They Were Sending A Message!

"If I were to remain silent, I'd be guilty of complicity."
- Albert Einstein

Did you see and hear all the women singing and talking on the CMT Music Awards this week? At one point the Little Big Town women even did a visual joke about maybe the women need to have mullet haircut to get on the radio.

"Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence."
- Leonardo da Vinci

It's a cut that's not healing. But if the goal was to create a new generation of Justin Bieber-like fans, the plan seems to have worked. If you look at the mosh pits, the up-close "fans" at these stages and shows, they are late teens and early 20s white women. They stream music and maybe have never bought it. They are the "Country" music model for the streaming services and probably the labels. They are most likely buying the concert tickets, too.

What I never understood was how does that demo work with advertiser-driven local radio? Do they buy cars? Roofs? Go to Home Depot? It's just odd ... But the big shots are smarter than us, so it must be working. On some level.

Carrie Underwood has a great fan club. Always has. Fan-voted award shows really work for her with Taylor Swift out of the way. She is a future Country Music Hall of Famer and did anyone think that when she rolled into her first FanFair in 2005.

I'm not sure many or any could follow her career path, but it has sure worked for her. She has a strong team and she works hard, too. She has remained on the radio despite current norms.

There is no bigger music festival around when you look at the number of stages and acts appearing over a four-day period. They hit all the bases. Day one was cloudy and not hot. What a blessing! The weather usually is a headline in Nashville the first week of June.

American Idol is obviously coming back since the audition cities have been announced and the website is up and running. As of today, no word about the judges. I would presume the ET-type folks are asking but silence. The show and Ryan Seacrest are coming back. The Voice already cooking its next season.

"Mr. Voice" Blake Shelton is doing a duet with Garth Brooks. A pair of Okie legends. It's like Roy and Gene (no one will get that reference). Great idea and the song will appear 6/18 and 6a ET. Meanwhile, King Garth in Denver this weekend.

Watching the CMT show for all 150 or so minutes ... Country music has moved far away from Randy Travis and George Strait. The music overall is a middle-of-the-road kind-of sound. There's no Hank Jr edge. It's light. The subjects are light. Where are the Cashes, Willies,Tammys,Lorettas,Krises? Look at that show; Tanya Tucker's segment had power and impact. Great song. Classic song. Brandi Carlile is a great talent with lots of energy. Maren Morris has the edge. Sheryl Crow was sounding mighty Country last night.

The women are making interesting music. They always have.

Taylor Swift sort-of diverting the train tracks for a while with a pop sound that she has taken around the world. Was it ever really "Country?"

Travis Tritt on AXS TV this week with Dan Rather. Look at that guy's career, Long hair and leather, No hat. He was still rooted in Country. The guys today have style and energy. If anything, due to production and radio station engineering they all sound too much alike. Someone needs to create a mix that have men and women in a stew that works. It's time to evolve and expand the narrowcasting and ultra-tight playlist.

Music Row has to go where the money is. Streaming and that lifestyle is their business model. But should it be radio's?

The man-hater music might not be the right way to get on the air. We deserve that but in broader doses ... like everything else.

So many talented guitar playing and singing women. It is getting really crazy that so few get on the air.

What would my musical life have been without Brenda Lee, Dusty Springfield, Diana Ross, Martha Reeves, Darlene Love, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Barbara Mandrell, Aretha Franklin, Petula Clark and yes, even Madonna and Bette Midler.

There are some really talented women in the bullpen right now. They to be need in the game. They all can't be screwing up.

"Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world ... would do this, it would change the earth."
- William Faulkner