No Sure Things In Vegas This Weekend

Jimmy Carter (on purpose NOT in Las Vegas)

I can't take two weeks in Vegas! I'm going next week for the NAB convention. Can't handle two weeks in that town! The ACMs are more fun on TV, anyway!

Getting up at 2:30a to go on the air doesn't work well for me ... 1:45a or so wake up call ... not the town for that. You feel like a bus wreck all day ... You can't really enjoy the place.

Vegas is a "night time is the right time" town. Morning radio, East Coast live broadcasting is not the thing for the late-night entertainment business, anyway. Guests are asleep or on tape.

Vegas is a more interesting showplace than the ACM's old TV home in Burbank for sure. At least someone besides a movie cowboy has seen a hat and boots. It's less serious and more colorful. Great place to throw a party and that's what they will do on CBS-TV Sunday night. Hope the ratings are huge!

There may be a few more new songs than the audience will like, with a few more unfamiliar faces to the masses than in past years. Out with the old and in with the new "Next Big Thing."

Hard time for the recording companies. The majors all seem to be retooling behind the scenes. Lots of "staff fruit basket" turnover. Watch who the TV producers put at the START of every hour ... and at the half-hour ... let's see who they think is hot.

Always hard for acts to be pushed out of the way as times change. Big stars still on the concert trail making money, but not so much in CD physical sales. Awkward time going from label hero to not-so-much.

Pop music has saved many of their stars of the '60s-'70s. Elton John, Rod Stewart, Billy Joel seem to be put on pedestals. Lord knows Bon Jovi and Bruce S. Classic rockers in current concert heaven make a long list. Even recycled them on "American Idol."

On the radio with airplay ... not so much. Sure can't say that about Country music keepers. A swing back to Reba and thank goodness Strait is still cool.

Corporate music programming seems to follow not-so-much lead. Not what you would call in 2011 an early adopter overall.

Does the music of today not mix with oldies or recurrents? That seems to be the case. Maybe it's always been that way.

The catalog singers in Country sure aren't treated with the same reverence as their pop counterparts. Look at how my old friend Lionel Richie is treated ... as he should be.. Country may be the worst at doing that in all formats right now. Even Hip-Hop loves LL Cool J!

No Dolly ... Where's Alan? Shania must not be ready to come back on mass-appeal TV yet. Odd times...

The passing of Mel McDaniel opened up that can of worms. Most radio folks today weren't sure if they had anything by him in the system. Not judging right or wrong ... it just seems wrong.

My teenager has odd tastes in pop music. From Bieber on out to the edge of the Earth.

Alabama coming back maybe ... thanks to Brad, a good thing. Balance is so much better.

The Idol show ... what can you say ... I watch it ... Who can get a Nashville deal really out of this crew? I dare say no one. Any sure things? Really, no. Some talent, but not on the Country side.

The Taylor Swift machine rolls on now back to America from Europe. Amazing success.

Shania looked beautiful and fresh at the Junos last week. Looks ready to get back in the game on some level.

Got to wonder what will happen to John Rich on "Celebrity Apprentice" ... I'm hooked.

ACMs and all award shows have great challenges ... they are infomercials ... and they are a LONG three hours ... epic ... huge job for all involved...I hope they do great...