Never Judge Too Fast

Nashville's Nissan Stadium will light up this weekend when the sparing-no-expense Reputation Tour stops by. Taylor Swift's adopted hometown is looking for tickets for a show that has amazed everyone who's seen it.

For all the people who judged her and were confused by this tall skinny curly haired blonde with a big box guitar, they will be even more confused and amazed at how that Music Row experiment worked out.

Who is a bigger female pop star in the world? No one ... maybe a few acts in all the world could put on a show like Taylor is doing. The Stones will next year. Ed Sheeran ... but the point is look at how she keeps doubling down in a pop/MTV world that is not just disposable but super-disposable.

Taylor Swift is a star. Was she ever Country? Who cares? Lee Ann Womack, I think, is credited with saying, "Country has been hijacked." I agree ... The new generation of "Country" is a long way from the barn way out in the back pasture. Taylor and Shania now look pretty tame in comparison.

The Music Row producers are making "Country" that is pure pop. It works and radio plays it. The pushback that FGL got just bounced off their chests. Bro Country has moved on to something else, but not retro country as many predicted. How do artists know what to put out as a radio song these days? I say it's never been more difficult.

One thing's for sure: Taylor has remained a great role model for young girls and as a father of three girls. I am very appreciative.

The Taylor-less MTV just got the lowest ratings ever for its Video Music Awards. There is some justice left in the world. What a pile that night was. Outrageous to be outrageous and a political hate fest. The funniest part (or ironic): The people that show is trying to reach can't be reached. They don't have cable and most don't have a TV. Cord cutters and Netflix addicts. Narrowcasting to that group seems futile.

The ACM Honors was, for sure, putting on a young Country face. When that show is turned into a TV show, the results should be very interesting.

Can you do a network TV show that features new people? Has that ever worked? Ed Sullivan was cutting edge but the new was surrounded by the familiar. Idol was new but ratings limbo.

How many stars on the radio today would be recognized and accurately named if they were walking down a neighborhood street anywhere in America? I bet very few. Maybe shockingly few.

How many "stars" have been created lately? Mass-appeal Taylor Swift, Tim and Faith, Carrie, Garth Brooks stars.

The chemical formula feels like it's off right now. Hollywood is starless, too, if that helps ... Tom Cruise is still the biggest action hero.

Is a red carpet pre-show relevant anymore? Stars like Blake, Carrie, Keith, Chris do L.A. press but little else now. It's a different scene. Cord cutting, dead magazines, newspapers only online, social media overload.

As the Summer ends and the outdoor shows wrap up, what is the story of 2019? Who is showing the way?

Eight months in and what is the headline? That's a hard one to answer, isn't it? Where is this ship headed?