“She went to Nashville to sing country music”

Summary

Who is permitted to participate in and how they participate are critical issues within the cultural and social context of country music. On the surface, the issues appear to be driven by the economics of record production—industry players study their markets and choose product strategies that meet the demands and needs of the consumer at a cost that maintains an acceptable profit margin for everyone involved. But as Whose Country Music? demonstrates, individuals and institutions within the field of country music cultural production act as gatekeepers on the sound and identity of the genre, dictating not just who gets to participate but also the terms under which they are permitted to contribute to country music culture. The introductory chapter describes the various ways in which gatekeepers control access to opportunities and resources within country music culture, pointing to chapters within the collection to show the industrial system functions.