2021: It Got Better … Kind Of

The dust of 2021 is starting to settle. Some degree of normalcy crept back in midway through the year.

If you look at everyone’s touring plans for 2022, things are going to be way past normal.

But don’t you feel the “someone hiding in the shadows” kind of thing (the virus), and you are not 100% comfortable feeling like all systems are really go?

Just look at all the acts booking Europe late for spring/summer and fall of 2022. Things are not normal right now in Europe as we end the year going into the winter months. From Garth Brooks to Brad Paisley to Keith Urban to Luke Combs, Europe is on the dance card in 2022 as it was not in 2021. Hope the virus doesn’t wreck anything next year.

Garth just sold 90,000 tickets in Baton Rouge and 70,000-plus in Arkansas. What was that number in Ireland? 400,000? And he’s just starting back the stadium shows.

Seen the box office reports on Morgan Wallen? Nearly sold out 2022 tour already, and booking more dates. He is not a regional act either, with 705,000 tickets sold for 54 gigs nationwide. Just Garth and Morgan alone will sell several million tickets when all is said and done, both playing solid Country music. Is corporate radio paying attention to the ticket sales of these two guys? Will Morgan remain Persona Non Grata a.k.a. “an unwelcome person” in 2022?

All award shows did poorly in the ratings in 2021. What is their future going into the new year? Can the CMAs get a TV rating avoiding Wallen and staying with just the recent award show darlings? CMAs have much to work on before they show up again. How to deal with the in memoriam section, the new Hall of Fame members and current classic Country acts. And what about the ACMs doing a stadium show in Vegas on a streaming channel, Amazon Prime? That is a huge change in plans.

Will Tim McGraw and Faith Hill be big TV stars in 2022 with their new series, “1883?” Will Blake Shelton’s “The Voice” stay in ratings gold?

Are more Country stars ahead to work in Vegas? Carrie Underwood’s going back in, and many others are going there too for one-shot shows and longer. Brad Paisley is heading back to do an one man acoustic show March 11th-12th at The Wynn, much like Garth did at the same hotel a few years back.

Luke Combs won’t cool down in 2022. Will there be a female breakout?

What’s going to happen with the current diversity push. Will planted seeds grow?

Some negative press has been seen in the last few months, especially that one on the NBC News web site. That NBC opinion piece had some good points, but painted Nashville with a huge brush. This is not 1962, its 2022. Big difference.

Can things be better? Yes. Push the car down the road, just don’t push it over the cliff.

At times in 2021, Country music felt like it was hijacked by some suit who knows nothing about the genre and could care less. No respect for the past while pushing ahead for a better future.

2022 is foggy; a clear plan, but circumstances might not be predictable.

Relocate the steel guitar and the acoustic Martin. Find something besides booze to sing about. Stick to love, and hope and real life. Heartbreak and hard work. Happiness and hope, and less bar lifestyle.

Lose the “N” word forever, and the “F” word, too.

Country music was and maybe can again be the music of America. Family, patriotism, love and faith. As many Country musicians watch the Beatles documentary, “Get Back,” it’s a good message. Let’s get back to where you once belonged!