And the Most Creative CMA Nominee Is ...
Campaigning is still going strong, and not just for the Oval Office. Every year around this time, record labels start requesting my vote for the CMA Awards. So far, the most creative entry comes from Sugarland, whose label launched an amusing movie trailer on their behalf. ("In a world ...") I've watched it a few times now, and it still cracks me up.
The other day, I received a back-to-school kit with a ruler and pencils, in hopes that I would vote for James Otto. There was a true-and-false test inside, asking whether or not he achieved a long list of certain accomplishments. I glanced at it for a second and voted true for everything - and scored a 100! Can you believe it? Meanwhile, Brooks & Dunn and Kenny Chesney were very conventional this year, with a folded-up mailer bragging on their accomplishments. Both were very well-designed but I confess that I didn't read them. Besides, I voted already. But I do want to see that Sugarland movie.
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Kate says:
I LOVE IT! Very creative.
RedMaZ says:
…That cracks you up? Doesn’t take much does it? If Sugarland is some of the best that Pop Country has to offer, this genre is in big trouble.
Ham says:
Judging by the cd and concert tix sales, the curmudgeon is totally off base, yet again. Way to go, oh happy one.
Hunter says:
Sugarland is the Greatest Rising Stars in Country Today. Congratulations! You guys are awesome.
RedMaZ says:
People buy a lot of Big Mac’s too.
Kevin says:
This genre is not in any trouble
Kevin says:
Sugarland is great!
CJ says:
Sugarland is awesome. I love how her voice sounds. She as cute as can be and full of energy.
Ottomaniac says:
James Otto is by far the BEST VOICE in Country Music Today! More people should take notice, he is on the road to STARDOM!!!!!
Kevin says:
I think Blake Shelton has one of the best voices in country music today. Yet they choose to have jamie foxx and kid rock on awards shows instead of blake. its rediculous.
Steph says:
It is isn’t it? why not Joe Nichols? I’m getting tired of the same 10 stars all the time.
MiaT says:
Very creative Sugarland! I LOVED it! Best of luck to y’all.
bkb says:
her voice is like the sound on the chalk board. every song she does, sounds the same. is this best we have?
Kevin says:
Yes, Joe Nichols has a nice voice also. I like most of the people nominated on awards shows and most of the ones that perform, but there is no reason to have rascal flatts perform twice on the same awards show (once with Jamie Foxx) and having Kid Rock performing… when you have Blake Shelton there who could blow people away with how clear and powerful his voice is.
RedMaZ says:
How clear and powerful a voice is has nothing to do with Pop awards, including Pop country. Shelton and Nichols don’t have the numbers or popularity to perform on these shows such as cma or acm. Rascal Flatts, Jamie Foxx, and Kid Rock do. It’s all about popularity, and bringing in the largest audience.
Josh says:
Sugarland is the best Duo in the WORLD!!!!!!!
They are amazing! I LOVE Jennifer Nettles i just wish that i could go see them in person or go to one of there contest =(
Im a big FAn of Sugarland!!!
P.S. Looking good Jennifer
Amy says:
I agree about James Otto — what an AMAZING voice that man has! If he comes to a city near you, I highly recommend going — you don’t want to miss out on seeing him live!!!
Missy says:
I think Gary Allan should be on that list! I am very disappointed.
Kevin says:
What’s that i hear? Is it the sound of somebody beating a dead horse? I was just saying who i wish they would include in the shows. I dont care why they arent included. I just know that they should be.
Holly says:
I love James Otto so much!!! (smiles)
God bless you and him always!!!
Holly in East Tennessee
RedMaZ says:
I’m not sure what it is, it’s hard to tell over all that whining I hear. You may not care, but it doesn’t change the facts. Why should they be included in these awards? They’re not part of the Pop awards genre description.
RedMaZ says:
What do I whine about? These are music blogs. I comment on music. I accept all music for what it is. If I haven’t heard a certain artists, I take the time to go and listen to them. Then and only then do I comment on them. Just because you don’t like my comment, that’s not my problem. I took the time to go and listen to this group called Sugarland. I’m certainly not going to comment on them if I haven’t heard them. That would be ridiculous. What’s whining about that?
RedMaZ says:
Now THIS is whining! CJ, your comment makes no sense. Pop Music is not a specific genre of music, it’s an industry that includes Country. If you don’t like Pop Country, try listening to the rest of todays Country Music for a change.
Kim says:
I wish if they delete a post they delete the entire conversation. Red, it sounds again like you’re explaining your position to someone. wish I could have read the entire thing!
RedMaZ says:
My position? I’m just talking about music on a music blog. Granted cmt has deleted several posts so some of this blog is hard to follow.
Tanya says:
Sugarland is the most creative gourp ever i Love SUGARLAND
ROSEBUD says:
I hope Sugarland and Trace Adkins are big winners this year at the CMA’s!!!!
Syd says:
I have seen that trailer too many many times it cracks me up too! I really wish there was gonna be a movie but I guess there lives and performances are the movie. They are the most amazing, entertaining, and funny performers I have ever seen. and anyone who disagrees has never been to one of their live shows. I have been to 2 and I can’t tell you how much fun it was. They are so full of energy and enjoy what they do so much and it shows. I definitely think they should win entertainers of the year!
Michael says:
Sugarland is good but they are not entertainer material just yet. Keith URban deserves to win this year, and Carrie Underwood deserved a nomination at least, certainly over George strait or even sugarland.
Kevin says:
Keith Urban should definitely be EOTY this year.
Matthew says:
Why not Keith Urban, ladies and gentlemen?
margie says:
it would be great to see someone like the great george jones perform on the awards for a change,he is the true country singer!why do they wait untill they are gone to show the respect they deserve for what they have brought to country music!
Cardsgal says:
I agree with you: James Otto’s label earned points with me for originality, and I even kept the school supplies. The bland brochures re: Chesney, B&B, AJ, etc., went into the circular file unread.
Ms. Feathers says:
When do/did the CMA polls close?? The awards are about two weeks away.
award ads says:
One thing I’ve noticed is that some artists get a lot of label campaining for CMA and ACM awards votes and others get none. I’ve seen many industry ads for Taylor Swift asking for votes for every CMA and ACM awards over the past 2 years and none for Kellie Pickler, and they were nominated for the same awards. Interesting. Does Kellie’s label not want her to win any ACM or CMA awards? Craig have you ever received anything from Sony asking you to vote for Kellie? She’s on the same label as Kenny Chesney and wasn’t up against any other Sony artists, so you’d think they would send something.
Ms. Feathers says:
This is the first I’ve been exposed to these types of “ad campaigns” aimed at CMA voters (I also was sent a link to a similar video ad for Keith Urban by someone in the industry), so it’s interesting to hear what goes on. Personally, I’m not always thrilled with the way the labels push one artist over another, and I’ve seen where some labels shift their biggest seller to the back burner (if not completely off the stove) in favor of new artists or less popular artists, and it’s been done at a time when the bigger seller actually could have used the “oomph” from his/her label’s marketing department. If I’m a business person and I have a “product” that makes me tons of money, I’m going to promote the heck out of it! That’s why Carrie and Taylor are EVERYWHERE (because pretty young blondes sell product, regardless of what the product is).
Some label decisions, I just don’t understand from a business perspective. However, if the decisions are based on politics and/or “discipline”, then I suppose anything goes.