The Zak Kuhn Show

It's our season 3 premier! Christian Barker has been named one of Billboard's "Top Music Lawyers" and is an Equity Partner in the Nashville office of Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP. Barker has signed his songwriter and producer clients to nearly every publishing company in Nashville and beyond and brokered deals for his clients totaling 8-figures+ this past year alone. Barker thinks ou...

25-year-old Kameron Marlowe is a force to be reckoned with. His debut album "We Were Cowboys" is available now via Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville and was produced by ACM/CMA winner Dann Huff and GRAMMY-nominated Brad Hill. He is about to wrap up his headlining "We Were Cowboys Tour", which kicked off in September with a sold-out show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl. Marlowe has also played t...

Spencer Crandall is one of country’s most progressive new talents. You probably know him from social media, but do you know that he is selling out shows across the country as an independent artist? We talk about his new album "Western" and how he built his massive fanbase. But that's just the surface in this conversation. Spencer's relatability will make you think you have what it takes to become...

If you're following country artists on the rise, you know Ashley Cooke. Still early in her journey, she's had chart climbing hits like “Never Til Now” with Brett Young, national TV appearances on ABC’s “The Bachelorette,” and has toured with Cole Swindell, Jordan Davis and is about to go on tour with Brett Young. Cooke is the co-founder of The 615 House and is a TikTok star. You need to follow her...

Per Sundin became the CEO of Pophouse in 2019. Before that, he was the President of Universal Music Nordic Region and the Managing Director of Universal Music Sweden for more than a decade. In that role, he signed and broke EDM superstar Avicii. We talk all about it. Per was also the first label executive to partner with Spotify, driving the industry shift to a streaming revenue model. He is portr...

Adam Doleac is weeks away from his wedding and he still managed to find time to come onto the show. He just released his debut album "Barstool Whiskey Wonderland" and it's big! 18 songs big! You need to listen. He is getting ready to getting head out on his first headlining tour and we talk all about it. Adam has been grinding in Nashville for a long time. Now he has the music, the team, the label...

If you're in Nashville, you know Lauren Weintraub. But you might not know the story of how she signed her first publishing deal with Big Machine Music and dropped out of college. If you're not in Nashville, Lauren should be on your radar, if she isn't already. She has over 450K followers on TikTok, recently signed with Virgin Music and has a brand new EP titled "This Is Your Brain On Love" coming...

Dan Smyers is a producer, songwriter, performer and one half of the duo Dan + Shay. You know the group. But do you know how they started? Or how Dan records Shay's flawless vocals? We cover it all. Dan is sharp and knows the business. This conversation gives you a glimpse into what it takes to be one of the biggest acts in all of music. Don't miss it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See...

If you're a country music fan, you know about Lindsay Ell and how great of a guitar player she is. You might not know that she was recently featured on a PBS series called American Anthems. Each episode of the show follows a different country star as they meet a local hero. The show has received wide critical praise, and the song "Let the Words Come Out”, which Lindsay wrote in the episode, is now...

Chris Martin is the 6th generation owner of Martin Guitars. He has been at the helm of his family's business for the last 35 years and during his time has overseen massive growth of the guitar company. We talk about the family history, the pressure of keeping the legacy of Martin Guitars alive, how the guitars evolved through out the years, and so much more. Chris is well spoken and is a great sto...

Mitchell Tenpenny has more than 1.3 billion global streams and recently made chart history with his #1 single “Truth About You.” The gold-selling song’s top of the chart success is the shortest span between #1 songs in the modern chart era with just three weeks since his last chart topper, Chris Young's "At The End Of The Bar". Mitchell is not afraid to say it like it is. You going to love his hon...

Singer/songwriter Avery Anna is the talk of Nashville. She has over 1.5 million followers on TikTok and if you look at her content, you'll understand why. She was discovered after her song "Narcissist" went viral, but Avery's career is setting itself up to be so much more than just a TikTok moment. Her new EP "Mood Swings" drops October 7th. Avery is young but wise beyond her years. This episode w...

BRELAND is in the studio this week to talk about his brand new album Cross Country. We talk about collaborating with A list artists like Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley and Pharrell Williams but we also talk about how BRELAND is creating his own path in the genre of country music. You're going to love this conversation and be inspired by BRELAND's confidence. In short, he is changing the game. Listen...

Alana Springsteen is a rising artist in Nashville. If you're in the industry, you know what she is about. She moved to town at the age of 14 and has been here for almost a decade. Yet, she is just getting started. This is her moment. Ever think that if only you learned music earlier in life, you would have become a superstar? Well Alana did just that. She is on the path. Her newest project "Histor...

Cooper Alan is on track to become one of the biggest artists in the country format. Don't believe me? Just ask one of his 7.4 million followers on TikTok. In this conversation, you'll realize that the Cooper effect is not a gimmick or shtick that's just for TikTok. Cooper is the real deal and he knows music. He is self aware and open about his journey. This is the episode that will make you wish y...

Guthrie Trapp is one of Nashville's first call guitar players. He's played with everyone including Garth Brooks, John Oates, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, Travis Tritt, Dolly Parton, Jerry Douglas and many others. Trapp's process is as unique as his playing and any myths you think you know about learning guitar get cleared up here. Listening to Trapp, you will think the guitar is easy, but make no...

Brian Kelley of Florida George Line is on the podcast this week, along with wife Brittney Kelley and business partner Bryan Bulte. The trio talk about their new NFT project Chill Cowboy Country Club , BK's solo career, and what's around the corner. Everyone in this episode is incredibly well spoken and knowledgeable about the world of crypto. If you're an outsider, this conversation will make you...

Tyler Dial first started developing his chops as a performer in Austin while studying at the University of Texas, playing UT parties and bars on Sixth Street. He is now signed to Make Wake Management and just released a new EP with the help of Virgin Music. You need to listen. Especially to the song "Damn Denver", which Tyler had been holding onto for years. He was waiting for the right moment to...

David Morris might have the biggest song in the world today. His track “Carrying Your Love” is number 2 on the TikTok viral sounds chart and climbing. Almost a million people have used the sound, including JoJo Siwa, and Tana Mongeau. If you’re on TikTok, you probably know it. What you probably don’t know is that David is from West Virgina and has been grinding in this business for a long time. He...

New artist alert! Cecilia Castleman might be the best artist you haven't heard yet. Her debut single Lonely Nights was produced by Don Was and it's out now on Glassnote Records. You need to listen. At just 21 years old, Castleman is managed by Paul McCartney's manager Scott Rodger and is signed to Big Yellow Dog. The insiders know about her. So should you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company....

Zach Beeken, Garret Nichols, and Colton Pack make up Restless Road. The group just finished their sold out headline "Bar Friends Tour" and their current single "Growing Old With You" is at country radio right now. We talk about how the group came together, connected with Kane Brown, built a following on social media and so much more. If you want to know what it takes to make it as a country band i...

Bobby Bones needs no introduction. This is episode #100. We are officially a real podcast.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ray Fulcher is one of Nashville's hottest songwriters. But he is also an artist on the rise. As an artist, Fulcher has been streamed over 40 million times and almost 21 million of those streams are derived from “Anything Like You Dance", his current radio single. We talk about his relationship with Eric Church, meeting Luke Combs, how we broke into the biz and so much more. This episode will make...

Chris Ruediger is the founder & CEO of The 615 House. The house is changing the way artists break in Nashville. And it's working! We talk about building the house from the ground up, the new crop of artists coming in, recording in Reba's old mansion and so much more. Chris knows social media better than anyone in Nashville. If you're an artist, this episode will make you want to join the house and...

Jared Gutstadt is the CEO and founder of Audio Up, one of the most talked about music companies today. As a music producer and song writer, Jared has collaborated with Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley Bob Dylan, Lil Wayne, Steven Tyler, Machine Gun Kelly, 24kGoldn, T Bone Burnett and DJ Khaled. He is a two time Emmy nominee, 3 time Cannes Lions winner, and is one of ASCAP’s mos...