The Visible And The Invisible

Over 40 years ago, Billboard used to have a programming forum. Big shots and beginners mingling with the labels and the artists. For a college radio guy, it was an amazing event. First out-of-town convention and it was in Century City/Beverly Hills at the Century Plaza.

Fast forward to the end of February 2017 and The Country Radio Seminar at the Omni Hotel in Music City USA. Plenty of wide-eyed radio men and women mixing it up with artists and labels. Of course things have changed. But not that much. It is much more formal than it was, say, a decade or so back.

The group radio stations and group-think abounds, The Riverboat party is gone. Still the cream rises to the top with some baby artists getting more attention than you would think.

Just a few observations:

Garth Brooks and Keith Urban were highly visible. Both veterans grabbed headlines with their appearances. Zac Brown and Lady A showed the flag, telling everyone they were around with the future very strong.

UMG's Ryman Show is now the big event with the most star power. The Opry showcase would have to rank second with plenty of classic artists next to their up-and-coming future classic artists.

Chris Lane's name keeps coming up. He will open for Fla Ga Line this season. He has a strong buzz. That can be manufactured but not easily. His kind of buzz is like a viral video. It just happens. Good for him!

The invisible ... some more obvious than others. I don't know what the philosophy is behind staying away ... Maybe budgets, timing ... who knows.

Reba is in Vegas with Brooks and Dunn this week ... Miranda is touring ... Little Big Town in NYC for TV and album release. Could keep going with names, but you know who you feel you missed ... Personally, bad decision to not be in the conversation.

Florida Georgia Line going with Hip-Hopper Nelly as their opener certainly got some attention. More when it actually happens. Hip-Hop and Rap are no strangers these days with a half-dozen Bro Country artists incorporating the style at times. Still very bold and will/has generated buzz. There's that word "buzz" again.

Just when you think a Chris Stapleton or a Sturgill Simpson move the Country dial ... then Nelly and FGL move it in the other direction. This is getting to be one big DIAL. This is a huge range for a music format. Some spillover has already happened with a few "Country" artists now firmly in the Americana world. This is all very interesting.

Poor former Steel Magnolia singer Meghan Linsey! Bitten by a brown recluse spider with all kinds of consequences. Muscle spasms, nerve issues, rashes. Awful stuff. Happened Feb. 12th and she is much better, but not 100%. That is scary!

On weeks like this, I always go back to the Vince Gill classic, "Everybody's Talking About The Next Big Thing!"

How true is that? Meanwhile, Garth Brooks is a keynote speaker on Thursday morning and Big Star that night on stage in Edmonton, Canada. Just that city...140,000 tickets sold at $79.98. That's $11,197,200 ... nine shows over two weekends. You Next Big Things ... That's a really big shoe to fill!