You Can’t Create A Viral Video

Watching all the CMA coverage and you just felt like the powers that be were trying to create heat, create something like a viral video.

You can’t. You can cook up something that looks like other viral videos, but you learn eventually that a viral video comes along at the right place and the right time with the right message and the right secret sauce.

Billy Ray Cyrus was once the human viral video at a June Fan gathering many years ago. Carrie Underwood came to town fresh off “American Idol” and was the must see act. Just because you put out a bunch of news stories to a bunch of reporters who know more about stock prices than Country music trends doesn’t mean it’s going to work. A viral breakout act or video just happens.

It’s been out for a while, but the podcast “Cocaine & Rhinestones” is like Ken Burns on steroids. Tyler Mahan Coe does research like Carl Bernstein, and delivers like Jack Webb (if he was around in 2022). No B.S., but what a way to tell the story of Ernest Tubb, Bobbie Gentry, Spade Cooley and on and on.

I’m not a major consumer of podcasts, but this one came so recommended I had to try. Good Lord, I am exhausted after an hour-plus tale of the West Coast Country swing star Cooley, a creepy murderer! ET was a wild man, and so much more. Oh, and The Judds story. If you’ve been around you knew some of this stuff, but not all put together in an uncensored fashion. Haven’t had the energy and time to dive into the George and Tammy stuff, but I will soon. These podcasts blow your mind!

Spin is just that … people smell it. Some dogs just ain’t going to hunt. There’s only so much room at the top.

Garth Brooks just announced his last stadium show in North America, August 6th at NRG Stadium in Houston. I think we have seen that Garth can still sell tickets. Will this truly be his last stadium show? I doubt it. Last big stadium tour? Maybe. But he has never been better.

Paul McCartney just played his last stadium show on this U.S. tour. He’s turning 80 this weekend. And the Stones … you know that story.

Miranda Lambert’s career is red hot, and she just launched a new Walmart home décor line. Luke Bryan is red hot too with everything he has going. Blake Shelton is on some other plane now, Keith Urban too. The A list of Country stars is the best and biggest in a long time. Eric Church is playing stadiums. Luke Combs is about to. Morgan Wallen, despite the lack of institutional love, is red hot. Lainey Wilson, without over the top PR, has a gig on the hottest TV show in the U.S., “Yellowstone.”

Look at those Kenny Chesney crowds, and Tim McGraw did nothing but help his Country career with his recent TV series. Darius Rucker, Brad Paisley, Maren Morris and more are playing internationally, and some high paying, great private gigs.

Country from the ’90s is HOT. Heard Tracy Lawrence last week; his music has never sounded better. Same for Brooks & Dunn.

Just don’t try to force feed things, let them just happen. Provide the water, but refrain from dunking heads in it.