Country Bows to the Gods of Rock

Bruce Springsteen is the king of all music this week; "The Boss" sold 350,000 CDs...Faith and Brooks & Dunn's first-week sales were below the six-figure mark.

Rascal Flatts were in L.A. for the weekend, shooting an ABC special with tons of L.A. types. Their CD is off and running as the most successful country release of the season. Carrie's CD is still to come.

Trick Pony broke up again. Aubrey Collins wrote in her My Space page that the band could not agree in the studio about styles and songs, so they are busted up. No word from the boys, and the Trickpony.com website says "Under Construction." I liked her and I like them. Very unfortunate.

Meanwhile, where's former Trick Pony singer Heidi? Great news for her out this week: Tony Brown is her new producer.

That's like hitting the lottery. Sending some luck now toward Ira and Keith.

The attorney general in Arkansas is looking into the scalpling of Hannah Montana show tickets. Can't do that in Arkansas.

No shortage of Johnny Cash stuff out in the marketplace. The DVDs, books, CDs...you name it. Some Christmas specials from the '70s coming out on DVD November the 13th.

A movie called "Walk Hard" is on the way; Looks like a spoof on the "Walk the Line" film. It's from the makers of "Talladega Nights."

Did you see Faith on "The View?" Dirty Grandma Barbara Walters told faith that all the girls on the show want to do her husband! That's exactly what she said. Folks snickered and they moved on. That's a goofy show. Sara Evans takes on "The View" women this week. Will Sara give us the real poop on her divorce? I doubt it.

XM and Sirius vote to merge in November. I hope this doesn't screw up my XM. I can not be in a car anymore with XM and a navigation console. (You need one of those don't-get-lost things. They're amazing!)

Radio has changed so much since I was a little boy falling in love with the medium. We have seen so many changes-- and not all for the good.

Strange thing last weekend driving from Jacksonville to Orlando: Around dark I needed to hear the Auburn/Florida football game. It was NOWHERE on FM or AM. In the state of Florida, I could NOT get the Gator game. AM 450 signal from Orlando couldn't travel that far; I heard a static-filled signal once or twice. I needed XM. Radio has got to step up and in these PODS; do something that relates to what's going on in the world at that moment. Too much automation and canned radio. It is unlistenable on the weekends. Al Queda could be swimming on shore and most weekend radio would have to wait until Monday to tell you. That's awful and the cheapness is one of the main reasons radio is not a must-have utility anymore. The industry has cheapened its weekend programming into pre-recorded nothingness. Breaks my heart.