Elvis Has Left The Building

Just saw a CBS News story about Elvis losing his mystique in Vegas ... and here come the Country folks, too, for ACM weekend.

The King's quicky weddings are down and fewer requests for pictures at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign. You figure why not, everything else has changed, why not the demise of Viva Las Vegas? Been gone 40 years and those overpriced Vegas DJs are still the rage for now, though you hear that is going the way of the Dodo bird soon. $400,000 for a DJ? Really?

ACMs in Vegas instead of Dallas will be easier on everyone involved, but maybe not the big event it surely was last year. It is, hopefully for everyone's sake, must-see TV. The rating roller coaster is crazier than ever. The demographics, the time zone delay factor, Walking Dead, HBO, you name it. Daylight saving time ... You can go on forever trying to forecast the ratings. Dolly will help, but will a Dolly-Katy Perry moment be enough?

The early winners -- Kelsea, Chris and Old Dominion -- were predictable and spot on. The performances ACM night will give everyone a sense of what musical direction the powers-that-be are sending the format.

Big tent right now ... Is there really a Chris Stapleton effect? Politically incorrect to name names here ... but ... check the top 10 ... Can say Luke's new song is a step in the more "Country" side of the ledger away from pure pop.

Changing gears ... big change of gears ... The Brussels bombing this week is another reminder about concert security. The Dixie Chicks are set for a Belgium concert in April. Risks, precautions, emergency plans all will be discussed. How many artists on Music Row have talked about this with their people?

Security is rarely an issue discussed publicly. The "can't happen to me" theory is often at work. Is there a threat of terrorism at a concert in U.S., or at airport where crew fly out week after week? It should be a discussion again, if not for the first time and soon.

Safe rooms, evacuation plans from stage ... have these things ever been talked about? I hope so.
Award shows in L.A. are an armed camp these days; just ask anyone at The Grammys. Been that way since 9/11 and now even more so. The times they keep a changin'.

The "streaming is king" story this week is a story that has never been truly resolved. The popularity vs. the rates paid songwriters still seems to be an issue you don't hear much talk about.

The former drummer of Alabama getting attention for a book he has written about his life ... inside a band is often like a look inside a sausage plant.

Happy Spring...