2009 CMA Awards Ratings Surpass 2008, But Not 1978; R.I.P. Country Music (1927-2009); Revisit 1981 With Haggard
- The 43rd Annual CMA Awards was the most watched show in four years, logging an average of 16.85 million viewers, a number that is distorted by consumers who record the show to watch on their own time. The record for the CMA Awards is 36 millions viewers, set in 1978, when Dolly Parton was crowned entertainer of the year.
- The New Yorker’s John Seabrook recounts a recent trip Robert Earl Keen took to Mandolin Brothers, the vintage-instrument store on Staten Island.
Finally, Jay handed Keen a Martin 000-45, one of only two hundred and sixty-five ever made, from 1930. Keen strummed it once, cocked his head, and then asked for a pick.
“You know what I said about some guitars just having songs in them?” he said. “This is one of them.” Keen’s fingers moved over the strings, but the rest of him seemed to float toward the ceiling.
“How much?” he asked, when he’d finished playing.
“Sixty-five thousand.”
“Damn, I always go for the most expensive guitar in the place, and after that nothing else sounds as good.”
Jay said the guitar was on hold for someone else, but “I could notify you if he doesn’t want it.”
“Yeah, right. Maybe you could also notify my banker.”
“Certainly,” Jay said. “And your wife. I’m good with wives. Do you want to call her now?” Jay pointed toward the phone in the next room. But Keen knew better than to follow him there.
- Chet Flippo argues that the CMA would have lost credibility had they not acknowledged Taylor Swift’s dominance. Now, the problem is figuring out where to go from here:
I know one thing: There are a lot of CMA voters who woke up this morning and thought, “What did we just do? Who did I just wake up next to? Four major CMA Awards at age 19? We just gave her the keys to the kingdom. Now what?”
- Justin Townes Earle’s tour schedule for early 2010.
- The Boston Globe’s Sarah Rodman introduces WPA (Works Progress Administration), a supergroup that doesn’t like being called a supergroup. (MySpace)
[...] fans of pop, roots, folk, bluegrass, and country music who pay attention to liner notes will undoubtedly think the WPA membership list is pretty damn super. The octet, which formed following various cross-pollinations over the years at the Los Angeles club Largo, comprises musicians who have played on hundreds of albums.
- As Tim McGraw’s acting experience increases, so do his roles. His next movie, The Blind Side, will be released next Friday and Randy Travis, who has seen all of McGraw’s movies, is rooting for his fellow country star. Travis is no stranger to the camera himself, and tells The Tennessean’s Cindy Watts that his dream role would be playing in a Western with Kevin Costner or Clint Eastwood.
- Vernell Hackett recapped Gary Allan’s performance at the Ryman last night for The Boot.
- The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s annual American Master Music series will take place Saturday with a tribute concert to Janis Joplin. Guy Clark, Ray Benson, and Lucinda Williams are among the artists scheduled to perform. Clark commented on his involvement with the show:
“I’m going to do the old blues song “Trouble in Mind” (on Saturday). I’d bet anything we both learned that from Lightnin’ Hopkins. Janis’ version and mine are pretty much the same, aside from the vocals. I’m not scared, you know, but I’m not really sure why I’m doing this. I wasn’t a bosom buddy, but I guess there was some connection they wanted to make. They asked me to do an original, too, and I chose ‘She Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere.’ It kind of reminds me of what Janis was going through when she left Texas.”
- Farce the Music: R.I.P. Country Music
- Chapter 16’s Paul McCoy interviewed Barry Mazor on the subject of his recent book Meeting Jimmie Rodgers, which is described as more of a biography of the music than the man.
[...] a few people have expressed shock that Jimmie Rodgers dies, in this book, in chapter six out of fifteen, despite being warned that it’s not a conventional biography. It really is the life story of the music, not just of the man.
- Merle Haggard & The Strangers at Opryland in 1981. That thar is very nice radio broadcast.
- The Buck Owens compilation 21 #1 Hits: The Ultimate Collection is on sale for $3.99 on Amazon!
- Fresh off his new artist of the year win at the CMA Awards, Darius Rucker told reporters most of his next album is written and recording will begin next month. One more single will be released from Learn To Live, followed by a single from the new record, and eventually the new record itself sometime next year.
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Atlanta-based band The Whiskey Gentry — they bill themselves as everything from bluegrass to punk to gospel to outlaw country to old-time rock and roll — recently released a new video for its song “Four Horseman.” Enjoy. (MySpace)
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November 13, 2009 at 10:48 am Permalink
Good thing that the CMA didn’t damage its credibility, isn’t it?
November 13, 2009 at 11:16 am Permalink
Trailer’s headstone is great, its just too bad its far too truthful.
As for the TV viewership ratings for the CMA Awaards, how many of those people were dyed in the wool Taylor Swift fans tuning in to see their idol? If Taylor had not been on the program at all, I wonder what the numbers would have been? Taylor has become The Oprah of country music…
JTE is coming to LA’s Echo Club and I’ll be there for that show for sure. Speaking of concerts, Kimber Sparks will be here in LA this Sunday night (Nov. 15th) at The Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena at 7 PM. Her 2008 album “Its Her Turn”, which was partially co-written and produced by Kasey Chambers’ father Bill, is my favorite album released that year. Her music video for “Strait & Jackson” is as low budget as they come, but its still a lot of fun!
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyvNkpvVp5Q
Kudos to Whiskey Gentry for knowing how to get me to watch a music video! (lol)
November 13, 2009 at 11:19 am Permalink
The Taylor hatred is hilarious. It really is.
November 13, 2009 at 11:56 am Permalink
its not taylor hatred, its incredulity. Its why the cmas failed to acknowledge the obvious about taylor in the vocalist category over miranda, carrie, and reba.
its just annoyance at the cmas 6000 voting members, nobody personally hates taylor.
November 13, 2009 at 12:13 pm Permalink
You know, one thing that always needs to be kept in mind in evaluating awards is this: in a 5 candidate field, the winner may have received as little as 20%+1 of the votes. So perhaps it’s annoyance at 1201 members.
November 13, 2009 at 1:37 pm Permalink
…statistically highly unlikely, jon.
November 13, 2009 at 1:40 pm Permalink
As Swift won more awards, the shows ratings continually declined.
CMA Awards (ABC)
8:00 p.m.: 9.7/16 (#1)
8:30 p.m.: 9.7/15 (#1)
9:00 p.m.: 10.1/16 (#1)
9:30 p.m.: 9.6/15 (#1)
10:00 p.m.: 9.2/15 (#1t)
10:30 p.m.: 9.0/15 (#2)
Of course, only her tards will think that she brought in viewers.
November 13, 2009 at 1:52 pm Permalink
…a set of numbers doesn’t make your rants any less boring, vance.
November 13, 2009 at 1:57 pm Permalink
The big problem with the CMAs credibility comes down the road. Like next year when their stellar golden child has no nominations, or five years from now when she doesn’t even have a deal.
November 13, 2009 at 1:58 pm Permalink
Vance: The shows ratings declined as her fan base was lured away by a show with good singing.
November 13, 2009 at 2:08 pm Permalink
OR everybody just went to bed. Gotta work tomorrow, after all.
November 13, 2009 at 2:18 pm Permalink
The big problem with the CMAs credibility comes down the road. Like next year when their stellar golden child has no nominations, or five years from now when she doesn’t even have a deal.
Not to mention the audience that will have moved on to something else by then.
November 13, 2009 at 2:26 pm Permalink
Is anyone else a little suspicious that Taylor Swift is more influenced by O.A.R. or some fauxternative folk rock music than anything country? I bet she’s never even heard of Dottsy!
November 13, 2009 at 5:21 pm Permalink
Vance, Antonio is on the right track regarding the ratings decline the final hour. With a good portion of Taylor’s fan base being girls 13 and under, it probably ran past their usual bed time being a school night and all.
November 14, 2009 at 4:02 am Permalink
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November 14, 2009 at 8:16 am Permalink
Seems like there’s only about 20% of TS fans and the CMA voters thought Taylor should get vocalist. I’m finding TS fans all over who say..”yeah she shouldn’t have got that one. We love her music though!” Also some others:
The REALLY????? Award-from editors of THAT NASHVILLE SOUND
It was Taylor Swift’s night, pulling home Video Of The Year, Album Of The Year and the coveted Entertainer Of The Year. After the year she’s had, all of that could be understood. But Female Vocalist Of The Year? With her consistent off-tone live performances, you wonder where’s Simon from American Idol when you need him.
Entertainment Weekly:
Worst Judges’ Decision Of The Night: Awarding Taylor Swift the Best Female Vocal award. Look: I think she’s a terrific songwriter; I even think her all-stops-out stage show earned her the big one, Entertainer of the Year. But her voice is thin, and sometimes as wobbly as a newborn colt. Sorry, Taylor, when placed against the competition in this category — Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, and Underwood — you just aren’t the best singer.
There was a huge force of people upset about this award. I hope the ACM voters are reading this. Please no insane repeats!
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