Plenty of New Faces

One looks like an early '90s Faith Hill -- plenty of young good-looking guys and a few, but not many groups. Mostly Sugarland/Little Big Town like acts. All jumped in the water and tried to get the radio programmers' attention.

Big money for magazine cover ads and booze swinging parties thrown for several others. Whatever it takes to try to get a new kids' song on the radio. Anything within legal reason, of course.

I'm sure their deals aren't lucrative and their chances of even half of them making a dent are slim, still we wish them luck.

Will radio welcome these newcomers with open arms as they did Carrie and, fairly recently, Josh and Rodney? To be seen.

The ACM noms out this week continue to show a changing of the guard. New faces in those circles, too. Sales aren't great for anyone except Taylor Swift; still you hope for a "redneck woman" lightning bolt to strike and strike soon.

Try to book a big country act for your garden party sometime. Do the fans have any idea there are half -dozen million-bucks-a0night acts and probably close to two dozen $100,000-a-night big shots? A few not-so-old timers remember when Tim McGraw got $7,500 for a night and Kenny was playing for tips and tacos. My, my, have their fates changed!

Trace Adkins still rolling on "The Apprentice." His new single is rolling, too. Jim Cantore, the bald Wildman of the Weather Channel, stopped by Trace's CRS party, where "The Apprentice" girls showed up, too. Cantore likes country music and hurricanes!

Made it to the Houston Livestock show and Rodeo this week, with Tim McGraw opening. The event will carry on for 20 or so days. Tim was cheery when we met backstage. He's been working on new music and seems to be pumped up on how the recording is going.

Garth made it to CRS, too. He said he was working on screenplays. Toby Keith is making his "Beer For My Horses" movie with CMT. What's the deal with these Okies and the movie business? Toby was pushing his new song this week, "She's a Hottie."

CMT nominations, ACM nominations ... is anyone else afflicted with Award Show yawn and fatigue? It is just so hard to get excited about these three-hour infomercials, and the rating sure reflect the fatigue. Reinvention is badly called for.

Brad Paisley has lined up new and interesting touring partners for the summer: Chuck Wicks again, Jewel and Julianne Hough the dancer co-careering with singing.

The economy and consolidation is going to get us all this year. And has anyone noticed a changing of the guard at radio, too? Lots of morning men seem to be moving out; I didn't read the changes for a few days and got shocked at all the major moves.

Congrats to all the new DJ Hall of Fame folks. Nice dinner. Alan Jackson played and so did Charlie Daniels. Very nice night.

Sure hope Eddy Arnold gets better after his serious fall last week outside is South Davidson county home. Eddy will be 90 on May 15 -- 145 charted singles, 85 million albums sold, 28 #1s. A Hall of Famer, legend and very class act. Get well soon, Mr. Arnold!