Our Nashville History

Welcome to the first-ever podcast for Singing Success! I’m Brett Manning, your host, and this is my co-host, Dustin Small. I must say, he is positively radiant. We want to get right down to business and give some shout-outs to Dan + Shay, who recently won their second consecutive Grammy for Duo of the Year. We’re very pleased about that. We also want to shout out to Jim, also known as the “Dill Maker” of Nashville, who has presided over a thousand record deals. If you need representation, he’s a great guy to go to. We’re not being paid for this endorsement, by the way, since this is our first-ever podcast.

Moving on, we want to give a shout-out to my boys Essex County for their new Chevrolet spot with Walker Chevrolet and the new hashtag #ItSmellsLikeAChevy. Check it out, you’ll be seeing it soon. Now, before we talk about the history of Music City, I want to give a shout-out to Carly Pearce, who is releasing her self-titled sophomore record tomorrow. She’s a killer artist, so definitely check it out. And let’s not forget our friends at Big Machine, they deserve a shout-out too.

Oh, and speaking of Dan + Shay, their song “10,000 Hours” is a number-one hit. We should also mention the songwriters Jordan Reynolds and Dan + Shay themselves. Jordan Reynolds helped co-write that song, and it’s a killer song. And guess who else was featured on that song recently? Justin Bieber. Yeah, he’s a new guy, so check it out, he’s got a song too.

Moving on, our friend Jessica Simpson released a book this week. It’s a memoir of sorts, going back to the original MTV days and the struggles that come with being an artist. If you’re looking for a good read, check it out.

Okay, I think we’ve covered everything on the docket. We might be forgetting something, but we’ll get to it next time. Now, let’s talk about our experiences in Music City. I’ve been here for 22 years, and Dustin has been here for 12. It’s interesting how our perspectives have changed over time. When I first came here, I had this glassy-eyed perspective of what the town would be like, and it immediately changed before my eyes. Everything has changed so fast, with Music Row becoming “Kondo Row” and old studios and management firms being torn down for condos. But Nashville is still a great place with a strong sense of community.

Dustin, on the other hand, moved to Nashville to be a singer-songwriter and drummer. He met me about 10 years ago and started working on his vocal technique. We started writing songs together, and it has been a great creative journey. We’ve learned so much from each other and other artists in the community.

One thing that surprised both of us when we came to Nashville is the speed at which things move here. It’s a fast-paced city, and you have to keep up if you want to succeed. We also found that Nashville is a city where you can build fantastic relationships with other artists and songwriters. Trust and collaboration are key to thriving in this industry.

We’ve learned that it’s not about quantity, but about the quality of the relationships you build. Taking the time to connect with other artists and seeking out their opinions can lead to great artistic growth. It’s important to focus on other people and be open to exploring new possibilities.

In Nashville, you can make it as a songwriter or artist even if you don’t play a musical instrument. Don’t let your limitations hold you back. Collaborating with others who can play or learning enough to support your.