Trying To Wake Up

Sputtering, but forward momentum! A flurry of Las Vegas residency deals floating around. Lionel Richie is at the Wynn September/October this fall. Katy Perry’s deal is getting worked out. Carrie Underwood? Luke Bryan? Celine Dion? Right now, David Copperfield is the only star in Sin City working. Help is on the way.

The Vegas weekends are coming back. The weekdays are dead, and everyone there is trying to staff up. Vegas has always been a great payday for Country talent. In recent years, just ask Shania Twain, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, and too many more to list.

Country Music Hall of Famer Eddy Arnold was among the very first to headline Vegas. He first performed at the El Rancho Vegas in 1949. Eddy later said he was afraid the owners expected him to gamble when he wasn’t performing. He was relieved to find out he didn’t have to.

The Oaks, Dolly Parton, the Mandrells, Mel Tillis, Roy Clark, Charlie Daniels -- it’s the whole list. George Strait’s current residency at the Vegas arena is still on hold due to Covid. Get the shot, everyone!

Brad Paisley is now on the star list of those having done public service TV spot for “Get the Shot.” Brad will play the first big post-pandemic event July 4th outside at First Avenue and Lower Broadway in Nashville. There will be fireworks and everything else. An estimated 350,000 saw the show last time they did it in 2019.

The Covid ACM Awards: The ratings were awful. Spin it any way you like. They had big social media impressions and songs had sales bumps. The Oscars are this weekend, and their producers are already saying these will be lowest rated ever. The new normal, is that OK? No one has seen the movies!

As for the ACMs, was it must see TV? No. Sports are the only thing getting big TV numbers. They are must see TV. So you have to give Millennials a big reason to find the show, on an app whatever. The CMA Awards will crash too if they don’t create an event that’s trying to get old and young viewers. Less political correctness and more energy. Create the best show you can, not the best show that will make the labels happy.

The coffee house vibe ain’t getting it. You’ve got to get the big cities and the non-Country folks to tune in. Stunts and great PR. Hosts that have energy. Laid back doesn’t make you want to stay.

Go find the iHeart leader Bob Pittman’s remarks with All Access’ leader Joel Denver at this week’s All Access Audio Summit. He’s looking forward not backward. TV needs to take a few cues from Pittman. Apps not transmitters.

Old school award shows are dinosaurs, too. Cash cows, but less relevant by the hour.

Post pandemic times are going to be wild. Fasten your seat belts. It’s a different world. Didn’t say better world. Different world. Habits have changed, and some things aren’t coming back.

Urge people to get the shot! It’s not about politics, it’s about our survival. You got shots to go to elementary school. Get this one. Listen to Dolly, Eric Church and Brad. Let’s get back to the stadiums -- the cheers and encores. The shot will get us there!