Country Mike Blog

Nashville Star power

Mike Sudhalter  |  January 21, 2008

Nashville Star, the country music reality show that's taken a back seat in popularity and contestant success to American Idol, is moving from the spring to the summer and from USA Network to NBC.

I simultaneously saw Yee Haw! and Bravo!. Something needed to be done because the current format wasn't working.

The biggest success in the show's history was Miranda Lambert, and she finished third that season.

The show needs more exposure, and NBC will provide that. Also, you can't take AI head-to-head. That's a losing battle. The winners of the show need some better marketing or promotions. Winning a show televised on the USA Network, why are you surprised when your sales are below average?

I just hope that some neo-traditional country artists remain on the program. I don't want it to be even more watered-down than it's already been.

The show won't just be limited to solo artists, and that will make things interesting. How easy will it be for a solo artist to take on a band?