MAB, I can validate your predictions based on up close and personal contact with the new generation. NOBODY at the open mic's I go to does "Country". UNLESS, they are in their late 40's or older. THEN, they are doing cover tunes from the 60's-70's. Once in a while I will see a younger kid (under 40) doing some older contry covers, but it is rare. The kids (30 and under) are doing "cover tunes", but I don't recognize the genre' at all. So, I guess what I'm seeing/saying is, the kids I meet will probably never listen to "country" UNLESS it starts sounding more like what they are listening too. Of course, I rarely listen to anything but [current] country, which mixes in some "older" country (more than 2-3 years old). (NOTE: It is amazing how quickly country music is changing. At least on the radio here in central Florida.)
As a matter of fact, I learned about 10 years ago, you just cannot keep up with the music industry. Write what sounds/feels real to you. There ARE some "traditional" ish sounding tunes coming out now and then. BUT REMEMBER THIS ALSO!! You must have a RELATIONSHIP with someone "in the business" if you ever want to hear one of your songs on the radio, NO MATTER HOW GREAT IT IS. Also, IF your goal is to hear your song on the radio, that will probably be the penical of your success. You most likely will never be able to measure your success in dollars and cents. Well, "cents" maybe?
Great vision there MAB. I feel like a has been already, and I haven't even got a good start at the race, thank you very much LOL.
phil g.