Tony,

I realize that you would love it to go back to the "good old days" and would love to think "everybody "loves" George Straight and Alan Jackson..." actually... no, they don't. There is a new audience demographic, just like when those guys came through and replaced people before them, everyone has their run. It is no accident they have backed off touring and George has stopped completely, becauase they are at the ends of their careers in that incarnation. Their records have peaked and they don't sell as much as they did. Just a fact of life in all music.

And it is very easy to hear 18 songs on the radio and think "that is all there is.' There is a LOT of music out there, a lot of artists out there. You hear some trends and think everything is like that and it is not even close. There are many more things going on.

When I moved to Nashville in the 80's we would have 'radio hits' and "record hits." there were songs that charted very well and sold next to nothing. And songs that never got close to the top of the charts and sold a ton. just a part of what the business is.

And yes, Tony, when you are putting out MILLIONS OF DOLLARS in promotion money, failing on nine artists out of ten that you put out, they do care about the money. If you sit around waiting for this to be fair, better get into another line of work because it never will be.

Trends are what they are. Whether they are "The era of the "Angel songs" (after 9-11 where every song had an "Angel' in it), the era of the "Bar fight video. (every song was about being in bars, getting drunk in bars, fighting in bars, (had one of my own in that one, David Ball did my "TOO MUCH BLOOD IN MY ALCOHOL LEVEL") the "Angry Chick Singer Syndrome",(Next time he cheats, Gunpowder and Lead), or the "In my truck, down by the river, dancing with my girl named GURL, in the moonlight on our tailgates" they are TRENDS because they make momey. For a little while,then there will be new trends.

Right now, they are about family, home and putting down roots. Those will run out too. A lot are about younger people, partying and mixing in rap. And Tony, Country has ALWAYS been a mix of blues, folk, gospel, country, bluegrass, etc. Country is ALWAYS a mix of musical styles.

The point of this is that you have to be true to YOU. you can't chase trends. And you should be creating your own, instead of worrying about other people, and complaining about things you can't change. Like the Father of one of my playing buddies, Gunner Nelson said:

"Can't Please everyone, got to please yourself."
Ricky Nelson said that and never have truer words been spoken.

MAB