AIMP: Nashville Pubcast

00:49 – "How does a Marine end up in the music business?" Blake tells the story of joining the Marine Corps, originally planning to return to Nashville and pursue songwriting, and how that experience ultimately pushed him toward the business side of music. 07:07 – "What inspired you to jump out on your own and partner with Scott Hendricks?" A fascinating look at the personal and professional consi...

04:04 – "Do you think your time in the military helped prepare you to be a leader, and what skills are important for someone in your position?" Lee explains how the Army shaped his work ethic while also teaching him an important lesson about the music business: every writer and creative works differently. 05:25 – "What do you see in a writer that makes you want to sign them?" A great breakdown of...

01:06 - Introduction 05:27 – "What are the main points you look at in a sync contract that writers should pay attention to?"
A practical breakdown of fees, territories, media, usage, and the difference between all-in and master/publishing fees. 09:27 – "If you're a writer interested in film and TV, what's different about writing for sync?"
Kourtney explains why emotion and mood often matter more t...

00:00 – Introduction 01:35 – Melissa Spillman's career journey 02:35 – What a publisher actually does 04:10 – What publishers look for in songwriters 05:40 – Finding your unique voice 08:10 – AI and Suno demos 11:30 – Nashville vs. LA publishing 13:00 – Understanding publishing contracts 15:10 – Admin deals vs. full publishing deals 16:10 – Why Nashville champions songwriters 18:00 – Protecting th...

01:12 – "What got you here, and what was your path into the music business?" Mike shares how a football career ended, a walk through Belmont changed everything, and how internships became the foundation of his career. 03:40 – "What makes a great publisher, and what does that role really look like today?" A thoughtful discussion on developing songwriters, identifying talent, and serving as a strate...

[00:01:16] – "How did a guy from an agriculture and tobacco background end up building a career in Music Row?" A fascinating origin story about taking a leap of faith, moving to Nashville without a plan, and creating opportunities from scratch. [00:08:30] – "What exactly is River House, and how has it evolved from publishing into management and label services?" A great behind-the-scenes look at ho...

00:49 – “ You spent 15 years doing festivals on cruise ships—how did that lead you into management?” A wild and unconventional origin story that sets up the entire episode. 04:00 – “ When you saw Luke Combs for the first time… what was the moment you knew?” One of the best “I knew right then” stories—raw instinct, voice, and undeniable presence. 07:14 – “ You quit everything to manage him—what did...

00:49 – “ Your career path is a little different—can you walk us through how you got here?” Sets up one of the most compelling origin stories - non-traditional path, first-mover roles, and betting on emerging tech. 03:10 – “ What does digital marketing actually look like day-to-day in music?” A super valuable breakdown of how the role has evolved - from email and websites to streaming and TikTok....

01:47 – The Power of Networking (Done Right) Both emphasize that relationships are everything, but networking works best when you’re adding value, not just “working the room.” 03:36 – The Entrepreneurial Pull Jessi talks about always wanting her own company, and how becoming a parent accelerated that decision. 05:25 – How to Develop a Songwriter Jessi breaks down her process: Look for writers who...

01:18 – The Core Message: Don ’ t Forget Your Why A gentle but clear reminder: the music industry can be exhausting, and it’s easy to lose sight of why you started. Tim shares how drums were once his identity; the place where he felt most alive and creative. 03:57 – The Perspective Shift The breakthrough: stop trying to pick up where you left off, and instead allow yourself to learn again . 06:59...

00:45 - What AI means for copyright today — human authorship requirements, why AI outputs aren’t copyrightable, how training data implicates rights, and the lawsuits shaping the landscape. 04:20 - Legal fights & emerging models — fair use debates, major settlements (like Audio/Suno), and how licensed AI systems may change access for artists and songwriters. 10:36 - Creative risks for songwriters —...

00:42 – Chris DuBois on being mentally prepared for the ebbs and not taking success for granted. 02:03 – Katie Kerkhover on A&R as a service job and learning to serve artists, producers, and teams. 03:35 – Randy Montana on realizing success doesn’t change who you are — you still have to wake up and do it again. 04:27 – Nikki Sanz on getting comfortable with discomfort and embracing constant growth...

00:39 – Katie Kerkhover on exercise, her reMarkable tablet, and planning her day with intention. 02:13 – Tim Reynolds on using ChatGPT, Notion, and dual monitors (including vertical!) to streamline work. 02:56 – Randy Montana on daring to write something stupid, weird, dark, or fun — and why those songs sometimes get cut. 04:39 – Nikki Sanz on Superhuman , the email tool she swears by for managing...

00:45 – Katie Kerkhover on keeping creators involved and protected in the future of music. 01:44 – Randy Montana on the widening stylistic lanes in country music. 02:32 – Dave Cohen on a coming resurgence of musicianship and craft-focused songwriting. 03:35 – Scott Hendricks on avoiding trends and keeping blinders on to create timeless work. 04:32 – Tim Reynolds on why he sees an explosion of grea...

00:33 – Chris DuBois on preventing burnout by separating home life from the music industry. 02:24 – Nikki Sanz on weekly burnout cycles, fitness, faith, and finding healthy outlets. 04:24 – Chris Weier (business manager) on hobbies, hard boundaries, and the importance of staying active. 05:48 – Katie Kerkhover on using a career coach, self-awareness, and knowing when to ask for help. 07:31 – Randy...

01:30 – How Tim Reynolds got his start in music and what led him to Big Machine. 02:30 – What digital marketing actually means at a record label. 03:49 – Who Tim’s key industry relationships are — from DSPs to social platforms. 04:27 – The three pillars of digital marketing: artist content, digital partnerships, and fan relationships. 06:02 – How a digital campaign starts: defining an artist’s bra...

01:27 – Eric’s 30-year journey in music and how he found his way to Empire Nashville. 03:21 – What does a typical day look like for Eric—and how does his dual label/publishing role differ from traditional Nashville models? 04:53 – How Empire approaches publishing: admin, creative, or a hybrid model? 06:09 – Is Empire focused more on artists, songwriters, or a mix of both? 07:27 – How does Empire i...

02:01 – Did Randy naturally come into songwriting, or was there a pivotal moment that pushed him toward it? 04:18 – Which came first: pursuing an artist career or focusing on songwriting? 06:10 – How did losing his record deal shape Randy’s career path? 06:54 – How did Randy first connect with Luke Combs, and why has their partnership worked so well? 10:04 – What’s Randy’s process for connecting w...

02:44 – Chris shares his early background: growing up in Nashville and how his father’s career shaped his path. 05:51 – How Sea Gayle Music was founded with Brad Paisley and Frank Rogers. 08:54 – Was Chris always a writer, or did that passion develop later? 15:43 – What challenges has he seen over 26 years in business, and how has Sea Gayle adapted? 18:41 – Advice for those wanting to start an ind...

01:02 – How did Dave Cohen get started, and what was his path from Canada to Nashville? 05:42 – When did Dave shift from being a session player to also producing and writing? 09:25 – What did Dave learn working under producer Joey Moi, and how did it shape his career? 12:29 – What drives Dave to keep evolving creatively instead of getting complacent? 14:34 – What are essential skills for someone w...

01:20 – What led Kris Wiatr to become a business manager, and what does the role actually involve? 04:36 – How does Kris’s work evolve as an artist moves from development to mainstream success? 06:48 – What financial habits separate successful artists from the rest? 08:23 – How involved does a business manager get in record, publishing, or sponsorship deals? 10:35 – What does Kris think of the ong...

01:35 – What led Nikki Sanz from touring to founding a tech company? 03:33 – Did she always see herself as an entrepreneur, and how did she get started? 08:02 – How does GIGGS vet users and build trust in the community? 10:29 – Who’s using GIGGS: artists, management, or both? 13:20 – What was the first major success moment that validated her idea? 14:13 – Any user stories that stuck with her on a...

01:00 – How did working with Jimmy Bowen shape Scott’s early studio approach? 08:32 – What was it like producing Gwen Stefani’s latest album? 12:39 – What are the biggest changes Scott has seen in the music industry over the years? 17:22 – What qualities does Scott look for before committing to an artist? The AIMP Nashville Pubcast is a DiMe Collective Production Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz c...

02:23 – What made Scott Hendricks want to get into the music business? 13:35 – What makes a great producer? Is it ears, feel, or technical skill? 17:39 – Why is it important for new producers to try—even if they feel unprepared? 19:13 – What does it take to lead professional musicians effectively in the studio? The AIMP Nashville Pubcast is a DiMe Collective Production Hosted by Simplecast, an Ads...

01:05 – Dale's early days in West Virginia and how he discovered country music 03:24 – Moving to Nashville and landing his first job in the industry 05:02 – Creating a role by digging into classic song catalogs 08:26 – Early success with George Strait and others 09:09 – What makes a great record executive and song plugger 11:19 – How face-to-face relationships built Music Row’s foundation 14:20 –...