Country Bay Music Festival is returning to Miami for its second year, with organizers hoping the event can earn a permanent spot in the city's music scene alongside events like Ultra and Rolling Loud.

Not so long before her platinum single “Tennessee Orange” became inescapable on country radio, Megan Moroney was attending the University of Georgia.

BRELAND, a 27-year-old Jersey native, has taken over as the king of country collabs in Nashville, building his brand of cross country.

Musicians and fans alike are criticizing country artists like Janson and Rice who performed at outdoor concerts this weekend where social media pictures showed large crowds without masks. Rice performed in front of a large crowd in Tennessee and Janson performed at an outdoor festival in Idaho. (AP Photo)NASHVILLE, Tenn. Fellow musicians and fans alike are criticizing country artists who performed at outdoor concerts this weekend where social media pictures showed large, tight crowds without masks, even as COVID-19 cases resurge in the United States. Country star Kelsea Ballerini called Rice selfish for risking people's health by playing in front of a large crowd. But the owner of the venue where Rice played said the concert was approved by both city and county officials.

This combination of photos shows country singer Rissi Palmer, from left, Chuck Harmony, left, and Claude Kelly of Louis York and country rapper Breland. Black artists say the country music industry still needs to do the hard work of addressing the systematic racial barriers that have been entrenched in country music for decades. The genre has historically been marketed to white audiences and reinforced white male artist stereotypes. (Chris Charles via AP, left, Jeremy Ryan via AP, center and Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP)

Black artists say the country music industry still needs to do the hard work of addressing the systematic racial barriers that have been entrenched in country music for decades. I was called colored, like, I didnt know colored people like country music, said Palmer, who had three singles reach the Hot Country Songs Chart. Both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association started diversity task forces more than a year ago when country music was being criticized for a lack of female voices and women were being left out of major categories like entertainer of the year. But just as country artists outwardly reflect a predominantly white image, there are few Black country music executives working behind the scenes. Theres a dismantling of culture that needs to happen.Palmer, who is recording a podcast that focuses on the experiences of women of color in country music, said she feels optimistic that the current discussions about race and country music can lead to progress, if real changes are implemented.