It’s the morning after, and I’m still shaking my head over last night’s Country Music Association Awards show…
This is the first year in several that I haven’t attended. Usually, I’m tagging along with my buddies from the great band, Diamond Rio. This year, however, because of travel and speaking commitments, I took in the program in front of the television. And…I just could not believe what happened on the show!
Part of the reason that I — and almost every music fan — was excited about this year’s program was because one of the greatest bands of all time…and the pioneers of country/rock…the EAGLES were making their very first appearance of all time on an awards show! I know many of the contemporary country stars, and to a person they worship the ground the Eagles fly over. Some would say they are THE greatest band of all time — and “Eagles Greatest Hits” is, believe it or not, the biggest selling album in the history of music.
So…what does the CMA do? They put them on with only mediocre fanfare in the middle of the show for a single, solitary song…while placing currently hot act Rascal Flatts on at the beginning slot — and AGAIN at the end…with (of all people) Jamie Foxx! (You know, when I think of country music, I think of Jamie Foxx. Not exactly.)
In an attempt to appeal to younger fans, the CMA made the most jaw droppingly dumb decision on any TV show in years. Here was Rascal Flatts — nice guys, good band, butchered Eagles cover songs on a tribute on another awards show a while back — getting the TWO primary spots…AND adding someone to the coveted late spot that has absolutely NOTHING to do with what the audience (customers!) REALLY wanted!
By the way, before you say, “Well, the Eagles day is over…Rascal Flatts is what’s hot now!”, consider this: Guess who has the #1 selling album in America right NOW? You guessed it….the EAGLES. In fact, they — without concert tour or other traditional promotion — sold 771,000 units of their new CD last week — and it’s only available at Wal-Mart, nowhere else! In second place was the troubled Britany Spears (for whom, at least you can say, is not lacking in publicity) with a little over 200,000 sales. The Eagles outsold the pop princess by over half a MILLION CD’s!
In attempting to be “hip”, in fact the CMA’s disappointed the audience that wanted to see one of the great bands of all time in their first live television appearance in about two decades. Why does the CMA seem to be embarrassed by its own customers? (I’m sure the fact that Rascal Flatts records for a label owned by Disney…also the parent of ABC which broadcast the show, had nothing to do with it…;-))
For business, it translates to this point: Don’t get too far away from what you REALLY are…and what your customers REALLY want. Sure, you can “expand the brand” and stretch as a professional and organization. However, country music fans want to hear country music…not a rapper/comedian/actor…no matter how it’s branded. What do YOUR customers really want?
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