The Infinite Dial

It was already clear last fall that the Taylor Swift phenomenon was creating a wedge of younger Country fans whose tastes were different from longtime country listeners, (particularly the older guys who were less interested in hearing about who liked who in high school). The implications were clear -- time for a truly younger country format in any market where a second Country outlet needed to find its own niche. But you also had to wonder if such a station would have quite enough music to own -- Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland and ... then what?

But even in the last few months, the category has expanded: Gloriana, Love & Theft, Atlantic's forthcoming Jesse Lee, and a new Country-friendly Miley Cyrus single. Most significantly, though, CMT has essentially guaranteed that there will be another act in the category by helping to grow their own, the Carter Twins, whose "Heart Like Memphis" premiered on the channel six weeks ago and is now the No. 5 video. So far, only WQYK Tampa has responded on the radio side. But as the Disney Channel has shown through teen pop's ups-and-downs at Top 40, once there's TV involved, radio is compelled to respond eventually.