European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 5, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Above Buck Owens left made a comeback Randy Travis had one of the year s biggest hits. Left the group restless heart pictured with Dick Clark at an awards program and . Lang had their Best years. By Jim Lewis United press International in terms of product alone country music in 1988 experienced its most versatile creative and profitable period in recent memory. More artists sold More records than Ever before said to Walker Meador executive director of the country music association. One of the reasons for increased sales is the improvement not Only of the Quality of music but the promotion marketing and technology she said. Perhaps even More significant to country music s skyrocketing popularity was the continued infusion of new Talent with some diverse styles. Buck Owens who resumed the recording career he abandoned in 1979, said he was motivated by the new traditionalist movement in country music. He cited such Back to basics performers As Randy Travis whose for Ever and Ever amen was one of the year s biggest hit Dwight Yoakam Rodney Crowell Ricky Van Shelton the desert Rose band Highway 101, Ricky Skaggs and Keith Whitley. Yoakam and Owens in fact joined forces on the hit streets of Bakersfield album and toured together. On the non traditionalist Side of the Coin restless heart Southern Pacific Rosanne Cash . Oslin Foster & Lloyd and . Lang also enjoyed their Best years in terms of record sales and concert crowds. Country s roots Are evident even among the non traditionalist performers. Cash for instance is the daughter of country legends Johnny Cash and june Carter Cash and their influence can be heard in her music. And despite her new wave image Lang who describes her music As Torch and twang has been compared to the late Patsy Cline. Add to that the gang of old timers who Are still making vigorous music their Way like Willie Nelson Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams or. And it Mades for one Heady mix of country music 88. Walker Meador said 1988 has been an exciting year and there is a lot of optimism for 1989. However there is some concern in the Industry she said because of the increasing number of mergers especially with International conglomerates buying up music publishing firms. People in Nashville Are not uneasy about sales or marketing Walker Meador said. They Are uneasy about so Many buyouts and mergers in publishing. They see it As the passing of an  she said the fear is that the people who have taken Over May not have the heart and feel of country music or a grip on what s  some apprehension also exists that the huge conglomerates will not give the Industry the support it needs to thrive she said. But Overall everyone should have a positive attitude. There has been a real breakthrough in that some of the artists have gone Gold and Platinum this year for the first time Walker Meador said. People like restless heart Ricky Van Shelton and . Oslin never had Gold records before. These Are relatively new people. It s unbelievable that Randy Travis has sold 6 million  country music has come a Long Way since record sales dropped dramatically in 1984 and some in the Media were writing its obituary she said. A Little too much was made of that Walker Meador said. It was a premature  she said there was a Benefit to that Adverse publicity it Shook some people out of their lethargy and it has been paying dividends  Walker Meador said country music still has room for growth in the United states but equally significant May be the opportunities overseas. The Cha has members in about 30 countries and Cha s Board will meet in Amsterdam for its quarterly meeting in May. One example of overseas exposure was Cha s roots 88" program in Britain this year which provided great strides and a breakthrough she said. Ten country artists participated in roots 88" and one of the highlights was a sold out concert at Royal Albert Hall by Travis sweethearts of the Rodeo and Kathy Mattea. People who had never before paid attention to country music were exposed she said. There Are a lot of people who Are very interested in country music and in doing whatever they can to further the cause. We support encourage and help  january 5, 1989 stripes Magazine 11