act Rednex, which produced the 1993 megahit “Cotton-Eye Joe”. Despite their hit still being meme-worthy to this day, the act has found success mixing electronic beats with live instruments. So much so that the band’s 1995 album Sex & Violins went platinum across Europe in places such as Norway, Finland and Switzerland.
Europe’s Live Country Music Scene
Alongside varied chart successes, it’s the thriving live scene that showcases why country music is popular in Europe. It comes as festivals easily sell out every year no matter where you go to attend them.
Arguably the biggest festival is C2C: Country to Country. This country music festival acts as a 3-day event that tours through various cities, drawing in big names from both sides of the Atlantic. Often spread across the UK and Ireland, it fills some of the biggest venues in the UK such as the O2 Arena in London as well as the 3Arena in Dublin. Selling over 100,000 each year, it has become one of the UK’s biggest indoor festivals.
Away from the bright lights and arenas, more and more small outside festivals are drawing big names to their scenes. More stripped-back affairs such as Craic By The Creek and The Long Road in England showcase big names from across Europe with headline spots often drawing at least one big name from the US.
These events often cross over with other genres such as folk or Americana, widening the audience scope. With events like these often bringing in crowds in the thousands over a weekend, it solidifies how country music is popular in Europe beyond chart sales.
Final Thoughts
No matter if mainstream sales don’t suggest it, there is plenty of proof that country music is popular in Europe. A glance through chart records shows that plenty of country artists have been able to translate their success in Europe selling millions of records both on the mainland and in the UK. It’s been a draw that has spanned across decades stretching from the 1960s to now.
It’s these successes that have inspired local acts to push forward and break forward into new territory. No matter if it has Irish fiddles, a Nordic pop princess or even fusing with electronica, you don’t have to look too far to find a successful country music act. It’s matched by a thriving live scene that can sell out both rural farm fields as well as some of the region’s biggest indoor arenas. All this goes to show that country music is popular in Europe as it is in the rest of the world.
