ACM Awards Picks, Best Drummer, and Music News

The ACM Awards are coming, and we’re not treating it like background noise. We lay out what to expect from the show in Las Vegas, how to watch on Amazon Prime, and what it means that Shania Twain is hosting for the first time. Then we make our ACM predictions with zero fluff, debating what “Entertainer of the Year” should actually reward, and why the new-vs-established “rivalry” narrative feels more like marketing than reality. From there we hit the week’s music news with an eye for what matters: Morgan Wallen teasing a new era, Luke Combs setting huge concert attendance records, and the constant push toward genre blending across country, rock, and everything in between. We also talk about why certain artists thrive right now through touring, streaming, and fan engagement, and how that shifts the industry’s gatekeeping. Then we dive into our question of the day: who is the best drummer of all time? We explain what to listen for as a non-drummer, read listener picks, and argue our way to a final ranking that’s guaranteed to spark comments. We wrap with charts, birthdays, and a mailbag packed with practical music industry advice, including what to do after a TikTok blow-up, streams vs ticket sales, and how to handle gear failure in a high-pressure studio session. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who will argue with our drummer list, and leave a review with your pick for best drummer of all time.Episode LinksJim Cristaldi: https://jayfranze.com/episode27/Bob Bullock: https://jayfranze.com/episode28/Dalila Mya: https://jayfranze.com/episode102/Mark Badolato: https://jayfranze.com/episode140/Stephanie Rabus: https://jayfranze.com/episode149/Send us Fan MailSupport the showLinksJay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/ContactContact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/SocialsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServicesServices: https://jayfranze.com/services/BooksBooks: https://jayfranze.com/books/MerchandiseMerchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/SupportSupport: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout OutsHigh Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives