Dega ... Derby ... A Marathon & Still Another Award Show

2016 is moving at a very fast pace. Maybe it's the constant blabber of political noise, but the first four months of this year have been headache inducing!

The Prince death coming on the heels of the Haggard death was very sobering. Both landmark acts with extreme influence. Prince's unexpected death should have been a wake-up call for all lawyer/business managers to have their artists make a will!

It is a huge mess without one...

Several issues were raised with his passing ... and no after-life instructions: What to do with the thousands of unfinished recordings? When Otis died, Steve Cropper finished them. Prince was a one-man creative operation many times ... what is the right thing to do?

Haggard has a lot of unfinished material at his home studio ...Who looks after the creative spirit after they are gone? Legally might be easy to determine but maybe not ... what was the artist's intention? Tricky stuff ... with and without guidance.

With May everyone finally hits Spring and Coachella/StageCoach is the big-time start of the outdoor concert season. Now for the next five months, the pastures, empty football stadiums, some baseballs stadiums and amphitheatres will fill with the sound of music.

Nashville had none, now there's two and both are ready. The weather is the wildcard but even harder to predict this year, it seems.

May hockey in Nashville? NHL Predators sharing the stage with minor league baseball in downtown Nashville. It has radically changed in a very short period of time.

Dierks headed to Panama City, FL for Memorial Day is yet another step in his act growing even larger. Kenny and Luke and Eric have paved the road to Spring Break ... Memorial Day was open for business. Good for the DB gang jumping in...

Six months ago, few knew about Chris Stapleton. This week at a sold-out Greek Theatre/LA show it remains one of the great stories in Country Music's history. Even Taylor/Garth can't show a wilder six months in their great careers. It is amazing and can't imagine what it must be like for him!

Another Country award show this weekend, but not in Nashville ... Sunday night May 1st on Fox. The Forum in Inglewood. Good luck on that! Hold your bets on ratings.

Downtown Nashville is a lot like Chris Stapleton. A lot of change in a very short time. Thursday, April 28th: Barry Manilow at Bridgestone Arena, Neil Young at the Amphitheatre four or so blocks away and closer than that, The Ryman where The Gatlins, Mo Pitney,Lee Greenwood, Ashley Campbell and Riders in the Sky !

Even NYC can't say that about a four-block area. This is truly Music City USA ... A huge marathon 4/30 with runners from all over the world ... The Wallflowers are playing after the race ... While some just head to Talladega four hours away for the NASCAR weekend.

Beyonce here next week with the NHL playoffs and who knows what else. The Derby is up the road, three hours in Louisville ... Spring has Sprung!