1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: Podcast playground Taking a Walk with Buzz Night. Well, welcome 2 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: to the Taking a Walk Podcast. I'm your host, Buzznight, 3 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: and I am thrilled with another in our series of 4 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:23,479 Speaker 1: Nashville shows with someone who is made and continues to 5 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: make a little bit of impact on music. Row Carrie 6 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: Edwards is the founder and president of management firm KP Entertainment, 7 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: and she manages the careers, among others, of country stars 8 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: Luke Bryan and Cole Swindle. And I'm so grateful to 9 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:44,919 Speaker 1: be taking a Walk with Carrie. Carrie, thank you for 10 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: having us. What an intro I get it, LA makes 11 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: me overwhelmed just here it and put like that, to 12 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: be honest, thank you for having me. Well do you 13 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: have a sense of how important a figure you are 14 00:00:55,480 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: in the business to females in the Nashville music world. Well, 15 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,320 Speaker 1: that is a very good question, because I I think 16 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 1: it really hit me in the last probably three or 17 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,399 Speaker 1: four years, because I just put my head down and 18 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: go and do my deal, and I love what I 19 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: do and I love music, so honestly, I had never 20 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: really truly stopped and thought of it that way, but 21 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: then I started. Now that person that you walk in 22 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: in the room and you're looking around and people are like, 23 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 1: hey a. But then I'm like, oh, no, I don't 24 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: know who that is. I've become that person, which makes 25 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: me mad. But it's also a compliment in my opinion, 26 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: because I remember doing that, you know, to people that 27 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 1: I looked up to and admired and like followed what 28 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 1: they did. And the first few times that happened to 29 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: me personally, I mean, it did kind of freak me 30 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: out in the moment because I'm like, I've always known everybody. 31 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: I do not know who this is. But then, you know, 32 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: that's kind of how I put it in perspective, and 33 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 1: that's one of the things that made me realize, like, 34 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: oh gosh. And then and then just like I do 35 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: try to do stuff and trying to do even more 36 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: in the community and outreach and doing some coffees and 37 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: some sit downs and you know, with people that reach 38 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 1: out and and just inquire and say they have questions 39 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:13,239 Speaker 1: and they want to, you know, get to know me, 40 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: and that kind of thing. I try not to ignore those. 41 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: I think that's an important part of how we keep 42 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: this legacy going in general for country music, you know, 43 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: so I try to stop and look at that at times, 44 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: and that has helped me also be like, Okay, you 45 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: got your people humble, you're being humble. I'm being truthful. 46 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: It really is how I look at it. Yeah, well, 47 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: so what is the state in your mind of females 48 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: in the music industry in terms of leadership and management 49 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: from your perspective today? And how do you also view 50 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:52,239 Speaker 1: the state of female artists in country music? Right? I 51 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 1: think it's you know, that's obviously two separate questions, but 52 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: the first one being, you know, with our leadership, I do. 53 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: I am. I'm proud for both actually at the artist 54 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 1: level and the executive level of women in this role. 55 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 1: But you know, I do feel like when I first started, 56 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: which I mean it's I guess I technically have done 57 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: management probably fifteen years. I've worked with Luke Bryan for twenty, 58 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 1: but in the first part I've did more publishing in 59 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: some other areas of the business. But when I truly 60 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: stepped in the management thing, I mean there was there 61 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: was probably two or three women period that were even 62 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: doing that, and then even management, it wasn't even just 63 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: about the women. I feel like there weren't. There are 64 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: many more managers in general now than there was then 65 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: male or female, because I feel like back then, when 66 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: I look back at it, there was probably you know 67 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: ten or so that and those people managed everybody you know, 68 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: and it men and women, you know. So, But now 69 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 1: I feel there's a lot more diversity even in the 70 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: day to day management roles in general, and I fight 71 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: there's a lot more people out there doing it and 72 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 1: that doors up opened for them in general. But many 73 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: day to day managers then, I don't not really that 74 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: I remember. I mean I worked at a record label 75 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: for like seven years, but you had a manager and 76 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 1: you had a team at the management companies, but I 77 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: don't know if they were there. Just seemed to be 78 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: a lot more day to days and management and like 79 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: different tiers than there was then, which I think is 80 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: a good thing for our industry now. So the trials 81 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:36,239 Speaker 1: and tribulations though, as a female working your way through, 82 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: were there ever these dark moments where you didn't necessarily 83 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: have someone to go ask advice for as you were 84 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:49,679 Speaker 1: trying to work your way through the business. I mean, yes, 85 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: I didn't, I think I had, but had I had 86 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: men that were there that stepped up to if I 87 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,160 Speaker 1: ever had a question, I had a handful. I mean, 88 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: Marion Craft was always an amazing, you know, female leader 89 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: for management side for me, even from the very beginning. 90 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: I mean I took her to lunch immediately when I 91 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 1: was even considering doing this, when I considered it, and 92 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,159 Speaker 1: probably wasn't really ready for the role or even understood 93 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: what the role really was going to be about at 94 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: that time. But I believed in my artists and I 95 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: believed in what they were trying to do, so I 96 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,279 Speaker 1: you know, I didn't let that completely stop me because 97 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 1: I did see something. In referring to Luke Brian, did 98 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: see something in him that I knew that I had 99 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: to just figure out. And there were definitely hiccups along 100 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: the way that made me stop and go, oh my gosh, 101 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: you do have so much more to learn, you know. 102 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: But I also was determined to not fail him. But 103 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: is the treatment of females the way it should be 104 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 1: these days in the business. I just think that's a 105 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: personal opinion, Like I don't feel like it has put 106 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 1: up walls for me personally. Now, are there walls, Yes, 107 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: there's walls and not I mean in our industry and 108 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 1: many industries. I mean, I don't think it's just about 109 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 1: the music industry. But I don't I don't think. I 110 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:14,679 Speaker 1: think you can let that block your mind and block 111 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 1: your drive or you just keep freaking doing it. And 112 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,359 Speaker 1: I just kept freaking trying to figure it out and 113 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: doing it, you know. But I mean I had a 114 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 1: few examply even but you know, then female executives. You know, 115 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 1: there was Connie Bradley at ASCAB. There was Donna Hilly 116 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: at Sony because that was my world a little bit more. 117 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: My world was publishing and that side of things when 118 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 1: I first got into it, you know, But they were 119 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: some of the few. There was another publishing lady that 120 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: was amazing, Karing Conrad in the business, you know, there 121 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 1: there was definitely a handful of those leaders. But you know, 122 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 1: at that time, as far as like label heads and 123 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 1: that thing, you know, it was definitely more men driven 124 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 1: for sure. But I don't feel like I don't ever 125 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,720 Speaker 1: feel like I stopped and went, oh, they're not letting 126 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: me do that because I'm a female. I never, I never, 127 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 1: I really never did view it that way. You just 128 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 1: plowed ahead. I plowed and I tripped and I rumbled 129 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: and tumbled and fell. Sounds like maybe so I'm not 130 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: sure he would go so well, but you know it 131 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: could work. We're putting the magic somehow, right, Yeah, I mean, 132 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: you know, I do. I think there's been an amazing 133 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 1: growth and awareness for all of us, you know, And 134 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: I do think it does. It has turned the corner, 135 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: and it has you know, we have a long way 136 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: to go, of course. But again, I don't think it's 137 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 1: just about country music industry. I think it's just as 138 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: a whole, you know, And I do think that that 139 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: there's been a lot of focus on it, you know, 140 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: and change and we'll keep changing hopefully. So you've been 141 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: with this guy, what's his name, Luke bill In Brian. 142 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, I see Ryan, Oh, Luke Bryant. We've gotten 143 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 1: that before to worry. You've been with this gentleman a 144 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 1: few years? Yes, and what a ride. It's actually weird 145 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: to say out loud how long that's been. How many years? 146 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: I mean, we're going on twenty. When I first met 147 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: him again, I started with him in the publishing world 148 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: and was helping him books on rights and do that 149 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: side of things. So he had an artist thing happening, 150 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: but he didn't have a record deal already of that. 151 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:34,599 Speaker 1: When we first met, So I count those years. So 152 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: that's like, you know, I was still working with him 153 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: and doing stuff, So there was probably five years of 154 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:44,680 Speaker 1: that before like it was like an official handshake you 155 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: should be my manager moment thing. So what was that 156 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: first moment when you guys met where? Yeah, who was 157 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: at the publishing it was he had gotten signed, He 158 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: had just moved to town. He got signed to a 159 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: writing deal pretty quickly compared to a lot of people. 160 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:01,839 Speaker 1: Just kind of met the right people at the right 161 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: time and he got a writing deal. And then I 162 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,079 Speaker 1: was hired at that company to be like a creative director, 163 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: so like to pitch the songs and work on combining 164 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: songwriting opportunities with other writers and that side of things. 165 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 1: So I met him. It was called Murra Music and 166 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: Roger Murra was the owner of that company, Hall of 167 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: Fame songwriter, and I got hired to work there, and 168 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: that's kind of where we first met. I remember meeting 169 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 1: him in the kitchen of that buildings. It was a 170 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: house on music room. And what was that first encounter? 171 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 1: Like mean, and what's very Luke Arry Luke like, because 172 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: he's very you know, engaging and loud and like you're 173 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: not gonna you know when, But I mean that was 174 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: being walked around the building to like meet everybody. But 175 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: you know, I don't know why I remember that being 176 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 1: in the kitchen, but for some reason I did. I mean, 177 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,559 Speaker 1: I was fortunate, thanks to you and Luke and your team, 178 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: to be at one of those famous Super Bowl parties. Ye, yeah, 179 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 1: thank you. It's one of the best experiences. But you're 180 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:07,559 Speaker 1: not going to escape the presence of Luke. You're not. No, no, 181 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 1: he can't help himself. But it's like it's so great. 182 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: It's like this immediate like, oh my god, this guy's 183 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 1: not only an unbelievable performer, but it's a pretty freaking 184 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: cool guy too. He is he's and he really is 185 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: that the guy I met in the kitchen. It's the 186 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 1: same guy. He really is the same guy. I can't 187 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: explain it, Like, how does that happen? It hasn't affected 188 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 1: him in a way that's you know, I guess what gross. 189 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: I don't know what the word is, but I think, 190 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 1: you know, between his family and just different people in 191 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: his life, it's like, you know, your pace kept it 192 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: pretty real too, yeah, keep it level. Yeah yeah, But 193 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: isn't that a function of the authenticity of Nashville. Also, 194 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: I think so I love Nashville. I love our people. 195 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: I mean it's really good. Yeah, it's real. Yeah, I'm glad. 196 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: I'm glad I ended up here. Where would you have 197 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 1: ended up if you didn't end up here. You're from 198 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 1: West Virginia, You're from West Virginia. I probably would still 199 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 1: be in West Virginia, I mean, truthfully, Yeah, my parents 200 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: kicked me out the curve to go explore life. What 201 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: would you be doing if you weren't doing this? I 202 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 1: really don't know. I mean I initially I thought I 203 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: was going to be a school teacher. Oh it had 204 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 1: been horrible. I love school teachers. But for me personally, 205 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: I would have been like, oh, so, yeah, do you 206 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 1: ever stop? And then can go like what has happened? Wow? 207 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 1: I mean it's funny you say that, because yesterday one 208 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 1: of my employees was having a birthday, and you know, 209 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: we try to post on our social media in some 210 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 1: of these birthday or something. I was I was in 211 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 1: the studio with another artist, but in the meantime I 212 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 1: was trying to scroll to find some photos, you know, 213 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: to like send in to post. And when I was scrolling, 214 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 1: I stopped and another person that works with me was 215 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 1: at the studio doing content, and I looked at him 216 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: and I went, oh, my gosh, sometimes I don't it's 217 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 1: just hitting me right now as I'm scrolling these photos, 218 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 1: how much happens in my life in a week's time. 219 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 1: And it like I was so grateful in that moment 220 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 1: of like wow, like scrolling through here. We've done a 221 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,320 Speaker 1: festival in Mexico, We've done a farm tour, We've done 222 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 1: Vegas shows, We've done you know, Cole's done that. I mean, like, 223 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 1: it's just it's crazy to like think about. It's really 224 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 1: it's really a blessing, but it's and then you know, 225 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: then I'm scrolling to get my kids going to both 226 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 1: of them going off to college and leaving me. Like 227 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 1: all this has happened in the last ten months. It's 228 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 1: like a lot. It's overwhelming in a great way though. 229 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: I mean, we've signed songwriters, We've done I mean, it's 230 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 1: crazy to look at your content. Have you ever done that, 231 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,680 Speaker 1: like scrolled through your photos and just been like yeah, 232 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:53,200 Speaker 1: I sort of go, you know what happened for these 233 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: three weeks? It was a blank Yeah, just no, I 234 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: don't believe that. So the story of Coley was pretty incredible. 235 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: I guess he was a merchandising guy, right, he was. 236 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: He he and Luke met. They had gone to the 237 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: same college and we're actually the same fraternity. Luke was 238 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: a few years ahead of him. But when Luke would 239 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: go back to play for at parties, Cole would show up, 240 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 1: you know, and he was just super intrigued by that 241 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: Luke did that, and he asked a lot of questions. 242 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: And I'm telling their version of the story. I wasn't 243 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 1: there at that time, but but you know, Luke just 244 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,559 Speaker 1: says he was always asking questions and like just intrigued by, 245 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 1: you know, everything I was doing. And Cole will tell 246 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 1: this too, Like I think it was I don't know 247 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 1: what year it was, but Luke was doing a party 248 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,200 Speaker 1: and Luke got excited. He was like, hey, I wrote 249 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: this song. And Cole tells the version of like that 250 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: was the first time in it hit Cole that you 251 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:53,079 Speaker 1: could write the songs, you know, because he would always 252 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: do like Cole would go out and do some little 253 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,080 Speaker 1: club stuff, him and this other guy, but like they 254 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: would do covers of course, so Cole says, it ever 255 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:01,959 Speaker 1: occurred to me that I should figure out how to 256 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 1: write my own songs until Luke was saying it that day. 257 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: So they go super way back and Luke just really 258 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: wanted to Cole just became more and more serious about it, 259 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 1: and Luke wanted to try to help him. So Luke 260 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 1: calls me one day and just says, hey, you know 261 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: that cold guy, And I'm like, yeah, he goes because 262 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: Cole would show up at shows, like even past the 263 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: fraternity stuff. He would come to lay these you know, 264 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 1: we had a bar in Atlanta, Peachtree Tavern in just 265 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: different places, and he would always come to him. It 266 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: was drivable. Cole would be there like always, and so 267 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: I kind of knew him even then, you know, at 268 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: that point, but you know, he said he wants to 269 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: move to town. Do you have a job for him? 270 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: And I mean, I've told the story before, but I 271 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: always laughed because I was like no, I mean, first 272 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: of all, I'm not sure I've ever gotten paid yet, 273 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: like so I don't know I'm supposed to pay somebody else. 274 00:14:57,480 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: So Luke's like okay, and he hangs up, and then 275 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 1: and it hit me later, like I mean pretty maybe 276 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: thirty minutes after that, I'm like I called him back. 277 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: I go, well, you do need somebody to sell your 278 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: t shirts when we go out on the you know, 279 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: this next time, and we were literally about to leave 280 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 1: and Luke call. He got excited because I'll call you back, 281 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 1: and he hangs up and calls him and Cole got 282 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: in his car and to rub up that day and 283 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 1: he was with us from then on out. And not 284 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: a great it was so great, you know. But you know, 285 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: to give cole Way credit that he deserves, I mean 286 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 1: he took that, you know, I mean, he took that 287 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: job and he did the job of selling shirts, but 288 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,600 Speaker 1: he didn't just sell shirts. He learned so much out there, 289 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 1: you know, watching shows happen, and you know, he would watch, 290 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: you know, busses roll up in trucks and load and 291 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: I mean even then, I mean Luke, I mean, Luke 292 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: didn't even have a hit then, you know. So we're 293 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:56,520 Speaker 1: in who knows what fans and I remember, you know, 294 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: finally getting to take a bus one time, and we 295 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: got so excited. I think we were opening or either 296 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: either Brooks and dun or Dirk some trying to marry. 297 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 1: Which one was the first bus moment. But because it's 298 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: always a big deal. I have a photo of it. Actually, 299 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: whenever the first bus actually got to have it was 300 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 1: just for one night. We didn't get he got taken 301 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 1: away from us real quick after that. But my whole 302 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 1: point of that is like, oh, you know, he was 303 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 1: doing more than selling the shirts. He watched it all happen. 304 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 1: He watched shows, he watched interaction, he watched things that 305 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: worked and didn't work from the stage because he was 306 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: he was the only one at the front of the 307 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: stage that could actually watch the show because he was 308 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: set up facing the stage to sell the shirts most 309 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 1: of the time. So he got all the he got 310 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: all the fun stuff, you know, he got to witness 311 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 1: all of it, and good and bad, the fights and 312 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: all of it happened in bars. But you are the 313 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: example of someone who, through your career has really worked 314 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: your way through every possible ladder, starting as an intern 315 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: and then working your way through that onto your next 316 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: work within the publishing side and everything. For someone who 317 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: is maybe listening to this, who is considering this business 318 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 1: or any business, what advice would you give him? A 319 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: worker in your way through every ladder, so you learn 320 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: a lot well, I truly feel like I looked back 321 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: at those and I was truly just as excited about 322 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: being able to be an intern once I realized what 323 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:36,199 Speaker 1: interning in the music industry. I walked into that building. 324 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: My first internship was Arister Records. I walked into that. 325 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 1: I did not know what it even meant. I did 326 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:44,119 Speaker 1: not know what I was walking in to do. I 327 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: met a lady named Denise Nichols, who did radio promotions 328 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: at the time, at a show in West Virginia, and 329 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:54,880 Speaker 1: that's truly how I even got the internship. I did 330 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,640 Speaker 1: not even know what it meant. I walked in there, going, 331 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: I'm interning here. I don't know what to be doing. 332 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: But the minute I walked into that building and at 333 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,920 Speaker 1: Arista Records at the time, wasn't hadn't been around that long. 334 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, the history is Brooks and Done, 335 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,879 Speaker 1: Pam Tilla's Diamond Rio, Alan Jackson. I mean, it was 336 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 1: pretty an amazing building to walk in on and immediately 337 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: learn the process from, you know. I mean, it still 338 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 1: blows my mind that I ever got to be a 339 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 1: part of that. But I was hooked immediately. I was 340 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:31,679 Speaker 1: sitting there watching all this stuff. The office was probably 341 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 1: under twenty people so you kind of heard and saw 342 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: it all even when you weren't supposed to, you know, 343 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 1: because we were kind of in a tight little half 344 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: of a hallway of offices, and I was under Tim 345 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 1: du Bois ran Arista Records and Mike Dungan. There was 346 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 1: a guy, Alan Butler. He was very well known in 347 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 1: the industry then. And that I mean just the fact 348 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: that I learned from those people who were great at 349 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 1: their jobs with they were just great people. And at 350 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:05,719 Speaker 1: the end of the day, I just think being a 351 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:10,199 Speaker 1: great person is I mean, you could win tenfold in 352 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:14,160 Speaker 1: my opinion, you know, approaching it that way. But going 353 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 1: back to your original question about advice, I mean, I 354 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,200 Speaker 1: just try to encourage people to like just be patient 355 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 1: with it all because it I feel like in our 356 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:27,239 Speaker 1: rushed and more and more society of everything happening in 357 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 1: the second and you're tired of it here and you 358 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 1: got to move on and all that, But like if 359 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,920 Speaker 1: you could just stop and like I remember telling a 360 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: friend that moved here and got in the business and 361 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: they got a great job in publishing, but then immediately 362 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:43,679 Speaker 1: was getting another offer within months to go to a 363 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,440 Speaker 1: different publisher. And then next thing, I know, that guy 364 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 1: was calling me back. He's like, hey, this label reached out. 365 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: I mean, this all was happening within like a two 366 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:54,360 Speaker 1: year period, and I finally just stopped and I said, hey, 367 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 1: I said, at some point, you have to stay somewhere 368 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 1: where you can make a difference. You're moving around too fast. 369 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: Don't chase the money. Do not chase the money. Stay 370 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 1: somewhere and make some difference and then move because then 371 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:12,119 Speaker 1: you'll be even worth more because you've already made an 372 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 1: imprint on something somewhere else. So that's kind of advice 373 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 1: I guess for me right now, a little thing that 374 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:21,680 Speaker 1: I've been on in my little head of I guess 375 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,400 Speaker 1: this younger generation of like, hey, don't just be patient. 376 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 1: It's going to happen. It's going to happen if you 377 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:28,880 Speaker 1: work for it. It can just go fall in your life. 378 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:33,400 Speaker 1: You still have to work for it. So you're managing brands. 379 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: You're managing certainly a brand in Luke Bryan, what are 380 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: your sort of core principles about managing a brand when 381 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:50,119 Speaker 1: you look for opportunities, collaborations, partnerships. Well, I really have 382 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:55,880 Speaker 1: always tried to keep it real and authentic to that 383 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: specific artists because I really think that you can see 384 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 1: through it when it's not. And I just think that, 385 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:07,920 Speaker 1: and I think our audience is smarter than we think 386 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: sometimes and they, you know, they, I mean, they can 387 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:14,360 Speaker 1: tell when things are being posted from the person directly 388 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 1: and not, you know, So do you just kind of 389 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:18,120 Speaker 1: own that it's not and go ahead and say it, 390 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:20,360 Speaker 1: you know? Or do you you know? So it's just that, 391 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: but when you're when I'm picking partnerships, you know, I 392 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:28,600 Speaker 1: really do think that. Like for instance, I think right 393 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 1: before you came in, we were talking about Lucas launching 394 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: a Jockey with Jockey, Jockey Outdoors like a clothing brand 395 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:41,000 Speaker 1: with them, and it truly just made sense because Luke 396 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 1: is a very known outdoorsman. I mean that was a given. 397 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,160 Speaker 1: You know. We have aligned with Jockey on some other 398 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:51,400 Speaker 1: pieces with Luke and just realized, you know, just their 399 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: values as a company and their family owned and they're 400 00:21:55,240 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 1: very they're just just what they stand for as a 401 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: hole and you know, kind of that Middle America thing 402 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:06,360 Speaker 1: and the whole all of it, the heartland, like all 403 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 1: of it just felt like it fit perfectly and it 404 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 1: wasn't a stretch. You know. Then we get into the 405 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 1: business of you go into this whole process of your 406 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 1: meeting with him, You're you're looking at the product you're 407 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:19,359 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean he and I we were touching 408 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 1: and feeling it and like, no, I don't like that 409 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 1: design and you know, let's try that, and you're like 410 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: in it, and I mean I want to be in it. 411 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: Like if his name's going to be on it, he 412 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: needs to be in it. And I think he views 413 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 1: it that way too, you know, I mean he takes 414 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 1: that stuff seriously. And you know, you walked out of 415 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 1: that and I mean I remember the first time we 416 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 1: left that meeting with them, I was just like, this 417 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:43,520 Speaker 1: is exciting because you know it's it's really like you're 418 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 1: putting your name on something that you can walk away 419 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: and be proud of, you know, And I think you 420 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 1: got to do that on all these pieces. I mean, 421 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 1: you could take it for the money, but I think 422 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 1: it you know initially that eventually that'll not go so 423 00:22:56,320 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: well for you. So the ear of hearing a hit 424 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 1: when you when you hear something, when you hear and 425 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:14,360 Speaker 1: clapping songs. My favorite topic with you hunting and fishing 426 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:18,239 Speaker 1: and yeah, loving every day. Did I get the title right? 427 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 1: Well done. It's a mouthful. Did you hear that immediately 428 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:27,920 Speaker 1: and go boom oh? He well, he was a writer 429 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:32,760 Speaker 1: on that, Luke being Luke Yes, because it I mean, 430 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:37,160 Speaker 1: I mean it. You can't scream anything more authentic than 431 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: that song for him. I mean, he smiles all the time, 432 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 1: He's loving every day. He really does. He wakes up, 433 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 1: he really has very few bad days, which is a 434 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: feat for anybody, you know. So, I mean that title 435 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:56,439 Speaker 1: was it couldn't have been any more perfect, but it 436 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 1: also just had a message and it also it did 437 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:01,920 Speaker 1: what it needed to do in a song. It wasn't 438 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 1: just about the title, but you know it did fit 439 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:05,680 Speaker 1: him and I didn't know that one. I mean, there's 440 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:09,120 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, there's spends time. I mean when 441 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:11,879 Speaker 1: Cole walked in and you know, he didn't even have 442 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:13,919 Speaker 1: a record deal when he came and played me Chilling It, 443 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 1: But he walked in. I knew he wanted to. He'd 444 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:19,840 Speaker 1: been he'd been talking about pursuing the artist thing again. 445 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:26,200 Speaker 1: And when he walked in and played that demo, I mean, 446 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:29,400 Speaker 1: he and I we we actually were just talking about 447 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 1: this like four weeks ago and on a show. But 448 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 1: you know, he played that, and his take was that 449 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:39,159 Speaker 1: I sat there with like my head down and didn't 450 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:43,439 Speaker 1: really make any reaction, so he took it that I 451 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:46,200 Speaker 1: hated it, and like he was so uncomfortable. I think 452 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:49,119 Speaker 1: he was trying to run out the office. But I 453 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:51,240 Speaker 1: didn't even realize I was doing that. I had my 454 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 1: head down because in my brain so much stuff was 455 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: going and I was thinking, oh my gosh, the song 456 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 1: is massive. And I turned it off and I was 457 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:07,879 Speaker 1: like wow, and he's like, well, I probably hyped it. 458 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,159 Speaker 1: I probably it's you know, because he really thought I 459 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 1: didn't like it, and I just said cold stop. I'm like, 460 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 1: do you really want to do this artist thing? And 461 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 1: he goes, I do, and I'm like, well, then this 462 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 1: is the song. You know, this is the song. This 463 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:24,200 Speaker 1: like in my opinion, like this. You know, it was 464 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:27,600 Speaker 1: a game changing because it was different for it stood 465 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: out to me than anything else on the radio, and 466 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:32,879 Speaker 1: that that was going on, not too far that I 467 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 1: didn't think it would work. It was just different enough 468 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: that I thought, I mean, I can take this song, 469 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 1: and I mean it did everything that we hoped it 470 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:44,479 Speaker 1: would be doing when I heard it that day. But 471 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 1: you know, he had multiple record deals so it was 472 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:51,080 Speaker 1: a very different story than what I experienced with with 473 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:55,200 Speaker 1: Lou because he wasn't getting offers for a record deal, 474 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: and we plowed it that for a long like a 475 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:02,399 Speaker 1: year or two, like doing showcases and like no in 476 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:05,160 Speaker 1: Luke's world, nobody would say no, but nobody would say yes. 477 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: But with Cole and that song and what it started doing, 478 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: and then Xim started playing it, and then he had 479 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: multiple record deals. So I was in like it was 480 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 1: night and day. Like I had never been in a 481 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 1: position where I'm like, oh my gosh, now I'm now 482 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:22,880 Speaker 1: we gotta choose who to pick, Like the other one 483 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: was like somebody please, you know. So it's just it's 484 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 1: just funny how things happen. Is there something though, that 485 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:33,040 Speaker 1: you feel when you hear that song at that moment? 486 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:38,639 Speaker 1: It's this indescribable notion that it is, But it's really 487 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:41,199 Speaker 1: it is hard to describe, Like I don't know how 488 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: I would describe when somebody sends a song to me 489 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:47,680 Speaker 1: that I feel like, word's perfect for somebody that I'm 490 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 1: working with. Hopefully you get to a point with your 491 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: artists if you're a song person, not every manager that's 492 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:57,719 Speaker 1: not their thing. They may not be into that. You know, 493 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: I'm crazy into that. It's like I tell myself often 494 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:07,159 Speaker 1: and that if I get sent a song and the 495 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: moment I get sent a song and it doesn't do 496 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:13,560 Speaker 1: what it does to me right now, then that means 497 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:17,880 Speaker 1: I need to to, you know, pack it up. I mean, 498 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 1: in my opinion for me personally, like I don't like 499 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,240 Speaker 1: it when I lose that, and maybe I never do. 500 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:25,359 Speaker 1: I hope I never do, but if that ever happens, 501 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:26,919 Speaker 1: that would be my cue to be like, all right, 502 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:31,639 Speaker 1: you're burnout, you need to go do something else. It's true. 503 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,680 Speaker 1: It's true, I mean, because it's easy to get burnt 504 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:38,080 Speaker 1: out sometimes, you know, but that keeps shot it though, Yeah, 505 00:27:38,119 --> 00:27:40,360 Speaker 1: in a good way, right, to just sort of always 506 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:42,960 Speaker 1: be curious. I got in the car, I think two 507 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: weeks ago with my son and my husband and we 508 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 1: were driving. It was a Friday, and my son happened 509 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:49,879 Speaker 1: to be in town for the weekend from school, and 510 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:53,360 Speaker 1: we were riding to go eat and I went, Gus, 511 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: it's been a good week, and they're like, why what 512 00:27:57,280 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 1: do you mean. I'm like, I found four songs this week, 513 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:06,720 Speaker 1: four in one week, that I loved, and that doesn't 514 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: happen that often. I'm like so, and then I made 515 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: them listen to them all weekend. They're like, Okay, we 516 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 1: get it. You love this, But I'm get talking about 517 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:22,639 Speaker 1: this because it really is, you know, backing up the 518 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:26,560 Speaker 1: joy of what music is, right. I mean, can you 519 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 1: describe what music does to people? I think it's all 520 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 1: the things right they what was the same for a while, 521 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 1: all the fils that was hot sane a few years ago. 522 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 1: But I just think it depends on the song and 523 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,320 Speaker 1: the mood and the person. I mean, you know, what 524 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:46,800 Speaker 1: a song could do for me might do something different 525 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:52,280 Speaker 1: for you, you you know, truthfully, but mean, but the couch 526 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:56,960 Speaker 1: are sitting on when I got sent Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset Repeat, 527 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:00,240 Speaker 1: I was jumping on that couch and I play it 528 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 1: over and over in my office probably ten times. I 529 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 1: had to call every one of the writers. They were like, oh, 530 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:08,320 Speaker 1: And I was trying to get it to Luke, but 531 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:10,720 Speaker 1: he was at a family dinner and he wentn't answering me, 532 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 1: and I was losing my mind. And then I was like, 533 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:16,239 Speaker 1: I'm like, you have got to answer your phone. And 534 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 1: then he called. He's like, what is wrong with you? 535 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 1: I'm trying to eat dinner and I'm like, Okay, when 536 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:24,720 Speaker 1: you're done, go listen when I see you immediately, So 537 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 1: those moments are so amazing, it's such joy. Yeah. Yeah, 538 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,480 Speaker 1: I mean Dylan Scott. I work with him as well 539 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:35,440 Speaker 1: on He's on Curb and he I mean two nights ago. Well, no, 540 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:37,200 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, it was last Thursday because I went on 541 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:39,240 Speaker 1: the road with him to go see a show and 542 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 1: he jumped on the bus. He's like, I wrote a 543 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:44,880 Speaker 1: song last night, and I'm like, what are you waiting on? 544 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 1: But she would have listened now went well, yeah, that's 545 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 1: just the best part. It is, it is, it's so fun. 546 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:59,320 Speaker 1: So what's the roadmap for KP in the next three years? 547 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:01,480 Speaker 1: What do you what do you set in your sights 548 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 1: on that you could share? Well, I have I was 549 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:09,960 Speaker 1: fortunate enough to sign. I have a lot of sites. 550 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 1: I have a lot of little goals I guess for myself. 551 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 1: But we'll pick a couple and talk about. But there's 552 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 1: I was assigned a guy named Chase Beckham. He won 553 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 1: American Idol two years ago, and Luke is a judge 554 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 1: on American Idol, so I watch a lot of American Idol. 555 00:30:30,040 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: I we're at all the auditions and the tapings, and 556 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 1: it's I mean, Luke and Katie and Lyne on Ryan 557 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:38,080 Speaker 1: put in a lot of work. They really do. It's 558 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 1: like more than I ever ever understood was going to 559 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:44,400 Speaker 1: go into a show like that. But they take it seriously. 560 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:48,000 Speaker 1: They work hard. You know, I watch you know, I'm 561 00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 1: talking hundreds of kids come through there and I'm watching 562 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:54,520 Speaker 1: their whole audition and stuff that's not even shown on TV, 563 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 1: you know, like a lot of stuff. But I guess 564 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:01,280 Speaker 1: it was season three or four for Luke and he 565 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:04,400 Speaker 1: and Chase was on there, and I don't know, there 566 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 1: was just something about him the whole time that I 567 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:10,680 Speaker 1: couldn't stop being intrigued about. And we are not like 568 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:14,000 Speaker 1: it's very separated. I mean, as as a manager, I'm 569 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:16,320 Speaker 1: in a room and I'm watching TV monitors. I'm not 570 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 1: interacting with the contestants anyway, and the judges really kind 571 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 1: of are in the moment, but they're not either, Like 572 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:24,640 Speaker 1: I mean, they keep it you know, you can't show 573 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 1: partiality in any way, and they don't want to ever 574 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:31,240 Speaker 1: sway anything, so they're very you know, they do that purposely. 575 00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:34,240 Speaker 1: But with him, I just like the whole season I 576 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 1: just kept commenting and like, oh, this and that and 577 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:38,160 Speaker 1: this song. Oh my gosh, you wrote that song aby 578 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:41,600 Speaker 1: himself and like it's awesome, and he'd like and that 579 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:43,959 Speaker 1: it was over and it's over, and we come back 580 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 1: to Nashville and you kind of wait and decide are 581 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:47,480 Speaker 1: you going to do another season of it or not? 582 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:52,200 Speaker 1: But his stepdad called me, found my number and called 583 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:55,080 Speaker 1: and just said, hey, you know, would you ever consider 584 00:31:55,160 --> 00:31:58,600 Speaker 1: taking a meeting with him? And again, you know, I 585 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:00,480 Speaker 1: mean for a minute, I kind of stopped because I'm like, 586 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:02,080 Speaker 1: am I allowed to do that? You know, I really 587 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:03,760 Speaker 1: wasn't sure. I didn't know if there were rules. I mean, 588 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 1: no one ever told me there was rules or anything 589 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 1: to any of that. But also it was just wanting 590 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 1: to be careful about it, you know. And so I met. 591 00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:12,440 Speaker 1: I did a couple of calls with him, and then 592 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:15,000 Speaker 1: he came into Nashville. He was about to move here, 593 00:32:15,120 --> 00:32:19,960 Speaker 1: and he's from southern California and he came came here 594 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:22,560 Speaker 1: and I took him and we did a couple of meals, 595 00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:25,320 Speaker 1: and I'm like, oh my gosh, I mean, I truly 596 00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:29,320 Speaker 1: felt like I was at a point where I probably 597 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:34,120 Speaker 1: didn't need to sign another artist, but I couldn't walk 598 00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:37,200 Speaker 1: away from him. There's just he I'm so excited about 599 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 1: him as an artist. His voice is amazing. His songwriting 600 00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 1: blows my mind because he had never even co written 601 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:47,800 Speaker 1: a song until like a year and a half ago, 602 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 1: and he moved here and like he is crushing it, 603 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:53,880 Speaker 1: like when he sends me a song, another one saying 604 00:32:53,920 --> 00:32:55,480 Speaker 1: it's always about the song For me, I always ended 605 00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:58,160 Speaker 1: up going back there, but it's true, like he has 606 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:03,000 Speaker 1: just really blown me away for as little as he's been, 607 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:06,040 Speaker 1: little time as he's been doing it. So my whole 608 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:08,040 Speaker 1: point of that, in a very very long way of 609 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:11,720 Speaker 1: answering that, is that I am crazy excited about him 610 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:14,800 Speaker 1: and getting him to a next level kind of deal, 611 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:18,800 Speaker 1: and I refuse to lose on that. I'm going to 612 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:21,680 Speaker 1: end on getting the world to know him even more 613 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:26,000 Speaker 1: than they do, so so look out for that. Dylan Scott, 614 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 1: who I mentioned, you know a little bit ago. He 615 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:32,920 Speaker 1: I think we started working together two years ago. So 616 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 1: we've worked two songs to radio so far. Luckily knock 617 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:38,720 Speaker 1: on wood, they've both been number one, so I didn't 618 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:44,360 Speaker 1: get fired yet, so that's good. But he has been 619 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:49,080 Speaker 1: just a great of well rounded, Like I really think 620 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:53,240 Speaker 1: he's like this little hidden jewel that people are about 621 00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:57,200 Speaker 1: to really really figure out. Like on stage he is great, 622 00:33:57,360 --> 00:34:00,840 Speaker 1: he is entertaining, he does all the things on stage, 623 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:04,160 Speaker 1: and then his his music that he just put out 624 00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:07,120 Speaker 1: a few months ago, it's just I mean his streams 625 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:10,279 Speaker 1: and it's it's clicking. So it's I was on a 626 00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:12,000 Speaker 1: mission with him too, because I do think he was 627 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:13,799 Speaker 1: and even for me, like I knew who he was 628 00:34:13,840 --> 00:34:15,640 Speaker 1: and he'd had a couple of hits, but I didn't 629 00:34:15,640 --> 00:34:18,719 Speaker 1: know enough about him until I started working with him. 630 00:34:18,719 --> 00:34:20,560 Speaker 1: And now I'm like, all right, we gotta raise we 631 00:34:20,640 --> 00:34:22,719 Speaker 1: got to raise the profile on this guy because he 632 00:34:22,920 --> 00:34:25,920 Speaker 1: is the he's the deal. So that's a pretty mind 633 00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:29,160 Speaker 1: my you know, not to leave out anybody else obviously 634 00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:32,080 Speaker 1: that I'm doing stuff with, but those are some personal 635 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:37,200 Speaker 1: missions for sure. Yeah. Yeah, they are. Every day they 636 00:34:37,239 --> 00:34:40,200 Speaker 1: really are. I mean, like, but there's a lot of pressure. 637 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:44,920 Speaker 1: I'm like, gosh, people's livelihood is in your hands. It's stressful. 638 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:52,200 Speaker 1: It's stressful. How do you deal with that? I truly 639 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:55,319 Speaker 1: try to. I don't balance well, like personal life and 640 00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:59,719 Speaker 1: work life. I'm terrible. Luckily I have like really awesome kids, 641 00:34:59,719 --> 00:35:05,360 Speaker 1: and husband said that it hit me out the window. Yeah, 642 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 1: I don't know. They really have been amazing because I can't. 643 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:11,160 Speaker 1: I can't ever shake it. I can't like I try 644 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:15,960 Speaker 1: to relax and I suck at it. It's terrible. It's terrible. 645 00:35:16,360 --> 00:35:19,920 Speaker 1: I don't know. I'm somehow eat up with it. I 646 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:23,919 Speaker 1: don't know. You said to me about being on the podcast. Well, 647 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:26,719 Speaker 1: I hope I don't suck. Will you suck? Thanks, and 648 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:29,680 Speaker 1: you don't suck at the rest of it. And it's 649 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:31,600 Speaker 1: a joy to be with you. I need to taking 650 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:34,239 Speaker 1: a walk podcast, thank you for having me. It means 651 00:35:34,239 --> 00:35:38,200 Speaker 1: a lot. Thank you. Taking a Walk with Buzznight is 652 00:35:38,239 --> 00:35:44,000 Speaker 1: available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.