American Country Music Festivals

Nashville's music industry used to be built on a foundation of history and respect for what came before. And sales.

We have the RCA Studio B preserved and a statue of Chet Atkins sits outside a big downtown bank -- fitting location considering how much that man made for the money people in Nashville and New York.

All this tradition talk because the CMA told the Tennessean this week that they don't even plan to acknowledge the newest members of the Country Music Hall of fame in the November 7th broadcast. Said they don't have time to do it justice. Three hours is not enough time. Hmmm

ABC probably has something to do with this, since they have no tradition with the show or the city. Music Row is happy, since the time saved can get another performance from a new act that might sell some CDs at Wal-Mart the morning after.

Changing the Fan Fair name to the CMA Music Festival ... blowing up TNN ... taking the awards show out of Country Music month ... no shortage of foresight and little regard to history and tradition.

Thank goodness The Opry folks are smart enough to grow with the times, go high-tech with XM radio. It's a tough battle to mix old and new, but it's the right thing to do.

The superstar artists need to find a backbone and speak up on this CMA show thing. Where are Alan Jackson and Reba at times like this? Is everyone scared of the bosses? How fun would it be to salute Vince, for example,e with Brad and Keith picking with Vince with Reba and Carrie singing back up. It would be the show's HIGHLIGHT!

No one cares about that! The show has become a three-hour infomercial for the newest country and crossover country hits of the day. ABC and others think that young folks will only watch the current chart0toppers. What a load of hockey!

No host. No Tim, Faith, Toby and no Hall of Fame. They do have the Eagles. I just hate how the new implants in town have corrupted the process. It's about making money absolutely, but it's also about tradition. Too many BMWs and not enough Chevy trucks on Music Row!

Don Imus is back in December on WABC radio, we hear. That's good for business since he always supported Country music. Fox business channel is talking about having his show there, too. Garth selling nine shows in an hour is huge. You wonder how the CMA plans to deal with him! Deal or no deal?

Country comedians are getting rich and richer. Larry the Cable Guy, according to Forbes, made $20 million last year. Jeff Foxworthy, $10 million. Jeff gets $150,000 per episode of "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader."