ACM Awards Shine On Music City

It was good to see Country music on something other than virtual. The 55th edition of the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards show was as good as you were going to get under the rules of operation.

The only thing missing -- and it’s a big thing -- was the fans. CMT may try to tap that energy in October when they their own awards show. The lights in the seat idea at the Grand Ole Opry House was brilliant on the ACMs! At times it really did look like a sea of fans holding up their cell phones.

The ratings were OK by today’s standards. The days of 14 million viewers may be gone at network TV, and in the Netflix slump. Seven million is better than most shows. The demographics for all of broadcast TV are troubled. They settle for what they can get, and eyeballs younger than 30 are rare for the traditional TV networks.

The talent pool in Country music remains strong. Without question the female voices are unique and powerful. Easily on ACM Awards night they were the showcase acts, with Carrie Underwood and Trisha Yearwood raising the roof!

There were lots of drinking songs in the first hour, almost ever song for what that’s worth. There was more substance as the second and third hour rolled in.

The challenge was to have a show with fans that doesn’t seem like a telethon. It did, at times, with the acceptance speeches not high points. Now to see what the CMT folks with their MTV influence will do in October. Then the CMA in the unenviable third of three spot. CMA will be dealing with stronger competition, too.

The ACMs were a needed shot in the Music City arm.

The system is trying to get open. There’s football now and more, but many challenges to face. Nashville did secure the IndyCar Grand Prix for August 6th-8th, 2021. This will be a big deal when it takes over the downtown area next year. Good news is appreciated. Between wildfires, COVID and major changes in consumption of media, change is here!

Music Row is still dealing with streaming versus physical sales. Radio didn’t need this COVID punch in the stomach. Advertisers are moving around chasing the consumers. These are crazy times.

It was nice, for one night, to see some familiar faces singing and reminding us of good times past and still ahead.