the TrueFans AMP— Issue 104

"He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods— a true legend. He was also one of the funniest people I've ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love."
— Elton John about Ozzy Osborne on Instagram

In This Issue... 16 pages (about 24ish minutes to read) You'll Get... 

• Recommends— Watch: Heart's Stairway To Heaven at the Kennedy Center Honors

• Your BIZ— How Country Took Over the Charts a Statistical Remix by Daniel Parris

• The Greatest Songwriters of All Time— Ozzy Osborne 

• In Partnership with Daniel Parris & Stat Significant

• Guest Article— The End of the "Pure" Songwriter? from an article by Tatiana Cirisano, MIDiA Research

• PS from JMF— The Listener Is Always Right John Fogg giving Paul a vacation.

Here’s the playlist

• Recommends—Watch: Heart Performs "Stairway to Heaven" at the Kennedy Center Honors

Watch it on YouTube

This is one of those rare, unforgettable moments in music performance.

Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart— backed by Jason Bonham on drums and a full gospel choir— take on Led Zeppelin's untouchable classic Stairway to Heaven… in front of the band themselves. At the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors.

And they. Crush. It.

It's reverent. It's bold. It's deeply emotional. And it rises— slowly, beautifully— into a full-blown spiritual experience.

Keep an eye on Robert Plant's face. Watch Jimmy Page's smile. Catch John Paul Jones nodding with pride. By the final chorus, Plant's eyes are brimming. Maybe yours will be too.

Bonus: Want some behind-the-scenes insight? Catch Heart's appearance on Howard Stern  as they talk candidly about the preparation, nerves, and magic behind that night. Tap this link; Heart on Howard. 

Why This Matters
The Kennedy Center Honors are a national treasure. A rare and radiant celebration of true artistic excellence. Of music that matters. Performances like this one aren't just tribute— they're legacy, emotion, reverence, soul.

The recent controversies threatening the future of the Kennedy Center and its Honors...

They're more than politics. They're cultural vandalism.

We need these moments. These recognitions. This reverence.

We need to remember… greatness.

And this performance is one for the ages.

• Your BIZ— How Country Took Over the Charts a Statistical Remix by Daniel Parris (Condensed & Expanded)

In 2019, Billboard pulled Lil Nas X's Old Town Road from the Hot Country chart, saying it didn't "fit" the genre— despite cowboy themes, banjo instrumentation, and a southern twang. Its hip-hop beat and meme-worthy swagger pushed it outside the lines. But that moment wasn't just about one song— it revealed a genre in flux, straddling its roots and a rapidly expanding future.

In 1975, just 6% of Billboard-charting songs were country. By 2023? That number hit 34%. Country didn't just come back— it's become the biggest genre in the business.

What's powering that rise? Is it real? And can country keep its soul as it scales?

A Genre Built to Last
Country music began in the 1920s as "hillbilly music," unapologetically marketed by labels like Columbia to rural, working-class Americans. By the 1940s, with stars like Hank Williams and Patsy Cline, it shed that label and expanded its appeal. When Billboard launched its Hot 100 in 1958, country artists like Jim Reeves were there from day one.

Seven decades later, country is still charting. Genres like jazz, swing, and disco faded or fragmented— but country held on. Why? Because it evolves.

Country's adaptability is one secret. But its loyalty is another. Country fans are famously devoted. Data from AccuRadio shows they concentrate their listening on country stations far more than fans of other genres. It's not just what they like— it's who they are.

And yet, demographically, today's country fan isn't some distant stereotype. A 2018 poll from the Country Music Association (yes, biased, but still insightful) found that fans now look like average Americans, not caricatures. They're just as likely to live in suburbs as on farms. Just as likely to scroll TikTok as ride tractors.

So here's the central tension: 

Can a genre built on regionalism, tradition, and working-class pride thrive in a hyper-mainstream world?

When Country Went Pop
The 1990s blew the doors open.

First, infrastructure: The Telecommunications Act of 1996 let media giants consolidate local stations into nationwide networks. Suddenly, country wasn't stuck in the South— it had a national stage. And for rural listeners in underserved areas, this expansion meant more consistent access to the music they loved. The result? More airplay → more hits → more airplay. A virtuous cycle.

Second, crossover artists: Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, and Tim McGraw brought slick production and pop-rock appeal to the genre. Brooks alone sold over 62 million albums in the ‘90s— outselling almost everyone but Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. Country became cool.

A Sound That Morphs— but Holds
Over its 100+ year lifespan, country has birthed an astonishing number of subgenres: honky-tonk, southern rock, outlaw country, the Nashville sound, neotraditional, bro-country, outlaw, country pop, and now, country-hip-hop.

Billboard's data shows country songs are among the most diverse in structure— surpassed only by jazz and folk (two genres no longer prominent on the charts).

And that evolution has paid off. Acts like Morgan Wallen and Florida Georgia Line mix 808s and hip-hop sensibilities into their sound. They're working with artists like Post Malone and Nelly. Meanwhile, genre-blurring newcomers like Lil Nas X and Shaboozey are topping charts with tracks that mix trap, twang, and viral swagger.

In 2024, country went even further: Beyoncé and Post Malone released country albums—and they weren't novelties. They were serious, chart-topping, era-defining records.

Three of the five top-selling country acts in 2024 weren't known as country artists a few years ago.

The Copy-and-Paste Risk
Parris points to punk as a cautionary tale. In the late ‘70s, punk was rebellion incarnate: raw sound, safety pins, DIY everything. Fast-forward to 2004 and you could buy the entire "punk look" at Hot Topic. The meaning had been absorbed— and diluted— by mainstream culture.

That's co-option: when a subculture becomes style-first and substance-light. It's not conspiracy— it's what happens when something cool becomes too big to stay weird.

It's what happens when Che Guevara becomes a T-shirt, Ice Cube stars in kids' movies, and Star Wars turns from outsider sci-fi into corporate juggernaut.

Is country next?

Cowboy hats in malls. Teenagers in bolo ties nowhere near a ranch. TikTok dances with a twang. The genre may be riding a wave— but what happens when it's just aesthetic?

And maybe that's why Old Town Road felt threatening to some traditionalists. It was funny, playful— and kind of brilliant. It held up a mirror: This is what country looks like when it goes fully viral. This is what happens when genre lines blur.

And yet— it wasn't the end of country. It was the beginning of its new chapter.

"Genres Are a Funny Little Concept…"
That's a line from Beyoncé's 2024 country record. And it nails it.

Genres are supposed to define sound. But in 2025, they feel more like suggestions. Playlists bounce between hip-hop, indie folk, and country without hesitation. TikTok accelerates that blend. Algorithms flatten borders.

And country music, once fiercely regional and conservative in its sonic palette, is now riding that cultural shift better than almost anyone.

It's easy to say country has gone mainstream. But maybe the mainstream just came to country.

Our TakeAway
Country music's rise isn't just a trend— it's a lesson in longevity, loyalty, and adaptability. The genre keeps evolving while staying rooted in identity and emotion. For artists, the message is clear: 

Don't be afraid to reinvent— just stay real. Blend styles, break molds, but hold on to your truth. That's what makes music last.

__________ 

To learn more about Daniel Parris & Stat Significant scroll down to the in partnership with... box. And... subscribe to Daniel's Substack.

"Ozzy Osbourne didn't just sing songs— he summoned the thunder, reshaped the soul of rock, and wrote his name in the annals of songwriting history."

From the Grit of Birmingham to the Birth of Metal
Ozzy Osbourne was born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, in 1948— poor, dyslexic... and drifting. By fifteen, he had left school with no qualifications, bouncing between jobs and brushes with the law. But something louder than circumstance was stirring.

In 1968, Ozzy joined forces with guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward to form Black Sabbath. Their sound was raw, menacing, and completely unprecedented. Their debut album Black Sabbath, released in 1970, set fire to the rulebook. Sabbath didn't just play louder— they wrote songs soaked in fear, war, madness, and moral decay. Ozzy's spectral vocals and co-writing credit on tracks like Paranoid, Iron Man, and War Pigs helped define not just a band— but a genre. 

Heavy metal was born, and Ozzy was its first voice.

A Solo Career Forged in Fire and Reinvention
Fired from Sabbath in 1979 amid drug and alcohol chaos, Ozzy was presumed finished. Instead, he came back with Blizzard of Ozz in 1980— a staggering solo debut that featured the neo-classical shred of guitarist Randy Rhoads and anthems like Crazy Train and Mr. Crowley. He followed up with Diary of a Madman, Bark at the Moon, and No More Tears, proving he wasn't just surviving— he was still innovating. Thriving.

Throughout his solo career, Ozzy's songwriting remained fiercely collaborative. He teamed with Rhoads, Zakk Wylde, Bob Daisley, and others to create tracks that pushed metal's boundaries while still packing melodic punch. Lyrics like "I'm going off the rails on a crazy train" weren't just memorable— they were Ozzy's life in miniature. The chaos was real, but so was the vision.

"Prince of Darkness… shaped heavy rock and entertained millions." 
— Associated Press

By the 1990s, he'd sold tens of millions of albums worldwide. His solo work brought a wider emotional range to the heavy genre— songs like Mama, I'm Coming Home and Dreamer showed a reflective, often haunted man behind the bat-biting myth.

Sharon, Ozzfest, and the Family Business of Rock
Central to Ozzy's second act was Sharon Osbourne. The two married in 1982, and she became both his partner in life and the strategic mastermind of his career. Sharon's business sense and loyalty helped Ozzy stay relevant— and stay alive. Together, they launched Ozzfest in 1996, a traveling heavy metal festival that gave bands like Slipknot, Korn, System of a Down, and Disturbed their big break.

Through reality TV, awards shows, and media antics, the Osbournes became a cultural phenomenon. But behind the spectacle, Ozzy kept writing. He kept touring. He kept doing the one thing no one could ever take from him: creating songs that mattered.

"Heaviest, scariest, coolest riffs… without peer." 
— Tom Morello

Struggles, Survival, and the Final Curtain
Ozzy's well-documented battles with addiction were both horrifying and deeply human. He survived overdoses, arrests, accidents, and rehab stints. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, and in the years that followed, underwent multiple surgeries. Still, he kept moving forward.

In early 2025, Ozzy returned to his hometown of Birmingham one last time. Flanked by a full orchestra and a choir, he delivered a wrenching, powerful rendition of Mr. Crowley to a packed stadium. It was emotional, electric, and unforgettable. And it was his farewell.

On July 22, 2025, Ozzy Osbourne passed away at age 76. The tributes were immediate and global.

"He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods – a true legend. He was also one of the funniest people I've ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love."
— Elton John on Instagram, reflecting on their deep friendship and Ozzy's enormous impact on rock and pop culture (The Guardian)

"I will miss him dearly." 
— Rod Stewart

"I didn't think you would leave so soon. The last time we met, you were so full of life and your laugh filled up the room… You took us on your adventure—an adventure that started it all. I am truly heartbroken. You were the greatest of all time."
— Yungblud, who saw Ozzy as mentor and inspiration, capturing the profound influence he had on younger artists (Fox News)

"Ozzy Forever." 
— Black Sabbath

"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time."
— Family statement, a moving expression of loss from those closest to him (loudwire.com)

"Heaviest, scariest, coolest riffs and the apocalyptic Ozzy wail are without peer. You can hear the despair and menace of the working-class Birmingham streets they came from in every kick-ass, evil groove."
— Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), capturing how Ozzy's sound embodied the grit, power, and pathos of his working-class roots (Wikipedia, The Guardian)

Legacy: The Prince of Darkness, the Poet of Metal
Ozzy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice— once with Black Sabbath in 2006, and again as a solo artist in 2024. He won multiple Grammys and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ivor Novello Foundation. But numbers and trophies don't tell the story.

Ozzy Osbourne rewrote what it meant to be a frontman, a Songwriter, and an artist. He brought emotional complexity to a genre often misunderstood. He wrote about darkness because he lived in it— but also because he understood that darkness is part of the human experience.

"Trailblazing friend and true legend." 
— Elton John

His music inspired generations. From Metallica to Nirvana, from Ghost to Foo Fighters, his influence is in the DNA of every heavy riff and every lyric that dares to be both brutal and honest.

What He Leaves Behind
Ozzy's songs weren't polished puzzles— they were open wounds. They gave voice to alienation, rage, and hope in equal measure. He didn't sing from a throne— he sang from the pit, with all the fire and soul he had.

"The greatest of all time." 
— YUNGBLUD

More than five decades after his first scream split the air, Ozzy's music still does what all great songwriting does: it speaks to something eternal, something raw and real inside us. He is gone, but his voice— mad, melodic, unforgettable— will echo for as long as people plug in guitars and look for truth in the distortion.

Rest loud, Ozzy. You made the noise that made us feel understood.

• In Partnership with Daniel Parris & Stat Significant

• Guest Article— The End of the "Pure" Songwriter? from an article by Tatiana Cirisano, MIDiA Research

Why today's songwriters are building new careers from the ground up— and what Artists can learn from it

"When systems fail, there are two options: try to fix what is broken, or build something new."

The royalty game was never kind to Songwriters.

But in 2025, it's become nearly impossible to win— and a growing class of creatives are refusing to play by the old rules.

According to a major new report from our friends at MIDiA Research, Songwriters around the world are reinventing their careers, identities, and income streams. They're not waiting for publishing houses, performance rights orgs, or government panels to save them. Instead, they're building businesses, not just songs— and it's working.

The Disappearing "Pure" Songwriter
Remember when being just a Songwriter was a viable career path?

In the album era, co-writers on a single track could earn from the full-sale value of the album. Not anymore. In the streaming era, songs are atomized, and payments are minuscule. And worse, those scraps have to be split between multiple collaborators.

MIDiA's global survey of nearly 800 songwriters found that even among full-time professionals, the average annual income from songwriting is just $25,400.

That's not sustainable. And the problem is compounded by this reality:

Unlike artists, most Songwriters don't tour. They don't sell merch. They don't get paid from ticketing, fan clubs, sync, or SuperFan access.

Which is why the new generation isn't just writing. They're hustling, innovating, and adapting.

The Rise of the DIY Songwriter-Entrepreneur
MIDiA's report outlines a wave of reinvention happening right now:

The results?

Songwriters on creator marketplaces earned more, released more music, and were more likely to see their income grow than those who weren't.

Even better: Songwriters who were active on social media platforms— especially those who posted frequently and across multiple platforms— fared better financially, even among non-professionals.

It's not just talent that wins today. It's presence. Connection. And creative entrepreneurship.

What Music Artists Can Learn From This...
At the TrueFans AMP™, we often talk about making Right Now Money and having Fans Forever. But that doesn't just apply to performing or recording artists.

Songwriters are now becoming their own TrueFans engines— by showing up, building platforms, and creating offerings that go beyond the song.

This isn't just a Songwriter shift. It's a music business reality.

Whether you're a singer, producer, or behind-the-scenes pen, the takeaway is the same:

Waiting for royalties to sustain your career is like waiting for lightning to strike.
Better to build your own generator.

Platform Shift: Even the Giants Are Paying Attention
This reinvention wave isn't happening in a vacuum. The platforms are starting to notice.

Even traditional labels and publishers are feeling the tremors. If Songwriters stop relying on royalties… what exactly are the big players selling anymore?

The Takeaway for AMP Readers: Reinvention = Resilience
Tatiana Cirisano and the MIDiA team have captured a real-time reinvention— and it's one every TrueFans Artist should study.

Don't wait for the old systems to work for you.

Make your own. Build your brand. Sell your art. Create experiences. Connect directly.

Songwriters are doing it. So can you.

And if you're a Songwriter yourself?

The message is even louder:

You're not "just" a Songwriter anymore. You're a creator. An entrepreneur. A brand. A leader.

And as always, your greatest asset is the community of TrueFans you build along the way.

__________  

MIDiA Research stands at the forefront of industry intelligence, providing comprehensive analysis and deep insights into the digital entertainment and technology sectors. Esteemed globally for their influential reports, precise market forecasts, and strategic guidance, MIDiA Research helps leading companies, industry executives, and innovative startups navigate complex market landscapes with confidence. Their expert team addresses critical topics, including music streaming trends, consumer engagement, emerging technologies, digital media economics, and much more.

MIDiA's widely-respected work is essential reading for anyone seeking clarity, strategic foresight, and actionable intelligence in today's fast-paced digital economy. In addition to their premium reports and advisory services, MIDiA offers a valuable newsletter to keep you informed about the latest industry developments and opportunities. Explore their resources, stay informed, and gain a decisive edge in your business endeavors.

Visit MIDiA Research, discover more and subscribe to the MIDiA Newsletter https://www.midiaresearch.com/resources .   

• PS from JMF— The Listener Is Always Right John Fogg giving Paul a vacation.

It's Not What the Songwriter Meant... It's What the Listener Feels.

Why listener meaning always matters more than artist intent.

Every few weeks, another article pops up promising to tell me "what that famous song really means." What was Dylan saying in Desolation Row? What's the true story behind Fire and Rain? Was Garth Brooks' The Dance about a lost lover… or something else? 

Let's be honest:

It doesn't matter.

Not really. Not to us, the listeners.

The truth is, once a song is born— once it's played, recorded, and released into the world — it no longer belongs solely to the Music Artist. (Yeah, yeah. Awards and Rewards.) It belongs to everyone who hears it. And what it means… depends entirely on who's listening.

The Listener is the Final Co-Writer
A brilliant song isn't brilliant because it says exactly what the artist meant.

It's brilliant because it says exactly what we wanted and / or needed to hear.

You might hear The Dance and think of a lost love, a failed dream, a parent, a partner, or a moment you can never get back— and yet would never give up.

I might hear it and think of the years I wasted chasing a life that didn't want to be caught.

And still… we're both crying before the second chorus.

"I could have missed the pain / But I'd have had to miss the dance…"

Did Garth and Tony Arata mean one thing? Probably.

But the song means everything— to all of us.

That's what makes it great.

Songwriter Intent is Sacred… But Not Supreme
Yes, what a Songwriter meant matters— to the Songwriter.

It matters in the crafting, in the catharsis, in the creation.

But once the song is out in the world, it's not an instruction manual.

It's a mirror.

A canvas.

A secret note that somehow got addressed to you.

We don't need footnotes or behind-the-scenes breakdowns to be moved.

We need honesty, emotion, resonance— the invisible stuff that makes a line hit us in the gut, even if we don't know why.

The Power of the Universal Specific
Here's the paradox:

The more personal and specific a Songwriter gets… the more universal the song often becomes.

Think about it. Springsteen sings about a New Jersey factory town and somehow speaks to people in Berlin, Bangkok, and Buenos Aires.

Joni Mitchell writes about a parking lot and suddenly all of us are thinking about what we've lost.

Sinead sings Nothing Compares 2 U and we all feel like someone just exposed the ache we didn't have words for.

That's the magic.

A Songwriter's job isn't to tell us what to feel.

It's to make space for us to feel something real.

What It Means for Artists (and AMP Readers)
If you're a Songwriter or Music Artist, here's your takeaway:

Don't write for the market. Don't write to explain.
Write what's true. Write what hurts. Write what heals.

Your truth will find its own reflection in someone else's life.

That's the only kind of relevance that matters.

And if you're a TrueFan— a 'Super Listener'— never let anyone tell you what a song "is supposed" to mean.

It means what it means. To you.

And that's not a side effect. That's the whole point.

Because the song doesn't end when the final chord fades.
It lives on in the heart of the person who hears it.

That's what makes music immortal.
That's what makes it art.

And that's why… it was never about what the Songwriter meant.

It was always about what the listener felt— and remembers. 

Until you speak again with Paul...

Thanks for reading. Give us your feedback.

And PLEASE, if you've got any Singer Songwriter friends, pass the AMP on, because... It’s Time... for a Change. Big Time. Past Time...