On the Road, Again

Can't think of a major act who is NOT out on the road this week. We are in late June and the outdoor sheds and festivals are doing the business.

Around 175,000 tickets sold where I am in Oshkosh, Wisconsin at the event known as Country USA. The talent expenses just for this four-night event was WAY north of $2.5 million. Chesney was rumored to be a million-dollar paycheck.

In Wisconsin alone, three major music festivals on the same weekend. Milwaukess has Summerfest and I can't imagine what they pay for talent. Just last night, Stevie Wonder, Ms. Rimes and Three Dog Night and maybe 15 more.

The concert business seems good, but you have to wonder about the Fall and later. Most of these big tickets (almost $500 a piece for Country USA Oshkosh) were purchased as long as a year ago. The economic conditions seem to be changing hourly and none for the better. It's a nervous time for sure.

Talked with several artists this week about the recording side of the business. You have to think the huge album creation budgets would be out the window for most. The days of pre-production and prep are back. When most everyone goes into the studio it's for the real thing. That might be a good thing for the music, too.

It's hard to find a senior artist who doesn't think that the loss of the performance recording session wasn't the best way to make music. The days of recording the cymbal on Thursday and the steel guitar next Monday was pretty crazy anyway, wasn't it ... if you are making a song that will be played in public by real people in real time.

Changing the nature of the recording business AGAIN is just one change you can see coming. The 360 deals and other "reach into the artist's pocket" schemes may be the way business is done today, but it sure doesn't sound like anything that is best for the artist. This is all going to get very interesting.

Gasoline at 5 bucks is rearranging the way everything is done. Touring with all these trucks, ticket prices the fans can afford, advertising ... oh yeah, jet fuel for the private jets and yachts. High prices cutting into savings and income.

With the obvious economic news, you would think fans would be watching more TV maybe. Anyone left their computers to watch "Nashville Star?" It is a two-hour mess.

I feel for the kids (contestants) who are put out there, singing Cyndi Lauper songs. Then you have Pussycat Doll wannabes and struggling hosts. No matter how you slice the cake, the show is such an "American Idol" wannabe that it's lost. It is actually painful to watch in real time ... and, honestly, I can't.

"American Idol" is back for its late summer auditions. San Juan, Puerto Rico is one of the stops. Hmm ... Louisville and Jacksonville, but NO Texas, B'ham or Atlanta. You wonder if the country ears are watching those moves.

NBC execs are probably the blame for the awful ideas on "Nashville Star." The suits usually do screw up weak shoes. When you are weak, you can't tell the suits to go away. This is when you miss Dick Clark and other strong TV bosses.

Saw Miranda Lambert here in Wisconsin yesterday. She is without a doubt one of the most UNDER-rated stars in the Country stable. She has a lot of vocal power and energy. And it is real. She is not some studio creation. She is growing as an artist every time I see her. Very impressive. She just needs a few commercial hits and BOOM. But that is the trick, isn't it" Capturing that magic on vinyl ... tape ... hard drive.

Dierks is another one. Live, he's fun. Lonestar's new guy is a good fit, too. There's a lot to be happy about with the folks out there representing Country music. I am not in the mood to get in trouble, so I'm not going to name the ones pretending to be Country artists. More than a few, actually. And no I am NOT talking about Jessica. That's an unusual situation. She seems genuine and can't help her pop persona. That's a TBA thing. She's going to get her chance.

How about that Tim McGraw? Wow, what's the value, if you had to give it one, for the publicity he got on the Washington state fan toss. The story was played all over the world. The Hindu Times even. Camera phones, my friends. They are everywhere.

Mindy McCready arrested again ... very sad. Cher at Tootsie's ... ZZ Top and Brooks & Dunn tour together. You never know what you are going to read every time you go to the computer.

Anyone watching all the layoffs at newspapers around the country? Google that in news sometime. Consolidation still in every business, from beer to broadcasting. These are "fasten your seatbelt" times. For SURE!