1 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:12,039 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Variety Strictly Business podcast. I'm Chris Willman, 2 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: Senior music writer in chief music critic Variety. I'm excited 3 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: to talk with our guest today, c MT s Leslie Fran, 4 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,279 Speaker 1: who a general consensus I think we can say is 5 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: one of the most important executives in the Nashville music industry. 6 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: That's not just for what she accomplish this for CMT, 7 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: which is a lot, for what she brings as an 8 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: agiment of change in her extracurricular activities as well. We're 9 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 1: co founding a couple of organizations that deal with gender 10 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: and racial diversity and country music to being a force 11 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: in the Recording Academy and being the just now newly 12 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: reelected governor of the Academy's Nashville chapter board CMT, where 13 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: she's been a top executive for eleven years now. She's 14 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,160 Speaker 1: the senior vice president of Music IT Talent. That means 15 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: she's a producer or executive producer on the network's Temple 16 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: Music specials and series like the c MT Awards, c MTRs, 17 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: The Year Samet Crossroads, and the Weekend Top Point of 18 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: Count that show, and she also oversees all musical integration 19 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: within the brand means not just the original programming on 20 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: the cable channel, but the CMT dot com website and 21 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 1: music video airplay on digital platforms. If you've ever read 22 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: an article on women in country music in the last 23 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: ten years or so, I know you've seen Leslie's name, 24 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 1: even if you read nothing else about Nashville when last 25 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: year at this time Billboard named her executive a beer 26 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: unless I was quoted as saying she wants to make 27 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: country music a quote big, beautiful tent for all underrepresented voices. Unquote. 28 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: That's a tall order. As you may know if you 29 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: read about controversies this have risen over lack of diversity 30 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 1: and country. But Leslie has found that a couple of 31 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 1: organizations that have been important in the space of raising 32 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: awareness for how the industry can do better, including changed 33 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: the Conversation which deals with women in country and Nashville 34 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: music quality, just focused on what needs to be done 35 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: to increase the representation of people of color and country. Now, 36 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: I don't want to make it sound like Leslie works 37 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: on these issues only after hour, because she brings a 38 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: lot of that focus to the world of CMT. Of course, 39 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:08,359 Speaker 1: at CMT in she started up next Women of Country, 40 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: an initiative design to give up and coming final artists 41 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: of platform that they often don't get anywhere else, and 42 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: then two years ago she spearheaded a CMT Patual Play 43 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: initiative which guarantees that women will get at least representation 44 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: and CMT S music programming. I'm Chris Willman, your host 45 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 1: for this episode. We'll be right back after this break. 46 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: This is Chris Willman a variety and I'm back with 47 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: CMT S Leslie Fran. Thank you so much, Chris. I'm 48 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: actually you can't see me, but I'm blushing from that 49 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: incredible introduction. Thank you. Oh gosh, my pleasure. Always good 50 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: to talk with you in dribs and drabs as I 51 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 1: have in the past. I'm glad we get to go 52 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: a little more in depth today. Prior to which is 53 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: when you moved to Nashville and joined CMT. Of course, 54 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: your entire career up to that point was spent in 55 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: the alternative album oriented rock formats, and you were even nicknamed, 56 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 1: as I've read it, the first Lady of modern rock. 57 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 1: I don't know where that came from, but it's interesting. 58 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: A lot of people don't know I had a former 59 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: life in radio. That was my radio is my first love. 60 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: Is kind of being a shy kid listening to the radio, 61 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: you know, growing up, and that was my form of entertainment. 62 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: But radio was my first love. I did a few 63 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: years in Top forty and then album like you said, 64 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 1: album oriented rock, and then alternative for many years in 65 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 1: Atlanta and New York. Well then in um the station 66 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: you were at New York with Mainfield suddenly changed formats, 67 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: as happens every week in this business. And and you 68 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: went into television unexpectedly, and I don't want to say 69 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: you never looked back that uh, it's gone so well 70 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: for you at CMT, and uh, Brian Phillips, who used 71 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: work within radio, had become the chief of CMT, and 72 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: he says, come to Nashville and new country music. And 73 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: you're from Alabama, so maybe moving to the South again 74 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: was not a big stretch, but country music might have 75 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: been for you. So, um, were you like, see, I 76 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: don't know if that's for me or yeah, sure, country 77 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 1: music that seems natural, even though I've just been playing 78 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: you know, Nirvana for the last twenty years. It's very 79 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: interesting that my probably the last two years in New York. 80 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,840 Speaker 1: Maybe the last year in New York, a couple of 81 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: label reps that were friends of mine took me to 82 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: a couple of concerts, country concerts, and you know, pop 83 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: country just was not in my sphere. I really. I 84 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: knew more about the classics and you know, a lot 85 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: of Americana artist I loved, like Lyle love it, but 86 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: I didn't really know a lot about contemporary country. And 87 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: people took me to shows like I saw Keith Urban 88 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: and I was like, wow, this is kind of a 89 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 1: rock show. And I saw Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert 90 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 1: and it started opening up my my world. But I 91 00:04:57,240 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 1: did not know in a lot about the format or 92 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 1: the artist. So when I when Brian, you know, who 93 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 1: was my mentor and we had worked together at ninety 94 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: X for many years, offered me the job to take 95 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: you know, take over the music at CMT, I said 96 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: yes without even thinking about it. So I moved here. 97 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: Absolutely loved Nashville, and you know, the Nashville community of people, 98 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: as you know, Chris, they're so friendly and you know 99 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: they welcome you with open arms. But I really put 100 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 1: my head down that first year. You know, I went 101 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: to a ton of concerts and studied the artist and 102 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: you know, also studied the format, and to be honest 103 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 1: with you, I needed to learn the job as well. 104 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 1: So for the first year I really put my head down. 105 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: I set out to meet a whole new set of 106 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,599 Speaker 1: people or in the music, and then going from radio 107 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: to television, honestly learned the job. So I feel like 108 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:50,159 Speaker 1: it was such a learning experience because this format works 109 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: so differently than pop and rock, you know, and now 110 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 1: I'm you know, now a minute, I love it. Yeah, 111 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: what's the biggest difference for how it works? I mean, 112 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 1: I know, like playlist in a radio are very slow moving, 113 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 1: but in television maybe you don't have to deal with 114 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,919 Speaker 1: that so much. A lot of it was about touring. 115 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: At that time, you know, ten eleven years ago, it 116 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 1: was very hard to get on a tour unless you 117 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: had a song on the radio. And guess who that 118 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 1: excluded women? And then honestly, the way the chart works 119 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 1: and and how the whole you know, the heart whole 120 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 1: chart system works. But the one thing that that I 121 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: did learn coming out of that experience was lack of 122 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: support for female artists. But I will say that, you know, 123 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 1: hopefully that is changing. Especially with you know, some of 124 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: the initiatives that we started, but that was the biggest difference. 125 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: I do think that there's a loyal fan base, more 126 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: loyal than any other genre, which I learned. I also 127 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: learned that fans go to concerts and they're there for 128 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: the opening act. I remember going to see Eric Church 129 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: and you know, there's a whole family sitting behind me, 130 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: and I was like they were there from the very 131 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 1: minute the first act was there. And I never experienced 132 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 1: that in a lot of a of shows that I 133 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: went to. Well, this may be a loaded question, but 134 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 1: how much has changed you've You've it's been eight years 135 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: since Next Women of Country started, Um, I know a 136 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: lot of women who uh we're part of that program 137 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: has broken out in a big way. Like, you know, 138 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: Marion Morris was in the program at one point, Jelcie Ballerini, 139 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: Carley Pierce, who's kind of finally getting her do with 140 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 1: number one songs, Uh, Gabby Barrett was a Next Woman 141 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: of a Country graduate. Um. And yet so there's all 142 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: these real success stories and yet looking at the overall 143 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: picture of women a Country, Uh, you know, we know 144 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:40,679 Speaker 1: Dr Jada E. Watson has run a lot of data 145 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 1: on the radio charts, and it seems like it's as 146 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: bad as it was then when you really go down 147 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: to what percentage of the overall UM format women have 148 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 1: in radio? And uh, and you know this program you 149 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: started a few years ago, Equal Play One Tea where 150 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 1: you devoted um at least pledged to devote at least 151 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: of all airplanes, m c MT and its platforms to women. Um, 152 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: it's not like a radio has just come along and go, oh, 153 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: what a great idea. You know, they won't even pledge 154 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: ten percent, you know, and it seems like it's it's 155 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: down to five percent of times when we look at 156 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: Dr Watson's data. So, uh, what's your feeling, what's changed 157 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 1: and what happen't for women? Since this has been a 158 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: controversy for so long, though, I think the positive changes 159 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: that I've seen is that when we first started next 160 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: Women of Country and really pledged to support and expose 161 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: these female artists, we've seen more women get signed to 162 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: record labels and more women get signed to publishing companies. 163 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: And the other really the other aspect was women supporting 164 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:53,440 Speaker 1: women because remember a lot of female artists were taught 165 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: there's only one slot, so We wanted to make sure 166 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: that female artists were supporting each other on social media 167 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 1: and talking about each other, because a win for one 168 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,439 Speaker 1: was a win for all. And I know that I've 169 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: said that many times, but it's true. Unfortunately, we have 170 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: seen years where the percentages have gone down, and that's 171 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: when we looked at it and said, you know, we 172 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: can't control what rest your radio does. We can't control 173 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: with streaming services do. What we can control is what 174 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:22,079 Speaker 1: CMT does. And that's really what precipitated CEMT Equal Play 175 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 1: because we looked at our hour by hours, you know, 176 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 1: at CMT in the morning and then CMT Music, which 177 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: is our twenty four hour video channel, and we started 178 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: another twenty four hour video channel on Pluto TV, which 179 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 1: is owned by Paramount before Viacom CBS. And what's happened 180 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: is that we see that country music index is so 181 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: high on especially Pluto TV. So fifty fifty parody of 182 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 1: male female videos every single hour, ratings haven't gone down. 183 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 1: And now with you know, a nod towards diversity and 184 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: making sure that we have diverse voices in those hours, 185 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: but really changing it to fifty five was a bold 186 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 1: move and quite honestly, it's the ratings haven't gone down 187 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 1: and we've been able to expose that many more women, 188 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: whether they're signed or unsigned. You know, we do have 189 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,680 Speaker 1: slots for independent artists as well on all of our franchises. 190 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: That's great. I want to ask you more about Plato 191 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 1: TV in a minute, UM, before I do. UM. Besides 192 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 1: the gender frent, there's the racial disparity fronts. Unfortunately, we 193 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 1: have to deal with the multiple issues that come up 194 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 1: in country and there actually been a lot of black 195 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:34,559 Speaker 1: artists doing really well on radio recently, UM and in 196 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 1: the wider community of how people experience country and I 197 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: think of Jimmy Allen and the Breeland who I know 198 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: is a friend of yours. UM and uh. But it's 199 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: almost this radio. I was saying, hey, we don't have 200 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 1: a problem with people of color, after all, this format 201 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 1: just just female people of color. And so we have 202 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 1: the uh, you know, the Mickey guidance of the world, 203 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:01,679 Speaker 1: who see them like your stars if kind of you 204 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:04,559 Speaker 1: you're out there in the mainstream and not really part 205 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 1: of country radio and uh and not and you're experiencing 206 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:13,719 Speaker 1: things through award shows and U mass media presence. UM. 207 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:17,200 Speaker 1: But the Airplane hasn't been there, but clearly Mickey Guyden 208 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: is a favorite of cmt UM. But does it feel 209 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,839 Speaker 1: like kind of uh, black Women is really the last 210 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 1: frontier in this format for some reason. You know, it's 211 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: interesting me and in a lot of people in town 212 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: will tell you this because we all remember when she 213 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: sort of made her debut at CRS Country Radio seminar, 214 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: you know, ten years ago when UMG does there huge 215 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: showcase at the Rheman and she came out on that 216 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: stage and got a standing ovation. Now remember the people 217 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: in that audience are all radio people, and she still 218 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: wasn't supported and that first single, you know, to me 219 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 1: was was a smash. Now, I don't know what happened. 220 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: I don't know you know, what the research said or 221 00:11:57,480 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: didn't say, but I can tell you that my radio 222 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: ears said song as a smash. So she's really been 223 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 1: largely ignored at Trestal Radio. And then she goes back again, 224 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 1: you know, last year and gets another standing ovation, you know, 225 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:15,079 Speaker 1: singing black like me. But to me, she has arguably 226 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: one of the best voices, not just in country music 227 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 1: but justin music. And the fact that she's been embraced 228 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: by you know, the super Bowl, to the Rock and 229 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 1: Roll Hall of Fame and she can't get played on 230 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: trestal radio. That is a huge question mark in my 231 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,560 Speaker 1: mind for someone who's held her head up and you know, 232 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 1: became the voice of everything over the last several years. 233 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: She deserves to be supported. She's talented. Well, continuing on 234 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: subject to women just for a minute, because it's a 235 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: rich subject, it is. We could go on all day 236 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,559 Speaker 1: about it. Yeah, I'm just standing, why do you think 237 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: occasionally someone breaks through and others like Mickey don't and uh, 238 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,840 Speaker 1: you know, it seems like radio has not been that 239 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: interested in Mickey Guitan and Casey Musgraves, who is basically, 240 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 1: you know, one of the most recognizable stars in any 241 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: format at this point. And on CMT these people are stars, 242 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 1: and in the mass media there's stars um and then 243 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 1: occasionally someone breaks through. It I've been inested like why 244 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 1: Landy Wilson, who I like a lot, has broken through 245 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 1: and had a number one record And it's sort of 246 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: I don't know, you know, I think radio sometimes uses 247 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 1: that to say, hey, we're not we're not prejudiced because 248 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: you know, we gave this person a number one record 249 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:32,199 Speaker 1: and that gives us like a free ride for another 250 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 1: eight months. Um, but I'm I'm wondering, you know, is 251 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 1: there something they're looking for out of women that they're 252 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: not getting or or is there like real bus and 253 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: prejudice there? And again this isn't you know obviously, I 254 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: know we're talking about terrestrial radio, but a lot of 255 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 1: my friends are at radio program radio stations. A lot 256 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:54,719 Speaker 1: of them have their hands tied because they're overseeing, you know, 257 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: multiple radio stations and can't make decisions in their own market. 258 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: But the Casey Musgrave story is one of the most 259 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: perplexing stories ever because if you are in radio, you 260 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: should jumping on anything pop culture. The fact that she 261 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 1: won all of those Grammys and was still not supported. 262 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 1: And I can say the same thing about Chris Stapleton 263 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: in a few minutes, but uh, for someone who had 264 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: a classic country album and was not supported, there's no answer. 265 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 1: There's absolutely no answer. So she went out on her 266 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: own and she has a career without radio and will 267 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 1: always have a career without radio. But the fact that 268 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: Kasey Musgraves, who by the way, is in a league 269 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: of her own and took the format globally and is 270 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: not supported. I mean, this is how you're gonna get 271 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: me all worked up. Um. I think for Laney, she's listen, 272 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: Laney is straight down the middle country. And I think again, 273 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 1: right now, the fans and and radio are seeing that 274 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: there's a huge appetite for authenticity and for and for 275 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 1: mainstream country. And I think timing wise, it's been great 276 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: for Landy Wilson. She's so talented and you know, we're 277 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: all happy that she's having this moment and I think 278 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: she's gonna end up being our next superstar. Yeah. Yeah, 279 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: just seems like there's there's maybe a more strict litmus 280 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 1: tests that women have to pass than men, all of them. 281 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: I think that, you know, and again, and I love 282 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: I have so many favorite male artists, But to me, 283 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: the women are making the most interesting music right now. 284 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: And for for radio, I think that radio wins when 285 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: there's a great balance, and that's balance of sound and 286 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: balance of gender. So where are the women? You know, 287 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 1: I always say that we're in fear of erasing female voices. 288 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: So if you hear eight male voices in a row 289 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: and then you hear female, guess what, it's going to 290 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: be a disruptor because you're training the listeners not to 291 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: hear female voices, and that to me, is a detriment 292 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 1: to the format, and it's really bothersome for the future 293 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 1: of the format because women, to me, were the backbone 294 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: of this format with Loretta and Dolly and and everyone else. 295 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: So the future of the format to me is in 296 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: jeopardy by racing you know, females and their point of 297 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 1: view to the audience. And it's interesting because even some 298 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: of the superstars like Miranda don't get a break at 299 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 1: country radio either. Hm. There have been many Miranda songs 300 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: that haven't gone to number one that should have gone 301 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: to number one. Hint, hint than the latest one. I 302 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 1: think you know, listen. There are alternate ways now for 303 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: artists to be exposed, which is great. I think it's 304 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 1: a great time to be an artist. I know, it's 305 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: kind of the wild wild West, and you have, you know, 306 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: more that you have to do because there's so many 307 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: different platforms now. But I think that you could have 308 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: legitimately have a career as an independent artist because you 309 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 1: run that fear if you get signed of being put 310 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 1: on the back burner or you're on a runway with 311 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: you know, twenty other artists, and you're not able to 312 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: freely release music on your own. That's what I love 313 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: what some of these independent artists are doing, whether it's 314 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: on TikTok or whatever. You know, you know, the the 315 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: Ashley Cooks of the world who just got signed and 316 00:16:57,320 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 1: Alexandra k I mean, they're doing it on their own. 317 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: And I've seen some of these TikTok artists actually band 318 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: together and do their own tours. So in a way, 319 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: you know, they're saying, listen, we can do this independently. 320 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: We have a whole fan base that's out there that's 321 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: discovering us on social media. We're talking with Leslie Fram 322 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 1: of CMT on Strictly Business. We'll be right back. We're 323 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: back with Leslie Fram of CMT, who's leading the charge 324 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: in Nashville for diversity with some outside initiatives for country 325 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:38,719 Speaker 1: music as well as the work she does at CMT. 326 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: So move away from the subject of representation, uh for 327 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 1: a little bit here, of course, I want to ask 328 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,440 Speaker 1: you about the world of CMT itself and its core 329 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 1: music franchises, and most of all, are most prominently of 330 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:56,679 Speaker 1: all CMT awards, as people know, went on CBS for 331 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: the first time this year. Um, there were musical chairs 332 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:02,439 Speaker 1: going on in the Country Award sphere. UM and the 333 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 1: c m as were unaffected by that, but the other 334 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: two big shows, the A c m S the c 335 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: m T S did some switching around. And UM, you know, 336 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:14,359 Speaker 1: CBS stop negotiating to renew the A c M S, 337 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 1: and I think a lot of us probably thought, well, 338 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,440 Speaker 1: you know, CBS can do without a Country Music Awards show. 339 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 1: That wouldn't be the strangest thing in the world. And 340 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: then we hear that they're elevating the c MT Awards 341 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: to premiere on CPS and then follow on CMT later 342 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 1: and and also be on a million different channels and 343 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:37,439 Speaker 1: platforms like everything is nowadays. Um and uh, that seems 344 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 1: like a no brainer in retrospect that do you remember 345 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: the initial stirrings of hey, this is something we can 346 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:47,200 Speaker 1: do to elevate the show that corporately is already in house. Um, 347 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: it's already a franchise for a sister or nice network 348 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 1: or whatever we want to call it. Um. And did 349 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: you have any sort of territorial feelings like we should 350 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 1: we should get that on cm the uh or what 351 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: was your feelings when you first started to get the 352 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 1: rumblings of an idea that the awards with the on 353 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: a major broadcast network. You know, we've really been lucky, Chris, 354 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:14,640 Speaker 1: that we've had big fans of the same T Music 355 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:17,880 Speaker 1: Awards in the company within the company, from Bob back 356 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 1: Ish to George Cheeks to Bruce Gilmur to Chris McCarthy. 357 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:24,160 Speaker 1: They come to the show every year. So the fact 358 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 1: that it was in the portfolio just made sense to 359 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 1: take it to a broader audience on CBS. And so 360 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 1: for us, obviously taking it to a bigger audience, we 361 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 1: were really proud that we were able to do that. 362 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: Plus you know, streaming on Paramount plus it just it 363 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:42,679 Speaker 1: made sense. And the fact that they were fans of 364 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: the show, they're fans of country music. They loved what 365 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 1: we did, and most importantly, they said, hey, just do 366 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: the show that you do. You don't have to change 367 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: anything because it's going on CBS. We just want you 368 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 1: guys to do the show that you do, because you know, 369 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: our show has a different point of view outside of 370 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 1: the fact that it spanned the did our show is 371 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: known for great collaborations with artists from out of the genre, 372 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: unexpected moments, and you know, having that look of an 373 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: outdoor stage, and so I think it all worked, and 374 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:14,680 Speaker 1: it worked beautifully on CBS. You know, we had to 375 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:17,399 Speaker 1: change the day because of the Grammys, but at the 376 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: end of the day, I thought the show was beautiful. 377 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:21,959 Speaker 1: We were really proud of it. And you know, for 378 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: me to be able to continue to work with Margaret 379 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: Como and John Hamilin, it's just it's an honor. I 380 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:31,199 Speaker 1: learned every day from them. But having that support from 381 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: the company, and again, they were all here and they 382 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 1: were sitting at the very beginning of the show to 383 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: the very end of the show, they were just you know, 384 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: they're in there. They're always an one. I think they 385 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 1: also love the camaraderie between the artist because sometimes you 386 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 1: might not see that at other award shows and other genres. 387 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:51,359 Speaker 1: But the fact that the artists love each other and 388 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: they sit with each other and they do the red 389 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 1: carpet and they're cheering each other on. We kind of 390 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 1: have our own special world and country music. But again, 391 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 1: we were very, very proud of what we were able 392 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,160 Speaker 1: to do on CBS and the fact that we're going 393 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:07,680 Speaker 1: to be back on CBS next year. Okay, so that's 394 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: a commitment. To that it worked and we're gonna keep 395 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:15,199 Speaker 1: doing it. It's a huge commitment again and uh, you know, 396 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:17,920 Speaker 1: probably one of the proudest moments for all of us 397 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 1: at CMT because it's our biggest show of the year, 398 00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:23,959 Speaker 1: So to be able to have it on CBS and 399 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 1: Paramount plus having that brand be displayed to a bigger audience, 400 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: our brand mental world to all of us. Yeah. You know, 401 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:36,439 Speaker 1: when I when I was trying to figure out how 402 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: the show did, it seems almost impossible now. I mean, 403 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 1: I don't know how to engauge between the different channels 404 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:46,200 Speaker 1: and platforms it's on and actual multiple networks in different 405 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 1: ways to stream um and you've got you know, this 406 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 1: new free service that Paramount is on. So uh, when 407 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:57,520 Speaker 1: we talk about ratings now, whether it's for that show 408 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 1: or anything else, is there even like a single measure 409 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 1: that makes sense that you look to to figure out 410 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 1: whether we're on the right track, you know, I listen, 411 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: I think that the fact that we had over five 412 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 1: million viewers, it was such a win for the company 413 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:16,399 Speaker 1: because you never know, you know, mostly award shows are 414 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:20,200 Speaker 1: down and viewing only because there's so much for people 415 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: to consume nowadays. But the fact that we had you know, 416 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:25,639 Speaker 1: billions of impressions on social media, and you know we 417 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: see that with the v m as all the time, 418 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:30,199 Speaker 1: that people are consuming in different ways, and now that 419 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 1: we can take it to all these different platforms for 420 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 1: our fans to consume it. Just that's the thing I 421 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 1: love about being in this company because now with Paramount Plus, 422 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: we're looking to align all of the the brands globally. 423 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: You know, we have these Music Council calls where we're saying, Okay, 424 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:50,680 Speaker 1: what are we all doing this year and how can 425 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 1: we all support So it could be CMT having a 426 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:57,400 Speaker 1: Crossroads that gets played on all of the MTV brands 427 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,680 Speaker 1: and you know all over Europe. You know, we did 428 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 1: that it Kelsey Balleruni and Halsey. And now we're talking 429 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 1: about doing that with more of our Crossroads and having 430 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:10,639 Speaker 1: Crossroads having a you know, having a real presence on 431 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: Paramount Plus. We're working on twenty anniversary this year for 432 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 1: Crossroads and looking to have more of our Crossroads on 433 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:23,000 Speaker 1: Paramount Plus. And now we've taken over the iconic v 434 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 1: H one Storytellers for CMT Storytellers. We we taped our 435 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: first one and aired it with Brooks and Dunne. We're 436 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,120 Speaker 1: about to do another one, which you know, I can 437 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 1: tell you is with Darius Rucker that we're going to 438 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: tape and in August. So the fact that we're aligning 439 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 1: all of these brands, it's just really exciting. Okay, I 440 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 1: was gonna ask about CMT crossroads because yes, you guys 441 00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:49,880 Speaker 1: don't do a lot of them, but when you do, 442 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 1: you really focus a lot of attention on them. So, um, 443 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:56,360 Speaker 1: the Black pumas he got into one was great. Um, 444 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 1: do you have a feeling for how many of those 445 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 1: you want to do and whether it um it's like 446 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:04,399 Speaker 1: having a special or you think of it as a 447 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: series even though it's kind of intermittent, or what sort 448 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 1: of we tape we actually air for a year on CMT. 449 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:16,200 Speaker 1: I think that we're looking to do some bonus crossroads 450 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 1: that can air on Paramount. Plus we're working right now 451 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:23,439 Speaker 1: on our twentieth anniversary episode, which will be able to 452 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 1: tell you about very soon. But there's so many artists 453 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:29,720 Speaker 1: that still want to do crossroads. Plus we have artists 454 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:32,000 Speaker 1: that have done multiple cross roads just because of the 455 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:35,440 Speaker 1: longevity of their career, and so a lot of the 456 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 1: country artists have done multiple crossroads they love you know, 457 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 1: they love doing it obviously because they have an affinity 458 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:45,359 Speaker 1: for artists outside of the genre, and we always the 459 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 1: first thing a lot of our new artists say is 460 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:50,199 Speaker 1: I want to do Crossroads with It just comes up 461 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:53,399 Speaker 1: organically all the time and we always have people on 462 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:58,199 Speaker 1: Twitter making Crossroads recommendations, which I love. I'd love some 463 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 1: help booking. Uh well, I want to ask about the 464 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: different ways people experience CMT now. And CMT is primarily 465 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 1: a linear cable brand, but the pay TV world is 466 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:14,879 Speaker 1: changing fast, as you know we see within your parent company, 467 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 1: Paramount Global. Um So how much are you focused on 468 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 1: c m T S linear TV business these days? And 469 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:23,880 Speaker 1: what have you learned by having CMT on Pluto TV, 470 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 1: which I know a lot of TV exact love because 471 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: they get to see how long people watch any given 472 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 1: show on streaming and track that in real time and 473 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:34,919 Speaker 1: that's that's not something used to get from Nielsen ratings. 474 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:38,400 Speaker 1: You know, Pluto has been very interesting, as has been 475 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:41,600 Speaker 1: Paramount Plus because Christmas card these vision you know for 476 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 1: Paramount Plus, what was to bring back all these iconic 477 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:48,520 Speaker 1: MTV shows And when you look at like Yo MTV 478 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:53,120 Speaker 1: wraps and Beavis and butt Head and the hundreds of episodes. 479 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 1: There's such an affinity for a nostalgia and the fact 480 00:25:56,760 --> 00:26:01,199 Speaker 1: that they are reimagining mtvs behind them music. To me, 481 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 1: those are those brands, and you know, between you and I, 482 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 1: you know that around the pandemic there was this real 483 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: urgency and need for nostalgia, and the fact that these 484 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 1: shows are coming back and some of them are coming 485 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 1: back and being reimagined is just so important because that 486 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:21,160 Speaker 1: that MTV brand and those the CMT brand are so 487 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 1: relevant to a generation and more generations to come. So 488 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:27,160 Speaker 1: the fact that we have Pluto TV that can air 489 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 1: you know, old MTV episodes and CMT episodes and now 490 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,960 Speaker 1: with Paramount Plus, it's great because we can just really 491 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:38,280 Speaker 1: spread this wealth of content. And we always talk about 492 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:41,400 Speaker 1: the vault because if you look at MTV and c MT, 493 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 1: the vault of what we have is overwhelming. You know. 494 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:50,920 Speaker 1: We feel like CMT especially what differentiates us with other 495 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:53,200 Speaker 1: country outlets is the fact that we are in the 496 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 1: business of country music three hundred and sixty five days 497 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:59,439 Speaker 1: a year with this living, breathing hot twenty countdown every 498 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:02,680 Speaker 1: single week agend, which is three hours of like up 499 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:09,360 Speaker 1: to the minute, country content, interviews, videos, festivals. UM, it's 500 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 1: it's something that we're very proud of what our digital 501 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 1: team has done. They have created these unbelievable franchises. One 502 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:19,879 Speaker 1: is called c MT Stages that looks at the stages 503 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:23,720 Speaker 1: of someone's career. A beautiful docuse series called on the 504 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,399 Speaker 1: Road where we can actually go on the road with 505 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 1: an artist and see the day to day, living, breathing 506 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 1: life of being on the road on a real tour. Um. 507 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 1: And that's just the tip of the iceberg of what 508 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 1: the digital team is doing. Yeah. Well, a lot of 509 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 1: people who are old fashioned, like some of us, were 510 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 1: not always thinking about the digital sphere and all your 511 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 1: different platforms and so, UM, I think, you know, it's 512 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 1: easy to hear a lot of complaints. You probably hear 513 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:56,399 Speaker 1: them sometimes the same complaints that still probably still are 514 00:27:56,480 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 1: made about MTV, like where's the m man? You know, 515 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:04,399 Speaker 1: it's right, it's all lifestyle programming or reality shows. You know, 516 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:06,680 Speaker 1: you devote a few hours in the middle of the 517 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:11,640 Speaker 1: night to music videos. Um, and uh, people aren't really 518 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:14,880 Speaker 1: necessarily thinking that you have all this other stuff kind 519 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 1: of going on the side where the music has kind 520 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:19,639 Speaker 1: of moved so how do you feel about that just 521 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,119 Speaker 1: personally the fact that you know, if you have come 522 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 1: to c MT music wise, of course you've got the 523 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 1: Top twenty cat down every weekend and things like that, 524 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 1: and the specials during the year, but if people really 525 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: want a diet of country music, they're gonna need to 526 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:37,680 Speaker 1: drift to your other platforms. And do you think people 527 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 1: are aware at this point? I think you know, probably 528 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 1: a mainstream public doesn't understand that, you know, videos don't 529 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: rate on television, but the amount of content that MTV 530 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 1: produces on a daily, weekly basis for Music Plus internationally, 531 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 1: and what we've been able to do because every month 532 00:28:56,840 --> 00:29:01,240 Speaker 1: we are out filming country content. It whether it's Seemed T, Camp, 533 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:05,040 Speaker 1: Buyer Sessions, or Crossroads, any of the music franchises that 534 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:08,080 Speaker 1: we do are about to announce a new one every month. 535 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 1: Music is present on the channel, but also music is 536 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: present on all of our other platforms as well. Um 537 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 1: And I did want to bring up the fact that 538 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:19,400 Speaker 1: the synergy that I was talking about a minute ago 539 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:23,960 Speaker 1: with Paramount Plus especially and CMT is that you have 540 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 1: artists now that are making these great whether their documentaries 541 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 1: or music series, like Miranda Lambert did this beautiful series 542 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:35,160 Speaker 1: from the Marfa Tapes and I don't know if you 543 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 1: saw it, but it aired on Paramount Plus and CMT 544 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 1: and Tom Douglas is unbelievable documentary. I've never seen a 545 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:46,120 Speaker 1: documentary like this called Love Tom that premiered on Paramount 546 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 1: Plus and will be airing on CMT. So you know, 547 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 1: Ksey Musgraves, you know who did her her amazing album, 548 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:59,240 Speaker 1: uh movie on Paramount Plus. Those are the type of 549 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 1: things that we can also partner with artists on which 550 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:04,040 Speaker 1: we're you know, that's a big part of our future 551 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: is being able to partner with our artists around their content, 552 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 1: telling their stories. Yeah, yea. So Paramount Plus, it sounds 553 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:14,280 Speaker 1: like has has really been a big boon as far 554 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:17,160 Speaker 1: as you're concerned in terms of being able to do 555 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 1: different types of programming. Absolutely. Absolutely, And I think when 556 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:25,720 Speaker 1: you look at and Paramount as well, when you look 557 00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:28,360 Speaker 1: at eighteen eighty three and Yellowstone and the fact that 558 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:32,160 Speaker 1: you know, the music of Yellowstone is very Americana country 559 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 1: centric and supporting artists like Landy Wilson and now Lanny 560 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: Wilson will have a part in Yellowstone. I mean, those 561 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:41,520 Speaker 1: are the things that will continue to happen where we 562 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:45,280 Speaker 1: can embrace artists outside of just their music. M eighty 563 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 1: three with Tim and Faith reminding people that you know, 564 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:50,600 Speaker 1: Tim mcgrawl is also an amazing actor and guess what 565 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 1: so as Faith Hill. It's so those are those are 566 00:30:54,440 --> 00:31:01,040 Speaker 1: the things that we're really excited about telling those rich stories. Yeah, well, 567 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:02,600 Speaker 1: I just want to ask you for a minute about 568 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:05,480 Speaker 1: your case and how do you manage your lifestyle because 569 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 1: I feel like you know every artist in the industry, 570 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 1: you're not removed. You go too shows and not just 571 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:13,520 Speaker 1: not just you know Tim mc grand Faith Shales show either. 572 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:17,560 Speaker 1: That's you know, showcases for artists are no name. And 573 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:19,400 Speaker 1: I think that's a point in pride for you that 574 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,800 Speaker 1: that you have your your figure out the pulse of 575 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:24,440 Speaker 1: who might bubble up. Um, and you also have a 576 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:26,800 Speaker 1: life on a farm outside of Nashville, you and your 577 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 1: husband and and I believe I read two donkeys and 578 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:36,840 Speaker 1: a draft horse. So uh, you have to pace yourself. Well, 579 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:39,000 Speaker 1: I have to give credit. We have an incredible music 580 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:41,840 Speaker 1: team at c MT, and you know, we're all music 581 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:43,880 Speaker 1: heads of all kinds of music, and they're turning me 582 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 1: on to stuff all the time. Um. I remember when 583 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 1: I first got here maybe two years in. Jen Danielson, 584 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 1: who works at Warner Brothers now is on my team 585 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:54,920 Speaker 1: and she was like, you really need to know about 586 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:58,080 Speaker 1: this guy named Chris Stapleton. So I think that, you know, 587 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:01,600 Speaker 1: it's it's wonderful that we all ensue music, all kinds 588 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:04,960 Speaker 1: of music on a daily basis. Um, it's really sort 589 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:06,680 Speaker 1: of a hobby for me. So I don't look at 590 00:32:06,680 --> 00:32:09,880 Speaker 1: it as work. Plus I'm not doing those crazy radio 591 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:11,760 Speaker 1: hours and getting up at four am to do a 592 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:15,320 Speaker 1: morning show like I used to. And it also helps it. 593 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:18,640 Speaker 1: In Nashville, the showcases are you know, at six or 594 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:22,880 Speaker 1: six thirty. So and I still, you know, I'm excited. 595 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:25,200 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go see Brandy Carlisle next week. She's going 596 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:28,160 Speaker 1: to be at a send. I'm a huge Brandy fan. Um. 597 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 1: I just I love music. It's it's it's it's really 598 00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:34,560 Speaker 1: a hobby for me. Live music is a hobby for me. 599 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:40,000 Speaker 1: I mean, you've been a agent of change for greater 600 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:44,040 Speaker 1: representation of women, greater representation of people of color, and 601 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:47,760 Speaker 1: I would feel like these could be discouraging things at 602 00:32:47,800 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 1: times when we see how slow change comes in Nashville 603 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:53,680 Speaker 1: and Country music and a lot of times in the 604 00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 1: music industry generally, but you know, there's not always a 605 00:32:57,320 --> 00:33:00,680 Speaker 1: lot of recognition. Yes, we really need to in our ways, 606 00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:05,280 Speaker 1: um and get woke or like that. And you seem 607 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:08,800 Speaker 1: like such an optimistic person, and I would feel like, uh, 608 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:11,280 Speaker 1: you know, if if I were devoting myself to those causes, 609 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:15,000 Speaker 1: it would become difficult at times to be uh that 610 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:17,239 Speaker 1: sunny about it? And uh so do you have a 611 00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 1: lot of internal rage that we just never get to 612 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:22,520 Speaker 1: see as you see how slow change comes sometimes? Or 613 00:33:22,520 --> 00:33:26,320 Speaker 1: are you as optimistic as as you see? Well, I 614 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:28,360 Speaker 1: know I do get discouraged, and you know, you and 615 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:30,200 Speaker 1: I are on Twitter a lot, and there's a lot 616 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:32,840 Speaker 1: of negativity on Twitter, and I'm just one that doesn't 617 00:33:32,840 --> 00:33:36,480 Speaker 1: want to get into that route of being negative. I 618 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:39,120 Speaker 1: don't really think it serves any purpose. I do think 619 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:41,720 Speaker 1: it's important, though, to speak up. And this company, you know, 620 00:33:41,800 --> 00:33:45,719 Speaker 1: Paramount Plus formally Viacom CBS has allowed me, you know, 621 00:33:45,760 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 1: to have a voice and for all of us as 622 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:51,680 Speaker 1: d MT two, you know, have equal access and and 623 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:54,400 Speaker 1: you know, starting from equal play now with equal access 624 00:33:54,760 --> 00:33:57,680 Speaker 1: and our partnership with m Theory and Cameo Carlson. I 625 00:33:57,680 --> 00:33:59,960 Speaker 1: mean it's about you know, putting our money, you know, 626 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 1: where our mouth is and going, hey, we can make change. 627 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:06,120 Speaker 1: We started Equal Access with m Theory so that we 628 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:09,439 Speaker 1: could support diverse voices and be a pipeline for people 629 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:11,440 Speaker 1: that want to be in the industry. So I just 630 00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:14,120 Speaker 1: try to focus on the things that I can help 631 00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:17,680 Speaker 1: control and change. And then I have advisors at Nashville 632 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:22,760 Speaker 1: Music Equality with Shannon Sanders and Gina Miller and Courtney Katone, 633 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:26,440 Speaker 1: and it's they have been such great, you know, advisors, 634 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:28,959 Speaker 1: Like I can't tell you many times I've sat down 635 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:31,800 Speaker 1: with Shannon Sanders and and he's called me about things. 636 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:35,800 Speaker 1: So I again I try. Yes, I do get discouraged, 637 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:39,000 Speaker 1: but again I don't think that staying in a negative 638 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:41,680 Speaker 1: state is going to help anyone. So I just try 639 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:44,240 Speaker 1: to stay positive and move forward. And I think moving 640 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:47,080 Speaker 1: forward is really the best thing to do. Do you 641 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:50,239 Speaker 1: have a Nashville hero? Is there anyone that you look 642 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:54,160 Speaker 1: up to in the business who, yes, I do well 643 00:34:54,200 --> 00:34:57,399 Speaker 1: outside of my former boss Brian Phillips, who is my 644 00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:02,920 Speaker 1: longtime mentor, UM, I would say Cindy maybe at u MG. 645 00:35:03,280 --> 00:35:06,959 Speaker 1: I think that she's such an artist advocate. She really 646 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:10,240 Speaker 1: cares about the artists, and you know, I think that 647 00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:13,120 Speaker 1: I I see it on a daily basis, you know, 648 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 1: and I can text her about something and she'll text 649 00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:17,400 Speaker 1: me right back, and you know, we we both have 650 00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:20,080 Speaker 1: an affinity and feel for a lot of these artists 651 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:22,279 Speaker 1: and what they go through. You know, it's it's really 652 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:25,560 Speaker 1: not easy. And I think a lot of labels are 653 00:35:25,600 --> 00:35:28,040 Speaker 1: now understanding that they have to do something about, you know, 654 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:31,080 Speaker 1: the mental health of their artists as well. So some 655 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:33,399 Speaker 1: artists get signed and they're not prepared for about what 656 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:36,239 Speaker 1: what's about to happen to them. And I think that 657 00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:39,600 Speaker 1: really means a lot to to her, and you know, 658 00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:43,279 Speaker 1: to all of us really support organizations like Porters Call 659 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:46,080 Speaker 1: that are there for these artists and what they have 660 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:50,520 Speaker 1: to go through, you know, on a daily basis. Yeah, well, 661 00:35:50,760 --> 00:35:53,680 Speaker 1: I love Cyndi um and I'm sure whether it's her 662 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:57,000 Speaker 1: you that the artists out there, it may not always 663 00:35:57,040 --> 00:36:01,800 Speaker 1: be the norm that they run into executives can really 664 00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:03,919 Speaker 1: deal with them on a wonder one basis and talk 665 00:36:04,080 --> 00:36:07,600 Speaker 1: personally and uh and see why they valued that when 666 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:10,319 Speaker 1: they when they find it now, I appreciate it, I 667 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:13,919 Speaker 1: you know, I UM I just don't want to have 668 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:16,600 Speaker 1: an email unanswered because I remember when I was a 669 00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:18,920 Speaker 1: baby DJ and I would send my cassettes out to 670 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:21,440 Speaker 1: people and people got back to me, and I was like, Wow, 671 00:36:21,480 --> 00:36:24,479 Speaker 1: if I would never be in a position I would 672 00:36:24,520 --> 00:36:26,680 Speaker 1: get back to people. And it means a lot to 673 00:36:26,760 --> 00:36:29,200 Speaker 1: someone that you at least you know they were heard 674 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:30,800 Speaker 1: in other words, and you get you were able to 675 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:33,319 Speaker 1: get back to them, and and just sometimes a little 676 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:38,759 Speaker 1: encouragement goes a long way. Okay, an ocultingly changed from 677 00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:43,399 Speaker 1: my hundred thousands unopened emails. Good for you for being 678 00:36:43,440 --> 00:36:48,160 Speaker 1: able to get a handle on that. That's great. Uh, well, 679 00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:49,799 Speaker 1: thank you so much for being with us. It's been 680 00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:52,680 Speaker 1: a real cleoster to talk with you. And everyone listening 681 00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:56,040 Speaker 1: please uh offer a silent round of applause for Cynth's 682 00:36:56,120 --> 00:37:05,359 Speaker 1: Leslie Fan. Are You're amazing? Chris? Thank you. This has 683 00:37:05,400 --> 00:37:08,319 Speaker 1: been an episode of Strictly Business. Tune in next week 684 00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:11,480 Speaker 1: for another helping of conversation with media movers and shakers. 685 00:37:12,080 --> 00:37:14,840 Speaker 1: Make sure you subscribe to the podcast to hear future episodes. 686 00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 1: Also leave a review at Apple Podcast let us know 687 00:37:18,719 --> 00:37:19,279 Speaker 1: how we're doing.