Solid as a Rock ... 50 Million Strong

Picture 50 million CDs ... placed end to end, which stretch from Nashville to Paris, France. It is impossible to comprehend that kind of accomplishment. The sheer volume reached 296 miles if stacked like bricks. Alan Jackson might be amazed more than anyone at such a feat.

Alan is on tour this weekend out west. His career has been like the waves in the Gulf of Mexico. Mostly gentle ups and downs. From his first to last, pure Country never really moving too far from his mainline Country path. Country music needs Alan now more than ever -- and all signs point to him being around a while.

Isn't life about balance? Country at this second seems a little out of balance with all the refugees from the pop world coming in, but it all works out. Or it always has.

The one issue does come up. When an Alan Jackson or Randy Travis song sounds crappy in a sweep with Kid Rock or others, that's when the rubber band breaks. And that is happening now. Music directors and music schedulers are running into the pop sound versus the pure country lineup. There's no answer right now, but it is something to think about.

This happened a few years ago when Shania was the thunderbolt and she truly changed the sound of the business for a bit. The pendulum usually returns. Hope it continues to after this barrage of pop tarts.

Finding the next big thing is always a crapshoot. Some folks simply do not have the "X" factor, that piece of stardust glitter which makes special people just that.

A few dull folks can slip through on occasion, but you need to have that magic formula of style and substance at the end of the day. A few of the new crowd have the content, but not the style. A few have loads of style but little on the content side. Maybe that can be balanced or polished. I'm sure Garth wasn't Mr. Excitement on Day One.

Toby Keith said something really smart this week. Interviewed in a Pennsylvania newspaper, Toby was talking about all the celebrities pushing one political side or the other. Mr. Keith said folks should make up there own minds: "I don't think anyone should listen to what stupid celebrities say!"

The big conventions are just ahead. Several Country stars headed to Minneapolis for the Republicans and none are set for the Demos in Denver. Politics and religion are dangerous zones for public people.

When the elections get closer, watch the Demo yards signs come out on Music Row. They usually do. The artists often lean right, while many of the artsy behind-the-scenes folks and managers lean left. The big money to the right and the working folks to the left. It's how the game has played out in the past, but who's to say how anything goes anymore.

Still can't figure out why Music Row can't find the formula to diversify into the Hispanic Country sound. Rick Trevino, John Arthur Martinez and the latest "Nashville Star" contestant Gabe Garcia are all good.

Many years ago at the Astrodome, Trevino played the rodeo and sang a verse in English, then Spanish. It was magical.

Pop music and Santana have dabbled in Latin over the years. It's a big world and Music Row still seems to be a "50 states and Canada" world. Some tests in Europe, but hard to figure out the secret of getting this format outside its comfort zone. I know it has to be frustrating to artists, managers and industry leaders. I guess it goes back to the source material. It all begins with the song.

How did people like the Singing Nun break worldwide pre-Beatles? We sure need some independent out-of-the-box young people working on this, with the Internet leading the charge.

As anyone ever stormed YouTube -- with exception of Tim McGraw getting his crotch grabbed and pulling the drunk out of the audience? Are the PR professionals for Country really doing their job making this format the buzz?

Not sure if it's the labels' job. management or publicity, but someone needs to get on it. These are exciting times, but somehow the story doesn't seem to be breaking out.

There's never been a better-looking bunch of stars with greater variety than right now. Does the world know that?