Keep The 108 Temps In Texas ... PLEASE

Jimmy Carter in Panama City, FL

Trying to get mentally ready for CMA Festival/Fan Fair week ... I see on the Weather Channel that it's 101 in Dallas ... 108 in Midland ... 95 in Gulf Shores ... oh, my ... this can't be coming to Nashville next week ... PLEASE ... NO....

It's the Tour De France for fans and everyone else involved. Endurance. My voice is crappy today (not sure why) ... everyone knows the voice is the first to go after MONEY during this week.

Breaking new acts is job one this week for the labels ... Radio people in town for it's bi-annual ritual of "talk to the label" pushes. Mostly new folks with very few "A" acts. Not sure what kind of radio is in this PPM era, but it's another ... we shall see. New anything is always difficult to sell.

The world media used to spotlight Country fans this week. Some of that will go on with Taylor Swift signing for 13 hours. Miranda might get some national publicity ... then who knows? Some enterprising editor will want to know what Country fans think about Chely coming out of the closet.

Kid Rock hosting the CMTs? That seems sort of last decade to me, but whatever. The show is generally fun and rarely Country. We shall see. How much more pop can Country music go these days? The scale seems close if not already tipping.

The early-week events will make some news ... Carrie throwing a softball will for sure be a photo op...but what NEW will get past the same old same old? Hmmm.

Autograph signing seems to be back in vogue ... Tim and Rascal Flatts are signing for the first time in years. (first time since 2000 for Tim)

So away we go ... I just hope the weather tries to cooperate a little....

Bonnaroo is this week, too ... everyone from Stevie Wonder to Conan to Steve Martin ... still want to try that some year.

This oil in the gulf ... You hear the adver-mericals on the radio and TV. BP trying to run a PR campaign with paid commercials. Staying on camera with a very disliked CEO.

This catastrophe needs a face ... on the government side and the BP side ... needs a General H. Norman Schwarzkopf BAD!

These people must have learned public relations from the folks who worked for the Dixie Chicks! Amazing, horrifying!

Some Country concert promoters aren't much better in the PR wars. One big one announced to radio stations that media would be charged a few bucks to park their station vehicle at the media event. Most radio and TV said thanks, but no thanks. Just stayed home!

The high ticket prices are continuing to have an effect. After paying outrageous prices for my daughters' Jonas and Bieber habit, I said NO to Paul McCartney tickets. Been there and done that. He is history but just not paying $200-plus for a decent seat. I've seen him several times. I am not going to die. At some point you just have to say NO. Even to the bass player of my most favorite act...