This Nashville Life

In this episode of Song: RX, Megan’s best friend, her beloved St. Bernard, crossed the rainbow bridge during quarantine. We suggest a few songs to help lighten her spirits and get through an especially tough time. Song RX Submission: https://triple8.typeform.com/to/tObeVj

Charlie & Helen (ages 9 & 7) —these adorable siblings are feeling cooped up and missing their buddies. We’ll help them embrace the great outdoors and introduce them to songs that feel like new friends on this week’s episode of Song RX! Song RX Submission: https://triple8.typeform.com/to/tObeVj

In this special short series of "This Nashville Life" called "Song RX", Kelleigh prescribes our "patients" a few songs as a musical cure to what is ailing them during these unprecedented times.

An interview with live broadcast mixer and engineer Chip Matthews. We talk about how Chip got started in the industry and how his job is unlike anything else.

From Miranda Lambert, to Shania Twain, to Sheryl Crow, she has done it all. We dive in with celebrity stylist and image consultant Tiffany Gifford as she recalls her journey working with some of the industry's best. As an expert of creating iconic looks that reflect the feeling of the artists’ music, Tiffany explains how style should really be all about the music. Music first, music last.

Executive Vice President of A&R at Warner Music, Cris Lacy, tell us what she likes about A&R, how she loves to feel closer to the end product, and her love for songwriting. She gives us the inside scoop of how she listens to music while on the job and how she chooses to experience the music as a fan would. "I just felt like I love music so much, I care about it, I’m a huge fan, so maybe my destiny is to help people whose destiny is to be the storyteller, to be the one that touches the world and makes change in that way.”

Lou Taylor gives us the inside scoop on how she became President of an extremely successful business management firm. She provides us with her journey into her position and the tactics she uses on the job. “Our job really is to figure out how the client consumes information and take that complicated data and present it simply.”

Chris Farren, president of Combustion Music, gives us his insight on his career and his journey through the music business. Chris talks about his experiences as a producer, a songwriter and how he became president of a well known publishing and production company.

A repurposed episode of our pilot episode, The Radio Game. About how a song makes its way from one of a handful of streets on Music Row in Nashville to the top of the charts nationwide. Guest: JoJamie Hahr of Broken Bow Records. 

Leslie Fram gives us the run down on her transition from radio queen to Senior Vice President at CMT. Leslie discusses CMT’s ‘Next Women of Country’ campaign and expresses the importance of supporting women in the country music space. Join us as we learn from one of the most inspiring leaders in Nashville.

Music and makeup may not be all that different when it comes to making it in the creative industry. Celebrity hair and makeup artist Tarryn Feldman looks back at the unexpected beginnings of her career and how she had to break down doors to get into the glam industry upon moving to Nashville. Kelleigh discusses the pressure put on females in the music industry to look like an artist, which led to her own identity struggle. Join us as we dive down the black hole of beauty and how working in the creative industry is not always what it’s made up to be.

Jason Owen, owner of Sandbox Entertainment, talks artist management and why women in the country music industry break through boundaries. Jason discusses his work with Shania Twain, Kacey Musgraves, and Little Big Town. And last but not least, this Arkansas-boy gone big-time has some advice for millennials.

A conversation with writer/producer Ross Copperman. 

The song's peak, and interviewees describe their country "crowning achievements."

The songs are released into the world.

The songs get recorded.

How the songs get from the writers to the artists.

The Writing of 'The House That Built Me'

Songwriters Lori McKenna and Liz Rose describe how they wrote Little Big Town’s GRAMMY winning “Girl Crush.” Lori McKenna didn’t co-write a song until she was 34 years old, and Liz Rose was told she shouldn’t write with 14-year-old Taylor Swift. These incredible women share their unlikely journeys to being hit songwriters and inspire us with their practical approach to creativity.

The GRAMMY-winning writers of Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying,” Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman, share the hilarious and inspiring stories of their journeys to Nashville.  Tim and Craig also describe how an utterly ordinary writing day yielded one of the most acclaimed songs in country music history: "Live Like You Were Dying." We’re also introducing “Listener Challenges” in this episode so you can join us in the creative journey. Tune in so we can explore how to “take the scenic route” in your own creative life.

How does a song go from a spark of an idea to a massive worldwide hit? We’ll uncover just how serendipitous, arduous, and downright accidental the life of a song really is. Specifically, this season looks at the stories behind three massive country hits: "Live Like You Were Dying" by Tim McGraw, "The House That Built Me" by Miranda Lambert and "Girl Crush" by Little Big Town. We’ll hear from the writers, publishers, producers, managers, record label execs, and artists behind these songs. 

Welcome to the last episode of Season 2! So many of you have asked us to cover artist management, and today we’re bringing you an interview with Sandbox Entertainment’s Jason Owen. He manages acts like Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Kacey Musgraves, and Little Big Town. Jason will share some great insight into the artists’ careers that he’s worked with and offer some practical inspiration for both artists, marketers, and managers. And a warning: he’s got a word or two for those millennials out there. Come with us as we try to figure out what it means to live This Nashville Life. Follow Sandbox Entertainment @sandboxent (www.sandboxmgmt.com)

From a kid in a so-called “no-where town” to one of the most prominent writers in country music. Ashley Gorely talks about DJing dances in middle school to moving to Nashville and falling in love with publishing. For the songwriters out there we’ve got a lot of process talk: what he does in the writing room…and how he likes to come into a room and “crash” it. He calls himself a chameleon, and really, he’d have to be to have hits on so many different artists. Come with us as we meet Ashley Gorely…

10 time GRAMMY winning engineer F Reid Shippen has mixed records for people like Eric Church, Little Big Town, and Kenny Rogers. And the key to his success? Well, I’d say it’s passion…but he might say it’s risk. We sat down in Reid’s studio (Robot Lemon) and drank rye whiskey and talked about how a Tom Selleck movie changed his career path forever. Come with us as we try to figure out what it means to live This Nashville Life. Follow Reid @robotlemon.

Season 2 Episode 6: The Red Line Meet Chip Petree. The un-lawyerly lawyer Wanna know what a first time publishing deal looks like in 2017? Wanna know the current status of “360 deals?” Wanna know what Chris Stapleton’s attorney drinks? Well, he drinks Four Roses even though we had to leave that part of the convo on the cutting room floor. Entertainment attorney Chip Petree has represented the likes of Florida Georgia Line, Brothers Osborne and he’s gonna give us some really great *free* legal advice, and tells us what it means for him to live This Nashville Life. Follow Chip @chippetree on Twitter. Hear Kelleigh's music here: open.spotify.com/artist/6C7VkLRszFSbRkKNhEvBST Follow Kelleigh @kelleighbannen (Insta, FB, Twitter) Follow the show @thisnashvillelife (Insta, FB) and @thisnashlife (Twitter) www.thisnashvillelife.com

Meet Derek Wells. 2nd generation session musician. Former band leader for Josh Turner. Producer. Foodie. 2016 ACM Guitar Player of the Year. Teller of the best Dolly Parton impersonator story EVER. Find Derek Wells here: @d_weezee (insta) Hear Kelleigh's music here: open.spotify.com/artist/6C7VkLRszFSbRkKNhEvBST Follow Kelleigh @kelleighbannen (Insta, FB, Twitter) Follow the show @thisnashvillelife (Insta, FB) and @thisnashlife (Twitter) www.thisnashvillelife.com

Welcome to our first ever LIVE episode coming at ya from SXSW featuring Meryl Johnson the Director of Digital Strategy for the CMA (Country Music Association.) Topics covered: Awards Show. (Check.) CMAfest. (Check.) ABC TV Special. (Check.) Snapchat filter….err lens. (Check. check.) Follow the CMA @CMA on Insta. @countrymusic on Twitter. See ya next week for “Cocktail Hour.” Hear Kelleigh's music here: open.spotify.com/artist/6C7VkLRszFSbRkKNhEvBST Follow the show @thisnashvillelife (Insta, FB) and @thisnashlife (Twitter) www.thisnashvillelife.com

Meet the women behind Marbaloo Marketing, a full service music marketing company that has worked with the likes of Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, and Kelsea Ballerini. They’ll talk about driving cross country to Nashville from LA to start Marbaloo. The challenges and advantages of being a woman entrepreneur in the music business. How Nashville is like the Hunger Games. And some SUPER practical tips on how to better use social media to up your branding game….in other words Marbaloo’s take on what it means to live “this Nashville life.” Find Marbaloo www.marbaloo.com @marbaloomktg (insta) Call me maybe?! Tell us your favorite country song of the last 5 years: 629-777-6401. See ya 3/16 for “Cocktail Hour" Hear Kelleigh's music here: open.spotify.com/artist/6C7VkLRszFSbRkKNhEvBST Follow Kelleigh @kelleighbannen (Insta, FB, Twitter) Follow the show @thisnashvillelife (Insta, FB) and @thisnashlife (Twitter) www.thisnashvillelife.com

Season 2 Episode 2: Perspiration Not Inspiration by Kelleigh Bannen

Welcome to Season 2 of This Nashville Life featuring Jody Williams of BMI. (www.bmi.com) Ever wonder how songwriters get paid? Ever wonder how much money is made from a #1 song? Ever wonder what it would be like to meet 14 yr old Taylor Swift? Well, we've got all the answers for you in this week’s episode. PLUS we wanna hear from you. Leave us a voicemail message at 629-777-6401 and we just might use your audio on the air. And we’re excited to bring you our new weekly format with “Cocktail Hour” starting 2/16. Hear Kelleigh's music here: open.spotify.com/artist/6C7VkLRszFSbRkKNhEvBST Follow the show @thisnashvillelife (Insta, FB) and @thisnashlife (Twitter) www.thisnashvillelife.com

We're baaaaaaaaack: 2/9/17, and we're moving to an every week format...get ready for This Nashville Life: Cocktail Hour. PLUS we wanna hear from you. Leave us a voicemail message at 629-777-6401 and we just might use your audio on the air. See ya 2/9! Hear Kelleigh's music here: open.spotify.com/artist/6C7VkLRszFSbRkKNhEvBST Follow the show @thisnashvillelife (Insta, FB) and @thisnashlife (Twitter) www.thisnashvillelife.com

In part 2 of our interview with GRAMMY nominated songwriter Nicolle Gaylon, we cover the songs, and the stories of how they got written. We’’ll talk about Raelynn’s "Love Triangle,” Miranda Lambert’s Automatic, and a song I will be releasing soon, “Church Clothes.” Get “Love Triangle” here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/love-triangle/id1150666300?i=1150666450 Get “Automatic” here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/automatic/id849069497?i=849069517 Listen to Nicolle’s “Worktapes” on @Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/album/4a4ETcRtvnEvypmzT4CfFd Follow her on Insta @nicatnitemusic Listen to Kelleigh’s music here: https://play.spotify.com/album/0ejrbW77E0BqTKrZPe9fAF?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open @KelleighBannen on Insta, FB, and Twitter ThisNashvilleLife.com

In part 1 of our 2 part interview with Grammy nominated songwriter Nicolle Gaylon, we cover Nicolle’s journey and process. We’re talking about NBC’s The Voice, hometown inspirations, unfair advantages, and the journey of a lyricist. Listen to Nicolle’s “Worktapes” on @Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/album/4a4ETcRtvnEvypmzT4CfFd Follow her on Insta @nicatnitemusic Listen to Kelleigh’s music here: https://play.spotify.com/album/0ejrbW77E0BqTKrZPe9fAF?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open @KelleighBannen on Insta, FB, and Twitter Thank you @AndrewPetroff for helping to engineer this episode. Follow us @ThisNashvilleLife

Warning: this episode doesn't resolve, which is why we named it the Jazz Episode. With our co-producer out on his honeymoon, we hand the reigns over to Nada Taha of the Bobby Bones Show who turns the microphone on Kelleigh. It's a casual, unscripted conversation that touches on topics like road life, band dynamics, humility, and the importance of having champions. Follow Nada @nadameansnothin (Insta, FB, Twitter) Follow Kelleigh @kelleighbannen (Insta, FB, Twitter) Hear Kelleigh's music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6C7VkLRszFSbRkKNhEvBST Follow the show @thisnashvillelife (Insta, FB) and @thisnashlife (Twitter) www.thisnashvillelife.com

A look at fan culture through the eyes of a Taylor Swift fan turned influencer and social media guru.

A vulnerable look at beauty and image as it relates to artists and entertainers, especially women. Guest: Joanna Carter, VP Creative Services/Video Production for UMG Nashville. Get the music and watch the videos referenced here: All Good Things: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-good-things/id1121802677?i=1121802812 Long Trip Alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUrtrJdTOTM&list=RDqUrtrJdTOTM https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/long-trip-alone/id1117051725?i=1117052072 Pontoon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0O0nzkESTI https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/pontoon/id721216949?i=721216982

A look at why we love to hate. Why are we so defensive about what is and isn’t “country?” Guest: hit songwriter/producer Shane McAnally (Sam Hunt, Kenny Chesney, Brandy Clark, Luke Bryan, Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert) Keep in touch with us at ThisNashvilleLife.com Purchase songs featured in this episode here: All Good Things by Kelleigh Bannen https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-good-things/id1121802677?i=1121802812 Follow Your Arrow by Kacey Musgraves https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/follow-your-arrow/id604129427?i=604129902 Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/take-me-home-country-roads/id216424764?i=216424915 Break Up In A Small Town by Sam Hunt https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/break-up-in-a-small-town/id923457599?i=923457608 Once Upon A by Kelleigh Bannen https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/once-upon-a/id1121802677?i=1121802808

How does someone “get discovered?” A&R executive Autumn House Tallant sheds some light on the process of how to get signed to a record deal and how not to. She recalls some of the best, and the “best of the worst” artist pitches she’s witnessed while at a major label. Autumn also shares the signing stories of some her most famous artists: Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, and Eric Church. 

Demystifying the Nashville phenomenon of “co-writing” (i.e. how songs get written on Music Row.  Guest: hit songwriter Laura Veltz (songs by Maren Morris, Reba McEntire, Eli Young Band, Chris Young.) 

How a song makes its way from one of a handful of streets on Music Row in Nashville to the top of the charts nationwide. Guest: JoJamie Hahr of Broken Bow Records.