What's Missing Is The Magic Dust!!!

Jimmy Carter in his homebase Nashville.

I can't imagine what the hardcore fans must feel like on this morning after CMA Week. It is not for wimps!

The heat, the walking, the lack of sleep, irregular eating, over-stimulation. That week is rough for the fans, the staff, the media ... everyone.

It really is a great event but a lot to take. There is nothing like it in the entertainment world. I've covered Oscar Week and Grammy Week. That's nothing. Festivals like the one in the California desert and the ones in Wisconsin ... they can be tough, but that is mostly physical endurance.

This event is diverse. From a very well-done awards show in an arena to Willie at the Symphony to fan club parties at every venue imaginable. Add flying dogs, Swamp People, bad karaoke, 16 hours of stadium shows and the rest. An overwhelming spectacle.

I will say it again -- a great week in sheer size and ambition. Hats off to the CMA and CMT and everyone else who pulled it off. The spotlight was on Country music and it was a bright one.

It was no one's fault, bBut there was no WOW moment. In the past we had them. The Garth marathon autograph session. Taylor taking over the Bridgestone for a fan party that was huge. Mania for Billy Ray Cyrus. Someone breaks out of the week on the road to the real big time. Two people broke out : Luke Bryan and Eric Church. Unscientific survey of fans and to the one, they praised Luke and Eric.

"Idol" Scotty got a lot of attention. But was there an event that would cause the masses to gather, stampede or scream?

I never saw it. Timing, maybe. There is no one song or act that is new and busting out. Plenty of new acts ... just none in the full-bloom mode. Timing, I hope, is the issue.

I fear it could be over-control. If you format things so strictly in TV and give no time to breathe, you can have an efficient show, but a vanilla one.

The concerts I go to these days are so structured there is no change from night to night. By the numbers. Same way, same day. The festival felt that way. Where were the magic moments? Where were the special guests? Lionel Richie showed up at Bonarroo with Kenny Rogers. Kenny Rogers played with Phish. Where were the surprises at the LP Field shows? Has ABC formatted that show to death?

I loved having the Beach Boys or Wayne Newton show up at the old Fan Fair stage. Dolly with LeAnn Rimes. What's up? Over-management? Lack of creativity?

It was pretty boring from a media standpoint. I had a hard time finding a story to write about that was a gee-whiz moment. Or you screwed up and missed this.

CMT had plenty of gee-whiz moments ... plenty, but where were they at the CMA event?

The Dallas event was great but how many really knew about it? ABC not wanting to promote them?

I really do fear the ABC influence is too much and getting greater. That is not a good thing. They should record the event, not stage it. Where were the morning shows last week? They weren't here. It just seemed flat.

Overwhelming in size but lacking in magic moments. Kenny Chesney showing up in the autograph area. Something!!

Heat should not be the only headline. We need moments. Future fans need a reason to come and not wait to see it just on TV. It has to be so unpredictable that you would never drag in late or ever want to go to sleep.

The event needs an X Factor! Magic dust ... I don't see any. The most creative minds in this town and this is the best we can do?