'Tis the Season for Heads to Roll

It's almost "back to school" time, and time for broadcasters to say, "Out with the old outfits and in with the new."

This summer has seen some pretty huge executions at radio and TV. Downsizing, cutbacks, retooling ... call it what you like, it's all about CHANGE.

I've learned to sort of hate the word "change" since it's been so overused and abused the last year in the political races. "Change" is coming still at the Music Row labels and continuing at all levels of broadcasting.

A little change will do you good ... right?

Alan Jackson will celebrate 50 million CDs sold this week and with today's sales, what a big number that is. He's done it being solid and consistent. Just like George Strait. They have nearly 100 million between them in the sales record books.

The above were never really the flavors of the month. Could they have been signed today? You would have to wonder. Maybe they would have been...

The Sturgis Motorcycle festival saw plenty of country music this year. Country is the mainstream music right now. It's safe to book and for the most part family-friendly.

The Big Valley Jamboree near Edmonton, Alberta has booked Tim McGraw already for next year's show ... 51 weeks out.

The paps have Nic and Keith surrounded in Australia. They refused to sell a baby picture, so a $4 million bounty is the baby's first photo. Nic is begging the paps to give space. With 4 million-plus at stake, don't hold your breath at someone doing the right thing and holding back.

Anyone heard of Adam Gregory? He's a great kid! Was a teen success in his native Canada. He's ready for the big time and I hope radio will give him a good shot. At the end of the day, it is about the song. In this case, the artist has great potential with the right song.

The Toby film is coming. It will not be in every theatre. He really seems to like doing film. His last film had its moments. I've always enjoyed his videos. We shall see about film #2. Wish him luck in a very competitive tough business...

I got into an unfortunate snag regarding a letter to the editor in an Internet publication. I learned this years ago, but under pressure we sometimes forget life's lessons. Never write a letter when you are mad. PD: Never call a jock on the air...etc., etc. It's so easy to drop back to being a 21-year0old hothead. Not cool. Now on with the countdown....

The Brad Paisley CD "Play" ... below is the track list. Everyone from the most country station in Bakersfield to ESPN (the surf song) to the most contemporary country station (several songs to chose from) will grab from this extraordinary example of musicianship, engineering and concept. Never predictable and every track a gem.

Someone had the nerve to say in a column that music without lyrics are a waste of time. (I think my middle daughter never liked instrumentals. Never could get her to tell me why. And feels the same way to this day..)

That's okay ... to each his own. From a learned perspective, don't tell that to Beethoven, Mozart or fans of Chet Atkins and Les Paul.

Brad's CD is one so many different people will enjoy if they know about it. His loyal fans, hillbillies, PBS latte drinkers, surfers, guitar freaks ... I could go on. It will be an interesting marketing challenge to maximize this projects full potential

The track listing:
01. Huckleberry Jam
02. Turf's Up
03. Start A Band (Featuring Keith Urban)
04. Kim
05. Departure
06. Come On In (Featuring Buck Owens)
07. Playing With Fire
08. Kentucky Jelly
09. More Than Just This Song (Featuring Steve Wariner)
10. Les Is More
11. Pre-Cluster Cluster Pluck Prequel
12. Cluster Pluck
13. Cliffs Of Rock City
14. Let The Good Times Roll (Featuring B.B. King)
15. What A Friend We Have In Jesus

Cut 15 will get contemporary Christian airplay and is beautiful. What a smart way to end a project so filled with personal feelings and blisters on those fingers.

I rave about this CD because it is so NON-cookie cooker at a time when there is so much franchise music, film and art. Hooray for Brad, his band, his studio gurus and his label for helping him make his vision come true.

Now on to listening for Taylor Swift's song "Change" inside NBC's Olympic coverage. And somewhere the "Nashville Star" will sing from Beijing....