How country music became one of the biggest export stories of the last decade
IQ charts the takeover of country music, once considered a niche genre, but now one of the fastest-growing worldwide
Feature By Lisa Henderson | 10 April 2026
Country’s cool again. That was the bold declaration made by next-generation country star Lainey Wilson in her 2024 song of the same name.
Far from a self-fulfilling prophecy, the song captured the cultural zeitgeist; after decades of being perceived as niche outside of the United States, country music had permeated the global consciousness.
Global streaming numbers were climbing rapidly, crossover collaborations were dominating charts, and a new generation of listeners, particularly Gen Z, were discovering the music through social media…
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