Why So Quiet?

I think I'm listening for signs of life along Music Row. Maybe they are just in meetings and thinking.

A few stars are on tour and several are gearing up. Take a look at the top stars right now in the genre and they don't generate press anyway. Or at least talk to the media VERY infrequently: George Strait, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and I could go on. The stars of country music NOW talk in very controlled venues like pre-chosen magazine features and little more.

Carrie Underwood seems to be dodging press these days -- except for the magazine articles that should be written by publicists ... and the occasional tabloid feed her "boyfriend" sends out on their dating.

The bottom line in all this relates to sales. If no one is talking about your artist, why would you expect the mass audiences to be buying anything from your artist? The concert tickets are a product of years of prep, but the CDs are more now-driven. The buzz about country music could not be quieter. Just listen!

... Hear crickets?

Music in the really in the bigger picture: Miley Cyrus and Amy Winehouse get press (note they are also getting sales!.). The Eagles and Garth have been active in the media the last few months (note they are in top-20 pop sales, too).

We don't need a scandal; we just need some interesting publicity and something to get people talking. Surely these dozens of artists are doing something!

The Marlon Brando/George Strait approach worked for Brando and seems to work for George, but that's where the line seems to end. When you don't do publicity, you know what happens? Nothing! Look at the Country music sales figures this week; I'd call that pretty much nothing!

The whole crazy issue of CMA Music Ffest moving out of town was stupid. It is too big to move and not really worth talking about. The CMA should use some of its clout AND do what they have done before, and GO to NYC once a year with some big stars and make a splash ... generate some news ... make some headlines ... SELL some music and concert tickets. Free concerts whatever to promote the brand ... or is that too much common sense? Same for London and the worldwide market.

The problem is with all this is committee-think. No leadership, just a lot of meetings and self - ME! ME! --thinking. Move the CMA music festival to Dallas because some radio station big shot wants to make a name for himself. Do a big country music show in Dallas -- that's great; just don't try to take something that already exists. It's the same dumb idea that involved taking the CMA show to NYC. The award shows and the Hall of Fame and the Opry belong in Nashville, BUT take those events on the road for a tour and share them with the world. It would be the smartest thing ANYONE has ever done for the genre.

There are no new ideas. Remember the big Opry cast played the Astrodome a few years ago? Radio City and Carnegie Hall, too! At the end of the day it probably has an immeasurable effect, but you know it's a positive PR move.

Doing an awards show once a year and having a big concert and calling it Fan Fair is NOT going to solve the sales malaise in the recording industry. Bigger plans and bolder ideas.

What do these Leadership music people do? Where are the musical leaders to reflect the current U.S. political trend of CHANGE? It's time and, in fact, is long overdue. Think, industry! Work together! Think outside the same old crappy box! Embrace change!

Group think is what has gone down 16th Avenue for decades, and the time is now to stop it. There are some great artists to make the music and some new and old artists to join together for some headline-grabbing events.

Like NIKE says: Just do it!