Surprise! North Dakotans Love Metal More Than Country

As a brand manager for a radio station, I’m always tuning in (pun intended) to the musical preferences of our listeners. With so many formats to choose from—Country, Hot AC, Rock, Alternative, Talk—the question constantly hums in my mind: Are we playing the right tunes?

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Now, you might think that in a place like the Peace Garden State, country music would be king. And you’d be right—sort of. Yes, folks around here do enjoy a good country tune, but according to a surprising source, it’s not actually our favorite! Wide Open Country, just revealed that North Dakotans are secretly headbanging to… metal! That’s right, metal! I can almost hear the collective “Huh?!” echoing through the office.

But it doesn’t stop there. Our neighbors in Montana, who you’d imagine might be swaying to a mellow folk or country beat, actually prefer Alternative music. Yep, it turns out the Big Sky Country has a big love for Green Day, Pearl Jam, or 3 Doors Down. Who would have guessed?

Then there’s South Dakota, where you might expect to hear some good ol' country ballads filling the air. But no, they’re cranking up the volume with some heavy metal, too! It’s like the Dakotas have an unspoken pact to surprise everyone with their unexpected love for loud and gritty guitars.

And here’s the kicker—Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes, is rocking out to Indie music! While I might have pictured the locals serenading their sunsets with something softer, it turns out they’re vibing to the latest Indie tracks instead.

So, as I sit here, poring over playlists and wondering what our next move should be, I’ve come to one realization: when it comes to musical tastes, expect the unexpected! Maybe it’s time to throw a curveball and see if our station’s listeners are ready to embrace their inner rock gods—or indie darlings. Who knows? The only thing I’m sure of is that this gig is never dull!