Don’t Let 2023 Surprise You

CNBC surveyed the top CFOs in the top U.S. companies, and they overwhelmingly agreed that January will begin with an economic recession. The summer of 2022 is a blow-it-out summer. Just try to get a plane reservation or go to a national park without a reservation.

The concert business may start feeling things sooner than later. The big stadium shows will be huge, no problem, but the farther down the food chain you go it might get difficult.

The psychology of higher gas prices, and for sure higher hotel/food costs, may force fans to do less. Just how much less is the question.

Recession can result in wage freezes, layoffs, benefit cuts and, for radio, more voice tracking. For the fans, reduced income means reduced dining, concerts, etc.

The energy prices hikes, including those for cooling/heating your house and feeding your car, are hitting the budgets now. Renters are really getting clobbered.

I bring all this up because the economic pain gets us all in so many ways. The gas prices and energy policy in general create bad moods.

Write some music that is up! Give away money and fun to build your brand/audience. There is opportunity for the smart and prepared.

Just watched the city of Birmingham, AL go all-in for a Garth Brooks stadium show in their downtown. It came off without a hitch, an almost amazing occurrence. Garth’s team is as organized as they come. New folks should find a Garth stadium show while they are still going on. It is a textbook operation.

Working as a team and with each venue, the ticket sales, every little detail – it’s the definition of professional. Social media reviews were out of sight: “One for the ages,” “Will tell my grandkids,” etc.

It is fun to have watched Garth’s career since 1992, pretty much day one as a big time act. The story is not all smooth sailing, but look at him now!

Turn the page and look at the career of Miranda Lambert. Anyone predict she would reach the status she now stands, on Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people list?

She has worked so hard, her team has played the long game and it has worked. Never the hot thing of the moment, but rather a steady stair step to the top. Fun to have watched.

Every year -- or most every year -- some artist is the breakout Fan Fair/CMA Fest artist. Will there be one this year? I mean a real one, not a PR fabricated one. Billy Ray Cyrus was one years ago. Carrie Underwood is still a sensation playing the Opry as she always does this fan-focused week.

Where is Morgan Wallen this week, CMA? I’ll tell you … playing a stadium with Eric Church in Minneapolis on Saturday, June 11th. Was it the CMA or ABC not wanting Morgan? I’m sure that question will go unanswered.