Inside Nashville With Tom Moran

In this episode legendary music executive talks honestly about radio promotion, Howard Stern, The Kentucky Headhunters, Billy Ray Cyrus, Shania, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, and more. Kevin is a great storyteller.  It's fascinating stuff!  Tom closes with a comment on the lucrative Wedding Song...and plays a good one! Don't miss it! Subscribe to the podcast at insidenashville.net and never miss an episode.

This week Tom returns to the Podcast after a month away with a blistering episode about corp dominance of the live music business and how, once again, the artists and fans pay the price. He rails against radio for ignoring a great song from the format's #1 female artist. He let's us know which of the many new releases from the likes of Stapleton, Gary Alan, Sara Evans, Chesney, Luke Combs, and others are good...and which are bad. He asks Nashville why their clone machine never seems to clone real talent? He closes with a gem of a song from one of his favorite artists. Tom is back with a must listen episode

There has been no new content from Inside Nashville over this past month...why? Tom shares his story. Vince Gill's latest career chapter has him soaring with The Eagles....a perfect fit!

This week we talk with Sturgill Simpson manager, Marc Dottore.  Marc tells us how he and Sturgill orchestrated the most important independent music career of the last two decades.  He'll talk about the strategic plan, it's execution, and the team they assembled to execute it....without the support of country radio or the Nashville machine. It's educational and honest as hell....don't miss it!

This week we take a look at the top 20 on the country music chart in search of actual country songs. Have we made any progress? Then we answer some mail about our commentary on country music's identity crisis and country radio's playing just a few songs far too often. We close with our discovery of a great new (to us) country music website and artist. Check it out!...and subscribe at insidenashville.net and never miss an episode.

This week Tom visits with digital marketing and brand builder power player....Girlilla Digital Marketing CEO, Jennie Smythe.  Jennie shares lessons learned from her career journey, her unparalleled insight,...and some tough love for millennials. There isn't a person in the entertainment business that knows more about the digital world than Jennie Smythe...she is an innovator and a visionary that we all learn from in this episode. Share and Subscribe at insidenashville.net.            

Tom talks about Country Music's identity crisis hitting a critical point.  He then gets into the ACM Awards Show, highlighting the good and the bad about the telecast, performances, and awards. He lets us know what new releases to check out and which to avoid.  He closes with the hillbilly GLORY DAYS. Don't miss it!...and subscribe at insidenashville.net and never miss an episode.

This week Tom talks about the single.... it's history, it's importance to the success of a project, the politics involved....and the consequences of getting it wrong.  He then asks the question...is it time to retire it?....maybe try another approach to marketing an artist and album. He closes with a song from Ashley Monroe that he fought for to be a single but lost the argument. This is truly a peek behind the curtain...don't miss it! Enjoy, share....and subscribe at insidenashville.net.

This week Tom sits with friend, former colleague, and legendary music executive from the glory days of Warner Bros Records....Neal Spielberg.  Neal gives us some great stories about many of the artists that he worked with during that magical period of the late 80's and 90's. He talks about Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam, Hank Williams Jr, Jeff Foxworthy, Faith Hill, Travis Tritt, among others.  He and Tom talk about a few of the artists that were stopped short of stardom that they both swore were going to be stars.  Tom ends with a great song from one of those artists. Neal is an industry treasure and gifted storyteller, so don't miss this one! Enjoy, share, and subscribe at insidenashville.net

This week I take a look at the ACM nominations and the things they missed...and if there are too many music awards in our life.  I talk about UK country fans and the big C2C festival...the big news about Tim and Faith...and a young singer that is a star waiting for that one song to break him through. Enjoy, share, and subscribe at insidenashville.net!

This week Tom talks with one of Nashville's most successful songwriters, producers, and publishers...TREY BRUCE.  Trey has written hits for the likes of Randy Travis, Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood, Diamond Rio, and many others.  He's produced the great Chris LeDoux, Trace Adkins. Lynyrd Skynyrd (that's right!), among others. You will not find a Nashville power player speaking this candidly about the music business anywhere but here, so don't miss it .... and don't make the mistake of leaving before it ends.  This episode is an education! Enjoy and subscribe at insidenashville.net so you don't miss an episode.

This week Tom talks about how difficult it is to get independent music played on terrestrial country radio...and why. He shares information known only to industry insiders. He closes with a great song from the most successful independent country artist of all time! Enjoy....and subscribe at insidenashville.net and not miss an episode!

This week Tom talks with legendary country music publisher PAT HIGDON.  He is responsible for so many iconic songs, like....THE GAMBLER, PLEASE COME TO BOSTON, FOREVER AND EVER AMEN, STRAWBERRY WINE, and many, many more. There has never been a better or more successful publisher in the history of Nashville than PAT HIGDON. He has been the head of Universal Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, and his own independent company....Patrick James Music. Tom was very fortunate to get Pat on the podcast.  We all can learn something from this episode...don't miss it!

This week Tom talks about the 2017 Grammy Awards telecast and asks why they are so afraid of country music and how they get around it. He talks about the best and worst performances.  He also asks the question....why are Nashville and country radio shunning award winning and top selling artist, Sturgill Simpson. He closes with the song that Sturgill set the Grammy stage on fire with.  Tom is a little pissed off.... and for good reason.  Be sure to listen to this one!...and share it!

This week Tom takes on the subject of what makes a song country and how many of the top 20 songs on the chart are actually country songs.  He then sets us straight on the controversial new release from Sam Hunt. People in the live music business never talk openly about how all that concert ticket money is divided up.  Tom pulls back the curtain and gives the breakdown.  He finishes with a great country song from Alison Krauss's new album.  This is another one you need to hear!

This week Tom visits with one of Nashville's most talented young artists....RYAN BEAVER. Ryan is among the very best songwriters in country music today. It isn't IF he will become a giant in the business....it's WHEN.  Ryan talks about the songs on his new album (RX), the corporate label game, starting his own label, and most of all....songwriting.  He also has some very good advice for those young people thinking of coming to Nashville to chase their dream. Tom doesn't often have artists as guests, but it's easy to see why he invited Ryan.  Don't miss it....and share it with friends!

This week Tom talks about some of the latest news coming out of Nashville.  Struggle and the Grammys, Blake, St. Jude Children's Hospital, and Eric Church's war on ticket scalpers. Then he gives his take on new releases from Alison Krauss, Florida Georgia Line, Cole Swindell, Lady Antebellum, Maggie Rose, and newcomer Marty Heddin.  He closes with a new band that we NEED to check out. Don't miss it!

This week Tom sits with Legendary music attorney Wayne Halper.  Wayne has done deals with Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, The Oak Ridge Boys and many, many others.  He also has run record labels like Capitol Records and Dreamworks. His knowledge, perspective, and ability to communicate both is unmatched in the business.  This is a treat for everyone at all interested in the music business. Tell everyone and take notes!  Tom closes with one of his all time favorite artist's best songs...Silver Wings from the iconic Merle Haggard. This is one we can learn from...don't miss it,...and remember to share it!

This week Tom talks about the great appetite for country music in the UK, Ireland, and Australia that is being underserved. Nashville needs to fix it. He then talks country music news and Blake's new venture. He points us toward some new releases that deserve our attention....and closes with the sexiest damn song you'll ever hear. Enjoy and Share!

This week Tom sits with Chicago radio legend Ramblin' Ray Stevens.  Like Tom says...there will never be a more honest and interesting guest on the show. Ray has some strong opinions and he doesn't hesitate to share them. His audience is among the most loyal in the business and listening to this show clearly shows us why. Tom ends the show with a song that he and Ray believe to be one of the greatest country songs in the last decade from the great Jamey Johnson. It's a great episode...don't miss it.  Enjoy and SHARE!