Masks Are Optional … Is Backstage Reopening?

So, is this another summer of no meet & greets/fan interaction? That is a subject floating around right now. Masks are optional due to a Federal Court ruling. So does that tell the fans that things are back to where they used to be? Probably not.

People are still getting Covid, you’ve probably seen the big names, but they are not dying or even requiring hospitalization for the most part.

Key words in that sentence, “for the most part.”

Touring this spring/summer/fall is critical for everyone. Keeping things locked down may be a way to get through the season. Garth Brooks’ backstage is sterile. We shall see how that goes.

Garth is in Arkansas and Kenny Chesney in Tampa this weekend, kicking off the post-Easter run-up to summer.

There was even a press release this week about a truckload of steel staging leaving Nashville for Tampa. Chesney is ready to get back to work! The fans are ready to take that mask off the face and see the world. I hope that active Covid virus cooperates.

“American Idol” University maybe sending some graduates to Nashville again soon. This HunterGirl seems to have what it takes, and is getting better every week. Some of these “Idol” graduates have done pretty well … duh!

Great to see a classic singer getting some PR this week: Janie Fricke. She’s touring and celebrating the 40th anniversary of her Female CMA vocalist award. Classy performer and great songs! “It Ain’t Easy Being Easy” and “He’s A Heartache” are now standards.

Kane Brown using a Brooks & Dunn sample of “Brand New Man” just keeps showing how hot B&D are today, on the road and all over TikTok. ’90s Country was great, and is back all over the place.

The Country music news publicity business sure is fascinating. Maybe 10 artists, some who have never had a hit record, show up in People magazine and a few other national publications almost daily. Is it that most artists don’t like publicity?

Why is this handful of singers seen so much? Are they all that interesting? Go to People.com/country/ and see who they write about. You would think some of these people are really big deals when they couldn’t sell out or even fill up a good-sized club most anywhere. The gatekeepers outside of Nashville seem like they have no clue. Maybe that is the problem. (And I did all this without naming names but you know who they are.) All hat, no cattle as they say in Texas.

Overexposure is an issue, but so is underexposure. Far too many of our artists are under exposed. Take a cue from these overexposed artists, and give the DJs, and writers something to talk about short of arrest, or pending indictment.

In the past year, there has been way too much social engineering and too little excitement about a song or an album. The wave seems to be around for a return to the “Country” side of Country music. (‘90s Country is hot.) Better get on that train before you are left standing at the station.