I do not know why we argue over the importance of genres.....hell some artistes cannot even put their music in a genre.....
As far as I am concerned there are only two genres of music...stuff I like and stuff I dont much care for...

OH and of course I forgot about country.

So those folk who say music is not country mean that if it is not country it is not music....reminds me of The Blues Brothers playin Bob's Country Bunker...."So....what kind of music do they like here Maam?"
"Oh we like both kinds....country AND western"