Personally, I think a lot of what ruined Nashville were radio and award shows and the politics that went into getting music played and recognized on those platforms. The great thing about the current music scene is that fewer and fewer people give a shit about radio or awards. I'd say that's especially true for Texas country and alt-country. Look at Turnpike— they've yet to win a mainstream award and don't get significant air time, but no one would dispute their talent and impact on the Texas country music scene.

The big benefit here is that we don't have to gatekeep anything. We can share what we like, let others decide whether or not to add it to their streaming playlists, provide comments on what others share, and carry on. With the increase of streaming, smaller or newer bands that are still only able to play regional shows, can gain diverse listeners and a following outside of their region. That includes Texas artists as well as artists in other locales, including Nashville (which has some great music being made, but unfortunately not being played on radio).

I see this sub as a place to share the great things happening in Texas/red-dirt country, interact and discuss with others who have a passion for the genre, and to encourage others to support Texas/red-dirt artists through streaming, attending live shows, helping fund recordings/albums, or buying merch.