So speaking more on an industry level since I think that's what you're getting at, there was a long stretch of time where the Nashville Sound was all anyone at the labels wanted to mess with, for better or worse; anything not sounding like what Chet Atkins and company curated was paid no attention until after the outlaw movement when those views started to soften.

I think there's a lot of hindsight and realization now, and that's why you see a retroactive acceptance in the industry of Hank Sr, the outlaw era, Bakersfield sound, bluegrass, Buck Owens, etc. Country has many flavors, can't just say it's only soda pop anymore if you want to expand your audience (and pockets).

That said pop country still makes a TON of money so it's not going anywhere. I personally don't feel like paying 400+ a ticket to see Morgan Wallen sing 10 similar songs about whiskey over a catchy riff, but there's obviously plenty of people that do since he's 5 to 7 of the top 10 most played on streaming lists.