Americana is my favorite genre of music, but every time I say that, someone inevitably asks what it is. Americana is actually a fairly new term; Americana music used to be categorized into alt-country, roots, rock, folk, bluegrass, or blues genres. The term came to be in 1995 when a group of music industry executives decided the music needed more support and visibility. During the 1999 SXSW conference, music business volunteers met to discuss the possibility of a trade association. Soon, the Americana Music Association was born, and artists began to list their music under the Americana genre. Wilco, The Decemberists, Alabama Shakes, The Avett Brothers, Jason Isbell, The Lumineers, First Aid Kit, and Ryan Adams are some of the most notable modern Americana artists. Even though the genre name hasn’t been around forever, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, The Grateful Dead, John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, My Morning Jacket, Emmylou Harris, and Tom Petty can be considered Americana as well. The Americana Music Awards began in 2002 to showcase the genre’s best artists. In 2010, the Grammy Awards added a category for Best Americana Album. As time passes, Americana has been elevated from the lowly status of “Dad Rock” to a genre with critical acclaim and incredibly talented and unique artists. - Darby Leiber