Marcus K. Dowling

Marcus K. Dowling is a journalist, broadcaster and entrepreneur. In the past 10 years, via his conceptual vision and marketing expertise, Marcus has aided creative entrepreneurs in the arts and entertainment industries in earning over $25 million in gross revenue. As a writer, he regularly contributes to the likes of VICE, Pitchfork, Complex, The Bitter Southerner, Bandcamp, Mixmag, the Washington City Paper, ESPN's Undefeated and more.

In 2021, I Traveled 50,000 Miles With Five Tunes and Found America’s Truth in Country Music

Country music always tells a story.

The Birthplace of Country Music: 5 Spots Country Fans Can’t Miss in Bristol

Country music uses a perfect synergy between people, places and things to create art that defines the folklore of an entire nation. And there is perhaps no better way to examine this notion than by visiting the Tennessee-Virginia border city of Bristol.

95 Years Ago: The Bristol Sessions Bring Country Music’s First Big Names to the Studio

Country music’s place as a permanent fixture of American life and culture is a direct result of the Bristol Sessions.

Who Is Brittney Spencer? 5 Things You Need to Know

The Baltimore-born artist's relatively rapid ascent from gifted, gospel-borne talent to country superstar on the rise is not a sign of catching lightning in a bottle; instead, it’s the thundering power of her talent blended with highly engaging songs.

How Reba McEntire Flipped ‘Whoever’s in New England’ (and Her Sound) to Create a Mega-Hit

The country legend’s most heartfelt song became a breakthrough hit, attached to a stellar and groundbreaking music video released during that medium’s early heights.

12 Essential Songs By Black Country Artists

The number of Black artists currently surging into country music’s mainstream is unquestionably unprecedented; however, Black artists’ current success in country music is not.

A Brief History of Black Country Music, From Tee Tot to Breland

Because country music is a descendant of blues and folk music, the Black musical tradition in the genre extends to the 17th century, well before the genre’s established 1920s roots.

Patsy Cline’s ‘I Fall to Pieces’ Is an Enduring Classic Despite Her Reservations

Everything about the recording session that Cline disliked, in fact, adds to her performance.

‘9 to 5′, 40 Years Later: Dolly Parton’s Movie Theme Remains One of the Most Socially Impactful Songs Ever

Every time you see Reba McEntire on the silver or TV screen or hear Shania Twain singing songs with a vamping, rock core, Dolly Parton's there.

Kenny Rogers’ Lionel Richie-Penned Hit ‘Lady’ Sums Up Their Genre-Defying Greatness

In the annals of singer-songwriter collaborations, there is anthemic greatness, and then there is “Lady.”