Built To Last!

PBS just aired a big multi-hour story about Walt Disney ... YouTube now has the movie about legendary DJ Alan Freed, American Hot Wax (in full) ... Hollywood is about to release another Steve Jobs story ... These are all great food-for-thought projects for anyone in music or media. Ambition and the sheer will to keep moving when everyone is trying to shut you down. Great homework for you!

While in my teacher mode ... Ever read "Who Moved the Cheese?" Spencer Johnson's little book about how to deal with change in the workplace? It is simple but everyone should read and then think about it for a while.

Just look what went down at a major radio chain this week! Things change and you have to be able to reinvent and change, too, or you starve. Google the NY Times and other financial coverage of the Cumulus story this week. Wall Street opinions of the state of media right now make you run, not walk, to the "Who Moved the Cheese" book!

Surviving and adapting with changing tastes makes the accomplishments of the Opry even more impressive. October is the shows 90th birthday ... What a story and what an important American cultural institution.

It is such a great showcase for Country music. The Opry is the youngest and strongest 90-year-old you will ever meet. Online and in the air playing Country music to the world on its flagship station 650 WSM.

A little blowback this week still on the resurgence of George Strait. Not from me, but more than a few say, "I thought he retired or stop touring." The public doesn't always listen to the precise wording of a goodbye. They just hear goodbye and then hello again. You do see it; a lot of acts that have gone dark then get back up after a goodbye run. Or a sort-of goodbye run. Things change ... situations change. Just like I wrote a few paragraphs back.

Garth Brooks losing album pre-production or whatever he did on a fried cellphone got some attention this week. Not really sure exactly what Garth did but being a halfway technology person can get you in a crack. Backup your work! ... Learn how to work the cloud. Garth! With all those smart daughters, I can guarantee you someone knows how to establish a secure cloud connection and get you a good phone. Trisha, can you help him please?

CMA showtime is racing closer. A few sure things in the categories, but how will the insiders vote when it comes down to Eric, Luke, or Blake? How will the older nominees do in this rising youth voter base? Is Bro out or still hanging in? Should be an interesting night.

The Luke Bryan Farm tour is and was a great idea ... his team has been spot-on guiding his path. Kenny and Luke are hard to beat with Garth still at the top of the woodpile. A dozen others do great stuff but those three have their machines finely tuned. Longevity is so amazing! The Opry, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney ... all keep finding ways to stay engaged. Mick Jagger out singing with Taylor Swift and writing/singing with others around town. 50-year careers ... 90 for the Opry. Platinum standards in a wishy-washy world!