Which Way Is up?

... back in New York City.

Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah. I'm back in the Country music capital of the world! Did you see the British pop princess who had to speak in "Hillbilly" while she prepared to read off the Country Grammy nominations? I guess the CMA has a little more education to go! Here in the Apple, there's no sign of banjos, hillbillies or people in blue jeans, by the way. Country stars, however, have been all over the place ...

Tim McGraw's shooting an NBC special, and Big & Rich are reading off the Grammy nominations. Sugarland's in town, too, I hear.

Speaking of Sugarland, they got Best New Artist Grammy nomination, and they might even win!

In the "Beat A Dead Horse" department (I'll NEVER say it again):

The CMA will never admit it, but what was the gain for all that trouble? Sales in NYC didn't increase. Total show audience was down. So how do you gauge success?

Lots of staff on company expense accounts got to party in the Big Apple. Whoppee. I did think Brooks and Dunn playing that noon time concert was cool.

Bottom line: It didn't seem right for Country to be in New York. The term "fish out of water" comes to mind, but in the real world where we all have to live, New York didn't give a big crap! They took the money like they do to all tourists and went on to the next mark. We got took! NY will NEVER relate to Country music, the themes, or lifestyle. It's ok. We need to focus on plowing the fields where the land is fertile before we plow where the rocks are!

The fact that some uninformed 20 year olds who work for ad agencies got to see a Country singer up close is important to somebody, I guess.

Lots of people are making decisions on Music Row by committee. And someone better get off their butt as the New Year begins.

Country seemed to have some momentum early in the year, but the truth is at the cash register and the TV ratings book.

Billboard's award show this week in Vegas was borderline unwatchable. A lot of popular music is just plain awful!

All sales are off. Garth's sales don't get counted since Billboard doesn't count product sold in a single store chain.

Who broke out this year, really?

Sugarland did good. Paisley with 4 Grammy noms had a real growth year. Gretchen seemed to stall. Lee Ann Womack got a lot of awards.

Attitude is overwhelming some artists with promise. I get more bad reports on one female act, especially. She's is a really good singer, but a lot as happened very quickly, and she's making mistakes and bad first impressions out on the road. Some of you greedy folks force her to take a vacation or start acting like she's thrilled to be at these meet and greets and other public functions. I want to see her around for a long time!

And on that subject: One award-winning singer, when you mention her name, almost everyone has a bad story or experience. I never knew!

Keith Urban's in a tornado now. He's in the middle of a NIC Storm. If he marries ... then what? How will those girls in his base react? Kenny Chesney was hurt politically, but he will be back.

Tim McGraw has a new film coming. The Cash film is going to the Oscars. At 70 million and going up. The new number one musical bio film EVER! Wow!

Hooray for Trisha Yearwood this week getting several Grammy noms. Faith, too. That's a good album.

From the mailbag ... name withheld, but I have received several just like it. Urban's posse better wake up and smell the coffee, because this whole Nicole thing is being handled POORLY. He MUST include his fan base!!! Keith's publicist is the same as Faith's. Are they both getting the best advice???