You've Got To Know When To Fold 'em

Nobody puts together an all-star salute better than Music City ... In the last year, big shows singing the praises of Merle Haggard and Randy Travis. Big crowds and once-in-a-lifetime events.

On October 25th, it's Kenny Rogers turn ...This time is a "last show in career" event. Kenny is 78 and been a singing pro for 60 years ... 100 million sold, 100 hits and who knows how many nights on stage.

There are few careers in music history like Kenny's. Dolly had the idea for a big final send-off and you know it's going to be historic. Dolly taking Kenny's hand and walking off stage will be earth shattering.

The ticket scalping for this show ... or maybe you call it after-market selling, was already crazy when I wrote this ... saw a ticket for over $8,000 up close ... $300 back much farther. Free market, but no one has figured out how to really control it. The promoters want a sell-out ... after that I guess it's capitalism. Hmmm ... I've bought a few of these tickets ... in London where they are everywhere in stand-alone shops ... Theatre, concerts, everything. Or they used to be there ... Los Angeles used to have Good Time tickets ... I think that was their name ... bought some pricey seats from them, too. I guess I was glad they existed. I'm still on the fence about them these days..

Go find the music video that Blake Shelton just put out with the Oak Ridge Boys ... The animation reminded me of the old Yogi Bear and Boo Boo cartoons ... Doing it to Country songs...

The contest that Keith Urban is involved with would be fun for folks to do ... Best. Cover. Ever.

Google that name and check out the details. YouTube original series. Ryan Seacrest Productions is involved. Ryan confirmed he's back on Idol. Now who are the other judges???

Garth wrapping up his three-year World Tour in December. Remember, he's not retiring again just taking this tour overseas and to the Houston Rodeo. Always felt Nashville will be the last city, probably in December, but we will wait and see. This week the new tour stop is Calgary.

The heat wave in the Deep South is bad. The wildfires out West are bad. Smoke in Edmonton from the BC fires. Weather this Summer in Western Washington State was clear and 68 ... Oh Lord!

The sponsorship business for Country has really picked up. No one is talking about physical sales but from what I see it's stinky. All in now on streaming. And no one is still screaming for the songwriter. The city of songwriter and hardly hear a peep. What's that about?

Shania Twain is all about social media these days. Apps are still a big deal. Snapchat now has NBC News on a regular basis. I know Snapchat is cool. But it still seems too difficult. Twitter is still great, but stuck in neutral. YouTube is growing and growing and the labels say they hate it. Facebook ... who knows where that is going? The boss might be running for President ... hmmmmmm ... And are the Feds looking at Amazon and Google? Monopoly investigation ... you hear that buzz ... Are they too big to bust? The phone companies once thought that, but look ... AT&T owns the world again ... and if they don't, look at Comcast and their growth.

Heads up, Music Row, this is one crazy media world!