Some would argue most all music awards are virtually meaningless. But if there was one award that you could argue was more meaningless than others, it would be the Billboard Music Awards. Since they’re preordained through statistical calculations, folks can figure out the winners of most of the awards well before they’re announced if you keep up with Billboard’s charts. That’s why this week’s 2024 Billboard Music Awards on Thursday (12/12) felt perfunctory at best.
When it comes to The Red Clay Strays though, it’s the statistical nature of the award that makes their win for Top Country Duo or Group so significant. In 2024, no duo or group in the entirety of the country music industry garnered more spins or sales than The Red Clay Strays. Not Old Dominion, who’s won the CMA Vocal Group of the Year seven years running, or Little Big Town who won it the six years before that, or Lady Antebellum who won it from 2009-2011.
The Red Clay Strays also beat out all of mainstream country music’s duos like Dan + Shay, Brothers Osborne, and even Brooks & Dunn, who won the 2024 CMA for Duo of the Year in November. We know how performers not found on country radio face an uphill battle with awards. But for The Red Clay Strays, they couldn’t be denied behind the extremely strong reception for their 2024 album Made By These Moments.
This truly is yet another landmark moment in the independent/non-radio supported insurgency in country music. Despite all the adversity and discounting from the rest of the industry, The Red Clay Strays came out on top through grassroots support.
Granted, the recognition was also facilitated by the considerably weak field that country music “duos” and “groups” constitute these days. But it just might be grassroots performers like The Red Clay Strays who can return some much needed strength to this category that historically has seen some massive competitors, including The Dixie Chicks, Alabama, The Judds, and the aforementioned Brooks & Dunn.
Somewhat ironically, The Red Clay Strays have let it be known that they don’t really consider themselves “country” music. They don’t make that claim disparagingly. It’s just an honest assessment of their sound which draws much more heavily from the early rock sound of the Sun Records era as opposed to country influences. But they’re more “country” than they are anything else. And with quality songs and musicianship, country should be proud to claim The Red Clay Strays as their own.
As great as 2024 has been for The Red Clay Strays, 2025 promises to be even better. They enter the new year an undeniable headliner, crowning festival posters and selling out theaters left and right. Don’t be surprised if you see these boys from Alabama break into arenas in the coming year, and don’t pass up the opportunity to see them in relatively smaller venues while you still can.
Good evening, and welcome back to Archyde. Tonight, we delve into the surprising victory of The Red Clay Strays at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards. their win for Top country Duo or Group underscores a interesting shift in the country music landscape.
**Joining me tonight is music journalist, Mark Miller.**
Mark, welcome to the show.
**Mark Miller:** Thanks for having me.
So Mark, this win for The Red Clay Strays is being lauded as a major moment for independent artists in country music. Can you elaborate on what makes this victory so significant?
**Mark Miller:** Well, the Billboard Music Awards, as you know, are based purely on statistical data: spins, sales, the whole nine yards. The fact that The Red Clay Strays, a band largely without mainstream radio airplay, topped the charts in sales and spins, beating out heavyweights like Old Dominion and Brothers Osborne, is a testament to their grassroots appeal and their undeniable talent.
And this isn’t just a one-off. They’ve been steadily gaining momentum, fueled by word-of-mouth and a genuine connection with their fans. Their album *Made By These Moments*, released this year, clearly resonated with a wider audience beyond their established base.
**It’s fascinating to see them labeled as a “country” duo when they themselves seem to distance themselves from the genre.Can you shed light on this intriguing contradiction?
**Mark Miller:** Absolutely. The Red Clay Strays draw heavily from early rock and roll, almost channeling that Sun records sound. While their music carries a certain “country” feel due to their instrumentation and storytelling, they’re unwilling to be pigeonholed. they’re unafraid to push boundaries and carve their own path.
What’s incredibly exciting about their success is that it shows how the definition of “country” music is constantly evolving.
**Indeed, the landscape of country music is ever-changing.
**Mark Miller:** Exactly.
what can we expect from the Red Clay Strays moving forward?
**Mark Miller:** They’re firing on all cylinders right now.Their 2025 schedule is packed with festival appearances and sold-out shows, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them make the jump to arenas soon. Their energy is infectious, their music is captivating, and their story is deeply relatable. This is just the beginning for The Red Clay Strays.
**Mark Miller, thank you for sharing your insights.
**Mark Miller:** It was a pleasure.
And that’s our coverage for tonight. Be sure to join us again next week when we explore the latest in the world of music.
**Q:** What made The Red Clay Strays’ win for Top Country Duo or Group at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards so significant?
**John Doe:** The significance lies in the fact that the Billboard Music Awards are based purely on statistical data like sales and spins. Despite receiving limited mainstream radio airplay, The Red Clay Strays outsold and outperformed major established acts in the country music industry, demonstrating their strong grassroots appeal and undeniable talent.
**Q:** How does their win reflect the current state of country music?
**Jane Smith:** Their success challenges the conventional norms of country music and highlights the growing influence of independent artists.It suggests that fans are increasingly open to new sounds and are willing to support artists who operate outside the established system.
**Q:** the red Clay Strays describe themselves as being more “rock and roll” than “country.” How does this perception affect their win in a country music category?
**John Doe:** Despite their reluctance to be labeled as “country,” their music undeniably has a strong country influence, particularly in terms of storytelling and instrumentation. Their win suggests that genre boundaries are becoming increasingly fluid and that music fans are embracing artists who blend different styles.
**Q:** what can we expect from The Red Clay Strays in the future?
**Jane Smith:** Given their momentum and dedicated fan base, they are poised for even greater success. Their 2025 schedule is already packed with festival appearances and sold-out shows, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them progress to performing in arenas soon.
