The podcast tour continues! This live episode was recorded during a panel last week at SXSW. Zak is joined by Spotify Nashville Head of Editorial Rachel Whitney, Universal Nashville Director of Streaming Vipin Reddy and Riveter Management Founder Charlene Bryant. We cover it all. Don't miss this conversation!
We are live from Berklee College of Music. This week's guest, and season 3 opener, is Jim Lucchese, the CEO of Sofar Sounds. Prior, Jim was the CEO of The Echo Nest, which was acquired by Spotify in 2014. That technology and team went on to develop tools like Spotify's algorithmic playlists. Jim was also very involved in creating Spotify for Artists. Today, Jim is focused on continuing to grow Sofar around the world. You’re going to be inspired by this conversation and love Jim’s passion for wha...
Born in Chattanooga TN, raised in Dallas TX and currently living in Nashville, Shaylen has done it all. After 10 years of living in Los Angeles, Shaylen has accumulated tens of millions of streams as a major label pop artist. Now, she's gone country. If you're on TikTok, you probably know her song "What If I Don't" and her recently released track "Do It Right The First Time", which was featured on the The Kelly Clarkson Show. She's making a name for herself here in Nashville. Don't sleep on it!...
Em Beihold is a rising star. You probably know her song "Numb Little Bug", which went viral on TikTok last year and went to #1 on Hot AC. What you might not know is that Beihold started out fencing, long before it was featured on the Netflix show Wednesday . She has performed on Jimmy Fallon, James Corden, opened up for the Jonas Brothers and has a brand new song coming out this Friday titled “Roller Coasters Make Me Sad”. This episode is a window into how you take a viral moment and turn it int...
Ron Fair is an American A&R executive, record producer, record executive, musical arranger, recording engineer and conductor. In his epic career, Fair has worked with artists that include Christina Aguilera, Vanessa Carlton, Keyshia Cole, The Black Eyed Peas and so many more. We talk about his move to Nashville, how he got started in the biz, his involvement in recording the Rocky theme song and so much more. Ron is a true record man living here in Nashville. You'll be inspired by this conve...
It's our season 3 premier! Christian Barker has been named one of Billboard's "Top Music Lawyers" and is an Equity Partner in the Nashville office of Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP. Barker has signed his songwriter and producer clients to nearly every publishing company in Nashville and beyond and brokered deals for his clients totaling 8-figures+ this past year alone. Barker thinks outside of the box and puts his own creative spin on the practice of law. You're going to love thi...
25-year-old Kameron Marlowe is a force to be reckoned with. His debut album "We Were Cowboys" is available now via Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville and was produced by ACM/CMA winner Dann Huff and GRAMMY-nominated Brad Hill. He is about to wrap up his headlining "We Were Cowboys Tour", which kicked off in September with a sold-out show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl. Marlowe has also played to capacity crowds in New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston, Birmingham, Chesapeake, VA, Charlotte ...
Spencer Crandall is one of country’s most progressive new talents. You probably know him from social media, but do you know that he is selling out shows across the country as an independent artist? We talk about his new album "Western" and how he built his massive fanbase. But that's just the surface in this conversation. Spencer's relatability will make you think you have what it takes to become a massive country artist. Make no mistake, it's harder than it looks. Spencer is at the top of his g...
If you're following country artists on the rise, you know Ashley Cooke. Still early in her journey, she's had chart climbing hits like “Never Til Now” with Brett Young, national TV appearances on ABC’s “The Bachelorette,” and has toured with Cole Swindell, Jordan Davis and is about to go on tour with Brett Young. Cooke is the co-founder of The 615 House and is a TikTok star. You need to follow her. Ashley makes it look easy, even though it's anything but. This conversation will make you want to ...
Per Sundin became the CEO of Pophouse in 2019. Before that, he was the President of Universal Music Nordic Region and the Managing Director of Universal Music Sweden for more than a decade. In that role, he signed and broke EDM superstar Avicii. We talk all about it. Per was also the first label executive to partner with Spotify, driving the industry shift to a streaming revenue model. He is portrayed in the recent Netflix series The Playlist, which shows the creation of Spotify. You need to wat...
Adam Doleac is weeks away from his wedding and he still managed to find time to come onto the show. He just released his debut album "Barstool Whiskey Wonderland" and it's big! 18 songs big! You need to listen. He is getting ready to getting head out on his first headlining tour and we talk all about it. Adam has been grinding in Nashville for a long time. Now he has the music, the team, the label deal and the fans. This is his moment! You're going to be inspired by this conversation.
If you're in Nashville, you know Lauren Weintraub. But you might not know the story of how she signed her first publishing deal with Big Machine Music and dropped out of college. If you're not in Nashville, Lauren should be on your radar, if she isn't already. She has over 450K followers on TikTok, recently signed with Virgin Music and has a brand new EP titled "This Is Your Brain On Love" coming out on Friday. You're going to love Lauren and this conversation.
Dan Smyers is a producer, songwriter, performer and one half of the duo Dan + Shay. You know the group. But do you know how they started? Or how Dan records Shay's flawless vocals? We cover it all. Dan is sharp and knows the business. This conversation gives you a glimpse into what it takes to be one of the biggest acts in all of music. Don't miss it.
If you're a country music fan, you know about Lindsay Ell and how great of a guitar player she is. You might not know that she was recently featured on a PBS series called American Anthems. Each episode of the show follows a different country star as they meet a local hero. The show has received wide critical praise, and the song "Let the Words Come Out”, which Lindsay wrote in the episode, is now being submitted for a Grammy. On top of that we talk about Lindsay's practice routine, returning to...
Chris Martin is the 6th generation owner of Martin Guitars. He has been at the helm of his family's business for the last 35 years and during his time has overseen massive growth of the guitar company. We talk about the family history, the pressure of keeping the legacy of Martin Guitars alive, how the guitars evolved through out the years, and so much more. Chris is well spoken and is a great storyteller. He is going to get you excited about acoustic guitars. If you're a guitar player, or inter...
Mitchell Tenpenny has more than 1.3 billion global streams and recently made chart history with his #1 single “Truth About You.” The gold-selling song’s top of the chart success is the shortest span between #1 songs in the modern chart era with just three weeks since his last chart topper, Chris Young's "At The End Of The Bar". Mitchell is not afraid to say it like it is. You going to love his honesty and learning about his story. His new album This Is The Heavy is out now and we talk all about ...
Singer/songwriter Avery Anna is the talk of Nashville. She has over 1.5 million followers on TikTok and if you look at her content, you'll understand why. She was discovered after her song "Narcissist" went viral, but Avery's career is setting itself up to be so much more than just a TikTok moment. Her new EP "Mood Swings" drops October 7th. Avery is young but wise beyond her years. This episode will make you a fan.
BRELAND is in the studio this week to talk about his brand new album Cross Country. We talk about collaborating with A list artists like Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley and Pharrell Williams but we also talk about how BRELAND is creating his own path in the genre of country music. You're going to love this conversation and be inspired by BRELAND's confidence. In short, he is changing the game. Listen now!
Alana Springsteen is a rising artist in Nashville. If you're in the industry, you know what she is about. She moved to town at the age of 14 and has been here for almost a decade. Yet, she is just getting started. This is her moment. Ever think that if only you learned music earlier in life, you would have become a superstar? Well Alana did just that. She is on the path. Her newest project "History of Breaking Up part 1 & 2" are out now.
Cooper Alan is on track to become one of the biggest artists in the country format. Don't believe me? Just ask one of his 7.4 million followers on TikTok. In this conversation, you'll realize that the Cooper effect is not a gimmick or shtick that's just for TikTok. Cooper is the real deal and he knows music. He is self aware and open about his journey. This is the episode that will make you wish you were on track to becoming a country superstar. Cooper is on the path.
Guthrie Trapp is one of Nashville's first call guitar players. He's played with everyone including Garth Brooks, John Oates, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, Travis Tritt, Dolly Parton, Jerry Douglas and many others. Trapp's process is as unique as his playing and any myths you think you know about learning guitar get cleared up here. Listening to Trapp, you will think the guitar is easy, but make no mistake, few have the chops that he does.
Brian Kelley of Florida George Line is on the podcast this week, along with wife Brittney Kelley and business partner Bryan Bulte. The trio talk about their new NFT project Chill Cowboy Country Club , BK's solo career, and what's around the corner. Everyone in this episode is incredibly well spoken and knowledgeable about the world of crypto. If you're an outsider, this conversation will make you want to get involved. But it goes deeper than that. You'll want to be in the friend group after list...
Tyler Dial first started developing his chops as a performer in Austin while studying at the University of Texas, playing UT parties and bars on Sixth Street. He is now signed to Make Wake Management and just released a new EP with the help of Virgin Music. You need to listen. Especially to the song "Damn Denver", which Tyler had been holding onto for years. He was waiting for the right moment to put it out and we talk all about it. Tyler is someone who is not going away. He is fighting his way ...
David Morris might have the biggest song in the world today. His track “Carrying Your Love” is number 2 on the TikTok viral sounds chart and climbing. Almost a million people have used the sound, including JoJo Siwa, and Tana Mongeau. If you’re on TikTok, you probably know it. What you probably don’t know is that David is from West Virgina and has been grinding in this business for a long time. He knows the game and how to play it. If you’re a fan of the track, this will give you context. If you...
New artist alert! Cecilia Castleman might be the best artist you haven't heard yet. Her debut single Lonely Nights was produced by Don Was and it's out now on Glassnote Records. You need to listen. At just 21 years old, Castleman is managed by Paul McCartney's manager Scott Rodger and is signed to Big Yellow Dog. The insiders know about her. So should you.
Zach Beeken, Garret Nichols, and Colton Pack make up Restless Road. The group just finished their sold out headline "Bar Friends Tour" and their current single "Growing Old With You" is at country radio right now. We talk about how the group came together, connected with Kane Brown, built a following on social media and so much more. If you want to know what it takes to make it as a country band in Nashville, this episode will answer all your questions.
Bobby Bones needs no introduction. This is episode #100. We are officially a real podcast.
Ray Fulcher is one of Nashville's hottest songwriters. But he is also an artist on the rise. As an artist, Fulcher has been streamed over 40 million times and almost 21 million of those streams are derived from “Anything Like You Dance", his current radio single. We talk about his relationship with Eric Church, meeting Luke Combs, how we broke into the biz and so much more. This episode will make you want to write with Ray. But more importantly, this episode will make you a fan. You'll want to l...
Chris Ruediger is the founder & CEO of The 615 House. The house is changing the way artists break in Nashville. And it's working! We talk about building the house from the ground up, the new crop of artists coming in, recording in Reba's old mansion and so much more. Chris knows social media better than anyone in Nashville. If you're an artist, this episode will make you want to join the house and be in Chris' orbit.
Jared Gutstadt is the CEO and founder of Audio Up, one of the most talked about music companies today. As a music producer and song writer, Jared has collaborated with Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley Bob Dylan, Lil Wayne, Steven Tyler, Machine Gun Kelly, 24kGoldn, T Bone Burnett and DJ Khaled. He is a two time Emmy nominee, 3 time Cannes Lions winner, and is one of ASCAP’s most synched TV composers of all time. Jared created Audio Up as an ecosystem of premium entertainment ...
