The Class of '89 Revisited

Hampton, Georgia

From the Atlanta Raceway for my first in person NASCAR race in 32 years! You do need to be at one of these events in person to really get the scope. I knew it was big, but not this big! It's like a double Super Bowl. Massive.

Hard to believe the Country music industry never fought to the last breath to stay in bed with these people. This is so huge ... another very missed opportunity.

NASCAR wants to get away from the hillbilly/moonshine roots and went rock to some degree, but Country should have hung on. Some radio has, but the music folks not so much. Dumb, dumb, dumb!

It is really sort of hard to read the people who shill for the Row. Sales are in the dumper when you factor out the Carrie/Flatts juggernaut. It looks like there is a concerted effort to go with a whole new draft lineup. The Class of '07, if you will. New blood, but I sure am having a hard time seeing the star power in many if not any of these newcomers.

That's a broad brush, but I can't see a superstar in the bunch right now, with this Class of 07. I'm sure to be proven wrong, but hard to spot a Garth/Alan or Clint in this crowd.

Our A-list touring acts are strong ... real strong. But when you get to the names getting a radio shove right now ... no need to name names, but I am missing something.

Wal-Mart is still selling the country CDs, but the rest of the industry is not even thinking about CDs in the future. It's a strange place to be in.

I see where someone is talking about showing some video in a small way to address the Hall of Fame snub. The CMA got an earfull on that decision and remember, I bet it's ABC flying that plane if walls could talk.

Some sharp Brad Paisley kid or little Martina McBride is on the way. They will find us. The old thinkers are the ones needing the boot!

Music in general has never been more visible. The issue for some: Should Country music continue as a thing -- a brand? Or just call the music coming out of here ... music.

From a marketing point of view, make all the music, everything, so it can cross over. Carrie/Flatts/Sugarland/Urban... all of it. That sure seems like what's happening anyway. Who knows? And what's wrong with that? It's business. Who is to say what turns on the CD-buying demo?

Here the idea that goes ... when you buy a concert ticket, you get the act's CD free. Lots of ideas flying around these days.

I've been watching a lot of old Porter Waggoner lately. Looking back at the honesty of his generation of entertainers. It was real, heartfelt experience they were singing about. Country has always been about the real world.

Right now I just keep seeing Xerox. Imitation. With that in mind, what mold is the cook using? The MTV mold? Are we chasing pop or leading the way?

Like NASCAR ... just turn left. I'm lost trying to mind read people who want to ignore the past (Vince going into the Hall of Fame) and others who want to have their musical headquarters in a downtown high-rise bank building.

These are confusing times.