Return To Vegas ...

More than a few Music Row folks are in Las Vegas right now for the National Finals Rodeo event. George Strait, Alabama, Reba, Brooks & Dunn just to name a few.

One Music Row friend was staying at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and looking out his window ... and there it was! The frame for the stage is still standing ... the concert grounds still empty. Haunting view, very haunting.

Vegas has moved on. Not forgotten, just life has resumed. You would hope, but I'm afraid I doubt any real changes will occur at future concert events. Hard to determine what can exactly be done ... and will we ever know what the motive was anyway? The whole event still feels so painful and you want life to move on, but what was it all about?

The rodeo is a great event and New Year's in Vegas is coming fast. You know there will be security changes, but how safe can they really make it? We all still keep moving on. Remembering the fallen ones.

Security and security plans for the concertgoers and the crews/artist need to be made. Doing nothing is unacceptable. The unions of all show business should force the issue! Disaster plans have to be made before a disaster.

Garth takes over Nashville this weekend. Forbes says he took in $60 million from June 2016 to June 2017. That's more than anyone else in Country.

Kenny and Luke both made around $42 million. Big money and look at Taylor Swift! $44 million with no tour ... that's just mailbox money! Next year with all the stadiums will be twice that or more...

Two Middle Tennesseans on the cover of Time. Taylor and Ashley Judd. The Silence Breakers. They both were among the first to get this sexual misconduct ball rolling. Did you see where the PR News had Kirt Webster publicist of the year? Who fell asleep at the switch on that boo-boo?

Opry City Stages in NYC showcasing Luke Bryant on GMA as his new album debuts. The Opry City Stage in Times Square. Can't wait to see what they do to put that place on the map. http://www.oprycitystage.com

The national morning shows are routine stops for everyone in the business. GMA is stable for the moment but the NBC and CBS host issues may bring new viewers or maybe they continue to lose viewers as has been the case over the last few years' pre-host firings.

If nothing else, we end 2017 shaking our collective heads. This year has been a rough one for so many! From lack of Country Grammy nominations to sex scandals and natural disasters. The book on this year can't be closed fast enough. Prayers for all those dealing with the terrifying SoCal fires!