Winners ... No Losers!

Jimmy Carter in his homebase Nashville.

If you take a blimp shot of the CRS class of 2014, it is rather amazing. The labels are so hungry for the next big thing they have worked overtime trying to sign folks -- and what an eclectic crew. You rather can't judge right now ... it takes a few years of looking back at the ads and see who will still be standing. It is fun to read the new faces list from years gone bye.

I'm not even sure one particular act broke out from the pack this year, but that too takes time. What I can see Country music bosses want to be something different. Edgy and new. To make it to this level, they must be doing something right.,

Hollywood seems to build on its past. Country always did, too, until Taylor Swift starting making so much money everyone wanted to taste that kind of fan base and the riches they bring. Country moved from being something for adults to being the modern day Top 40. They used to say you had to have some miles on you before you could understand Country. Well a driver's license is about all you need these days. It is Young Country finally coming to pass.

You must have young people to make any business last. You just don't turn the whole company over to any particular demographic. Hard to sell cars and other mainstream radio products to just the kiddies. The mission for record labels and the mission for a radio corporation trying to sell commercials may not be the same ... Sometimes you have to remind everyone in commercial radio what they are doing to remain commercial. You need adults. Adults don't always buy music ... there is the rub.

Streaming and all that is a part of the puzzle, but Pandora and something with call letters may not have the same best interests. Just needs to be said every once in a while.

The big stars in Country music right now are an impressive bunch. Some have been around right at 10 years. They are forever recreating themselves. Watching Dierks Bentley over the years. He gets better and better. Same with Tim McGraw. All the major headliners are unique and have their own base. From Jason to Luke ... from Brad to Keith ... Blake is a one of a kind. Darius deserves all the success and Rascal Flatts deserves more recognition! And there is Garth coming back trying to make more history. Taylor will play the Far East this Summer. She is in a class all by herself.

The Country music "A" team is impressive and none of them are ready to slow down. All these young rookie Country singers and where do you put them all? And you only have to look at American Idol and you see more on the way. Where are they all going to go?

The Dierks "Riser" CD is out this week. "Drunk on a Plane," "I Hold On," "Damn these Dreams." Must listen to this one! and good luck to Jimmy Fallon. He is a very funny guy and hopefully will be good to country music like Jay Leno.

Does Country Music have a Johnny Cash or Reba around? Not sure. Some real talented singers for sure. Still hard to let go of the George Straits and Alan Jacksons ... Bring on the young; just don't throw out the middle-age acts. Respect and salute the folks who carved the pathway to your career. Cherish the Ronnie Milsaps and Little Jimmy's ... remember the Conways and Eddie Rabbits. There has to be a way to have it all.