Like Watching Ballet

Watching a good career PR plan is like watching a fine ballet. Having things happen at the right time.peak at the right time and control the buzz.

Movie companies were the best at this until the social media generation came along. They lost control of their message. Now they have to change their marketing plans on the fly on release night if the film starts getting bad buzz on Twitter.

On Music Row, the two greatest marketing machines the last 25 years? Easily Garth then Taylor. Both did just about everything right and the sales and awards speak for themselves. Taylor took it to the next level with a Country to Pop switch that no one has ever done before ... not at this level anyway! Five million sales and counting for her 1989 album. Faster five-million-seller in more than 10 years.

Little Big Town ... what a great story in the Group division. Gril Crush has now passed the previous record held by The Browns and Three Bells: 11th week in #1 spot atop Billboard. Award season bound. Print the nameplates.

Watch Luke Bryan ... Luke and that team have been very smart all along the way. He has worked very hard with all those Spring Break and Farm Shows. Good ear for material and friendly media relations. Sometimes it all just comes together. A stadium show at Vanderbilt this weekend. Almost NO Country artist plays here in a stadium. Of course they all do on the CMA Festival in June, but on their own ... hard ticket? Very rare... George Strait ... Kenny Chesney and now Luke Bryan. Garth and Taylor all did multiple-night arena shows in lieu of one big stadium night. It is a very rare event. CMA voters have their nomination ballots so let's see how this goes.

Florida Georgia Line's rise to fame has been handled very well, too ... The bookings and media coverage speaks for itself.

Sometimes your story and your career challenges and your personality aren't perfect. Hank Williams Sr or Jr have had that perfect story. That does not diminish their greatness. The awards don't come as easy ... The recognition isn't always there but every career takes a different path. Some can be guided and some can't. That's a good thing ... would be mighty boring otherwise.

Since it is almost award season, a glance at Blake Shelton's career this week is among the most unique. Look how many years and what he did pre-Voice ... and what has happened to him post-Voice. When does The Voice go from good thing to not-a-good thing? That is a tough call.

Blake in an Adam Sandler Netflix movie and his famous wife makes that whole scene very appealing to the L.A. media and magazines. What a crazy ride for both of them ... one that still is rolling huge.

Reviews are what they are. Most artists say they don't read the good ones or the bad. I don't totally believe that. The great ones, a feel-good pat on the back. The bad can be a difficult learning experience. Shania Twain is getting GREAT reviews everywhere I've read. Almost every reviewer's surprised at how she rocks and how enjoyable the show is.

Those are the reviews you let the artist read! Word is she will do international dates in 2016. Will she then quit the road? She said she would. Hmmm.

A New Orleans newspaper called Garth a Rip Van Winkle. Never seen that description but it did strike me as funny.

Plenty of outdoor festivals now in mid-summer. The weather is hot and muggy in the Deep South. Hopefully dry and cooler in the NW, Canada and Upper Midwest where these shows are now every weekend until Labor Day.

Rain is not always a good thing. 105-heat index makes you wish for the arena cool!