Beatles, Robots, Weddings and More.... Oh My!

Steve Graham wrote that headline, not me, as he noted that Kacey Musgraves did very well at The Grammy's with two wins, while Taylor Swift walked away empty handed:  "It was an interesting night at the Grammy's.  Some are calling it the best in years while others are talking about the performance of Willie Nelson, Kris Kristoferson, Merle Haggard and Blake Shelton as the highlight of the night."

It was so good to see Paul McCartney and Ringo together too and it was a mix of new and old for sure.

It's hard to question, with 29 million folks watching, Darius Rucker as Best Country Solo Performance with "Wagon Wheel" and while fans of country music on the radio might have expected different "Best Country Song" winners than Musgraves' "Merry Go Round," Kacey's "Same Trailer Different Park" was certainly deserving of "Best Country Album" and is just the bill of fare those normally-eclectic-when-it-comes-to-country music Grammy voters usually choose over "hits." 

It's rewarding to see Kacey and her label get a nice spike in sales today after the TV appearance.

More of a head-scratcher for me was "From This Valley" by The Civil Wars for Best Country Duo/Group Performance in the wake of the year Florida Georgia Line just had.

Macklemore &  Ryan Lewis had to wait for Grammy to give them their due too and I join Duane Doobie in being amazed that they got the Grammy award for best new artist – "as if they just suddenly appeared magically overnight."

Perhaps FGL needs another year of multiple #1's before those strange Grammy voters - who always seem to dislike awarding commercial successes - take note?

Awards Shows Experiment With Social

The ACM Awards just kicked off a “Tweet to Unlock” campaign via social media, inviting music fans to tweet 25,000 times to unlock the 2013 ACM Awards date and host announcement!

They have released a short video of already-announced ACM Host Blake Shelton talking about the search for his new, mystery co-host.

The ACM says, "The sooner fans reach that 25,000 tweet mark, the sooner we will release the show information – it could happen over the weekend or early next week, by our estimate."

I think this is an inventive way to get passionate country music fans to help create memes and lots of early buzz for the annual spring event.

Meanwhile, Billboard reports that the Grammy Awards Academy seeking to shake its reputation as an organization that had become staid and retrograde began a social media makeover in 2010 with a user-powered, YouTube-centric promotional campaign branded "We're All Fans" which helped the ceremony that year net its highest ratings in seven years.  "For this year, the Academy is peeling back the artifice of the awards themselves, the new campaign, dubbed "#TheWorldIsListening," is its own democratic platform (shown, Hunter Hayes photo by Erika Goldring/WireImage.com).  Amateur musicians from around the world have been invited to upload their own recordings to a special site on SoundCloud where viewers can go to discover and share what they like."

The Grammys democratic?  Since when?

That's going to be very interesting, since for country radio fans, past Grammy winners have pretty much been head-scratchers, more eclectic opportunities for musicians to give credit to artistic endeavor than commercial success or popularity.

Viewers share what they like?

They can save the trouble.  I can tell them that.

A bit of that "democracy" from the Grammy social site by Rob Mitchell of Thousand Oaks, California:

"I think the Grammy's really missed the mark this year in terms of nominating Best Country album of the year --- there is no question that Jason, Carrie, and Luke put out quality albums out during the last year all featuring muliple #1 songs, great singing, lyrics, and arrangements that are really at the top of artistry today.  Its so frustrating that someone like Jason, Luke or Carrie put their heart and soul into making AMAZING albums with NO filler year after year but seem to get snubbed for some reason."

Country radio and its fans would settle for a country hit that got significant airplay on the radio last year winning an award in the country category for a change.

Hopefully, they're listening as well as talking in their experiments in social.

Garth Brooks Has a Suit!! (Who Knew?)

I suppose that when "Mr. President" invites you, it's time to BUY one if you don't have one.

President Barack Obama talks with Garth Brooks, who was presented with the "Grammy on the Hill Award" for his leadership in advancing the rights of music makers, in the Oval Office, April 14, 2010. The President was also presented with the 2007 Grammy Award for best spoken word album for his book "The Audacity of Hope." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Good Advice From Someone You Respect Is Always Welcome

.. Especially in this tough economy. So, since the league of Grammy nominees and winners is, you can argue, a coveted place. And the folks who land there, they’ve probably got their success secrets.

Success was about making the commitment in the first place, and taking the risk because it felt like the right thing to do. Looking back, success has less and less to do with the way it all looks on the outside. -- Kathy Mattea

Taking a cue from Esquire magazine's inspiration-filled "What I've Learned" series, Nashville's Tennessean turned to some Music City Grammy nominees in Sunday's paper and asked them to share a few. (click to read this fascinating series of articles)

I Was All Set To Completely Ignore The Grammy Awards, But Then..

I just heard that KSON, San Diego, morning cohost Cliff Dumas has been chosen to voice the 2009 radio pre-Grammy special. Cliff will work to make something radio-friendly, I am confident.

.. Which is much-needed in the wake of Mike Henry, Bill Stakelin, Randy Kabrich and Bob Neil calls to pay no attention to the RIAA-sponsored record sales promotion event. As a former Radio And Music Awards (1999-2005) winner back when that was on air, I still lean their way in spite of the entreaties of Jerry Delcolliano.

Just ignore the upcoming Grammy Awards. Then, let’s check back with the Grammy broadcast in February to see if there is a different message about radio. If there is not, then radio should ignore the Grammy Awards for the following year. Radio should not acknowledge the Grammy Awards ever again, until the Grammy Awards broadcast acknowledges radio as the primary source for the discovery of music, which is universally understood as fact except to the over-eager Grammy copywriter. Here are the facts as they are known today: The plurality of people discover music on radio. Once they’ve discovered that music via radio, many of those same people download the music from the Internet…often without paying for it. - Mike Henry, Paragon Media Research

The R-M-W's were an attempt to get radio airplay the credit we deserve, spear-headed when Von Freeman was marketing director at KIIS, Los Angeles after an experience backstage at the Grammy Awards in 1998 when the #1 CHR station in the USA felt ignored (the KIIS website contains CMA Awards links but no news of any R-M-A plans for '09).

It is ironic that Canadian Dumas would be named to do the radio pre-Grammy special, since the Radio Music Awards concept continues in Canada to this day.

George Strait Gets The Most Nominations, Taylor Shines As CoHost

Neil Haislop was there:

"Taylor Swift's increasing stature was never more evident than at last night's first Grammy Nominations Show, from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. Swift not only co-hosted the event with LL Cool J, she also performed on the show."

She was the only country performer to sing on the show, which - like the Grammys - makes you wonder just how many country radio listeners spent much time watching them. She turned in a medley, Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry," giving it her own unique interpretation, before she segued into her own hit, "White Horse."

George Strait will be smiling today to learn that his increasing excellence as a country performer and producer garnered him the most Grammy nominations, unusual for a show - since the voting is by musicians and artists - which usually punishes commercial success and rewards the eclectic.

BEST MALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE FOR...
Troubadour
George Strait
Track from: Troubadour [MCA Nashville]

GEORGE has two in the Best Country Collaboration With Vocals category.... (For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)

Shiftwork
Kenny Chesney & George Strait
Track from: Just Who I Am: Poets And Pirates [BNA Records]
House Of Cash
George Strait & Patty Loveless
Track from: Troubadour [MCA Nashville]
Best Country Song
I Saw God Today(George Strait)
Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell & Wade Kirby, songwriters

Best Country Album
Troubadour - George Strait [MCA Nashville]

The Grammys Are Still The Grammys When It Comes To Country

A&O buddy Los Angelino Neil Haislop was there all weekend, starting with Friday night's pre-party:

Friday night at Hollywood's Knitting Factory on Hollywood Boulevard, Dierks Bentley put on a pre-awards party that will likely rank high among the various pre-shows this weekend ahead of the milestone Sunday's 50th Annual Grammy Awards show. Bentley is up for 3 Grammys, Best Male Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Song for "Long Trip Alone," and, Best Country Album for Long Trip Alone.

Billed as Dierks Bentley and Friends the show lived up to its name, as Dierks was joined on stage by country and pop luminaries, including Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, and Dwight Yoakam, as well as Pearl Jam lead guitarist, Mike McCready and Haley Williams, lead singer for New Artist nominee Paramore.

After Dierks tore into his high-energy opening set, Miranda Lambert, Grammy nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Famous in a Small Town," was first to join him on stage. The crowd welcomed Miranda like a big star and were jumping up and down through the high energy set between two artists that are friends and singing on the same musical page.

After Miranda departed, Dierks told the crowd that he wanted Brad Paisley to join him for the a few songs, "But he's too big a star now to do something like that." Of course, that was Brad's cue to jump on stage, strap on a guitar and fire up the crowd with his guitar licks, humor and vocals. Paisley is also Grammy-nominated 3 times for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, along with Carrie Underwood, for "Oh, Love," Best Country Instrumental Performance for "Throttleneck" off of his Grammy-nominated album, 5th Gear.

The next surprise guest was Pearl Jam's lead guitarist, Mike McCready. Dierks pretty much laid back on his acoustic and let Mike do his thing. Would've been fun to have kept Paisley out there and let them engage in a friendly dual.

Also, guesting with Dierks was the Tennessee-bred, 18 year-old lead singer for Paramore, Haley Williams. Paramore is up for the overall New Artist Grammy.

Although Paramore ain't country, Haley proved that the country she grew with hadn't left her as she and Dierks traded vocals on some big country standards.

After Dierks finished the show the Hollywood crowd in the trendy club wanted an encore and got it plus the final guest star to help Dierks deliver it, Dwight Yoakam.
Dierks had a ball trading vocals on several cool versions Buck Owens songs. It was a fitting finale to a great show served up one of country's hottest young traditionalists and a few of his friends.

Can't say too much about Dierks' band, especially lead guitarist, Rod Janzen, who held his own with both Brad and Mike McCready Friday night.

cbs.com

The Grammys being the Grammys, nearly all of the Country awards were handed out in the pre-telecast awards presentations where Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley were on hand to accept their awards. Carrie picked up Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Before He Cheats," which also earned Best Country Song honors.

"You couldn't keep me from actually getting this myself — it's not the same when someone else gets this on your behalf," said Underwood.

After an amazing duet of "Learnin' the Blues" between Alicia Keys and Frank Sinatra (appearing on an old film clip), CARRIE'S BIg performance was the second number of the night, where she delivered a revved up, huge production of "Before He Cheats."

cbs.com

BRAD PAISLEY ALSO PERFORMED...Brad Paisley, who won for Best Country Instrumental Performance on "Throttleneck," turned in a rousing performance of his quirky hit, "Ticks."

And, the Grammys being the Grammys, VINCE GILL won Country Album of the year for his brilliant, multiple disc, These Days, and was presented his Grammy by Beatle, Ringo Star.

THE "BIG" COUNTRY GRAMMY WINNERS..

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)
Before He Cheats
Carrie Underwood
Track from: Some Hearts
[19 Recordings/Arista Nashville]

Best Male Country Vocal Performance
Stupid Boy - Keith Urban
Track from: Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
How Long - Eagles

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
Lost Highway Willie Nelson & Ray Price

Best Country Instrumental Performance
"Throttleneck Brad Paisley"
Track from: 5th Gear

Best Country Song "Before He Cheats"
Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)

Best Country Album
These Days - Vince Gill

The Grammys being the Grammys, the list of "little" country winners is too long for this post.

Maybe I Need To Change My Opinion Of The Grammys

Most years the Grammy Awards leave country radio listeners scratching their heads, but if some of the country nominees this year (Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Montgomery Gentry, Emerson Drive and Brooks & Dunn) are any indication it may be time to say that 'this year, they finally got it right.'

However, if the Grammy voters are true to form, they'll probably stiff Carrie and Taylor (too much commercial success, perhaps?), though I hope not...

Country Stars Call For Vintage Performance Preservation

Hollywood Dirt Daily: Leann Rimes has joined fellow country stars to petition for better preservation of vintage country performances. The singer kicked off the The Soul of Country, this year's (07) Grammy Foundation Music Preservation Project, on Thursday night (08Feb07) with a cover of Patsy Cline's Crazy and used the occasion to highlight the plight of old audio and video performances.

Speaking at the Wilshire Ebell Theater, Los Angeles, she said, "It's so important to preserve music history. I want my kids to know all these great artists of the past."

Other stars supporting the campaign include Marty Stuart, Charley Pride and Porter Wagoner, best known for his duets with Dolly Parton. As well as live performances, the event featured footage from the archives of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, including Richard Nixon's 1974 piano-playing appearance at the Grand Ole Opry.

Meanwhile, in Nashville, some music biz pros complain that country music is the red-headed step child of the Grammys.

Joe Nichols says "I think country never gets its due with anything, really, as far as a global music get-together. Country is always like, 'If we've got time. If we've got the slot for that.' Whereas pop music, they'll get four or five categories and we'll get one. We'll get one or two performances where the pop guys get the whole night. "If they look at the way country has been in the last few years, we've actually kicked everybody else's butt. So I think some more respect needs to be paid on a lot of fronts … because a Grammy means the world, and country music deserves its share in the pond. They sell more records, they actually appeal to more people, and they make more people's lives happier than a lot of genres do." When asked about country's role at the Grammys, Shooter Jennings responded, "Does it have one?"