tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post396321414486652636..comments2024-03-28T13:34:02.271-04:00Comments on Fayfare's Opry Blog: Grand Ole Opry Line-Up 4/16 & 4/17--Updatedfayfarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00173166778978335059noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-36824116027720583842010-04-17T23:19:32.393-04:002010-04-17T23:19:32.393-04:00Thanks for the comments, and sorry I screwed up on...Thanks for the comments, and sorry I screwed up on who owns dear old Martha!Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-68480672167909509322010-04-14T22:31:36.831-04:002010-04-14T22:31:36.831-04:00Agree that they pushed out longtime advertisers to...Agree that they pushed out longtime advertisers to get to this point where they only have all or nothing presenting sponsers. Standard Candy was the one that I hated to see go. It was always a fun half hour. I will always remember the Goo Goo Twins, Hairl and Harold a few years back reading the commercials. You would have thought they could have made some room for the more localized sponsers like Standard Candy, but it all is in the money, isn't it?<br /><br />In regards to Martha White, they tried to hang in as a all or nothing associate sponser for a year or two, I believe, before they bit the dust for several months before coming back on a irregular basis the last year or so.mll06041965https://www.blogger.com/profile/04468069496696407529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-89711505767144630432010-04-14T20:48:47.436-04:002010-04-14T20:48:47.436-04:00As far as you comments Mike, I agree with what you...As far as you comments Mike, I agree with what you are saying. I think that the Opry presented these sponsors with an "all or nothing" proposal: either become a presenting sponsor or not a sponsor at all. And not only did they lose Martha White and Coke, but also Shoney's, Standard Candy, and Tennessee Pride. In the case of Martha White, I would come to the conclusion that they agreed to come back on a short-term basis until another presenting sponsor was found. That would have been Dollar General. <br /><br />Also, all the advertisers they have now are tied in to different promotions with the Opry. Dollar General and Cracker Barrel give away gift cards during the show and have Opry related contests, or contests related to Opry members, such as Dollar General did with Trace Adkins. And, I think Bass Pro Shops is involved with Mike Snider's show. In the case of Martha White, they have always been one of the big sponsors of the Opry's birthday celebration, so it will be interesting to see if they are still a part of it this year. <br /><br />Right now between Opry segments, WSM and in the Opry House, they are playing commercials for the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Williams Family Exhibit.<br /><br />I always enjoyed the show having both 15 and 30 minute segments as I think it added some variety to the show, with the different hosts, etc. But, I also think some of the issues were that many of the sponsors were regional based and not nationally based (Coke being an exception.) i think that the Opry is still trying to get that national appeal and with national sponsors, when they promote with them, they are getting the word out about the Opry to those who may not be able to listen to it each week. <br /><br />Finally, as a FYI, Smuckers now owns Martha White. At their Smuckers Shop in Orrville, Ohio, they have a big Martha White bluegrass exhibit, featuring among others, Rhonda Vincent, who as much as I would love to see an Opry member, at this point I just don't see it happening. I hope that I am wrong.fayfarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00173166778978335059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6344993590139159352.post-75297331983602209002010-04-14T20:05:59.356-04:002010-04-14T20:05:59.356-04:00This will sound weird, but here goes. I had the f...This will sound weird, but here goes. I had the feeling that the Opry tried to drive out sponsors so they could go to the "presenting" and "partner" sponsors, and that the cost was beyond what Martha White wanted to pay (since it's part of Pillsbury, I believe, it isn't as if there is no money to work with). But I was amazed at the number of longtime sponsors pushed out. Coke had been sponsoring a segment for 48 years when it went away. I know that the line was, this is a different approach to marketing. Frankly, I had the feeling that the management didn't want to go to the trouble of dealing with that many sponsors and segments. It's sad because the commercials are themselves an important part of the Opry. And it's especially interesting in Martha White's case because Rhonda Vincent should be a member.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.com