Tag: Nashville

‘Three Hippies and a Brother’ take the stage at Station Inn

Friday night at Tin Pan South with Anthony Smith, Clint Daniels, Lance Miller and Jamie Paulin.

[L to R]: Anthony Smith, Clint Daniels, Lance Miller and Jamie Paulin. Photo Credit: Catrina Engelby
​Anthony Smith. Photo Credit: Catrina Engelby

Anthony Smith:A super songwriter and producer extraordinaire. He kicked off his segment with his chart topper hit for Lonestar, ‘What About Now.’ Anthony’s string of hits include ‘I Want My Life Back’ for Bucky Covington, ‘Watch This’ for Clay Walker and ‘It’s Too Late to Worry’ by Jo Dee Messina. Anthony ended with the super hit, ‘Tomorrow,’ that he co-wrote with Frank Myers and Chris Young. It appeared on Chris’s album  ‘Neon.’  The song sold 30,000 digital downloads in its first week of release!

​Clint Daniels. Photo Credit: Catrina Engelby

Clint Daniels: Clint has been a mainstay in Music City since 1993, when he signed to Arista Records. He is an artist, songwriter and co-producer. As the night made its final round, Clint finished with his first No. 1 hit that he wrote with three other dudes (Donny Kees, Blake Mevis, Randy Boudreaux) over a bottle of Crown Royal. ‘Brokenheartsville’ was Joe Nichols first No. 1 single chart topper!

Note: Clint has penned Number One singles for Montgomery Gentry, as well as a Top 20 hit ,“God Must Be Busy,” for Brooks & Dunn and cuts by Easton Corbin, Jon Pardi and Josh Thompson.

Lance Miller. Photo Credit: Catrina Engelby

Lance Miller:Lance began his segment with the song, ‘Drink To That All Night,’ Jerrod Niemann’s chart hit. Lance said, “On this next one, Eddie sang this song on Montgomery Gentry’s ‘Crazies Welcome’.” Wow what a hit! Lance did it justice as the co-writer, along with Jessi Alexander, Brett and Brad Warren. I’m going straight home and listen and buy the MG version.

Knowing Lance for all these years and seeing his success with ‘Real Men Love Jesus’ for Michael Ray and Lee Brice’s ‘Beautiful Every Time’ and Thomas Rhett’s ‘Beer With Jesus’ make me proud to call him a friend! I know HOW HARD he worked to achieve this success! It’s a 10 year town for sure.

​Jamie Paulin. Photo Credit: Catrina Engelby

Jamie Paulin:When he made his way into the circle, Jamie sang his song ‘Backwoods’ that Justin Moore cut. He co-wrote it with Justin and Jeremy Stover. Jamie also sang the song that Tim McGraw cut: ‘How I’ll Always Be.’ Jamie co-wrote the song with Chris Janson and Jeremy Stover and it is one of my Favvvvorites!!! Jamie ended on ‘Her World or Mine’ that he co-wrote with Travis Denning and Brett Breavers. A very moving song about a painful split, but an incredible heartfelt song.

All in all, another memorable Tin Pan South night of great music and stories from four masters of the art of songwriting.

 

Eric Paslay headlines Tin Pan South show

‘ASCAP Presents’ the Early Show at Station Inn

On Wednesday, April 4, ASCAP presented its annual songwriter round at The Station Inn. Featured performers included EMI recording artist Eric Paslay, hit songwriters Clint Lagerberg and Gordie Sampson, and emerging songwriter-artist Caylee Hammack.

{L to R]: Eric Paslay, Caylee Hammack, Clint Lagerberg, Gordie Sampson. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Eric Paslay began the round and as it came around second time Eric sang MY FAVORITE song ‘She Don’t Love You.’ “I have had a record deal ever since I had a publishing deal and every hit song is a million miracles,” said Paslay, then he kicked into his new song ‘Young Forever’ that he co-wrote with Morgan Evans.

His first hit as a songwriter was ‘Barefoot Blue Jean Night’ recorded by Jake Owen. He told the story of how his publisher (who is now his wife, Natalie) carried the song up and down Music Row for over a year, “…until someone forgot to say no,” said Eric. NOTE: In 2013, Paslay appeared on Amy Grant’s album ‘How Mercy Looks From Here,’ sharing lead vocals with Grant and Sheryl Crow on a song he wrote called ‘Deep As It Is Wide.’ In publicity for the album, Grant stated that she was most excited about Paslay as an up-and-coming artist.

[Note:  In an earlier version of this post, the name of Eric Paslay’s wife Natalie was misidentified. Apologies for the error!]

Clint Lagerberg kicked off with ‘Sombrero’ that he co-wrote with Chris DuBois. Clint explained, “It was cut by an artist but didn’t make the record. We know that sometimes happens.” Still a cool song if I ever heard one.  Then he sang his super hit for Rascal Flatts, ‘Here Comes Goodbye’ co-written with Chris Sligh. Next pass was ‘Small Town Big Time’ by Blake Shelton. As he ended with his mega hit for Keith Urban that he co-wrote with Hillary Lindsey and Steven Lee Olsen ‘Blue Ain’t Your Color.’ everybody was whoooing it!!

Next up was award-winning songwriter Gordie Sampson, who has penned over 1,000 songs and counting. He started his round with his FGL hit ‘God Your Momma and Me.’ As he made the round again He told the story behind Faith Hill’s cut ‘Paris.’ The song was featured on her ‘Fireflies’ album and was co-written with Troy Verges and Blair Daly. He played his super hit for Carrie Underwood, ‘Jesus Take The Wheel,’ and you could have heard a pin drop. This song still stops me in my tracks. Gordie’s songs have been cut by Bon Jovi,  Keith Urban, Trace Adkins, LeAnn Rimes, Martina McBride, Willie Nelson and others.

Since the age of 13, Caylee Hammack has been playing in smoky bars, opry houses, and music festivals around the southeast. On her first run through, Caylee warned us that it was about her life in 3 and 1/2 minutes of ”AMAZING!!!!” SHE KICKED us in our heart. It moved me so much that I didn’t even notice a title! That was mainly because it took us to a place that songwriters love to take us.

As they made it through the next circle, the audience became aware that this lady is incredibly talented. She ended up her part with a true life experience and a very emotional song called ‘Forged By The Fire’ and the story will bring you to your knees. She is now focused is on writing songs for Nashville’s A-list artists while also working on her own artist career.

[L to R]: Eric Paslay, Clint Lagerberg, Gordie Sampson, Caylee Hammack. Photo credit: Ed Rode

More songs and stories from Tin Pan South

Late show at SOUTH filled with hit songs

More great Tin Pan South music, this time at SOUTH on Nashville’s Demonbreun Street…

(L to R): Keith Burns, Josh Ronen, Joie Scott, Michael Peterson and Trey Bruce. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Keith Burns kicked it off and told a ‘road story’ about being on the road and meeting an old cowboy and that inspired him to write his song, ‘Cowboys Don’t Get Old.’ Then, in the next round, Keith brought up his BFF, the super talented Matt Kennon, who got up and sang ‘The Call’ which has over 12 million YouTube views.  Keith co-wrote one of my favorite Joe Diffie songs, ‘Whole Lotta Gone,’ co-written with Mark Oliverius.

Joie Scott started out with ‘His Name,’ a song that she and Josh Ronen wrote together. She said it had been inspired by her love for her grandfather and Josh’s memories of his own great-grandfather.  Most wonderful! Joie Scott is a #1 and Emmy-nominated songwriter and landed her first cut with the well-known cowboy trio, Riders In The Sky. As we circled around again, she did her super hit with Collin Raye’s ‘Not That Different’ that she co-wrote with Karen Taylor-Good.  As the round circled again, Joie sang ‘Shoes’ that Shania Twain recorded and was used on the soundtrack of ‘Desperate Housewives.’  As a special treat, Josh Ronen sang ‘I Don’t Want to Know,’ a song that he co-penned with Joie. Joie has had over 75 songs cut globally.

Michael Peterson played his song ‘When the Bartender Cries.’ The whole room just ‘whoo-hooed’it!! Still one of the most wonderfully-written songs!! Michael is an amazing SONGwriter and as we passed through again, he sang a song that he and Chris Wallin had written, ‘From The Grave To The Cradle.’  Of course, my favorite of his is ‘Drink, Swear, Steal and Lie,’ that is still one of the most clever songs ever written. Peterson co-wrote the title track to Travis Tritt’s album ‘No More Looking over My Shoulder’ with Craig Wiseman.

“I got my publishing deal and had my first hit,” said Trey Bruce, referring to his deal with MCA Music Publishing and ‘Things Are Tough All Over’ for Shelby Lynne. He then began his segment with his mega Randy Travis hit song ‘Look Heart No Hands,’ one of the songs that streamed his career into over drive in the 1990s. Travis also recorded two more songs written by Bruce: 1994’s ‘Whisper My Name’ and 1998’s ‘Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man.’  NOTE: He also has had cuts by Doug Stone, Lee Roy Parnell, Diamond Rio, Faith Hill, LeAnn Rimes, Mindy McCready, Trisha Yearwood, and SHeDAISY. Trey has also co-produced albums for Trace Adkins, Rebecca Lynn Howard and Chris LeDoux. Bruce also produced three of Adkins’s albums: 1999’s ‘More,’ 2001’s ‘Chrome’ and 2003’s ‘Comin’ On Strong.’

A great round of songs and stories from Keith, Joie, Michael and Trey.

Tin Pan South rocked The Hard Rock Café

More songs, stories and surprises

It was a real pleasure to see these  great songwriters on the stage together: Aaron Barker, Billy Dean, Eddie Raven, Frank Myers and Jimmy Nichols. They shared many memories behind the hit songs they have written.

Left to right: Billy Dean, Eddie raven, Jimmy Nichols, Frank Myers, and Aaron Barker. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Aaron Barker:  I was fortunate enough, when I moved to town, to get an internship at this new label called BNA Records. Aaron was an artist just signed to the label. I feel like I sorta grew up with him, as I continued to follow his career. I remember his mega hits for George Strait like ‘Baby Blue,’ ‘Easy Come Easy Go.’  I loved it when he performed ‘I Can Still Make Cheyenne’ and ‘Love Without Ending Amen.’ NOTE:Barker also writes and performs commercials for Blue Bell Ice Cream. Aaron was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in the fall of 2016.

Billy Dean:  Every time he sings, he has the audience in the palm of his hand. Especially when he sings his song ‘Somewhere in My Broken Heart.’ Billy co-wrote the song with Richard Leigh. It had been previously recorded by Randy Travis on his 1989 album ‘No Holdin’ Back.’  Billy has recorded a total of eight studio albums (of which the first three – ‘Young Man,’ ‘Billy Dean’ and ‘Fire in the Dark’ – have been certified gold by the RIAA) and a greatest hits package which is also certified gold. His studio albums have accounted for more than 20 hit singles on the Billboard country charts, including 11 Top Ten hits. As a special treat he brought up ‘America’s Got Talent’ season eight contestant, Chloe Channell.

Eddy Raven:  The Louisiana born Cajun-country star Eddy Raven brings the heat and six number ones  to the stage. He has charted more than thirty-five singles in his career, including the Number One hits ‘I Got Mexico,’ ‘Shine, Shine, Shine,’ ‘I’m Gonna Get You,’ ‘Joe Knows How to Live,’ ‘In a Letter to You’ and ‘Bayou Boys,’with seventeen consecutive Top Tens between 1984 and 1990. His songs have been cut by Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, Kenny Chesney, Roy Orbison, George Jones, Toby Keith, Waylon Jennings, Lefty Frizzell, Carl Smith, Heather Myles, Brenda Lee, Don Gibson, Faron Young, Jack Greene, Gene Watson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Lorrie Morgan, Roy Acuff, Jerry Reed, Oak Ridge Boys, Connie Smith and Charlie Louvin. He ended with the super song for the super group Oak Ridge Boys, super hit ‘Thank God For Kids’ that was a solo write for Eddy.

Frank Myers just kept playing hit after hit after hit. One of my favorites was the number one record for Lonestar, ‘I’m Already There,’ co-written with Richie McDonald and Gary Baker. Frank said, “I never thought I could top Eddie Rabbit and Crystal Gayle’s mega hit duet ‘You and I’ but I did!” Frank also said, “This next song I pitched a hundred times. Finally, [songplugger] Matt Lindsay took it.  All-4-One recorded it and it stayed eleven weeks at number one on Billboard’s Top 100 charts and four weeks at number one on the country charts.”  It was also a number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for John Michael Montgomery who actually cut it first. The song? The ginormous hit, ‘I Swear.’

Jimmy Nichols was the surprise guest. He is one of the busiest and most respected keyboardists in town, and has appeared on albums with Buckcherry, Scotty McCreery, Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis, Drake White, Reba, Faith Hill, Lonestar, Carrie Underwood, Billy Ray Cyrus and Tim McGraw and this is just starting the list!

One of the exciting things about attending any show at Tin Pan South: you never know who might show up as a surprise guest!

Tin Pan South: stories behind the songs

Tuesday, April 2nd at Douglas Corner

Veteran songwriters Jeff Prince, Rafe Van Hoy, Dave Gibson and Earl Bud Lee were playing and sharing memories of the way the wheels turned on Music Row.

(L to R) Rafe Van Hoy, Jeff Prince, Earl Bud Lee, Dave Gibson. Photo Credit: Catrina Engelby

Jeff Prince – “Me and Jimmy Melton wrote ‘Django and Jimmie’ as a tribute to Willie Nelson’s music hero, Django. (Jean “Django” Reinhardt was a Belgian-born Romani French jazz guitarist and composer, regarded as one of the greatest musicians of the twentieth century.) Jimmie Rogers is known as the Father of Country and is Merle Haggard’s hero. So it was a perfect fit for them as a duo. When we wrote the silly song, we had no idea they [Willie and Merle] would be recording a duet album [titled ‘Django and Jimmie’].  Somebody heard the song and got it to their producer Buddy Cannon. It was the crappy work tape. When we heard the song, it was amazing.”

Rafe Van Hoy – “Bobby Braddock called me in to write, because Curley Putman didn’t show up. I was 20 and just wanted to write. So, Bobby and I wrote it in the morning, cut a demo in the afternoon, and George and Tammy recorded it the next week. The song was ‘Golden Wedding Ring.’”

Some of my favorite songs from the hands of Rafe are ‘Lady Lay Down,’ a song co-written with Don Cook, and recorded by John Conlee, oh yes, and ‘What’s Forever For,’ a solo write by Rafe and first recorded by England Dan and John Foley. – PH

Dave Gibson – “Greg Crow, Bill Gentry and I wrote ‘Corner of Lonely And Gone.’ It just was a great write. It went and made its way to the record and as a single.” Of course they knew they had a hit as it made it’s way up to the top of the charts in 1999. NOTE: It is one of my FAVORITE Montgomery Gentry songs! – PH

Earl Bud Lee- “Roger Cook, Eddie Kilgallon and I wrote it on Monday, demoed on a Tuesday, and it got cut the next week and ended up as the title track to George Strait’s ‘One Night At A Time.’ NOTE: This was in 1996, I thought Earl Bud couldn’t upstage his hit “Friends In Low Places” that Garth did in 1990. Then he comes along with one of my Blake Shelton’s favorite song “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” co-written, by John Wiggins. – PH

Music Row One Sheet, April 2018

Nashville Music News Roundup

Scroll down to read these Music Row One Sheet news items

  • How artists and songwriters can stay safe on social media
  • Bellamy Brothers still touring! Exclusive interview
  • Copyright Royalty Board OK’s big raise for songwriters
  • ACM Lifting Lives: stars turn out in Vegas
  • The Outlaws, Blackhawk benefit MusiCares, cancer research

Scroll down to read these Music Row One Sheet news items

Social media safety vital for singers, songwriters

Staying safe on social media is important for everyone, but it can be vital for young singers, musicians and songwriters who are posting photos and information about themselves as a way to build a following and boost their careers. However, your posts at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram can also attract stalkers, cyber-scammers and identity thieves.

For a helpful guide to staying safe online, read this article by Jim Akin posted on Experian’s website.  Among Jim’s recommendations: adjust your Facebook privacy settings and uncheck the ‘Discoverability’ boxes in Twitter’s safety and security controls. He also suggests being discreet about your whereabouts on social media.  He explains how to disable location tagging on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  Read the full article for many more helpful online safety tips.

Bellamy Brothers still circling the globe

David (left) and Howard Bellamy. Photo: Preshias Harris

The Bellamy Brothers remain hugely popular both in the USA and overseas.  They have been touring almost nonstop for more than 40 years. They have written a new autobiography titled ‘Let Your Love Flow: Life and Times of the Bellamy Brothers’ that will be available this month. Additionally, ‘Honky Tonk Ranch,’ a TV show about their hectic lives, is set to air in the USA on the Cowboy Channel.

I caught up with Howard and David Bellamy while they were on a brief break between international tour dates, and we sat down in Nashville to talk about their new projects. My exclusive interview with the Bellamys has now been posted at Country Music News International, a blog based in Germany.  You can find the full interview here.

Songwriter royalties: ‘significant increase’

The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has released its ruling on mechanical rates for songwriters for 2018 – 2022. This decision is the result of a trial that took place between March and June of 2017 with NMPA and the Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI), representing the interests of music publishers and songwriters against Google, Amazon, Apple, Spotify and Pandora.

The court’s decision includes a significant increase in the overall percentage of revenue paid to songwriters from 10.5% to 15.1% over the next five years – the largest rate increase in CRB history. Additionally, the CRB removed the Total Content Cost (TCC) cap, giving publishers the benefit of a true percentage of what labels are able to negotiate in the free market resulting in significantly higher royalties for songwriters.

The CRB also increased the TCC rate resulting in the most balance between record label and publishing rates in the history of mechanical licensing. In addition, the CRB granted a late fee which will dramatically alter the licensing practices of digital music companies. Read the full press release from NSAI here.

ACM is ‘Lifting Lives’ in Vegas

With the ACM Awards just around the corner, it seems like half of Nashville is heading to Las Vegas.  The stars and their crews will be getting there early for ACM’s ‘Party For A Cause.’ On Friday, April 13, The Joint at the Vegas Hard Rock is the venue for ‘ACM Stories, Songs & Stars,’ a songwriters’ event benefitting ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music. Among those scheduled to appear: Lee Brice, Midland, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Rhett Akins, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally and more, The event will be hosted by Storme Warren.

The next morning, Saturday, April 14, Darius Rucker and Charles Kelley host ACM Lifting Lives Top Golf Tee-Off at the MGM Grand’s Top Golf. Among the celebs who have signed up: Chris Lane, Levi Hummon, Raelynn, Eric Pasley and more.

It’s back to the The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sunday night for the Official After Party with performances by Lauren Alaina, Lee Brice, Luke Combs, Cassadee Pope, Jerrod Niemann, Tracy Lawrence and more.

Anything else? Oh yes! Almost forgot. The ACM Awards will be broadcast live from Las Vegas, Sunday, April 15, 8:00pm / 7:00 Central on CBS, hosted by Reba McEntire. The show will pay tribute to the victims of the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival.

Since 2008 ACM Lifting Lives has given more than 8 million dollars to more than 150 worthy causes and supports many projects throughout the year to create awareness and help those in need.

Blackhawk and The Outlaws make $$ donations to MusiCares and cancer research

Last week in Nashville, Henry Paul and Dave Robbins, members of country group BlackHawk, as well as southern rock band The Outlaws, paid visits to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and MusiCares to deliver donations raised for each organization.

L to R: Debbie Carroll (MusiCares Sr. Executive Director), Henry Paul (BlackHawk / The Outlaws)

Paul and Robbins presented a $40,000 check to Vanderbilt (on behalf of BlackHawk’s “Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund”) and a $20,000 check to MusiCares (on behalf of The Outlaws’ “Fallen Outlaw Fund”).

“The ‘Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund’ and ‘The Fallen Outlaws Fund’ were both formed to help give back to two very worthwhile causes in the name of BlackHawk and Outlaw fans, respectively,” says Paul. “Raising money for cancer research at the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center and also for MusiCares, an organization that helps fund healthcare costs for uninsured musicians, is the cause. Honoring former founding BlackHawk member Van Stephenson and former founding Outlaws members Hughie Thomasson, Billy Jones and Frank O’Keefe, by perpetuating their memory in the name of these two charities, is our goal.”

Visit Blackhawk’s and The Outlaws websites. To find out more about the MusiCares program click here.

Music Row One Sheet copyright (c) 2018 Preshias Harris and Nashville Music Line LLC

Tin Pan South plays to sell-out crowds again

Hit songwriters share their stories

The only problem with Tin Pan South: having to decide WHERE you are going to go! There are 100 venues, all with a full schedule of amazing songwriters, performing their songs to packed audiences of appreciative listeners.

Here’s a taste. Tuesday evening, April 3 at 3rd and Lindsley…

 Ashley Gorley and Chris DeStefano

Super songwriter extraordinaire Ashley Gorley kicked it off with his first Number One for Jon Pardi, ‘Dirt On My Boots.’ As of this week, Ashley  (ASCAP’s Songwriter of The Year, for five consecutive years) has the current number one record on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for Thomas Rhett with ‘Marry Me.’ This makes Ashley’s 37th or 38th Number one record. I have lost count! This Kentucky boy sure makes us proud J.

L to R: Ashley Gorley, Brett Young and Chris DeStefano. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Then next up was Grammy Award-winning American singer and songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist and dad, Chris DeStefano.  Chris started out with his celebrated number one as a co-writer with Dan + Shay’s ‘From The Ground Up.’ Chris also co-wrote the Carrie Underwood, 7-week, #1 song ‘Something in the Water,’ the third-longest running female #1 Hot Country song in chart history.

Brett Young surprise guest

The show’s surprise artist was BMLG’s ‘Golden Boy’ Brett Young. Every single Brett has released (all three) have gone to number one status. He told the story of his first number party experience. It was about award-winning songwriter Jon Nite’s second number one party. He talked about how Jon told about his journey and Jon and his wife’s move here for him to be a songwriter when they were both just 18 years old and had a 18 month old child. They had all they owned in a Uhaul trailer. So Brett dedicated his next single song to Jon Nite, ‘Beautiful Believer.’

As another artist surprise, Chris brought up newcomer Warner Brothers/Nashville artist Morgan Evans. Morgan is from Australia and is Kelsea Ballerini’s better half. He surprised the crowd with a “Story Behind the Song and the Song” for his recent chart-climbing single ‘Kiss Somebody’ that he co-wrote with Chris and Josh Osborne.

As things ended, the best quote of truth, that made me smile was Brett’s. “God‘s plan was a little different from mine, but he got me up here.”  —  Brett Young talking about his journey as songwriter that turned into an artist.

… and then on to the next venue!

For more about Tin Pan South, click here. And for info about Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) click here.

Ten ways to keep your music career moving forward

Make Nashville’s ‘ten year town’ reputation work for you

So you’re a songwriter or an artist with the goal of a successful career in music.  You’ve been in Nashville for six months or a year, or maybe a couple of years.  You’re beginning to wonder why ‘things aren’t happening’ for you.  Perhaps your family and friends back home are dropping hints that ‘you haven’t made it yet.’

It’s hard to keep focused on your career when you feel it is stagnating, going nowhere.  It’s even harder when loved ones cast doubts on your decision to follow your musical dream.  Those doubts begin to worm their way into your mind, undermining your self-confidence.

  • Note: This is a corrected re-post of a previously posted item. Due to an editing error, much of the information in Number 6 (“Join a songwriters’ association”) was inadvertently omitted. The correct text has been restored, below.  Apologies for the error!

A marathon, not a sprint

It is important to remind yourself (and maybe Mom and Dad) that this is a marathon not a sprint. Everything you do, every day, is bringing you closer to achieving your goal.  Think of it this way: if you’d chosen to become an engineer or an architect, instead of a singer or a songwriter, you’d have attended a four-year college, and then gone on for a master’s degree and post-graduate work before you ever had a chance to earn a single dollar.  Speaking of dollars, you (or your parents) would have had to invest many tens of thousands of dollars in your education over many years with no guarantee of success.

As an aspiring musician, you are creating your own education, with the help of peers and mentors, honing your craft, learning and getting better every day.

Every day, promise yourself to do something that moves your music career further along. Here are some idea starters that you can adapt to suit your own career objectives.

“You’ve got to work hard for your success and you’ve got to have a steady presence. That’s the secret.” – Kid Rock

[1] Network

Get out there. Meet people. Be where things are happening. Introduce yourself by saying, “I’m [Name]. I’m a singer-songwriter.”  Hear yourself saying that out loud! See? Now that’s what you are! Get to know other people who are at the same level of experience (or lack of it) as you are.  Also network with people whose knowledge and experience you can learn from.

A word of warning: Do NOT be a gherm! (The ‘g’ is hard, as in ‘Grrrrrrr!!’) That Nashville term refers to someone who is obnoxiously pushy, perhaps going up to a famous artist or producer and trying to hand them your CD or aggressively asking a song publisher for a meeting when they have no idea who you are.  It’s a matter of respect. Get a reputation as a gherm and your career can quickly stall. Network: Yes! Gherm: No!

[2] Write… and Co-write

Keep writing, every day. Write something, even if it is just a phrase or a few words.  Keep a ‘hook book’ in which you can jot down words, phrases, a snatch of overheard conversation or just ideas that maybe someday you could turn into a song.  (Your hook book can be a ruled paper notebook or a file on your iPhone, whichever you’re more likely to use as soon as the idea hits you.)

“You overhear a conversation on a bus and you think, ‘that’s a great first line.’” – Richard Thompson from an interview at SongwritingMagazine.co.uk

Continue reading “Ten ways to keep your music career moving forward”

Nashville is a ten-year town

7 inspiring stories from stars who stayed the course – and won

If you are an aspiring artist or songwriter, there will be times when it feels like your creative career is going nowhere. A little voice in your head is telling you that if you’re going to ‘make it,’ you’d have done it by now.  Worse still, that voice might be coming from a well-meaning family member nudging you to give it up and come back home. Right now, you need inspiration and encouragement. And maybe some stories about ‘making it in Music City’ to tell the folks back home.

“Success isn’t overnight. It’s when every day you get a little better than the day before. It all adds up.” – Dwayne Johnson

Nashville is a ten-year town. If we needed any proof, we need look no further than the recent spate of Number One parties and the artists and songwriters whose songs were being honored.

Jon Pardi

Jon Pardi

During the celebration for his two No. 1 hits, ‘Dirt on My Boots’ and ‘Heartache on the Dance Floor,’ Jon Pardi mentioned that he arrived in Music City ten years ago and even before that, he was writing songs and playing in bands from his early teens. In fact, it has taken him well over a decade to get where he is today, as an established artist with a solid track record.

“Thank you so much for believing in me. I’ve been here for a while now and Feb. 23, 2008 is when I moved to town. Ten years later, I have three number ones and we’re at a double number one party. Thank you. Thanks for believing in me.” – Jon Pardi

Kip Moore

Kip Moore. Photo: John Shearer

A few days earlier, Kip Moore and the writers of ‘More Girls Like You’ were being honored for their chart-topping success. Moore had moved to Nashville in 2004 and signed a songwriting deal. It was eight more years before he was signed to a recording contract with MCA.

It wasn’t an easy time for Moore, but he kept his eyes on the prize as the years progressed.   He told me during the Number One party what kept him going: “It was knowing I wasn’t going to be happy doing anything else.  There was no Plan B.” He also noted, “It was a battle to keep one foot in front of the other.”

Brett Young

Brett Young

Brett Young co-wrote his recent No. 1, ‘Like I Love You,’ with Jesse Lee and both have paid their dues on the road to success. Young had been writing songs and performing for fourteen years before he even got to Nashville and signed a record deal with BMLG.

Young’s previous chart-topper, ‘In Case You Didn’t Know,’ marked him as the first Country artist to gain an RIAA Platinum certification in 2017, and the song went on to reach the 2X Platinum sales mark.

Jesse Lee

Jesse Lee

Jesse Lee had to overcome disappointment on her way to becoming a hit songwriter. She had signed a recording contract with Atlantic Nashville in 2007, but her releases met with only limited success. However, she was not about to let this discourage her.

As she said at the Number One party, “People didn’t want me on the radio! So I reinvented myself and started to write.  Then I realized I was getting into publishing companies because of my writing not my artist talents.” Her change of direction paid off, co-writing Kelsea Ballerini’s first No. 1, ‘Peter Pan.’

“it’s been more than a ten-year town for me. It’s been eleven!” – Jesse Lee

Dustin Lynch

Dustin Lynch

Dustin Lynch recently scored his fifth Number One with ‘Small Town Boy,’ but he has invested many years of his young life moving toward that level of success. He grabbed the chance to perform at Nashville’s famed Bluebird Café at the age of sixteen, moving full-time to Nashville in 2003. While studying at Lipscomb University, he continued to write songs and perform at every opportunity. When he graduated with a B.S. degree in biology in 2007, he decided to stay in Nashville and focus on his music career.

Persistence paid off, and Lynch was signed to Valory Music Group, moving to Broken Bow Records in 2011. It was ten years between that first performance at the Bluebird and signing the record deal with Broken Bow, and a further seven years to this point, establishing him as a successful artist with a string of hits to his credit.

Carly Pearce

Carly Pearce. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Carly Pearce achieved her first Number One, ‘Every Little Thing,’ at the age of twenty-eight.  She was sure that her future would be in music: at the age of nine, she visualized herself singing on a stage and never gave up on that goal.  At sixteen, she was working at Dollywood, learning stagecraft from more experienced performers.

She moved to Nashville, taking menial day jobs while she worked on building her skills as a songwriter and a singer in the evenings. She remembers sitting at home watching the CMA Awards on TV. She made it her goal to be on that show one day. Her tenacity paid off with a nomination in the ‘New Female Vocalist of the Year’ category at the 2018 CMA Awards.

“I wouldn’t change anything about my personal journey in the industry.  I had to figure out who I was as an artist. I’m glad this didn’t happen when I was twenty-one. I wouldn’t have appreciated it as much as I do now.” – Carly Pearce

Buddy Jewell

Buddy Jewell

Think about Buddy Jewell if you want to know about persistence! He started pursuing a career in music in Arkansas in 1982. He learned his craft the hard way, working in gunfighting shows at Six Flags Over Texas and entering talent shows, including one sponsored by the band Alabama. He moved to Nashville in 1993 and found work singing more than 5,000 demos for songs that became hits for artists such as George Strait, Clay Walker and Gary Allan.

Jewell spent years perfecting his vocal skills, networking and preparing for the success that he knew would come if he stayed the course. When his big opportunity presented itself he was ready, winning the first season of Nashville Star. This led to a recording contract with Columbia Records and a self-titled, GOLD-certified Number One album.

Success takes an investment of time

Talent alone is just the starting point to a career in music just as in any other endeavor.  Pushing too hard, too fast means you are more likely to trip and fall.

Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Brett Young, Jesse Lee, Dustin Lynch, Carly Pearce, Buddy Jewell. Scroll up and look again at when they arrived in Nashville, when they began to achieve success and what they did in between.

Their stories are just a few examples of artists and songwriters who understand that the road to success is a marathon not a sprint.  If ever you need encouragement, go online and research the timeline of almost any star singer or songwriter. Quite often, ‘ten years’ is the least they invested in pursuit of their goals.  Remember that you are studying for a ‘Doctorate in Songology’(R) and every day is one more investment in your own success story!

  • In my next post, I’ll suggest ten ways to stay focused on success by moving your career forward, one day at a time.

Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com

Persistence pays off for Carly Pearce

Invested years building toward success

“I wouldn’t change anything about my personal journey in the industry. I had to figure out who I was as an artist. I’m glad this didn’t happen when I was twenty-one. I wouldn’t have appreciated it as much as I do now.” – Carly Pearce

It’s a long way from Taylor Mill, KY to Nashville, TN, but perseverance paid off for the 28-year-old singer-songwriter who never gave up on her dream.

[L to R] busbee, Carly Pearce and Emily Shackelton celebrate. together. Photo credit: Ed Rode
Nashville’s music community came out to celebrate the success of Carly Pearce’s ‘Every Little Thing’ (Big Machine Records) on Monday, March 19.  The Number One party, co-hosted by ASCAP and BMI was held at the CMA’s headquarters on Music Row, to honor Carly and her co-writers, Emily Shackelton and busbee.

The party celebrated ‘Every Little Thing’ topping Mediabase and Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.  Not only was it Carly’s first No. 1 single, it was also the first No. 1 for one of her co-writers, Emily Shackelton. busbee, who also produced the song, is a music industry veteran with a string of hits both as a songwriter and producer.

Carly’s whole life, she told us, has focused on music. She was speaking at a media session before the awards presentation. “I dreamed about being on stage since I was nine years old,” she said.

Carly Pearce in front of the ‘Country Forever’ wall at the CMA Offices on Music Row. Photo Credit: Preshias Harris

“I’m an only child, and my parents have always supported my dreams,” Carly said. When she was sixteen, her family relocated from Taylor Mill in Kenton County, KY, to East Tennessee so she could follow her dream by finding work at Dollywood, the entertainment complex and theme park owned by Dolly Parton. When that dream took her from Pigeon Forge to Nashville, she had to find ways to support herself, often with menial jobs such as cleaning Air B&Bs. She said that her parents’ support and encouragement kept her going, even when she became disheartened and didn’t feel she could go on.

Long way from Dollywood to Number One

It’s been a long journey from those days in her mid-teens at Dollywood to standing on a stage, holding an award for a Number One hit song. There have been ups and downs in her career, but “I wouldn’t change anything about my personal journey in the industry,” she said. “I had to figure out who I was as an artist. I’m glad this didn’t happen when I was twenty-one. I wouldn’t have appreciated it as much as I do now.”

Speaking about this special occasion, Carly revealed, “I’ve dreamt of what it would be like to have a No. 1 song since I moved to Nashville.” She continued, “If I am living proof of anything, it’s that one song can change everything. I have experienced that with my peers over the years and have listened to the stories behind the songs that changed other people’s lives.” She added that, at the time she recorded ‘Every Little Thing’ she had no idea that was going to be the song that changed her life.

Carly was scheduled to appear at The Grand Ole Opry the next evening. I asked her if it will be different this time, with a GOLD-certified single to her credit.

“I’m nearing my 50th Opry performance,” she said. “The Opry has always showed me support, even when I didn’t have a record deal or a publishing deal [and] I had nothing going on. It’s a special time every time I step on the Opry stage.”

Carly added, “I dream of being an Opry member one day.”

The song’s co-writer and producer, busbee, has written or produced songs for artists such as Christina Aguilera, Tony Braxton, Adam Lambert, Lady Antebellum and Gwen Stefani. I asked Carly what it was like working with busbee. Carly said that, when she first met him, she thought, “he’s more pop and I’m country. I’m not sure he’s going to ‘get’ me.”  However, she soon realized that it was a great working relationship. “It was amazing,” she said. “Like it was meant to be.”

ACM nomination: “I just screamed!”

Carly Pearce fields media questions before the Number One party. Photo credit: Preshias Harris

Carly was asked how she found out she had been nominated for an ACM award in the ‘New Female Vocalist of the Year’ category. She said she was in-flight on a plane when she received the news. “It’s hard to explain my feelings,” she said. “I just screamed!” She said that she used to sit on her couch, watching the show and dream of being nominated one day.  Even if she does not win, “Being recognized in an honor on its own,” she emphasized.

Carly also talked about her experiences as part of Blake Shelton’s ‘Country Music Freaks Tour’ with Trace Adkins and Brett Eldridge. She said that Blake and Gwen Stefani were so kind to her. “Gwen is the most ‘down to earth’ person I’ve ever met, even though she’s a megastar,” Carly recalled. However, she admitted she was ‘too scared’ to ask Stefani for any fashion tips!

Learning how to ‘work’ an audience

Asked what she learned from the tour, Carly said, “I’m stronger than I think I am. I can go with less hours sleep than I thought I could!”  She added that she learned a lot just from watching Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins.  “They know how to ‘work’ an audience,” she said.

“If I am living proof of anything, it’s that one song can change everything.” – Carly Pearce

Carly is a true ‘country’ girl, born and raised in the small town of Taylor Mill in northeastern Kentucky, and is ‘pure country’ to her soul. Her next single, ‘Hide the Wine,’ is already climbing Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.  More at https://www.carlypearce.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

  • Emily Shackelton

    Co-writer Emily Shackelton, a native of Biwabik, Minnesota, is signed to Liz Rose Music/Warner-Chappell publishing in Nashville. In addition to ‘Every Little Thing,’ her first No. 1, her songs have been recorded by Wynona Judd, Sara Evans, Cassadee Pope and X-Factor winner Tate Stevens, among others.