Where Are The Bachelors?

Country Music is no longer an adult music. The labels and radio want the demographic to go down. Ok, you have lots of young kids doing country and a much younger audience. You can really see that at Fan Fair/CMA music festival.

So this week People ran a hottest Bachelor's list and Kenny Chesney was on it. The only Country guy. I thought ... Hmm. We have lots of hot guys in the format right now don't we?

Hot yes say the Gals, Single? No! Name the single guys with big hit records ... (Jeopardy theme plays here)... It's hard isn't it. The whole A list except for Kenny is married and he was for a moment.

Would country music be hotter if the new guys in Country were available? You have to wonder. Worked for Frank Sinatra, Elvis and The Beatles! You can get married once you get going and are established but it makes it that much harder to work those screaming girls into a frenzy when you are hooked up. The New Nashville Star is single so let's see what happens.

Is Nicole Kidman pregnant? Star has her with what they call a "baby bump". Will those two ever get married? Pleaseeeeeeeeeeee hurry. (June 25!)

The Dixie Chicks went to Europe this week. Sales are almost at a million. Concert sales are all over the road from great to bad. And JUST when you thought we could move on ...

From an article in Thursday, June 15, 2006 Daily Telegraph in Britain/ Note: this is not a tabloid but a good paper ... feature on Chicks ... and Natalie has outdone herself! This time on patriotism ...

The Chicks can't hide their disgust at the lack of support they received from other country performers. "A lot of artists cashed in on being against what we said or what we stood for because that was promoting their career, which was a horrible thing to do," says Robison.

"A lot of pandering started going on, and you'd see soldiers and the American flag in every video. It became a sickening display of ultra-patriotism."

"The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism," Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. "Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country... I don't see why people care about patriotism."

Why can't they just ... Natalie's poured another gallon of gas on the fire. Amazing!

From the mailbag:

Jimmy,

This was my first experience at fan fair. You are so right, it is very impersonal. I commented to a friend of mine that the stadium makes and amphitheatre seem like an intimate venue. I'm glad I had the experience, but don't plan to attend again. I'm not an autograph hound and knew that I wouldn't have any face time with my favorites as they are superstars. I can't imagine the mayhem at the convention center if a Brooks & Dunn or a Keith Urban showed up. The crowd for Josh Turner was too much for me!

Thanks for the interesting articles.

Tammy

And on the subject of Nashville Star...

First off Jimmy...love your column...met you briefly at CRS, but very briefly so doubt you remember...but I am a fan either way.

I must admit, end of fall book, I've slacked reading up on the column and have missed some here and there.

While I agree on some parts of your Nashville Star rant...I have to say that it isn't country radio's fault. We aren't to blame so much. The show is a wreck and the subtle improvements they've made have been meager at best. Wynonna as mentor was fantastic...but even my wife got sick of the "sister-friend" female power routine...Cowboy Troy...this is gonna be his schtick in this business...so he needs to really work hard to get better before next year...I love Troy...great guy...and genuine...but he needs to be allowed to add his Troyness to the show.

The judges haven't been good since Season one...Where's Bob? Is there anyone who knows about the industry like Bob? The man is a historian and his words MEANT something. Nothing against Anastacia...but too often it's like she's trying to be Simonesque and while maybe we need someone harsh and honest...bitchy isn't exactly it. I am a fan of Phil Vassar...but "Aww man, I think you're great and I love what you do.." is all he ever says to anyone...here's a guy that's got the goods...performing, songwriting...dude's a total performer...GIVE THEM SOMETHING to come away with...and I like the tradeout of guest judges...but one thing is missing from the equation: Radio.

I'm small market and don't have the cred to be a Billy Greenwood or whatever...but as much as he annoyed me, he completed the package...why not get a different radio PROGRAMMER each week...not some self-serving morning guy jockeying for his next contract or syndication...not some comedian who has a movie coming out or some wrestler to cross promote another show on the network...they lost me there...Chris Young kept me...but get different radio people...THAT's how you get radio to adopt this show...

I've always been a big supporter...but you need judges from 1) The Record Business/Talent Management, 2) Another Artist...preferably big name (Sorry Warren's) and 3) Radio...

Give these kids the perspective they'll need to move on to the next level, win or lose...Radio will be able to give them a realistic critique of whether what they're doing would fly on the air...and that's critical...I loved Matt Lindahl...and the best thing they said to him is that he'd never fly on radio...but he'd be huge if he stuck with it...I can see him being an Opry fixture and a musical comedic fan base...and of course Milk commercials...

Jimmy, the key, most important thing that I need out of Nashville Star...no matter the label backing it...Jimmy, I NEED that single Wednesday morning. I NEED my morning show playing that song the next day...I need that song going for adds...and though I am consulted and we generally wait till we have some research data to back up an add...I would add that at very least into light THAT day...

So...Now, I paid 99 cents to have the live version download of Drinking Me Lonely...I've played it a little here and there...got tons of calls at first...and it's just peachy to tell my listeners that he doesn't have a single ready for another 2 months at least...

Buddy did...and he soared...shortly...but soared...Cotter did...but we all know how he self-imploded...Erika Jo was and still is a disastrous wreck...we'll pretend that is the Fantasia Barrino season of Idol...the lost season no one cares bout or remembers...Chris has the goods...and I'm STILL waiting for my friends at RCA to get it done...

Radio is to blame partially...but we mold the clay before us...granted...some don't even want to get their hands dirty...but give us the tools and we'll make the show work...rating would go up and with the passion country listeners already have...it would be an amazing success...

My question to you is: Do you think it would fly better on CMT than USA?

That's where I think the big hangup is.

Change the judges...get radio involved for the betterment of the program and the contestants...show us a little more of the audition process...because that's what makes Idol...and have the single ready for download to programmers immediately...

Jimmy...this show is important to our format...I believe this...and there's a ton of ways to make it better and make it work...believe me...I've scratched my head since season two...

Get some marketing...do radio station web-based promotions...hold auditions in more places...get this thing rolling...

Nashville Star's problem is Nashville Star...new blood my man...new blood...

I got a job...but I'd be glad to talk to the higher ups there if you know somebody:)

haha...thanks for the column...you're wise beyond your years!

(name withheld by JC upon request)