Maybe Alice Cooper Will Go Country?

I'm sorry if I can't get as hyperventilated as some of my colleagues at the thought of a Bon Jovi Country album.

The New Jersey Cowboy was the likable featured guest/speaker at the Country Radio Broadcasters convention.

I'm sure he's a wonderful person, and I really like the song "Livin' On A Prayer," BUT -- flip it around.

Hey, Porter Waggoner really has been signed to a punk label in L.A. OK, it's true the world is going to hell! Bon Jovi does Country. All right. Joe Nichols has agreed to sing at Anna Nicole Smith's funeral. I can't make this stuff up.

Lisa Marie Presley wants a "major" country record deal.

Sting got his first CMT nomination.

Al Gore was on the Oscars more than Tom Hanks or Steve Spielberg.

The world is going to HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.

What is going on? It's all OK in the scheme of things, I guess, but has CMT's MTV upbringing and everything else totally polluted any sense of the genre of Country music? Or is it just whatever gets you a rating and anything goes? Dixie Chick ill feelings, be damned!

Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covington are very nice folks, and the input of the "Idol" show is not to be compared to the above! Carrie has been a great "model" country star. These three could teach many of the other more standoff "stars" a few lessons in playing well with others.

The odd cross-pollination of the format is directly due to the Los Angeles influence in the business.

The L.A. style of business replaced the good ole boy Nashville way. That in and of itself is not totally a bad thing.

The total lack of understanding what Country music EVER was is left on the table. Some of the top promotion people at the few labels think they ARE in L.A. Though they probably couldn't cut it there. Their style, the game-playing deals -- it's all L.A. The little old Music Row would have never tolerated some of these people. And that part is missed.

It was never kinder and gentler just honest and straightforward.

Now more than ever it's about the money. Big money too. Money changes people and everything else. You can't say no to it, but it is not always a positive influence. Rednecks with money. Jerks who were jerks when poor are really jerks with money.

With all that said, the weasels I saw at CRS this week could not replace the really good folks there too. Pat Green, Mac Davis, Jeffrey Steele all in the same little room this afternoon -- good guys with talent and class.

Many, if not most, of the young stars seem like good folks. Taylor Swift is so cute and still innocent. Great seeing her excited about her first CMT nomination.

Rascal Flatts and Brooks and Dunn are class operations. Mostly it's all good. But the poison people do leave a bad taste in your mouth. And their influence is all too strong.

Get rich and leave. That would be my wish for you. But some of these consultant folks and old-school radio good old boys just seem to stay like a ring around the collar. The business needs some fresh thoughts and forward thinkers. Please, good guys/gals, step up. Save the planet. Don't let Alice Copper and Michael Jackson be the next great hopes at CRS 2008!