1 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:06,559 Speaker 1: For social media. I don't really know what's like the 2 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:09,239 Speaker 1: place people go to to like catch up on what's 3 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:11,319 Speaker 1: going on in the country world. I told him if 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: I could interview like a songwriter that wrote a big 5 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: song and like regular listeners can be like, could now 6 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: know who that person is, having appreciation for the work 7 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: they do, that'd be my goal. This is fun a 8 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: little different too, and really what this podcast is all about, 9 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: it's kind of behind the scenes on you know, publishing basically, 10 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: and songwriters and how they get songs to artists and 11 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: the process there. So we're talking to Benji aka the 12 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: Beni Chord. Mike can't to me and said, Hey, I 13 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 1: think this is guy'd be awesome to talk to. Why, Like, 14 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: how did you stumble upon him? And why do you 15 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:47,559 Speaker 1: think it'd be interesting. I follow him on Instagram and 16 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: he's always just posting all these things that I find interesting, 17 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,279 Speaker 1: really good takes on songs, and I thought it'd be 18 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: great for the podcast. I think what's cool is it's 19 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: a guy that like music, didn't live in Nashville, and 20 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: I'll let him tell the story. But we just writing comments, yeah, 21 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 1: and not hateful things fighting with people. He would just 22 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: write it and then that kind of got him going, yeah, 23 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:11,400 Speaker 1: this inspired me to be myself more on he did. Yeah, 24 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: he's like to be yourself and it's what he did. 25 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: So he is the A and R manager for Warner 26 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 1: Chapel Publishing, which is the company that they hire songwriters 27 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 1: and then they try to get those songs that those 28 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: songwriters write to artists who are looking to find and 29 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 1: cut songs. I would say that's an accurate description, right, Yeah, 30 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,039 Speaker 1: it's a whole different other journey that we've seen on 31 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:35,759 Speaker 1: the podcast before. And people talk about publishing deals, pub deals, 32 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:39,759 Speaker 1: people talk about record deals. It's a really crazy story 33 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: about one the insides of that industry. But two, just 34 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: a guy who love music and was like writing comments 35 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: on a website and it turned into a big job. 36 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: So here we go Benji aka the Beni Chord. You 37 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: can follow him at the Beni Chord be eaten Ji 38 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: Chord on Instagram. All right, that's what's up here you go? 39 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: Will you explain to people listening to this that may 40 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: not know the difference in a publishing deal and a 41 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: record deal, like a recording deal for sure, right, So 42 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: a publishing deal that is literally you as you're going 43 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 1: to go to work as a songwriter. All you're gonna 44 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: do day to day is you're gonna get in a 45 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: room with maybe two other people, three other people, and 46 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: you go sit down, throw ideas around, get some lyrics, 47 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: hopefully some melody, and you're going to write a song 48 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: and you're gonna be contracted to that. We write with 49 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 1: the hopes of a song that you write will eventually 50 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:32,119 Speaker 1: be either recorded by a big artist and hopefully either 51 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: does well in streaming or on radio, and then that's 52 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,119 Speaker 1: how you're going to see, you know, some success out 53 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: of that. Whereas a record deal, that's literally you're an artist. 54 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: Your whole goal is to record songs other ones that 55 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: you've written by yourself or ones that have been written 56 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: by somebody in the industry, and you're the one on 57 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,799 Speaker 1: the road. You're what you're facing the magazines. That's a 58 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: recording contract. A publishing deal is definitely where you're a 59 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: craft is songwriting, you know, I mean, I think that's 60 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: the easiest way to break it up, is writing. You 61 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: are behind the scenes writing the songs that we hope 62 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: are cut and recorded by some artists that a lot 63 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 1: of people know about. But recording contract is you're growing 64 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: into the face of a brand, your job as a 65 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: and R. I think we should break it all the 66 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: way down because I wouldn't have known what A and 67 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 1: R even was unless I was in this business long 68 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: enough to know an R was. Did you know what 69 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: an R was as a kid? Though? The only reason 70 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: I knews because I was a kid, like reading liner 71 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: notes of albums I loved, and you'd see an R 72 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: and I wouldn't know what the heck it meant. I'd 73 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: learned what songwriters were, right, you'd see different people on 74 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 1: every album, But honestly, it wasn't until really I got 75 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: into like, you know, there's a lot there's a big 76 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 1: like rock, you know, seeing i'd say maybe mid two 77 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: thousands of the whole emo thing. And I one of 78 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: the guys that works at Warner now, Rohan he was 79 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: managed Boys Like Girls, and I believe he did some 80 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: an R work too, And that was the first time 81 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: I was like, Okay, I know I recognized his name. 82 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: When like I got older and i'd see him like 83 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: working in Nashville, I'm like, okay, so what was an or? 84 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: Do you look it up? And you know they're just 85 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: trying to get the songs from planting to point B 86 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 1: for the artists, try to get the creative part for 87 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: them flowing. And now I'm in the freaking role. It's 88 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: pretty well. So would you say that I mean, and 89 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: I don't mean this like Instagram. I would. I think 90 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: you're an influencer here, like you're trying to influence people 91 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: just general people to give songs life and not influence 92 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 1: like Instagram. And I would I want that to be 93 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,919 Speaker 1: like you're trying to sell to me. Definitely nodded, but 94 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: you know you're trying to create things of influence and 95 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 1: trying or trying to make sure that things that are 96 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 1: created are influencing the right people. Yeah, the way I'd 97 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: look at it is if I the very least get 98 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: regular listeners to understand like what songwriting means, especially in 99 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 1: Nashville where it's like this is like a special thing 100 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: apart from any other genre, then that's when I feel 101 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,160 Speaker 1: like my job's done. Like even before I got to 102 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,280 Speaker 1: this position, that's I had this handle. There's even like 103 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: you know, a gre buzz with for a Country Central, 104 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: just like we made this country media platform and we 105 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,039 Speaker 1: just had regular people, you know, voicing their opinions, but 106 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: also learning about this world again a peak in a 107 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: Nashville for people around the country, around the world, And 108 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 1: that was the most fulfilmed part for me is because 109 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:18,599 Speaker 1: people learned like, oh, this is a I know someone 110 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: that's only a songwriter. They don't have any artist career. 111 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 1: When they see their name, you know, written by for 112 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 1: like a New Hearty song or New Wallen song, they 113 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 1: get excited and like they're rooting for those people the 114 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: same way I am. So that's been the most fulfilmed 115 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 1: part when I had this going on. When someone comes 116 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 1: and let's say you're on a vacation or you're just 117 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: traveling and they're like, hey, what do you do and 118 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: what do you say? I work in music business, That's 119 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: what I say. Now, okay, Then I say, oh yeah, 120 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 1: doing what I get songs from point A to point B. 121 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 1: What's what's point A? Point A is the songs created, 122 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: and eventually we want to get it to recorded obviously 123 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 1: and ideally played on the radio. And when you hear 124 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 1: point B, be the artist got it? The artists you 125 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: want a big name artist ideally or that you want 126 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: it to be recorded by. And then point C, I 127 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: guess would be it's on the radio and that's how 128 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: or streaming services, and that's how you all are hearing 129 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: it for the first time. And I'm just part of 130 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 1: that creative process. I'm kind of you know, I don't 131 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,719 Speaker 1: say given birth to songs, but I'm part of that process. 132 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: When the song's created, I'm the one networking it out 133 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: in the world, making sure he gets heard by as 134 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: many people as possible. They feel the same thing I 135 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: feel about it, and hopefully the artist that records it 136 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: feels the same way that multiple people are feeling about it, 137 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 1: and that's the right time for them to record it 138 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:34,280 Speaker 1: and then hopefully gets put out in a timely manner, 139 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: you know, fingers crossed. And then when that's the last part, 140 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 1: when it has success, that's just really when you see 141 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: a lot for the songwriters at the very end of 142 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:43,919 Speaker 1: the table, and what's a big win you've had recently? 143 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: So I'll telling Mike, you know, I just started four 144 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:51,359 Speaker 1: weeks ago officially, but I would say a win a 145 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: recent win is one of the writers that represent Taylor Phillips. 146 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: You know, he's written for Cam Brown, wrote Hurricane for 147 00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: Luke Combs, one of his songs It's not a sing 148 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: go on Morgan Walla's new record, but thinking about me, right, 149 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: that's just an album track, but it's done one of 150 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: the best you know, streaming sell you know, sales wise, 151 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: and it's just cool to see where it's like, where 152 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: this idea to start when you talk to them, understand 153 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: what was going on in the riding room that day, 154 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 1: and can start from very small beginnings and then with 155 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 1: this album obviously one of the biggest ones in a 156 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: long time. It's just cool to see your people win, 157 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. Where'd you grow up? Houston, Texas? 158 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: Born and raised and so when you were a kid, 159 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: let's not even do kid, let's do tenth grade. What 160 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: do you want to do? You know? My family moved 161 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: here from Nigeria for college and my dad actually became 162 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: a patrona engineer so oil and gas world. He started 163 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: his own company when I was around ten years old, 164 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: and he moved back to Nigeria and like just ran 165 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 1: his company from that he moved back, I suppose. So 166 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: that was like my whole life, you know, we had 167 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 1: the old company and that was really what I thought 168 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: I was going to do, or I thought that was 169 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 1: what I was expected to do, so I'd say tenth grade, Yeah, 170 00:07:57,520 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: I'm getting ready to, you know, go to college and 171 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: prepared for all that. And in my mind, I'm like 172 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: my dad went to USC, and I'm like, oh, I'm 173 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: gonna go there too. I'm gonna do the whole thing. 174 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: And got into both USC and UT Austin, and I 175 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: think it was just the decisions kind of made for 176 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: me in the sense of USC's sixty thousand dollars and 177 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: U two is like eight thousand a thing around the time, 178 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: and I really didn't want to. You know, you got 179 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: through a whole process for some of these like big 180 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 1: name schools. You go like, you interview, you do all 181 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: this crazy stuff. And in my mind, like I'm gonna 182 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 1: be an engineer, like this will maybe be my way 183 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: to get there. And that was where my head was at. 184 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: I had all these other interests. I loved music, I 185 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: loved literature, I loved writing. But in my mind, especially 186 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: the way being first generation American, the way my parents 187 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: made it here, I just couldn't even understand or I 188 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 1: could be doing these other things, these hobbies or interests 189 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:49,680 Speaker 1: I had, could it be a career? That's kind of 190 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: that I expect for myself or is expected of me. 191 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: So yeah, it was literally just like I'm doing all 192 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: gas thing, I'll figure it out and we'll see what happens. 193 00:08:57,360 --> 00:08:59,199 Speaker 1: And that's what I ended up going to school for. 194 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: What did you dad until you're on that time? Was 195 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 1: he encouraging of you to do oil and gas or 196 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 1: if you don't want to do oil and gas, do 197 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 1: whatever you want? Like what kind of parent was he there? 198 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: I think he's a type of parent where my dad 199 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 1: came from zero, So for him to make it, he 200 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: just knew. Obviously took a lot of hard work, but 201 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: it also took a lot of people bedding on you, 202 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: supporting you. And I think looking back now, I'm thirty 203 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 1: two years old now, so get a little older. But 204 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: looking back now, I think my parents just taught me 205 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:30,679 Speaker 1: or told me what they knew. The only reason they 206 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 1: got here had the life they're able to have is 207 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: because this is their first experience. And since myself and 208 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: my siblings were first generation, they ain't know any other way, 209 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 1: so there weren't a lot of different perspectives. To say, 210 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 1: plenty of our families moved to the States and they've 211 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: had this type of success. We know this one way. 212 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 1: So that's what I definitely had seen, and I think 213 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: at the end of it all, I definitely put more 214 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: of into my own head. I'm sure if I spoke 215 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 1: to him and I was like, Hey, this is something 216 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 1: that I know I could be great at. I'm going 217 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 1: to work my butt off at it every single day, 218 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,079 Speaker 1: things would have been different. But I know in my head, 219 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: I was very like point A, point B, either I 220 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 1: do A or B, you know. I mean, I couldn't 221 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 1: think of like, hey, I'm gonna tell you I want 222 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: to do this my you know. I feel like I 223 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: had to go through the process, grow and learn a 224 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: lot more about myself to now have the top of 225 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: conversation which I've had with him countless times. Were you 226 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 1: as a kid, high school kid, college kid. Were you 227 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 1: drawn to music because you liked how it made you feel? 228 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: Or were you drawn to music because you wanted to 229 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: be more part of the creation. And obviously music makes 230 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 1: everybody feel certain ways. But I always would listen to 231 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: music kind of to escape, never wanted to really create it. 232 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: It wasn't until like, I mean, Adam Sandler music for 233 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: me and even Ray Stevens where I was like, oh, 234 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:49,839 Speaker 1: I can do music. But I could be funny because 235 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 1: I never really wanted to be or I didn't feel 236 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 1: like it had the skills or were lay the effort 237 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: to be someone who played music at a high level 238 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: because I have just I was terrible. So where did 239 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 1: that come for you? What was your passion in music? Yeah? 240 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: I would say, just like I keep coming back to 241 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 1: the first generation thing because there's no rules when it 242 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: came to like entertainment or music for me, because my 243 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: parents knew what they knew, Like if they didn't know 244 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: like what certain music was or what bands were like, 245 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:17,959 Speaker 1: then they couldn't tell me you can't listen to it, 246 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 1: you know. So I think my first thing was like 247 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 1: I saw Nirvana or watching music videos about them or 248 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 1: saw them in MTV, and that's when I was like 249 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 1: trying to play guitar and I fell in love a guitar. 250 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: Where'd you get your first guitar? It was a first 251 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: act guitar from Walmart, So fingers were definitely blistered, did 252 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: not sound great whatsoever. But I taught myself. I'll played 253 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:42,959 Speaker 1: guitar just watching like Foo Fighters music videos, just watching MTV. 254 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: I'd see a music videos see where their fingers were 255 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: and I figured out like a G chord, you know, eventually, 256 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:52,080 Speaker 1: But music for me is absolutely an escape. I think 257 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: growing up it's like my siblings and we were just 258 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: kind of figuring out what's our life going to be? Like, 259 00:11:57,559 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, like we're seeing our world through 260 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 1: a completely different eyes and our parents did. And there's 261 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:05,319 Speaker 1: something definitely, looking back, really you know, empowering about that. 262 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 1: I may not realize it when I was younger, but 263 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 1: when I would listen to music, it would be like 264 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: I go into my own world. And I think one 265 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: of the pivotal moments for me, and maybe I memory 266 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:17,959 Speaker 1: hold it because I never did anything with music growing up. 267 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 1: Was like our parents sent us at school and we're 268 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 1: kids like grade school, and they would have like academic 269 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,080 Speaker 1: competitions we compete in, and there was one I did 270 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:29,439 Speaker 1: called music Memory, and they'd like, maybe play like a 271 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 1: you know, a Beethoven piece, you know, orchestral piece, and 272 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 1: time it for like fifteen seconds, stop the you know, 273 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: the tape, and then you get to just say who 274 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: composed it, you know, when it came out? Things like that, 275 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: what was like the prominent instrument or whatever it may be. 276 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: And I swear that's where I got my ear for 277 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:47,839 Speaker 1: like when i'd put on my headphones when like you know, 278 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 1: CD players were normal and I would hear, you know, 279 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: parts of production. I'd hear like the strings and appreciate 280 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 1: all that part of an arrangement and whether it was 281 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: in a rock song, a pop song, a country song, 282 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 1: and that always with me. But I was like, why 283 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 1: do I have all this, you know, random information I 284 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:06,599 Speaker 1: know or knowledge about music or who's making it, And 285 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 1: I'm never gonna do anything with it. And I think 286 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: also when I looked up, like many people have to 287 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: like tour on a tour bus and be cramped packed 288 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: with older buddies, and I'm like, I don't know, I 289 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: feel like I get sick, you know, after one week 290 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: and out on the road. So I was like, I 291 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: don't know if I can ever be a musician. And 292 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 1: that was where my brain went. I was like, did 293 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,679 Speaker 1: you stopped doing like like practicing to do anything more 294 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 1: than this recreational play it? It was all recreational. I 295 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:30,320 Speaker 1: did have a band that was a part of like 296 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 1: in middle school. And the hardest part was I mean, 297 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: I come if you have n if you know what 298 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 1: a Nigerian parents like you're not staying after school at 299 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 1: someone's house at band practice. It's like it's not gonna happen. 300 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 1: You gotta be we gotta be at home, you know, 301 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:45,319 Speaker 1: studying for other subjects. But I did have a band 302 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: like in middle school that I was like the lead 303 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: singer of play guitar Um, and I think other than that, 304 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:53,079 Speaker 1: I just was like, I'm just always going to be 305 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 1: a fan of it. I'm always gonna have some deeper 306 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: appreciation for it than like I felt like my siblings 307 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: had or my other friends had for it. But I 308 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 1: just never knew, like, what's how am I gonna do 309 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: anything in music? It just was never a realistic option 310 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: for me when I was growing up. When did you 311 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: feel though that it could actually be something that if 312 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 1: you work, you can have a career in it, because again, 313 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 1: it doesn't sound like you're a dance miners or a 314 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: any We could go through a list of them who 315 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: always kind of knew even though they didn't target exactly 316 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 1: how they were going to do it, but they've known 317 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 1: since they were like seven, and they played and they 318 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: practice and they because I a bit like you listened 319 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: to a ton, memorized a ton, found people that I 320 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: love that wrote and created, but I knew I wasn't 321 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 1: going to be an artist. So when did you have 322 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: that realization of oh, I can actually do this and 323 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: make a living off of it, because it had to 324 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 1: be a job you maybe didn't even know existed. Yeah, 325 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: so it was after your school and I've done maybe 326 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 1: one job, like in the ol and gas industry, and yeah, 327 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: I'll just did it to do it and you know, 328 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: pays whatever, and you wasn't super passionate about it. But 329 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 1: I'd moved back to Houston. I was like, you know, 330 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 1: what expectations for me, I feel are pretty at this point. 331 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: I didn't I'm not like the superstore, a Superstar oil 332 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 1: and gas, you know, like executive. That maybe was like 333 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 1: I was thought, I thought I was going to be 334 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: growing up. So I was like, let me you know, 335 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: I was going online and there was a big country 336 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: station in Houston and they were just hiring like for promotions, 337 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: for social media, you know, for everything, and I supplied. 338 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 1: You know. I think it was around the time like 339 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: Sam Hunter just released his first album FGL was really 340 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: blowing up, and I was like, hey, I know these artists, 341 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: like I know people that produced them, and I have 342 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:31,000 Speaker 1: that passion. Let me just in like he didn't in 343 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: the personally who they were. No, I did not know 344 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 1: them personally. They knew kind of like what was gone 345 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: behind the scenes. And yeah, I just rolled the dice. 346 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: And obviously they always need more radio promo. Yeah you're overqualified, 347 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: like by it always wanted. I can't hire you, too 348 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 1: too smart for all this stuff. So I got that 349 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: gig and that's really when I dived in, and like 350 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 1: I was learning the radio part of the country music world, 351 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: and um, we'd have artists like Jimmie Allen come to 352 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 1: the studio Riley Green when he was starting up, and 353 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: I was working like the Houston Rodeo, sending up by 354 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 1: Cody Johnson shows and a little bit of everything, you know, 355 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 1: like working the late nights at a bar, you know 356 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 1: what I mean. And from where I'd started growing up, 357 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: that was just never side of life that you know, 358 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: I feel like I ever thought I would do. You know, 359 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: where I'm like people literally can this is part of 360 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: like a career where people grind out. It could be 361 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: late nights to like four am, but all throughout your 362 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 1: networking you're learning about people, You're meeting the people that 363 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 1: are in the industry and also learning from like a 364 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: program director. I'm Johnny Chang. I think now he's at Pandora, 365 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: and I would just ask him pick his brain, like 366 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: when he had time when and I'd be asking technical 367 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: stuff about hey, why why this single or why does 368 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: how can the big ours have this huge single and 369 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: then they released this to one like we don't give 370 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 1: as much play And he would just like describe to 371 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: me the way the world worked, and that was super 372 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: fascinating to me, and I think all throughout then I 373 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: was like, it'd be great just to visit Nashville. I'd 374 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: never been up to that point. That was right before 375 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: the pandemic hit. I was like, it'd just be cool 376 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 1: to visit maybe one day. One day if I could, 377 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 1: I can move out here with just a job. I 378 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: wasn't even thinking it'd be a music job, and I'd 379 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 1: be in Nashville big the greatest to live here, be 380 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:14,199 Speaker 1: in this environment that's inspiring. And yeah, the pandemic hit 381 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 1: and then radio kind of you know, got pretty quiet 382 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 1: for a little bit, and that's when I got the 383 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 1: last job I had, which is like it tech, you're 384 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 1: selling the software, working with all sorts of companies. But 385 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: I had to quit, obviously my radio jobs because it's like, hey, 386 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 1: I need to have a full time job making good money. 387 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 1: And around that time, unfortunately, my dad had gotten sick, 388 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: so you'd move back home from Nigeria to Houston. It's 389 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 1: like I was like, all right, at least, let me 390 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 1: have a full time job, help out with my family 391 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: where I can. And I don't know, that's just my 392 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:48,679 Speaker 1: reality now, you know what I mean. So radio, I 393 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: wasn't doing that anymore, but I was still in tune 394 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: what was happening. I was a kind of around the 395 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 1: time when I was like, you know what, it's the pandemic. 396 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: I love music. Let me just play some country song guitar, 397 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: not for any reason, not to be seen, but I'll 398 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 1: just do it stern. Pandemics like a release in a way, 399 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: and you post on Instagram or whatever. Maybe one person 400 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: sees it, who cares, and um, yeah, that's kind of 401 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 1: how the ball got rolling, i'd say. And social media. 402 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:18,240 Speaker 1: You posted something on social media, you post a song, whatever, Sure, 403 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:21,800 Speaker 1: how hard of that ball roll? Like what happened? He 404 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:23,919 Speaker 1: didn't roll at all as far as that's concerned. It 405 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:27,199 Speaker 1: just became a collection of like may on guitar or 406 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:29,880 Speaker 1: me maybe talking about its country song. I was really 407 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 1: passionate about are you a good singer? I'd say I'm 408 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 1: a very silent background vocalist. I'm not a singer. If 409 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:40,640 Speaker 1: you were, you singing on your TikTok Instagram. This video 410 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,120 Speaker 1: is now private on YouTube, but I had done Luke 411 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: Combs like he has a song called Moon over Mexico, 412 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,160 Speaker 1: and I'd sang along to it, obviously out of key, 413 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: and like just like a couple of people comment is saying, oh, 414 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,920 Speaker 1: very nice, and then one guy says, brother, you're so 415 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,640 Speaker 1: out of tune, out of key, and then the dude 416 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 1: that comment below is like, I give you props for 417 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:03,200 Speaker 1: even putting that up there. By the way, I'm Luke's 418 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 1: like videographer on the road, like props. And I was like, 419 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:09,120 Speaker 1: that was one random moment where I'm like random people 420 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:11,120 Speaker 1: can see everything, you know what I mean, out there 421 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 1: in social media world. Do you know who said that 422 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:15,360 Speaker 1: the video? I don't know if he's still with him, 423 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 1: but I'll look a videographer now. Yeah, And I but 424 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:20,679 Speaker 1: I thought you were gonna say, like you low key 425 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 1: put up a video, and I got twenty million views 426 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:24,479 Speaker 1: and the next thing, you know, you're in Nashville singing. 427 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 1: I now singer in the least. But I'd say the 428 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 1: first light bulb moment for me just using social media 429 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: was I had done like a like a little singer review, 430 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 1: like a song review about a deep cut of an artist, 431 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:40,919 Speaker 1: like a Rhinehard And he had a song called Michigan 432 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 1: for the Winner. That's my favorite song by him, and 433 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: I want to say it's like pretty you know, it 434 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 1: was a twenty twenty maybe be getting close to twenty 435 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:49,959 Speaker 1: twenty one. I just did like a ride up about it. 436 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 1: What the certain you know, hook made me feel like 437 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 1: the way the song was arranged, you know, like me 438 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: just deep diving into songs, and then he had reached 439 00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: out to me. It was just like, dude, thank you 440 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 1: so much. Yeah, thanks so much for the deep dive. 441 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:03,920 Speaker 1: Like that's how I was feeling when I wrote the song. 442 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 1: And then I was like, there's actual like real people 443 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:09,159 Speaker 1: behind the screen, you know what I mean. That was 444 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: the first thing that came to my mind. Then second 445 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: was like, man, these people see everything, you know what 446 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: I mean, And in this crazy world of social media, 447 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 1: it's like y'all are looking at You're all seeing everything, 448 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: and so it was cool for me when I was 449 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 1: like just being a fan, being passionate about the craft. 450 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 1: That's someone that I respect and noticed. And from there 451 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:30,160 Speaker 1: I got involved with the group called Country Central that's 452 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: like another social media platform and how did how do 453 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: you say? From there? But how did that happen? Do 454 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 1: they contact you to completely completely remote? I mean I'm 455 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:40,639 Speaker 1: just at home on my phone. And the guy had 456 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 1: started he had been doing just maybe some news posts, 457 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:45,879 Speaker 1: maybe talking about accolades in the genre, like someone was 458 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:48,399 Speaker 1: going number one with certain singles, and I'd just be 459 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: the guy that comments being like congrats to Ashley go 460 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,439 Speaker 1: or they first like fifty at sixty number one, you know, 461 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: and I would just know the songwriters and I'd like 462 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: shout them out, and he the guy started eventually reached 463 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 1: out to me. It's like, how do you know everything 464 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:03,360 Speaker 1: about these people that are riding it? Blah blah blah, 465 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:05,439 Speaker 1: And I just said, I'm just a fan of like 466 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:07,439 Speaker 1: what they do, but hey, I'm definitely a fan of 467 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:09,399 Speaker 1: like how he's a very good graphic designer. The guy 468 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 1: started at just Videographer Graphic Design Acumen and we just 469 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 1: had a zoom call because he's like he was in Florida, 470 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,120 Speaker 1: I was in Texas. He just put in comment now educated, 471 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 1: knowledgeable comments, just being myself. I think I was maybe 472 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 1: the first time like whom I could be completely myself 473 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 1: and there's maybe some kind of value linked to that, 474 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 1: and that's kind of what got the ball rolling. I mean, 475 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:32,919 Speaker 1: he I had one zoom call for like close to 476 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:34,679 Speaker 1: two hours, and I was just like, hey, dude, you 477 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:38,120 Speaker 1: have a very good like sense of like what's eye catching, 478 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:40,360 Speaker 1: Like you have like fifteen seconds like catch people's eyes 479 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:42,639 Speaker 1: before they tune out. And he was doing it in 480 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:45,159 Speaker 1: a space of country music, where of course there's like 481 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,160 Speaker 1: the standard bearer companies and media like cmts of the world, 482 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 1: like the Boot things like that. But for social media, 483 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:53,920 Speaker 1: for like a lot of younger generation, I don't really 484 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:56,439 Speaker 1: know what's like the place people go to to like 485 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: catch up on what's going on in the country world. 486 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 1: And I just told him, I'm like, hey, if you 487 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:03,679 Speaker 1: want to focus on the up and coming artist in 488 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 1: town to establish people, if we could write reviews, you know, 489 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 1: interview artists, maybe I told him, if I could interview 490 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: like a songwriter that wrote a big song, and like 491 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 1: regular listeners can be like I could now know who 492 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 1: that person is, having appreciation for the work they do, 493 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: then that'd be my That'd be my goal, you know. 494 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: And from there, like things did like really get rolling. 495 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:28,880 Speaker 1: That's crazy, and it also shows use. It just put 496 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 1: out stuff that you're passionate about that you note. I 497 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 1: mean the fact that you were just putting up reviews 498 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:39,200 Speaker 1: on us. I imagine a small TikTok or Instagram account. Sure, 499 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 1: I mean no fense. I don't think it's ten million. 500 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:42,479 Speaker 1: I don't have ten million, but I've been saying, right, 501 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:44,679 Speaker 1: that's what I'm saying. And Ryan reaches out and goes, hey, 502 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:47,639 Speaker 1: I appreciate that, and you're like, wait, people see this 503 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 1: stuff like I would have the same I would be 504 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:51,639 Speaker 1: surprised too. That's what I always looked at it. And 505 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: then you're writing comments and your comments were so good, 506 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 1: My comments suck. I just getting fights about That's all 507 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 1: my whole um, you know. Adage is like I like 508 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 1: to hopefully use technology for good, not evil. And I 509 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:06,119 Speaker 1: just think with the pandemic, my dad being ill, like 510 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 1: I just was in a place where I was like, 511 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 1: I need to be a good person i'd better be 512 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: like we've all gone through a craziness with the pandemic, 513 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 1: and like coming out of that, I don't want to 514 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 1: waste my time being on social media like fighting with people. 515 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 1: I just saw where with music we could come together 516 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 1: with certain songs that were coming out during the time, 517 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 1: just seeing how people were resonating with country music, especially 518 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 1: after the pandemic. It kind of blew up with streaming, 519 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 1: you know, obviously with Morgan Wallen and other artists were 520 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:34,439 Speaker 1: seeing like more success than ever after that, and I 521 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 1: think we kind of were at the right place, right 522 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 1: time to be covering it in like a creative way. 523 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:42,399 Speaker 1: And that's what really got me out to Nashville. Like 524 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 1: I visited I want to say, maybe April Easter twenty 525 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 1: twenty one, and I was like right when, like Nashville 526 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:53,479 Speaker 1: was like reopening a little bit from everything and funny 527 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 1: random story. I remember, like the first place I go 528 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:57,639 Speaker 1: to on Broadway is like Tootsies, Like I've never been 529 00:23:57,680 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: there before, and like I'm wearing my mask and everything, 530 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,159 Speaker 1: and I walk up the stairs and there's just like 531 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 1: Batchelork group like walks up to me and they're like, 532 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:07,679 Speaker 1: why are you wearing that? I was like, good to 533 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: meet you. You know, cool, I'm in Nashville, first time. Great. 534 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 1: I was like, I don't know, y'all, like, don't want 535 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: to rubbing one the wrong way, just being safe. And 536 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 1: this girl's like I'm a nurse and I'm not even 537 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: wearing one. I'm just like, this is Nashville, you know 538 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:23,160 Speaker 1: what I mean. But I think I came for first 539 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:25,120 Speaker 1: time fell in love with it. I was like, this 540 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,960 Speaker 1: is an environment that inspires me. Caught some riders rounds 541 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:31,960 Speaker 1: while I was in town and with Country Central, we 542 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 1: just had a lot of opportunities to catch a lot 543 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:36,480 Speaker 1: of shows because by the time we were covering artists 544 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 1: or writing reviews, I mean number one songwriters that I 545 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:41,879 Speaker 1: was a fan of. I just literally tag them when 546 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:44,200 Speaker 1: I would write a review, like they'd see it. They'd 547 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 1: reach out to say, hey, I'm really I really appreciate you. 548 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:48,879 Speaker 1: Like spotlighting what we do because it could be a 549 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: big single, it could be just a random song that 550 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 1: comes out on a Friday that will never go to radio. 551 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:55,919 Speaker 1: But I was riding like we're writing in depth reviews 552 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 1: about it, spotlighting like the hooks, the production of it, 553 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:01,920 Speaker 1: and like, I don't know even a little more constructive, 554 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:05,159 Speaker 1: maybe feedback to it than just this is good or 555 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:07,280 Speaker 1: this sucks, you know. I mean I always wanted to 556 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 1: give people like this is why to me, it's good. 557 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:13,439 Speaker 1: Here's a certain line I think resonates with a lot 558 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:15,880 Speaker 1: of people. Here's a producer they work with, I think 559 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:18,680 Speaker 1: really highlights what they do really well. And artists for 560 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 1: reaching out because Instagram, right, they see everything all you 561 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:25,080 Speaker 1: gotta do nowadays you tag someone, but they might happen 562 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:26,879 Speaker 1: to look at it, and when I guess when they 563 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 1: look at certain things i'd post. I don't know, man, 564 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: I'm not. I know there's two sides social media. But 565 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:33,680 Speaker 1: for me, I truly was just trying to use it 566 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:37,440 Speaker 1: to like be myself and hopefully kind of shout out 567 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:40,199 Speaker 1: people I think are really talented, really special. And I 568 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 1: think because of it, I got connected and was networking 569 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:44,920 Speaker 1: with a lot of people in town. And when we 570 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:47,399 Speaker 1: come to town, you know, we would have opportunities to 571 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: interview artists, you know. I think we'd gone out to 572 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:54,679 Speaker 1: one of Morgan shows in when in San Antonio, so 573 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: like he was there and I got to interview Hardy 574 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 1: on that tour and for me, like like a huge fan. 575 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:02,879 Speaker 1: But I think when you're kind of like doing like 576 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:04,920 Speaker 1: a job, it's like cool, this guy get to work. 577 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:06,920 Speaker 1: We go we you know, go wrap to his bus, 578 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 1: have the interview. I think after stuff like that started 579 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:12,080 Speaker 1: happening when we came to town and we're like, hey, 580 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 1: we're in town, would love to connect with any artist writers. 581 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 1: And we had a good airbnb, Like you're welcome to 582 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 1: come by the house, we'll set up the camera, we'll 583 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 1: do like an impromptu interview. And the one cool story 584 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: I have is like we had met I think Connor 585 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:30,720 Speaker 1: Smith had played um Whiskey jam and Dylan Marlowe was 586 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 1: there him and then his co writers Joe Fox and 587 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,479 Speaker 1: Jimmy Bell who wrote Last Night Lonely for John Party, 588 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:38,920 Speaker 1: so like we gotta know them. And I was like, hey, 589 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 1: like I'm in town for a week, have an airbnb 590 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: me just BMMI would love to interview y'all's songwriters. Just 591 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 1: have you buy the house, learn your story, learn how 592 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:50,000 Speaker 1: you wrote Last Night Lonely, all that good stuff. So 593 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 1: had Dylan had, Joe, had Jimmy all by the house, 594 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:55,680 Speaker 1: just gott to learn their story, and like I've kind 595 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:57,400 Speaker 1: of I just kind of learned like with the interviews, 596 00:26:57,880 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 1: you have notes and you have rules, but when you're 597 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:02,439 Speaker 1: having a one on one conversation learning about people's lives, 598 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 1: like you can kind of relax and just let it 599 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:07,720 Speaker 1: happen naturally. And that's what I found myself doing. I'd 600 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 1: have an interviews and I'm like, i'd have like a note, 601 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 1: but then it's just letting them kind of lead the 602 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 1: way and like whatever they bring up, I'd take it 603 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:18,320 Speaker 1: that direction. And I felt very natural doing it. And 604 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: with the Last Night Lonely deal, we had interviewed them. 605 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 1: But in the same week, one of my buddies, I 606 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 1: don't know if you're familiar with him. His name is 607 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:27,800 Speaker 1: Grady Smith and he has this like YouTube He makes 608 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 1: like money just doing country you know, country music media 609 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 1: through YouTube and talking about the industry all that good stuff. 610 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 1: And he had had an interview set up with John 611 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:39,200 Speaker 1: Party that week, and he's also thinking about moving to town. 612 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: So I was like, I've a couch you can crash, 613 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:44,360 Speaker 1: You're welcome to. So a couple of days later, John 614 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 1: Party rolls up in like you know, to our airbnb. 615 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 1: That's the first time I met him. Super nice guy. 616 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:52,359 Speaker 1: He even though it was like nice and gracious, like 617 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:55,160 Speaker 1: the airbnb owners at their house like nearby, like they're 618 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 1: freaking out, but he sits down and like I'm just 619 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:00,919 Speaker 1: literally filming it. But he's a very interactive guy. So 620 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 1: Grady's interviewing him, but then he's talking to me, asking 621 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 1: me questions, and we kind of asked him about last 622 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 1: night lonely. I'm like, you know, we actually had like 623 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:10,399 Speaker 1: the guys by the house like the other day. He's like, 624 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 1: I've actually never met them before. And it's always funny 625 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:17,160 Speaker 1: obviously to learn, you know now me being and publishing music, publishing, 626 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:19,880 Speaker 1: just knowing where a song can start and how it 627 00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 1: gets to the artists, you know, eventually, and how a 628 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 1: lot of times with the schedules y'all have, like you 629 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 1: guys never have time to even hang out in person, 630 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:28,879 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. And I just thought it 631 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 1: was like a really cool wrinkle and like how a 632 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:33,639 Speaker 1: song comes to be and at that time I think 633 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:36,679 Speaker 1: the song was rising obviously would eventually go number one, 634 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:39,120 Speaker 1: but yeah, John's a great guy, and it was just 635 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:41,600 Speaker 1: a very cool experience where I'll just be myself in 636 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 1: town and these random opportunities were coming my way, you 637 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 1: know what. I mean just to interact these people, connect 638 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 1: the dots and yeah, just tell them, Hey, if you 639 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:51,880 Speaker 1: have music coming out, let me know. And that's something 640 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 1: that Country Central we did a good job at as 641 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 1: like putting this big release calendar up where like every 642 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:00,160 Speaker 1: Friday we're telling you every single country release coming out, 643 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:02,880 Speaker 1: so regular listeners would be We're super grateful, I know 644 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 1: who my favorite artsts putting out music. And then for 645 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:08,120 Speaker 1: up and coming artists, they were really appreciative too, because 646 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 1: they're getting spotlighted just as much as like a Morgan 647 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:14,520 Speaker 1: Wallen was through our platform. And that was just I 648 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 1: think that's how I really made my connections with a 649 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 1: lot of the up and coming people that are doing 650 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 1: well today. And then like just same thing I thought, 651 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 1: like Ryan Herds of the World meeting song like John 652 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 1: and even like Thomas Rhet that was probably the most random, 653 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:29,720 Speaker 1: you know connection because like he had reached out out 654 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 1: of the blue because I just was a big fan 655 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 1: of him and I think he had gotten like twenty 656 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 1: number ones recently and I just kind of had it 657 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:38,920 Speaker 1: compiled it my list of top tr songs, and I 658 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 1: think not everything was like a huge hit. It was 659 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 1: maybe some of the deeper cuts he had done, and 660 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 1: I think maybe he saw that he liked those songs too, 661 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:47,320 Speaker 1: and he had reached out to me just out of 662 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 1: the blue. I was like, hey, man, like I would 663 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:51,920 Speaker 1: love to send you some demos, get your opinion on them, 664 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 1: Like what's your number? And I was like, all right, 665 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: this is this town. Nashville was like insane. Y'all have 666 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 1: the crazy schedules and I don't know why you have 667 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:01,680 Speaker 1: time to each out to me about anything. But that 668 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 1: was really I think when I was like, I'm in 669 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 1: the craziest time in my life, Like I'm still in 670 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 1: Houston at the whole time, I'm coming out to Nashville 671 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 1: on PTO, you know, like all this amazing stuff happening, 672 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:14,080 Speaker 1: and I just know new throughout it all that I 673 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:17,360 Speaker 1: just keeping yourself. Treat people right, you know. I mean 674 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 1: that you come across. Don't get caught up in social 675 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:24,080 Speaker 1: media nonsense. But just I get caught up. I'm kind 676 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:26,880 Speaker 1: up right now. It's tough, right, It's easier so than done, 677 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:29,280 Speaker 1: but you know, keep it on the craft. If I'm 678 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:32,160 Speaker 1: just like, hey, I love country music. I love the 679 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:35,120 Speaker 1: craft of songwriting, and I want everyone to know as 680 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:37,960 Speaker 1: much as possible about this world, so as fans you 681 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 1: can just appreciate it even more. And like I think 682 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:43,000 Speaker 1: because of that, just all this good kept coming in 683 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 1: my life and I keep coming out to Nashville, and yeah, 684 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:49,680 Speaker 1: eventually got here, Hank Tight the Bobby Cast will be 685 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:55,520 Speaker 1: right back. Welcome back to the Bobby Cast. But how 686 00:30:55,640 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 1: did the Warner people? I mean it had to be 687 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:02,920 Speaker 1: you met somebody that knew somebody then also saw what 688 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:06,280 Speaker 1: you brought. I mean, networking is it's such a big 689 00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 1: part of life, more than I ever knew. Me too, 690 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:11,320 Speaker 1: same more than ever knew because I used to not 691 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,600 Speaker 1: care at all. But it's like, can you meet the 692 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 1: right people and then show them that you're going to 693 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:20,800 Speaker 1: have a good attitude and the work ethic and be 694 00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:23,600 Speaker 1: able to take coaching right. I've always felt like for 695 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:27,400 Speaker 1: me that was the process. But you gotta get to 696 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 1: the person that gets to make the decisions. So how 697 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:32,520 Speaker 1: did you get to the person? Yeah, it's kind of 698 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:34,719 Speaker 1: another one of those like you know, God things, universe 699 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:38,400 Speaker 1: things where obviously I being town like with certain Warner 700 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 1: you know Chapel the publishing company, like writers like Connor 701 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 1: Smith is like a writer for Warner Chapel, and I 702 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 1: think pretty much just my name was getting around in 703 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:49,840 Speaker 1: that way to where like my current position. Just and 704 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:53,640 Speaker 1: our manager, one of the directors there, had heard my 705 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:56,400 Speaker 1: name just seeing what was going on, just either when 706 00:31:56,440 --> 00:31:58,360 Speaker 1: I was in town and what was going on obviously 707 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:01,720 Speaker 1: online just can I and the Dots spotline law of 708 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:04,840 Speaker 1: their artists, and he used reached out to say like, hey, dude, 709 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:07,160 Speaker 1: like I see you in town. I would love just 710 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:09,160 Speaker 1: to meet you. Just he just reached out to They 711 00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:11,280 Speaker 1: just called you reach out like you didn't go, Hey, 712 00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:14,200 Speaker 1: everybody's Benji, anybody want to hire I don't think I'm 713 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 1: that kind of guy, but I know I have to be. Now, 714 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 1: you gotta be in people's faces in Nashville to get 715 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:20,280 Speaker 1: your music herd. But was literally just like, hey, like, 716 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 1: I see what y'all are doing. Just curious what your 717 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 1: plan is in town? Like what are you even looking 718 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:28,440 Speaker 1: to do? And I think that was the first time 719 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:30,800 Speaker 1: in a long time when I was like, could I 720 00:32:30,840 --> 00:32:34,480 Speaker 1: see myself you know, being in music? Is there a pathway? 721 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:36,080 Speaker 1: You know what I mean? And because for a long 722 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:37,680 Speaker 1: time I had to kind of close my mind off 723 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:39,400 Speaker 1: to that, you know, because I know there's a lot 724 00:32:39,440 --> 00:32:41,440 Speaker 1: of different routes to get into the music business. But 725 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:43,320 Speaker 1: for me, I'm like, I'm thirty two years old. I'm like, 726 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:45,440 Speaker 1: I got a lot going on at home, Like is 727 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:47,800 Speaker 1: this just gonna be my life? You know? Sometimes it's 728 00:32:47,800 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 1: easy to get resigned to that fact. And just when 729 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 1: that happened, I'm like, maybe there's an opportunity and all 730 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 1: I have to do is raise my hand and ask, 731 00:32:56,760 --> 00:32:58,560 Speaker 1: you know, what's the process, what does it look like? 732 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:01,320 Speaker 1: What do y'all even have available? You know what I mean? 733 00:33:01,360 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 1: But at that time, I think I just was getting 734 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:05,320 Speaker 1: get to no type of thing. What are you looking 735 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:07,000 Speaker 1: to do? You have the country's central thing, you have 736 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:10,000 Speaker 1: your platform? What are you looking? Um? I don't know 737 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:12,560 Speaker 1: if you know him. His name is a Spencer Noe. Okay, yeah, 738 00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:14,680 Speaker 1: great guy. And we just hung out for two hours, 739 00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:16,280 Speaker 1: just got to do each other. Still there a lot 740 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:17,720 Speaker 1: of two hour calls with you is it the minimal? 741 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:21,719 Speaker 1: Like you got to zoom two hours? You get one 742 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:23,560 Speaker 1: on one with people when you talk about life. It 743 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:25,960 Speaker 1: just for me, like that's just when you learn you'd 744 00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:28,240 Speaker 1: appreciate where people come from, like what it took for 745 00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:30,160 Speaker 1: them to get to where they're at today, and I 746 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:31,800 Speaker 1: don't know, just I think I can relate to just 747 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:34,800 Speaker 1: giving like my background, my family, like I definitely appreciate 748 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: hustlers and people that grind it out. And yeah, just honestly, 749 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:40,960 Speaker 1: after that, I think we just left his like we 750 00:33:41,080 --> 00:33:43,000 Speaker 1: got along, liked him. He's a good person to know. 751 00:33:43,120 --> 00:33:45,440 Speaker 1: Nashe no job was talked about. Really did you just 752 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:46,880 Speaker 1: wanted to learn about the job, but they were like, 753 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:48,680 Speaker 1: we want to hire you. Yeah, I just wanted to 754 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:51,040 Speaker 1: learn about his world, what it all took to get 755 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:54,000 Speaker 1: into that. And honestly, I think in those kind of 756 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:56,760 Speaker 1: positions that companies like that, I mean, people don't leave 757 00:33:57,080 --> 00:34:01,040 Speaker 1: usually usually in your place, your position for years, and 758 00:34:01,120 --> 00:34:04,160 Speaker 1: like Ben, maybe a promotion comes up, maybe something opens up, 759 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:06,640 Speaker 1: but as far as getting in there like that usually 760 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:09,319 Speaker 1: doesn't happen. So I mean I went home, and I 761 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:11,920 Speaker 1: want to say, is maybe before the holidays, just this 762 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:14,680 Speaker 1: past you know, this past year where there was just 763 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:18,320 Speaker 1: some movement, just someone happened for whatever reason, was leaving, 764 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:22,000 Speaker 1: you know, the company. And I got another call just saying, hey, 765 00:34:22,440 --> 00:34:24,640 Speaker 1: you know, there's gonna be some changes at the company. 766 00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:27,880 Speaker 1: And I thought of you, you know, like I happened 767 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:30,279 Speaker 1: to have met with the team just casually just went 768 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:32,680 Speaker 1: to the office, met them, kind of learned what they 769 00:34:32,680 --> 00:34:34,440 Speaker 1: all did, how they got to where they came to be, 770 00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:38,200 Speaker 1: and saying they met with the president Ben Vaughan, you 771 00:34:38,239 --> 00:34:41,239 Speaker 1: know who I know, well really you know, my name's sake, 772 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:43,440 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, and great guy and just 773 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 1: no real offer. But it was just like, but when 774 00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:48,040 Speaker 1: that call came in, I was literally working my regular job, 775 00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:50,000 Speaker 1: you know, trying to get a deal, you know, get 776 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:52,839 Speaker 1: contract signed, you know, before Friday or something like that. 777 00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:54,680 Speaker 1: And I was just like, hey, like I thought of you, 778 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:57,880 Speaker 1: just there's no promises, but like there's some shift to 779 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:00,480 Speaker 1: change here, and your name came to mind and just 780 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:04,600 Speaker 1: if you're interested, we can start talking about it. And 781 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:07,840 Speaker 1: I was like, okay, you know what I mean. I 782 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:10,239 Speaker 1: really didn't know what to think. And I feel like 783 00:35:10,280 --> 00:35:11,799 Speaker 1: at that point of my life, I'm not one to 784 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:14,600 Speaker 1: like be like it's happening absolutely, even if it's something 785 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:16,959 Speaker 1: like I manifest that I've never wanted to say, of course, 786 00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:18,400 Speaker 1: because I feel like at this point of life, I 787 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:20,960 Speaker 1: try to live in as much reality as possible. Not 788 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:22,719 Speaker 1: to say I don't dream as much, but when I 789 00:35:22,719 --> 00:35:24,640 Speaker 1: don't know, like my dad's stick at home, and it's 790 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:26,399 Speaker 1: like when you have to see that, you're like, let 791 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:28,799 Speaker 1: me appreciate the present and you're not really thinking about 792 00:35:29,160 --> 00:35:31,360 Speaker 1: what could the future be like. But when that offer 793 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:34,440 Speaker 1: came in or that opportunity came in, I was like, great, 794 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:37,920 Speaker 1: this is something I definitely think I could do. I 795 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:39,520 Speaker 1: know it could do, especially when I heard like what 796 00:35:39,560 --> 00:35:41,080 Speaker 1: it's all about? What is it all about? What do 797 00:35:41,160 --> 00:35:43,200 Speaker 1: you tell you? Like? This is what you're gonna do daily? Yeah? 798 00:35:43,239 --> 00:35:45,640 Speaker 1: I would ask that, like what do I do every day? Absolutely? 799 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:47,319 Speaker 1: What did you ask him? What do you say? He 800 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:49,799 Speaker 1: just told me you're pretty much gonna be an advocate 801 00:35:49,840 --> 00:35:53,040 Speaker 1: for a group of songwriters or artists that write as well, 802 00:35:53,320 --> 00:35:56,399 Speaker 1: and you're going to be the person pretty much supporting them, 803 00:35:57,360 --> 00:36:01,640 Speaker 1: incentivizing or networking songs throughout out the community to get 804 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:04,320 Speaker 1: them in the right hands hopefully someone that's gonna record 805 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:06,640 Speaker 1: a song it gets on the radio. And when I 806 00:36:06,680 --> 00:36:08,120 Speaker 1: just saw a lot of it was number one. You're 807 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:12,080 Speaker 1: gonna be diving into a song catalogue from decades you 808 00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:14,799 Speaker 1: know that Warner owns, and even songs like that. You're 809 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:16,160 Speaker 1: going to try to find a home for them if 810 00:36:16,160 --> 00:36:19,400 Speaker 1: they've never been recorded before. Then number two, you're networking 811 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:22,200 Speaker 1: with people in town obviously trying to build relationships where 812 00:36:22,719 --> 00:36:25,720 Speaker 1: when time the timing is right, there's like something mutually 813 00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:28,160 Speaker 1: makes sense for everybody. That's when you know, you get 814 00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:30,879 Speaker 1: a song in the hands of a rite artist. And 815 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:34,000 Speaker 1: then finally, you know, just I guess being myself being 816 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:36,520 Speaker 1: like an advocate for songwriters, and I was like, I 817 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:37,960 Speaker 1: know I could do that. I feel like I've been 818 00:36:38,040 --> 00:36:39,560 Speaker 1: I think that's all the thing. Like you, we feel 819 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:43,560 Speaker 1: like you've been doing that really just not officially, and 820 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:46,400 Speaker 1: I was like, I agree, and really just want to 821 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:48,200 Speaker 1: know what the rest of the steps of like what 822 00:36:48,239 --> 00:36:50,799 Speaker 1: would it take for me to get there? And I 823 00:36:50,840 --> 00:36:52,839 Speaker 1: think it was like we can talk about it, you know, 824 00:36:53,200 --> 00:36:55,640 Speaker 1: the beginning the new year, will come back. And I 825 00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:57,719 Speaker 1: was planning to be in town anyways for that because 826 00:36:57,719 --> 00:36:59,719 Speaker 1: I had to actually come to town to interview Chase 827 00:36:59,800 --> 00:37:02,719 Speaker 1: right before his record came out. So I was like, Hey, 828 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:05,799 Speaker 1: I'm in town anyways, I'm gonna take another meeting there 829 00:37:06,080 --> 00:37:08,799 Speaker 1: and you know, talk to Ben Vaughan about what things 830 00:37:08,800 --> 00:37:11,080 Speaker 1: could look like. And Ben Von's like, meet me at 831 00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:14,320 Speaker 1: a waffle house in Brentwood. I was like, all right, great, 832 00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:16,440 Speaker 1: and I think at that time I was on PTO 833 00:37:16,520 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 1: from my job. I still brought my bad pack in 834 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:20,799 Speaker 1: my work laptop because I appreciate a meeting. I got 835 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:22,320 Speaker 1: three pm after I was going to meet up with 836 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:24,440 Speaker 1: Ben and I need to, you know, call in, just 837 00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:27,440 Speaker 1: be there, be present, and you know, hung out with 838 00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:29,840 Speaker 1: Ben a little more, and like we'd met each other 839 00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:31,919 Speaker 1: a couple of times, had a couple of conversations, and 840 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:34,279 Speaker 1: you just start going through, these are the people you 841 00:37:34,280 --> 00:37:35,960 Speaker 1: could be working with. You're the kind of writers you 842 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:38,120 Speaker 1: might have a chance to work with. And it'd be 843 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:40,400 Speaker 1: a lot of familiar names, people that I already knew, 844 00:37:40,440 --> 00:37:43,839 Speaker 1: either personally or i'd always been a fan of. And 845 00:37:43,880 --> 00:37:45,880 Speaker 1: he's like, yeah, that's gonna be your job is to 846 00:37:46,400 --> 00:37:49,200 Speaker 1: they have a catalogust songs, and you're going to be 847 00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:52,480 Speaker 1: the person pretty much evangelizing for them, making sure that 848 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:54,799 Speaker 1: these songs find a home. And I was like, I 849 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:57,320 Speaker 1: don't know, I've never been more excited than just thinking 850 00:37:57,360 --> 00:38:00,520 Speaker 1: about what I could be doing in a job. And truly, 851 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:03,040 Speaker 1: I mean I went home still after that trip and 852 00:38:03,120 --> 00:38:05,960 Speaker 1: it was more like informer like this could this is 853 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:08,640 Speaker 1: probably real. But for me, it was not real until 854 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:10,560 Speaker 1: I got like an HRM phone call. I was just 855 00:38:10,560 --> 00:38:13,600 Speaker 1: like at home in Houston and they're like, hey, like 856 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:16,799 Speaker 1: what's going on, Like how are you doing? And where 857 00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:18,600 Speaker 1: are you at as far as like in the job thing, 858 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:21,480 Speaker 1: like are you looking anywhere else in the industry. I 859 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:23,680 Speaker 1: was like, I'd interviewed for another job in like my 860 00:38:23,719 --> 00:38:27,640 Speaker 1: current field, but um, non music. And they're like, well, 861 00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:31,000 Speaker 1: the software still stands if you want it, and like 862 00:38:31,080 --> 00:38:33,600 Speaker 1: a dream. It's literally you were doing kids. We're just 863 00:38:33,600 --> 00:38:36,920 Speaker 1: passionate about it, not really pursuing a job because who 864 00:38:36,920 --> 00:38:40,120 Speaker 1: even knew that how to get into that job and 865 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:44,239 Speaker 1: you just did it consistently and passionately. And then it 866 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:47,080 Speaker 1: came up and knocked on the door and I've moved 867 00:38:47,160 --> 00:38:49,680 Speaker 1: within Let's tell him, Mike. I moved like within like 868 00:38:49,719 --> 00:38:51,719 Speaker 1: two to three weeks. I think They're like, could you 869 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:54,799 Speaker 1: start in February? I was like, I also could start 870 00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:56,560 Speaker 1: really quickly, but I was like, let me be smart 871 00:38:56,600 --> 00:38:59,560 Speaker 1: and give myself a buffer and not just be like overwhelmed, 872 00:39:00,160 --> 00:39:02,239 Speaker 1: and um I think I just I started like the 873 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:05,400 Speaker 1: end of February, and I think the last minute my 874 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:07,200 Speaker 1: old job was like on a Friday and I literally 875 00:39:07,440 --> 00:39:10,719 Speaker 1: pad two suitcases and flew out that falling Saturday to 876 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:15,520 Speaker 1: Nashville full time. And luckily, since I'd come out here 877 00:39:15,560 --> 00:39:17,920 Speaker 1: so many times and I'd use the same Airbnb to 878 00:39:17,960 --> 00:39:21,160 Speaker 1: interview artists and stay there. When those owners knew I was, 879 00:39:21,200 --> 00:39:23,040 Speaker 1: I had an opportunity out here, They're like, you can 880 00:39:23,040 --> 00:39:25,360 Speaker 1: just stay here while you get settled, And it was 881 00:39:25,400 --> 00:39:26,839 Speaker 1: one of those ways where I could come here and 882 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:29,040 Speaker 1: be very comfortable, you know what I mean. I wasn't 883 00:39:29,040 --> 00:39:30,920 Speaker 1: just like where do I go? Right? I don't know 884 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:33,240 Speaker 1: anybody here. I'd come a time the past two years, 885 00:39:33,280 --> 00:39:34,600 Speaker 1: and what it feels like when I moved here, I 886 00:39:34,600 --> 00:39:38,279 Speaker 1: didn't know anybody, didn't know anything about town, didn't That's 887 00:39:38,760 --> 00:39:41,960 Speaker 1: that is really a comfortable situation. I'm not complaining. I'm 888 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:43,480 Speaker 1: a big fan of it. And I was able to 889 00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:45,319 Speaker 1: kind of hit the ground running here in town and 890 00:39:45,560 --> 00:39:48,040 Speaker 1: just super grateful. It's just one of those situations that 891 00:39:48,120 --> 00:39:50,120 Speaker 1: I'm like, I know, I'm blessed because of it and 892 00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:52,680 Speaker 1: the work I get to do to serve people here 893 00:39:52,680 --> 00:39:55,000 Speaker 1: in town, like it is super fulfilling. I think that 894 00:39:55,080 --> 00:39:57,560 Speaker 1: was something growing up I was always good at, like 895 00:39:58,280 --> 00:40:00,400 Speaker 1: serving on behalf of people I cared about out and 896 00:40:00,440 --> 00:40:02,319 Speaker 1: sometimes it's kind of hard to serve yourself the same 897 00:40:02,320 --> 00:40:04,319 Speaker 1: way sometimes easier to do for others. Is what I 898 00:40:04,400 --> 00:40:06,560 Speaker 1: found and kind of the perfect job, you know what 899 00:40:06,560 --> 00:40:08,920 Speaker 1: I mean to be Like you serve people every single 900 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:12,240 Speaker 1: day and you find creative ways to you know, get 901 00:40:12,280 --> 00:40:14,279 Speaker 1: their name out there, to get their songs heard by 902 00:40:14,320 --> 00:40:18,120 Speaker 1: the right people. And um, so far, like four weeks in, 903 00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:20,680 Speaker 1: but you know, I'm loving it already. There's something new 904 00:40:20,760 --> 00:40:24,080 Speaker 1: to learn every single day. I'm definitely not finished product, 905 00:40:24,080 --> 00:40:27,160 Speaker 1: but it's it's definitely, I think, for me, the best 906 00:40:27,239 --> 00:40:30,560 Speaker 1: job because I got to be myself. Like, let's take 907 00:40:30,600 --> 00:40:34,759 Speaker 1: a quick pause for a message from our sponsor. Wow, 908 00:40:35,160 --> 00:40:38,120 Speaker 1: and we're back on the Bobby Cast. You were with 909 00:40:38,280 --> 00:40:40,439 Speaker 1: Neon Union before he came over here, just had lunch 910 00:40:40,640 --> 00:40:43,040 Speaker 1: with them. Yeah, So what's it like meaning with those guys, Like, 911 00:40:43,040 --> 00:40:46,160 Speaker 1: what was the purpose? The purpose is right? So I 912 00:40:46,239 --> 00:40:48,680 Speaker 1: had a roster writers, right, I had to had to 913 00:40:48,719 --> 00:40:50,880 Speaker 1: represent a Neon Union is one of those you know 914 00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:53,960 Speaker 1: as a duo. There my riders and they had just 915 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:56,719 Speaker 1: gotten off like a long slog you know, radio tour, 916 00:40:57,040 --> 00:40:59,400 Speaker 1: you know, for a long time and they finally just 917 00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:02,440 Speaker 1: got back in town where they could just relax and 918 00:41:02,480 --> 00:41:05,680 Speaker 1: also have rights with other writers in town, you know 919 00:41:05,719 --> 00:41:07,759 Speaker 1: what I mean, on their calendar. And I was like 920 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:09,960 Speaker 1: I taught to you know, some of the members, you know, 921 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:12,600 Speaker 1: back and forth like on online, on Instagram, texting them, 922 00:41:12,920 --> 00:41:14,719 Speaker 1: but I never met them in person. So it's like, hey, 923 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:17,239 Speaker 1: like they're actually in town, let me just meet y'all 924 00:41:17,280 --> 00:41:19,400 Speaker 1: to hang out with you. First time you met him 925 00:41:19,400 --> 00:41:21,600 Speaker 1: in first time at him in person, you know, first 926 00:41:21,600 --> 00:41:26,279 Speaker 1: time skin to skin contact, We shook hands contact. That's 927 00:41:26,280 --> 00:41:27,920 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. It's important. And which, how do you 928 00:41:27,960 --> 00:41:30,080 Speaker 1: feel about those guys? Oh? I mean they're great. They 929 00:41:30,200 --> 00:41:35,319 Speaker 1: they're very very you know, down home guys. Incredibly talented though, 930 00:41:35,360 --> 00:41:39,479 Speaker 1: like just their backgrounds it's amazing, Like Leo oft on Union, 931 00:41:39,560 --> 00:41:41,959 Speaker 1: like his bright background, like working for with pit Bull, 932 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:45,040 Speaker 1: writing songs with him, and they're bringing a ton to 933 00:41:45,280 --> 00:41:48,160 Speaker 1: Nashville where you know, it's not like they're just waking 934 00:41:48,200 --> 00:41:49,480 Speaker 1: up and say I just want to write a song. 935 00:41:49,520 --> 00:41:51,640 Speaker 1: It's like they're coming with a lot of knowledge of, 936 00:41:51,840 --> 00:41:54,440 Speaker 1: you know, what they want to do and have like 937 00:41:54,480 --> 00:41:57,880 Speaker 1: a very good ear for what a big song should 938 00:41:57,880 --> 00:41:59,920 Speaker 1: sound like. And I'm just really excited to get them 939 00:42:00,160 --> 00:42:02,080 Speaker 1: into rooms with a lot of different kinds of people, 940 00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:04,319 Speaker 1: and they're just excited to get to work. Man. I 941 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:07,480 Speaker 1: mean just talking to them, like they're very very motivated 942 00:42:07,520 --> 00:42:10,040 Speaker 1: by you know, being on the road doing the radio tour, 943 00:42:10,800 --> 00:42:13,040 Speaker 1: meeting a lot of people, you know, around the country, 944 00:42:13,080 --> 00:42:14,960 Speaker 1: making those connections. And I'm like, that's kind of what 945 00:42:15,040 --> 00:42:17,880 Speaker 1: I'm doing here, you know, just coming into town, meeting 946 00:42:17,880 --> 00:42:20,640 Speaker 1: as many people as possible and just learn everyone's story. 947 00:42:20,680 --> 00:42:23,200 Speaker 1: And then I'm saying, well, where's the alignment where we 948 00:42:23,239 --> 00:42:26,000 Speaker 1: could work together that makes sense for the benefit of 949 00:42:26,120 --> 00:42:28,319 Speaker 1: our riders and artists, you know what I mean. And 950 00:42:28,360 --> 00:42:30,759 Speaker 1: that's why I got from them. Just people ready to 951 00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:34,239 Speaker 1: do whatever. They're ready to write with any kind of person. One. 952 00:42:34,320 --> 00:42:36,440 Speaker 1: It does a lot of camps, you know, a lot 953 00:42:36,440 --> 00:42:38,279 Speaker 1: of like riding camps with like we just had like 954 00:42:38,320 --> 00:42:40,799 Speaker 1: an Asia Pacific one. They did a Latin America one, 955 00:42:40,840 --> 00:42:42,359 Speaker 1: and like I have a friend who did a Latin 956 00:42:42,400 --> 00:42:44,439 Speaker 1: America one, and he's like, I'd never writen Latin music 957 00:42:44,480 --> 00:42:46,440 Speaker 1: in my life, and they and you make it happen, 958 00:42:46,480 --> 00:42:48,879 Speaker 1: you figure it out, and it's really cool, like kind 959 00:42:48,920 --> 00:42:51,200 Speaker 1: of see that, you know, walking in the office every 960 00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:53,840 Speaker 1: day and they're like, oh, we'd love to do that 961 00:42:53,880 --> 00:42:56,560 Speaker 1: type of collaborations. Like it's cool you know where you 962 00:42:56,560 --> 00:42:58,200 Speaker 1: have riders and a lot of people I work with, 963 00:42:58,239 --> 00:43:01,280 Speaker 1: they're just like, we just want dive in. We're open, 964 00:43:01,680 --> 00:43:03,360 Speaker 1: more open than I ever thought people would be. Like 965 00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:06,320 Speaker 1: you may know a writer and artist just outside looking 966 00:43:06,360 --> 00:43:08,759 Speaker 1: in you sit down with them and they're like, we 967 00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:10,959 Speaker 1: just want to be as creative as possible. And that's 968 00:43:10,960 --> 00:43:13,840 Speaker 1: probably the best part about this town is everyone just 969 00:43:13,880 --> 00:43:16,480 Speaker 1: wants to be creative. And I think, honestly, that's like 970 00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:19,520 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one and going on. I'm like I always 971 00:43:19,560 --> 00:43:22,279 Speaker 1: would joke, like on Instagram or social media, I'd be like, 972 00:43:22,600 --> 00:43:24,400 Speaker 1: this is the best time to be a fan and 973 00:43:24,560 --> 00:43:27,520 Speaker 1: a creative in my mind, like there's still like a 974 00:43:27,520 --> 00:43:29,440 Speaker 1: framework you work out of, but there's really not a 975 00:43:29,440 --> 00:43:31,200 Speaker 1: lot of rules for a listener. At the end of 976 00:43:31,200 --> 00:43:33,680 Speaker 1: the day, they only know what they know. And I 977 00:43:33,719 --> 00:43:36,439 Speaker 1: think after like you know, the pandemic and streaming blew 978 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:39,440 Speaker 1: up for country music, it's like fans are down to 979 00:43:39,440 --> 00:43:43,239 Speaker 1: listen to anything and everything and whatever's classifized country. There's 980 00:43:43,280 --> 00:43:46,440 Speaker 1: so many different lanes that in my mind everything can 981 00:43:46,480 --> 00:43:48,360 Speaker 1: co exist in and now I get to kind of 982 00:43:48,360 --> 00:43:51,320 Speaker 1: work with every kind of writer, every kind of artist, 983 00:43:51,360 --> 00:43:53,120 Speaker 1: and that's just so fulfilling for me as like a 984 00:43:53,200 --> 00:43:55,319 Speaker 1: music fan, you know at heart, when you get a 985 00:43:55,320 --> 00:43:58,480 Speaker 1: publishing deal, are you paid a salary? And can you 986 00:43:58,520 --> 00:44:02,080 Speaker 1: make more than that salary? Every single deal is different. 987 00:44:02,160 --> 00:44:03,680 Speaker 1: I think that's a lot to talk to Ben Advits like, 988 00:44:03,760 --> 00:44:06,640 Speaker 1: every single deal is different depending on the writer you're 989 00:44:06,640 --> 00:44:09,120 Speaker 1: signing or the artists you're signing. I mean, I'm sure 990 00:44:09,160 --> 00:44:11,720 Speaker 1: there's a lot of standard deals where you are making 991 00:44:11,719 --> 00:44:15,000 Speaker 1: a salary of sorts. But of course, as you probably know, 992 00:44:15,040 --> 00:44:17,560 Speaker 1: with radio, I mean, if a song does very well 993 00:44:17,600 --> 00:44:19,759 Speaker 1: on radio, it goes number one, or if it's even 994 00:44:19,800 --> 00:44:22,640 Speaker 1: like top five, I mean there's definitely incentives. There's ways 995 00:44:22,680 --> 00:44:25,840 Speaker 1: that people can make more money, you know, with royalties, 996 00:44:25,880 --> 00:44:28,360 Speaker 1: so based on how well that their songs are recorded 997 00:44:28,440 --> 00:44:31,080 Speaker 1: due and I know it's streaming, there are ways to 998 00:44:31,360 --> 00:44:34,040 Speaker 1: make money. But with songwriting, it's it's definitely tough, just 999 00:44:34,120 --> 00:44:37,520 Speaker 1: as it is today and it's getting better. But yes, 1000 00:44:37,719 --> 00:44:40,560 Speaker 1: every situation is different because every person that's coming to 1001 00:44:40,640 --> 00:44:43,799 Speaker 1: the table for a songwriting or a publishing deal, I 1002 00:44:43,840 --> 00:44:47,080 Speaker 1: mean they may be coming in with, you know, different 1003 00:44:47,160 --> 00:44:49,399 Speaker 1: chips to the table. Some people may be brand new 1004 00:44:49,440 --> 00:44:52,080 Speaker 1: to town. Some people may be a very known quantity. 1005 00:44:52,200 --> 00:44:55,080 Speaker 1: So every deal is different. So I got a couple 1006 00:44:55,080 --> 00:44:56,880 Speaker 1: of friends when they moved here, they made like forty 1007 00:44:56,880 --> 00:45:00,279 Speaker 1: grand a year that was recupable if they made over 1008 00:45:00,320 --> 00:45:02,560 Speaker 1: it they reached that limit, and then they made money 1009 00:45:02,600 --> 00:45:04,560 Speaker 1: if their songs. They made a percentage of the money 1010 00:45:04,719 --> 00:45:07,400 Speaker 1: once their songs started to make money. Is that common 1011 00:45:07,400 --> 00:45:10,560 Speaker 1: at all now? Is that still common ish? For sure? 1012 00:45:10,640 --> 00:45:12,279 Speaker 1: It doesn't mean that, not that amount of money, But 1013 00:45:12,320 --> 00:45:15,520 Speaker 1: it's like I gotta eat, So can I make forty 1014 00:45:15,520 --> 00:45:18,080 Speaker 1: five thousand dollars a year plus whatever I can make 1015 00:45:18,080 --> 00:45:21,239 Speaker 1: if the song does well. Absolutely, And obviously you can 1016 00:45:21,239 --> 00:45:23,520 Speaker 1: get technacal with it, right because I mean some people 1017 00:45:23,640 --> 00:45:27,279 Speaker 1: own right the masters, and not everybody's going to have 1018 00:45:27,320 --> 00:45:30,600 Speaker 1: that type of situation when they get into, you know, 1019 00:45:30,680 --> 00:45:33,080 Speaker 1: into the music business. But I think there are a 1020 00:45:33,120 --> 00:45:36,000 Speaker 1: lot of different ways people can make money through songwriting, 1021 00:45:36,360 --> 00:45:38,400 Speaker 1: and I'm as advocates for it. We're always trying to 1022 00:45:38,480 --> 00:45:41,560 Speaker 1: find more avenues for are people to make as much 1023 00:45:41,600 --> 00:45:43,680 Speaker 1: money as possible, So like that's kind of the goal, 1024 00:45:43,719 --> 00:45:47,359 Speaker 1: and I'm grateful just to see that with technology things 1025 00:45:47,360 --> 00:45:50,719 Speaker 1: are opening up. I mean, more people are fighting for that, 1026 00:45:51,280 --> 00:45:54,040 Speaker 1: and yeah, I think we're getting closer to a day 1027 00:45:54,040 --> 00:45:56,200 Speaker 1: where you can just be a songwriter for a living, 1028 00:45:56,239 --> 00:45:58,480 Speaker 1: and even I think I think maybe the good thing 1029 00:45:58,520 --> 00:46:01,000 Speaker 1: about a thirty six song alb from Morgan Wallan is 1030 00:46:01,040 --> 00:46:03,480 Speaker 1: you can have a song be just an album song, 1031 00:46:03,560 --> 00:46:07,120 Speaker 1: but go insane on streaming to the point where you're 1032 00:46:07,120 --> 00:46:08,839 Speaker 1: going to get close enough for people can actually makes 1033 00:46:08,880 --> 00:46:10,880 Speaker 1: some good money off of that. So when people complain 1034 00:46:10,960 --> 00:46:15,319 Speaker 1: it's too many songs, I say no, just because there's 1035 00:46:15,320 --> 00:46:18,000 Speaker 1: so many outside songs I think that were cut off 1036 00:46:18,000 --> 00:46:20,239 Speaker 1: of that record that would never seen the light of 1037 00:46:20,320 --> 00:46:23,000 Speaker 1: day otherwise. And I don't know, it's kind of people 1038 00:46:23,000 --> 00:46:25,839 Speaker 1: are worked their whole you know, life, every single day 1039 00:46:25,880 --> 00:46:28,480 Speaker 1: of the year to write just the best song. And 1040 00:46:28,840 --> 00:46:31,560 Speaker 1: Morgan wall had options to choose like the best songs 1041 00:46:31,560 --> 00:46:33,759 Speaker 1: from these groups of songwriters, and you got to pull 1042 00:46:33,840 --> 00:46:35,839 Speaker 1: all of those on his record. And for me, it's 1043 00:46:35,840 --> 00:46:38,400 Speaker 1: a big win for Nashville, you know, because it's so 1044 00:46:38,440 --> 00:46:42,160 Speaker 1: many different kinds of publishers were involved in it. And yeah, 1045 00:46:42,200 --> 00:46:43,880 Speaker 1: it's just you don't see it all the time anymore. 1046 00:46:43,920 --> 00:46:45,759 Speaker 1: So it's really cool by you know, him his team 1047 00:46:45,840 --> 00:46:47,560 Speaker 1: to be like, we're just gonna pick the best songs. 1048 00:46:47,600 --> 00:46:49,560 Speaker 1: And John Party does a great job about that too, 1049 00:46:49,640 --> 00:46:53,000 Speaker 1: just picking the best song. And yeah, Chesney's another guy 1050 00:46:53,040 --> 00:46:54,480 Speaker 1: who picks and you know you may not work with 1051 00:46:54,520 --> 00:46:56,440 Speaker 1: him directly, but you know he's a guy that just 1052 00:46:56,640 --> 00:46:58,399 Speaker 1: goes through and he's like, I don't need to write 1053 00:46:58,440 --> 00:47:00,560 Speaker 1: the songs there there are people who are great songwriting. 1054 00:47:00,560 --> 00:47:04,319 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna grab the best songs. Absolutely cold as 1055 00:47:04,360 --> 00:47:07,520 Speaker 1: that too. As a great songwriter, he will go and 1056 00:47:07,600 --> 00:47:10,560 Speaker 1: still say, yeah, I'm a good songwriter, but sometimes the 1057 00:47:10,600 --> 00:47:13,160 Speaker 1: song has written better than what I have. He will 1058 00:47:13,160 --> 00:47:16,160 Speaker 1: open lego, I'm looking for good songs. And I admire that, 1059 00:47:16,239 --> 00:47:18,959 Speaker 1: especially for the people that are great songwriters that still 1060 00:47:19,000 --> 00:47:21,719 Speaker 1: go I maybe good or even great, but doesn't mean 1061 00:47:22,680 --> 00:47:24,879 Speaker 1: great all the time. And I have every great song. 1062 00:47:25,320 --> 00:47:28,000 Speaker 1: So I think that's pretty cool. Dan Smyers we mentioned 1063 00:47:28,040 --> 00:47:30,480 Speaker 1: him earlier, you know Dan at all I do because 1064 00:47:30,480 --> 00:47:32,279 Speaker 1: I got the you know, I had the pleasure of 1065 00:47:32,360 --> 00:47:35,400 Speaker 1: interviewing him, and I guess my joke with that was 1066 00:47:35,440 --> 00:47:37,400 Speaker 1: like I think it was during like the football seasons, 1067 00:47:37,440 --> 00:47:39,359 Speaker 1: like he was like we interview people on Sunday as 1068 00:47:39,360 --> 00:47:41,520 Speaker 1: a country central and I mean, I know he's a 1069 00:47:41,600 --> 00:47:44,399 Speaker 1: huge Steelers fan, so he took like the whole game 1070 00:47:44,480 --> 00:47:47,279 Speaker 1: off to like interview with us. And yeah, he's also 1071 00:47:47,360 --> 00:47:50,080 Speaker 1: like you said, he's very like in tune. He's the 1072 00:47:50,120 --> 00:47:52,759 Speaker 1: guy kind of he produces you said, atrol freak grong, 1073 00:47:52,840 --> 00:47:55,480 Speaker 1: but yeah, go ahead. He's very particular about how his 1074 00:47:55,560 --> 00:47:58,160 Speaker 1: product is. And I don't know he's somebody were he 1075 00:47:58,239 --> 00:48:01,799 Speaker 1: just he dived into everything and and I think the 1076 00:48:01,840 --> 00:48:04,000 Speaker 1: cool thing for me just interviewed him is that I 1077 00:48:04,040 --> 00:48:05,319 Speaker 1: was a huge fan of just like what he did 1078 00:48:05,360 --> 00:48:08,040 Speaker 1: before he even got with and Dan Shay became what 1079 00:48:08,120 --> 00:48:10,680 Speaker 1: they are, and I believe it was him and Andy Albert, 1080 00:48:10,719 --> 00:48:13,399 Speaker 1: and I remember following them because I listened to rock stuff. 1081 00:48:13,440 --> 00:48:15,160 Speaker 1: I wasn't like the rock band he was in before 1082 00:48:15,160 --> 00:48:17,920 Speaker 1: he moved to Nashville. And then when him and Andy 1083 00:48:18,160 --> 00:48:21,400 Speaker 1: got together a group called Bonaventure, and I just remember 1084 00:48:21,400 --> 00:48:23,040 Speaker 1: seeing like, this is a guy knew that tour the 1085 00:48:23,040 --> 00:48:25,160 Speaker 1: bands I loved as a kid, and he's in Nashville. 1086 00:48:25,160 --> 00:48:27,279 Speaker 1: And when Dan and Shaye really blew up, I was like, 1087 00:48:27,560 --> 00:48:29,799 Speaker 1: I'm just happy that someone that I've followed for so 1088 00:48:29,840 --> 00:48:32,400 Speaker 1: many years is like seeing a ton of success and 1089 00:48:32,440 --> 00:48:34,680 Speaker 1: then for literally almost like ten years later for me 1090 00:48:34,760 --> 00:48:36,880 Speaker 1: to like interview him peel talked to him on the 1091 00:48:36,920 --> 00:48:39,680 Speaker 1: phone about whatever. It's just like this guy's like a 1092 00:48:39,719 --> 00:48:43,440 Speaker 1: student of the craft, like just loves music more than anybody, 1093 00:48:43,960 --> 00:48:46,040 Speaker 1: and just to learn really just how Dan Shay came 1094 00:48:46,080 --> 00:48:48,080 Speaker 1: to be the grind that he took to get to 1095 00:48:48,080 --> 00:48:51,400 Speaker 1: where he's today, and then his process of around recording music, 1096 00:48:51,800 --> 00:48:55,000 Speaker 1: writing music, and how he stayed creative working with other artists. 1097 00:48:55,000 --> 00:48:57,719 Speaker 1: It's just like it was the most inspiring thing, you know, 1098 00:48:57,880 --> 00:49:00,640 Speaker 1: talking to him, and then even before about this job, 1099 00:49:00,719 --> 00:49:02,799 Speaker 1: Like I think I texted him and I think like 1100 00:49:02,960 --> 00:49:05,600 Speaker 1: talking about, hey, this is an opportunity, it could happen, 1101 00:49:06,200 --> 00:49:08,200 Speaker 1: And I remember telling like, yeah, you know, obviously I 1102 00:49:08,280 --> 00:49:09,640 Speaker 1: knew I could do it and I want it, but 1103 00:49:09,719 --> 00:49:11,160 Speaker 1: like you know, I didn't grow up. You know, I 1104 00:49:11,200 --> 00:49:12,400 Speaker 1: think I was going to do this. I didn't go 1105 00:49:12,480 --> 00:49:15,319 Speaker 1: to school for this. And he stopped me. He's like, dude, 1106 00:49:15,360 --> 00:49:17,520 Speaker 1: like stop thinking that way. You know what I mean, 1107 00:49:17,560 --> 00:49:19,920 Speaker 1: Like if you care enough, if you're you obviously have 1108 00:49:20,000 --> 00:49:22,040 Speaker 1: passion for it and something that you love, and if 1109 00:49:22,080 --> 00:49:24,200 Speaker 1: you keep that as you're focused. I mean, you're going 1110 00:49:24,239 --> 00:49:26,600 Speaker 1: to be successful at it. And I don't know. I mean, 1111 00:49:26,640 --> 00:49:28,000 Speaker 1: he not have to tell me that, you know what 1112 00:49:28,040 --> 00:49:30,759 Speaker 1: I mean, plus exactly, And I was just like one 1113 00:49:30,760 --> 00:49:32,839 Speaker 1: of the best people that I've met this town. And 1114 00:49:33,440 --> 00:49:35,400 Speaker 1: I don't know. Man again, the like I said, with 1115 00:49:35,520 --> 00:49:38,319 Speaker 1: my life, it's like it's just funny when you at 1116 00:49:38,400 --> 00:49:41,879 Speaker 1: least expected just the craziest opportunities blessings come your way, 1117 00:49:41,920 --> 00:49:44,000 Speaker 1: and just me being here, like you said, it's a 1118 00:49:44,080 --> 00:49:46,160 Speaker 1: dream for me. It's something I never thought would have 1119 00:49:46,200 --> 00:49:50,200 Speaker 1: been possible. Last question for you. So I recorded a 1120 00:49:50,200 --> 00:49:52,440 Speaker 1: song called Hobby Lobby. Bobby probably heard its mathif head 1121 00:49:52,480 --> 00:49:55,520 Speaker 1: all over the world, right, And I think I made 1122 00:49:55,560 --> 00:49:59,160 Speaker 1: like so far like fifty one thousand dollars from this 1123 00:49:59,160 --> 00:50:00,840 Speaker 1: one song, right, which feel pretty good about because I 1124 00:50:00,880 --> 00:50:03,000 Speaker 1: never it's not a song that we wanted to come out. 1125 00:50:03,920 --> 00:50:05,920 Speaker 1: I mean it's nineteen sixty four or something like that. 1126 00:50:06,480 --> 00:50:08,719 Speaker 1: It's been like five years, four or five years, but 1127 00:50:08,800 --> 00:50:11,080 Speaker 1: we I never we put out and I put out 1128 00:50:11,120 --> 00:50:14,080 Speaker 1: my stuff as just basically promo material. Sure, right, no 1129 00:50:14,120 --> 00:50:15,680 Speaker 1: one's gonna srain this stuff over and over. It's a 1130 00:50:15,719 --> 00:50:18,239 Speaker 1: live comedy record, and we do this. But it's done 1131 00:50:18,239 --> 00:50:20,040 Speaker 1: pretty well. Now I will sell it to you guys 1132 00:50:20,080 --> 00:50:22,000 Speaker 1: for one million dollars? Would you would you like to 1133 00:50:22,000 --> 00:50:26,400 Speaker 1: have it? Yes? Or no? Well one the song or 1134 00:50:26,440 --> 00:50:28,799 Speaker 1: your catalog. I'm not on the catalog. That's worth far, 1135 00:50:28,920 --> 00:50:30,680 Speaker 1: that's worth one hundred million. I'd have to go for 1136 00:50:30,760 --> 00:50:33,520 Speaker 1: Aldine on you guys one hobby lobby bab be one 1137 00:50:33,560 --> 00:50:36,600 Speaker 1: million dollars. Way say take or leave it? I was, oh, 1138 00:50:36,680 --> 00:50:38,759 Speaker 1: is it featuring? Is this one you did with like 1139 00:50:38,920 --> 00:50:40,840 Speaker 1: when Jordan Davison Laney were on. Oh no, that's a 1140 00:50:40,880 --> 00:50:42,520 Speaker 1: recent one. That one's called Opening Act. I feel like 1141 00:50:42,520 --> 00:50:45,960 Speaker 1: we have more lanes with two million dollars for that one, 1142 00:50:46,719 --> 00:50:50,040 Speaker 1: for both together. No, just for that second one. Yeah, 1143 00:50:50,239 --> 00:50:52,799 Speaker 1: I gotta feel I need to talk to I need 1144 00:50:52,800 --> 00:50:56,160 Speaker 1: to talk to our CFO. You know he's he's the numbers. 1145 00:50:56,400 --> 00:50:58,200 Speaker 1: Got to shoot your shot. It'd be close, you know, 1146 00:50:58,360 --> 00:51:00,160 Speaker 1: very I know you guys working on thin margins here, 1147 00:51:00,200 --> 00:51:02,759 Speaker 1: but you know, you never know what's gonna happen. No, 1148 00:51:02,960 --> 00:51:05,520 Speaker 1: you're right about the songwriter issue too, and have friends 1149 00:51:05,520 --> 00:51:09,800 Speaker 1: that have testified on the hill and it is something 1150 00:51:09,840 --> 00:51:12,520 Speaker 1: that it's such a craft and an art and if 1151 00:51:12,520 --> 00:51:14,920 Speaker 1: it did not exist there will be a lot of 1152 00:51:15,040 --> 00:51:18,000 Speaker 1: art that we don't appreciate as much because we have it. 1153 00:51:19,239 --> 00:51:22,799 Speaker 1: But something has to be done, you know. And I've 1154 00:51:22,840 --> 00:51:25,719 Speaker 1: also well I was gonna say under the covers that 1155 00:51:25,800 --> 00:51:27,840 Speaker 1: ain't the right term, but behind the scenes talked to 1156 00:51:27,840 --> 00:51:31,480 Speaker 1: some lawmakers as well, you know, a couple of senators, 1157 00:51:31,480 --> 00:51:38,560 Speaker 1: a couple former senators, and radio streaming. It is such 1158 00:51:38,600 --> 00:51:43,480 Speaker 1: an ill appreciated art and I don't do it near 1159 00:51:43,680 --> 00:51:46,919 Speaker 1: the level of what the great songwriters in town do here. Listen, 1160 00:51:46,960 --> 00:51:49,960 Speaker 1: I just write stupid comedy stuff. But even then like 1161 00:51:50,960 --> 00:51:53,120 Speaker 1: it at least gives me the respect. Although I will 1162 00:51:53,160 --> 00:51:56,080 Speaker 1: say Ben was the head of a deal that we 1163 00:51:56,120 --> 00:51:59,360 Speaker 1: did me, Nicole Galleon and Ross Copperman. We did a 1164 00:51:59,360 --> 00:52:02,880 Speaker 1: group called nie On People Secretly and Ben was the 1165 00:52:02,920 --> 00:52:04,239 Speaker 1: guy and he was the one like making sure I'll 1166 00:52:04,280 --> 00:52:06,839 Speaker 1: write in the word secret and he put all fake 1167 00:52:06,920 --> 00:52:08,919 Speaker 1: names on us. He's great and so yeah, he's been great. 1168 00:52:09,080 --> 00:52:11,600 Speaker 1: But it is when you bring up songwriting, how songwriters 1169 00:52:11,600 --> 00:52:14,759 Speaker 1: aren't paid enough through streaming. I think you can pay 1170 00:52:14,800 --> 00:52:17,440 Speaker 1: more to be a background singer than you do a 1171 00:52:17,560 --> 00:52:20,560 Speaker 1: songwriter for the most part on these tracks. And it 1172 00:52:20,600 --> 00:52:24,719 Speaker 1: is but the fact that that's even close to be 1173 00:52:24,760 --> 00:52:27,920 Speaker 1: in the case, it's it's a it's a disservice to 1174 00:52:28,160 --> 00:52:31,200 Speaker 1: songwriters all over Nashville and LA in New York or 1175 00:52:31,200 --> 00:52:33,480 Speaker 1: wherever they're writing the song. So that's why for me, 1176 00:52:33,600 --> 00:52:36,080 Speaker 1: like even just before I even came here to Nashville, wife, 1177 00:52:36,160 --> 00:52:37,840 Speaker 1: for me, I'm like, it takes zero for me to 1178 00:52:38,400 --> 00:52:40,560 Speaker 1: know a huge songs coming out and just let regular 1179 00:52:40,600 --> 00:52:42,879 Speaker 1: listeners know who wrote it. I would literally just tag 1180 00:52:42,960 --> 00:52:45,960 Speaker 1: their Instagram hand on every review we did. Anytime I 1181 00:52:46,000 --> 00:52:47,799 Speaker 1: just said this song is amazing, I'd say this who 1182 00:52:47,840 --> 00:52:50,680 Speaker 1: wrote it? And it takes a second to do it, 1183 00:52:50,760 --> 00:52:54,239 Speaker 1: but it builds awareness, it builds appreciation, and then if 1184 00:52:54,239 --> 00:52:56,359 Speaker 1: that leads to people streaming more of like what those 1185 00:52:56,360 --> 00:52:58,799 Speaker 1: writers write, or if they ever put out music of 1186 00:52:58,800 --> 00:53:01,480 Speaker 1: their own and people now recognize their name and they're 1187 00:53:01,520 --> 00:53:04,120 Speaker 1: a fan, then we're helping them out. And I think 1188 00:53:04,200 --> 00:53:06,279 Speaker 1: right now it's a very cool time to be in 1189 00:53:06,320 --> 00:53:09,359 Speaker 1: the world music and publishing especially, and there's so many 1190 00:53:09,400 --> 00:53:11,839 Speaker 1: different opportunities to get songs heard. So I know it's 1191 00:53:11,840 --> 00:53:14,400 Speaker 1: getting better, it's gonna continue to get better, and I 1192 00:53:14,520 --> 00:53:16,799 Speaker 1: know this is a this is my job, So I'm 1193 00:53:17,000 --> 00:53:19,440 Speaker 1: very crazy, isn't it crazy. I'm grateful. I feel that 1194 00:53:19,440 --> 00:53:21,400 Speaker 1: way too sometimes, like this is my freaking job, and 1195 00:53:21,560 --> 00:53:23,760 Speaker 1: like it's not like every well, it'll be hard days, obviously, 1196 00:53:23,800 --> 00:53:26,880 Speaker 1: it's just every go and the jobs suck sometimes, but 1197 00:53:26,920 --> 00:53:29,160 Speaker 1: every job is supposed to suck a little bit, so 1198 00:53:29,200 --> 00:53:32,080 Speaker 1: it's it's amazing. So congratulations. I get to listen to 1199 00:53:32,080 --> 00:53:34,200 Speaker 1: a song and decide how that makes me feel, and 1200 00:53:34,239 --> 00:53:35,960 Speaker 1: it makes you feel really great. I'll tell a couple 1201 00:53:36,000 --> 00:53:38,360 Speaker 1: of other people and hopefully we can build some momentum 1202 00:53:38,360 --> 00:53:41,920 Speaker 1: to get some great songs heard and elte and then 1203 00:53:41,920 --> 00:53:44,400 Speaker 1: no one ever hears a song again. I will never 1204 00:53:44,640 --> 00:53:47,080 Speaker 1: haven't done, haven't done an ee, haven't done it yet 1205 00:53:47,160 --> 00:53:50,040 Speaker 1: listening congratulations, I appreciate them. That's awesome. It's your story 1206 00:53:50,120 --> 00:53:54,600 Speaker 1: is amazing. Just you were just doing your thing. That's it, 1207 00:53:54,760 --> 00:53:57,040 Speaker 1: Just do your thing passionately. I thought that's how it's 1208 00:53:57,040 --> 00:53:58,440 Speaker 1: supposed to go. But I guess for me, I can 1209 00:53:58,480 --> 00:54:01,319 Speaker 1: never visualize it for myself until it happened, and um 1210 00:54:01,480 --> 00:54:04,279 Speaker 1: now I'm here. It's it's a wildlife around here. As 1211 00:54:04,320 --> 00:54:08,759 Speaker 1: we mentioned in the Prix at the Beni Chord c 1212 00:54:09,120 --> 00:54:11,120 Speaker 1: H O R D the Bengie Chord, it feels like 1213 00:54:11,120 --> 00:54:12,880 Speaker 1: one of those barcards. I can't quite play because my 1214 00:54:12,880 --> 00:54:14,640 Speaker 1: fingers are weak. Because I can do G and D 1215 00:54:14,800 --> 00:54:16,840 Speaker 1: and A and eat, but and I can do F. 1216 00:54:17,040 --> 00:54:19,600 Speaker 1: But then once against some of the the Benjie chords hard. 1217 00:54:19,800 --> 00:54:21,080 Speaker 1: You know, when I played the bee and asked me 1218 00:54:21,080 --> 00:54:23,200 Speaker 1: if it was a play on words with Bungee chords, 1219 00:54:23,200 --> 00:54:26,239 Speaker 1: someone like messaged me that. I was like, no, I 1220 00:54:26,280 --> 00:54:29,319 Speaker 1: literally play. I like guitar, and I don't know. That 1221 00:54:29,360 --> 00:54:32,200 Speaker 1: happens every now and then I get that message. Is 1222 00:54:32,200 --> 00:54:34,319 Speaker 1: that not your real name? Yeah, say your real name? 1223 00:54:34,600 --> 00:54:38,040 Speaker 1: My name is Benji or Benjamin Chord Chord. That's not 1224 00:54:38,080 --> 00:54:39,960 Speaker 1: your real name though. That was not a last name, 1225 00:54:40,080 --> 00:54:43,160 Speaker 1: this one. I've heard the chord I've heard. I don't 1226 00:54:43,160 --> 00:54:45,680 Speaker 1: think Chord's a last name. Oh, I know, I know 1227 00:54:45,760 --> 00:54:47,920 Speaker 1: some chords, some chords. Yeah, but when I came, I 1228 00:54:47,960 --> 00:54:50,480 Speaker 1: always thought, your last name is Benji Chord. That is 1229 00:54:50,520 --> 00:54:53,960 Speaker 1: not my last name. That is an alias. Okay, well listen, 1230 00:54:54,000 --> 00:54:56,399 Speaker 1: I'll live by an alias, so no judgment for me. Mike, 1231 00:54:56,440 --> 00:54:58,120 Speaker 1: did you know that wasn't his real last name? Yeah? 1232 00:54:58,200 --> 00:55:01,480 Speaker 1: I never knew that wasn't a yeah, but sometimes people 1233 00:55:01,480 --> 00:55:03,040 Speaker 1: like go bones. Is that you were last name, and 1234 00:55:03,040 --> 00:55:04,839 Speaker 1: I'm like, you idiot, of course it's not my real 1235 00:55:04,880 --> 00:55:07,279 Speaker 1: last name. That did happen though. I went to the 1236 00:55:07,280 --> 00:55:09,840 Speaker 1: Opry recently to catch one of my art one of 1237 00:55:09,880 --> 00:55:12,839 Speaker 1: my favorite artists, Play is a debut, and like they'd 1238 00:55:12,880 --> 00:55:15,759 Speaker 1: put my name as bencoord so I could not get 1239 00:55:15,800 --> 00:55:18,239 Speaker 1: in like I would have been like, oh, I got 1240 00:55:18,280 --> 00:55:20,279 Speaker 1: turned here, I got turned away. When I'm like, what's 1241 00:55:20,320 --> 00:55:22,040 Speaker 1: your first last name? I say, and they're like you're 1242 00:55:22,080 --> 00:55:23,839 Speaker 1: not on the list, Like they're like turning me away. 1243 00:55:23,920 --> 00:55:25,520 Speaker 1: Then like I gotta call him right, No, no, we 1244 00:55:25,520 --> 00:55:27,080 Speaker 1: got you. That's happened. With tickets, they'll put them to 1245 00:55:27,120 --> 00:55:29,120 Speaker 1: Bobby Bones and I'm lit with I d okay. Well 1246 00:55:29,120 --> 00:55:31,040 Speaker 1: here's the thing though, man, before you before you say no, 1247 00:55:31,120 --> 00:55:34,160 Speaker 1: it's it's actually listen. Congratulations. I appreciate man, Thank you 1248 00:55:34,160 --> 00:55:35,719 Speaker 1: for having me on. Really cool. And I know we 1249 00:55:35,800 --> 00:55:37,520 Speaker 1: hit you up because Mike and I've been talking about 1250 00:55:37,520 --> 00:55:39,680 Speaker 1: you for a while and he's like, let's hit him up. 1251 00:55:39,680 --> 00:55:42,480 Speaker 1: It see if we'll come up. And so it's been awesome. Mike. 1252 00:55:42,520 --> 00:55:44,480 Speaker 1: Anything you want to say, how is your quest for 1253 00:55:44,520 --> 00:55:47,799 Speaker 1: the perfect gym going? It is? And your arms are here? 1254 00:55:47,920 --> 00:55:49,799 Speaker 1: I do it took me everything not to even make 1255 00:55:49,840 --> 00:55:53,040 Speaker 1: a curl joke or a go ahead I did. I'm 1256 00:55:53,080 --> 00:55:56,320 Speaker 1: doing Planet Fitness on the weekdays early because you can't. 1257 00:55:56,320 --> 00:55:58,440 Speaker 1: When you go like after work, people gonna be like 1258 00:55:58,800 --> 00:56:01,600 Speaker 1: swinging from the equipment, you know, like like it's a 1259 00:56:01,680 --> 00:56:04,399 Speaker 1: drum or whatever. But I on the weekends is when 1260 00:56:04,440 --> 00:56:06,759 Speaker 1: I go the random gyms in town then, like the 1261 00:56:06,880 --> 00:56:08,959 Speaker 1: nice ones that people recommend to me and like they'll 1262 00:56:09,040 --> 00:56:11,319 Speaker 1: give me a trial to try it out. And I've 1263 00:56:11,320 --> 00:56:13,640 Speaker 1: gone to three of them so far, and I think 1264 00:56:13,719 --> 00:56:15,319 Speaker 1: for me, it's like the place I'm out right now 1265 00:56:15,360 --> 00:56:17,719 Speaker 1: is like the AIRBNBM staying at and it's like maybe 1266 00:56:17,760 --> 00:56:21,160 Speaker 1: fifteen minutes away from town. But until I'm like this 1267 00:56:21,200 --> 00:56:25,080 Speaker 1: is where I'm gonna be permanently be invested. But there's 1268 00:56:25,080 --> 00:56:27,319 Speaker 1: some really nice ones. So if y'all know any and 1269 00:56:27,480 --> 00:56:29,760 Speaker 1: have any, like you know, recommendations for me, I'm always 1270 00:56:29,760 --> 00:56:31,960 Speaker 1: open ears for the perfect gym. And no, I don't 1271 00:56:31,960 --> 00:56:33,560 Speaker 1: feel like I'm qualified to look at your arms and 1272 00:56:33,600 --> 00:56:35,640 Speaker 1: your shoulders. I'm a simple I'm a simple guy when 1273 00:56:35,680 --> 00:56:39,160 Speaker 1: it comes to the gym. I don't need too much. Yeah, 1274 00:56:39,160 --> 00:56:42,000 Speaker 1: that's give me a boulder. I'll figure it out. You 1275 00:56:42,080 --> 00:56:46,000 Speaker 1: know a you guys follow at the Beni Chord on Instagram. 1276 00:56:46,120 --> 00:56:47,839 Speaker 1: Bench you good to see a buddy. I Love this 1277 00:56:47,880 --> 00:56:52,600 Speaker 1: episode of the Bobby Cast. Subscribe on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, 1278 00:56:52,760 --> 00:56:54,399 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to podcasts.