Are They That Stupid? It’s Not Impossible

Seen some pretty crazy corporate broadcasting moves lately, like Gray TV getting rid of sports at its Birmingham TV station. (There is no crazier sports fan than the ones 50 miles from Tuscaloosa.)

The giant company was probably reducing salary overhead more than making a programming statement.

A few of the tabloids have started a thread about NBC execs thinking of replacing Blake Shelton to shake “The Voice” up a little bit. New coach Ariana Grande has been researching well and the demo was going down. Blake skews old, according to these reports. He has been talking publicly about slowing down his career. But he is the star of the show, and probably getting a pretty hefty paycheck. Hmmmmm.

Jason Aldean announced plans for release of his double album. “Macon, Georgia.”

Asking the question: When is the last time you bought a CD? I can’t even remember the decade. Streaming won the war. In this streaming world, the physical sales, like the Hollywood movie box office, are simply smaller.

Bought a new iPhone, and as of now can’t get songs I put in iTunes to transfer. Apple wants me to join Apple Music and I don’t want to. I’m an anti-streamer. Just not interested. I want my music in with the purchase. But it didn’t transfer.

Very frustrating. Still working on a solution.

Back to the “when do you do an album, and why?” Do streamers listen to albums track-to-track? Add that to the game of the charts, and releases headed to #1. Is having a #1 still relevant?

Everything is being questioned these days. How do you re-engage lost listeners and viewers? That’s the big question for the entertainment industry. Can the new James Bond movie wake up the box office after so many dead Covid months?

Radio still needs some hardware help. How many homes even have a working radio? Can listeners with so many choices survive six-minute stop sets?

It does seem like fights are being done with one and maybe both arms tied behind the back.

And then there is the ongoing rehab of Morgan Wallen. Morgan’s godfather, Eric Church, blessed him at the opening of Justin Timberlake’s downtown Nashville supper club. Church invited Morgan up to the stage in front of a VIP crowd. Both sang a bit, Eric without his sunglasses! When will the CMA and others back off Wallen and let him back in?

Zac Brown has paused his tour due to positive Covid test. Alan Jackson shocked many fans with the revelation of nerve degeneration that will ultimately disable him. A reminder, if we don’t have our health we don’t have much. We hope both men and Ashley McBryde feel better. Ashley fell off a horse in Montana suffering a concussion and getting a stapled scalp. The rest of you stay safe and healthy!