Who Cares About Award Shows?

A friend on Facebook commenting on the ACM nominations, "Who cares ... no one cares ... too many award shows!"

Well ... I might agree too many award shows, but no one cares? I disagreed. Thousands care!

These awards influence radio airplay. They affect jobs in the touring business. The awards pay a huge roll in how an artist is perceived. It helps set an agenda. They may be a curiosity to non-music business people, but they are very important to those in and around the huge music world.

The winners on ACM nomination day ... Keith Urban -- seven nominations. He had a great year in every way. Album, hits at radio, tour, everything. Don't be shocked if he wins a few of those seven, too!

Another winner ...any of the new male nominees. The ladies aren't that new, but the guys are. At least one I've never heard of. For sure it is big for artist AWARENESS!

For the what's the deal department: ZERO nominations for Blake Shelton, Zac Brown, Garth Brooks, Sam Hunt, Brad Paisley .... and one each for Chesney and Church. Blake and Zac had many hit records and big tours. Just seems odd!

Willie is on the road again ... Thank goodness ... Playing San Antonio Rodeo ... Crud is gone; he's back in studio working on Merle Haggard tribute song.

On the classic front, Mickey Gilley and Johnny Lee doing a show soon in Texas ... The music of their hitmaking days is still fun ... "Looking For Love" ... "All The girls Get Prettier" ... etc.

Rock meets Country with a new tour starring John Mellencamp with Emmylou Harris and Carlene Carter. Go back and listen to John's '80s hits ... The foundation for Bro-Country, but better.

Chris Stapleton has been hard at work recording and planning 2017. New album and tour ...Tour starts March 9th and the album May 5th. Don't you know plenty of ears are waiting to see what direction the new album goes in.

The Grammys ... ratings were slightly up. I muted a few songs but overall it was entertaining. Country music was absent but some of the stars were there playing pop music. That was fine. The biggest problem with the show is the missing. It's always about the missing. You have all of music and someone is always is upset with the lack of attention given to their segment of the music store.

The Grammys used to have huge ratings and they celebrated the music business, not just the hot flavors of the movement. The end was classical and to some that was boring. Now it's just the duet performances. Everything is a Grammy moment. GaGa and Metallica was indeed a moment complete with crowd surfing.

I did agree with the L.A. Times about not do a tribute to Merle Haggard and Leonard Cohen ... Two of the best poets in the last 100 years. What could they have done with that??