Who's Driving this Car?

Jimmy Carter in his homebase Nashville

If you know how this year is going to come out, then you should set up a place and start reading fortunes!

From the President down to the corner neighbor, everyone seems lost about the economy, digital TV, you name it.

The Jonas Brothers show at the Ryman was wild! Somehow they got Tim and Faith to intro them and Brad Paisley, Vince, Amy, Michael W. S mith to sing with them ... It was an amazing night.

Music Row did suffer a huge sales fall in 2008. I think it was lack of passion for the artist's product that was offered. Without naming names, what CD did you absolutely have to have? What song? There were a few songs and full CDs, but nothing that had the passion that went with it like Flo-Rida had with Flow ( apple bottom jeans song).

The concerts in '08 for Country were very good. Urban's show really stood out, since I had no idea he had grown that much as an entertainer. Brad Paisley overall stood out because the show it self was so good, well-executed, funny, sad ... a complete show. Chesney was Chesney. Flatts totally underrated and not talked about enough and since they had the hottest talent with them, they had one of the complete packages of anyone.

There will be cutbacks. Everyday you hear of them. The labels are about as thin as they can go. Radio, too. TV is just beginning to execute. Newpapers are as bloody as the floor of a cheap meat packing plant. It's ugly with more ugly to come.

The Internet is behind, in front and 360 degrees around the problem -- and solution. It's one of the most important inventions of the last 50 years.

iTunes is dropping prices and they all are getting rid of the DRM so you can do with want you want with the downloads. That's progress.

Text messaging is an epidemic! I get sick of watching teenagers do nothing but that. If you are not on this, you are sailing out to sea...and quickly.

Local TV has an aorta cut and is in a huge mess. One-man band camera/reporter crews is a huge leap backwards. Expect those changes to effect how media covers music as it comes to town. Staff cutbacks mean entertainment coverage cutbacks.

I love my iPhone. Listening to KNX/Los Angeles in my Nashville bathroom via a docking station ($ 50 at Radio Shack) is very cool. AOL Radio/IHeartradio are great app downloads. Shoutcast is just getting a work out today for me.

The CC management meetings have employees apply nervous this weekend.

The People's Choice awards are silly and have no credibility, bit it still was a joy to see the hard working Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood honored. Rascal Flatts' sound/mix/vocals were some of the best show night. They also seemed very relaxed. Their new CD is called Unstoppable and comes out April 7th, 2009.

Golden Globes Sunday and NFL playoffs with Tennessee's Titans trying to move forward with the help of Martina McBride's National Anthem skills.

This was a surprise: Olivia New John here at the Ryman Thursday, Feb 26th. Expect the famous to show up for that, too.

Clint Black is ready to go under the microscope at The Celebrity Apprentice in NYC with the Donald.

NASCAR is expecting a hit in the year ahead. Everyone is just trying to hold on.

People paying clients slowly, firings, layoffs ... we all have to stay positive and be winners.

Just don't, if you're a radio station, play five-minute blocks of commercials. If you do, you will insult your listeners and may never get them back. Heard a station do that in LA last week. The commercials went on and on and on....