Explore every episode of the podcast Ten Year Town
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Brice on Songwriting, Nashville, and his new single "Killed The Man" | Ten Year Town Ep. 109 | 04 Nov 2025 | 00:51:17 | |
Lee Brice is a GRAMMY-nominated country artist, songwriter, and producer originally from Sumter, South Carolina. Over the course of his career, he has earned multiple No. 1 singles as both a performer and songwriter, including “A Woman Like You,” “I Drive Your Truck,” “Hard to Love,” “Rumor,” and “Memory I Don’t Mess With.” As a writer, his songs have also been recorded by Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, and the Eli Young Band — whose version of “Crazy Girl” became a multi-week No. 1 hit. Brice has received multiple CMA and ACM Awards, and just released a new single “Killed The Man.” In this episode, we discuss Lee’s journey from South Carolina to Nashville, his creative process as both a songwriter and artist, the stories behind some of his biggest hits, and many other stops along the way. -------------------------------------------------- This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. --------------------------------------------------- Troy Cartwright is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Laura Veltz on Writing “The Bones,” “Speechless,” and the Art of Great Songwriting | Ten Year Town Ep. 108 | 28 Oct 2025 | 00:56:56 | |
Laura Veltz is a four-time GRAMMY-nominated songwriter and artist originally from New York City. Her credits include hit songs for Maren Morris (“The Bones,” “I Could Use a Love Song”), Dan + Shay (“Speechless”), Lady A (“What If I Never Get Over You”), and Demi Lovato (“29”). In 2023, she was nominated for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical at the GRAMMY Awards. She is currently published by Big Machine Music. In this episode of Ten Year Town, we talk about Laura’s journey through Nashville, her creative process, the evolution of modern country songwriting, and the stories behind some of her biggest songs. -------------------------------------------------- This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. --------------------------------------------------- Troy Cartwright is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 100: Liz Rose | 26 Aug 2025 | 00:58:40 | |
Liz Rose is a GRAMMY-winning songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas, and raised in nearby Irving. Her songs have been recorded by artists including Carrie Underwood, Gary Allan, Eli Young Band, Taylor Swift, Little Big Town, and many others. She is the co-writer behind some of Taylor Swift's biggest hits, including “You Belong With Me,” “Teardrops on My Guitar,” and “All Too Well.” Her song “Girl Crush,” recorded by Little Big Town, won both the CMA and GRAMMY Award for Best Country Song. In this episode, we talk about Liz’s unconventional path into the music business, how she approaches co-writing, what inspires her, and many other stops along the way. -------------------------------------------------- This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. --------------------------------------------------- Troy Cartwright is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 27: Jessi Alexander | 02 Jan 2024 | 00:52:47 | |
Jessi Alexander is a Nashville country music songwriter and artist originally from Jackson, TN. She has written songs for many major label artists including Morgan Wallen, Blake Shelton, Patty Loveless and many more. Her song “I Drive Your Truck” - which was recorded by Lee Brice - won song of the year at both the CMA and ACM awards in 2013. In addition to her country songwriting success, Jessi is perhaps best known for co-writing the song “The Climb” for Miley Cyrus. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Holiday Rewind 2023: Courtney Allen | 26 Dec 2023 | 00:50:10 | |
This week's episode is a rewind from episode 7 where we welcomed our first publisher-guest Courtney Allen! New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 26: The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield | 19 Dec 2023 | 00:15:45 | |
Buy "The War of Art" here: https://amzn.to/3RQ62EJ New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 25: Aaron Eshuis | 12 Dec 2023 | 00:49:26 | |
Aaron Eshuis is a songwriter and producer originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan currently signed to Concord Music Publishing. Aaron has written songs for Rascall Flats, Joe Nichols, Cole Swindell, Ryan Hurd, and Scotty McCreery. He had his first No. 1, “this is it”, with McCreery in 2018. In addition to his songwriting career, Aaron has produced records for Ryan Hurd, Scotty McCreery and others. In this episode Aaron talks about his journey from Michigan to Nashville, how he got started in the music industry, and his philosophy on being an asset in the writer room. Aaron Eshuis is a songwriter and producer originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan currently signed to Concord Music Publishing. Aaron has written songs for many major country artists including Rascall Flats, Joe Nichols, Cole Swindell, Ryan Hurd, and had his first No. 1, with Scotty McCreery’s “This is It” in 2018. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 24: Zac Barnett | 05 Dec 2023 | 00:55:58 | |
Currently residing in Los Angeles, Zac Barnett is a songwriter and the lead singer of the band American Authors. Having met while attending Berklee College of Music, Zac and his bandmates have gone on to tour globally, earn over a billion streams, and their biggest hit “Best Day of My Life” is RIAA 3x certified platinum and featured in over 600 commercials and film. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 23: Josh Jenkins | 28 Nov 2023 | 00:45:12 | |
Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, Josh Jenkins is a Grammy-nominated hit songwriter and the lead singer of the band Green River Ordinance. He’s written songs for Walker Hayes, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Randy Houser, and many more. Recently, he was a co-writer on the 4x platinum hit “Fancy Like” recorded by Walker Hayes, and CMA Song of the Year “Buy Dirt” recorded by Jordan Davis. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 22: Harry Miree | 21 Nov 2023 | 01:03:40 | |
Harry Miree a professional studio and touring drummer originally from Birmingham, Alabama. Harry has toured with acts like Hardy, LoCash, Lindsay Ell, Ryan Follies and many, many more. He is also well known in the drumming community (and beyond) for his popular YouTube channel (dude!). In this episode, we discuss how a music teacher changed the trajectory of his life, his thought process on building an audience, how he forged his own path to get his start as a touring drummer, and a million other tangents along the way. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Q&A Bonus Episode B | 16 Nov 2023 | 00:46:04 | |
Join the Ten Year Town community and email list here. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 21: Brinley Addington | 14 Nov 2023 | 00:52:51 | |
Brinley Addington is a Number 1 songwriter and artist orgininally from Kingsport, Tennessee. Signed to Spirit Music Nashville, Brinley has had cuts with artists like Darius Rucker, Parmalee, Chris Janson, Kameron Marlowe, and more. In 2021, Brinley notched his first number 1 at radio “Chasing After You” recorded by Ryan Hurd and Maren Morris. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 20: Benjy Davis | 07 Nov 2023 | 00:49:09 | |
Originally from a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Benjy Davis is a hit songwriter currently signed to Universal Music Publishing. Benjy has written songs for many major label artists including Cody Johnson, Jake Owen, Maddie & Tae, Dan & Shay, and Chris Young, and was one of the nine writer-collaborators on the Grammy-nominated “Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville.” New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 99: Jordyn Shellhart | 19 Aug 2025 | 01:00:28 | |
Jordyn Shellhart is a singer and songwriter originally from Wheatland, Wyoming, and was raised in Santa Rosa, California. She signed her first publishing deal at just 14 years old with Sea Gayle Music and has since earned cuts by Little Big Town, Kelsea Ballerini, Cody Johnson, and Don Williams. She released her debut album Primrose in 2023. In this episode, we discuss Jordyn’s journey through Nashville, her new song “Strange Thought,” finding her voice as a songwriter, and many other stops along the way. --------------------------------------------------
New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 19: Aaron Raitiere | 31 Oct 2023 | 00:54:18 | |
Originally from Danville, Kentucky, Aaron Raitiere is a grammy award-winning songwriter, performer, and visual artist. He has written songs for Anderson East, The Oak Ridge Boys, Whiskey Myers, Montgomery Gentry, and Lady Gaga. His song “I’ll Never Love Again” was a part of the movie A Star Is Born and earned Aaron a Grammy in the Best Song Written for Visual Media category. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 18: Tim Hunze | 24 Oct 2023 | 00:45:34 | |
Tim Hunze is a Vice President of Publishing at Big Machine Music. A thirty-year veteran of Nashville and Music Row, Tim has pitched and provided support for many talented songwriters including Jordan Davis, Kip Moore, Bobby Pinson, Brett James and many, many more. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 17: Derek Wells | 17 Oct 2023 | 00:58:37 | |
Nashville native Derek Wells is an award-winning session guitar player, record producer, and Vice President of A&R at Spirit Music Nashville. Along the way he has played on over 100 #1 songs, been Grammy-nominated, won CMA Musician of the Year and has played on records for Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini and more. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 16: Jacob Davis | 10 Oct 2023 | 01:02:37 | |
Originally from a Shreveport, Louisiana, Jacob Davis is a hit songwriter currently signed to Universal Music Publishing. Jacob has written songs for major label artists including Jake Owen, Kolby Cooper, Greylan James, and his brother Jordan Davis. Jacob’s latest radio number one “Buy Dirt” (recorded by Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan) earned him a CMA award for Song of the Year. Jacob shares his journey - from playing in Bars at LSU, to the Louisiana oil fields, and eventually to Nashville. He offers great insight into how to shine in writer’s rooms, the artistry involved with being a songwriter, and the best advice he ever received - “don’t go home.” New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 15: Andy Albert | 02 Oct 2023 | 00:47:11 | |
Hailing from Roswell, Georgia, Andy Albert is a Nashville hit songwriter currently signed to Concord Music. He's written big songs for many major country artists including Dan + Shay, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, HARDY, Ryan Hurd, and had a six-week country radio number one with “Thinkin’ Bout You” (recorded by Dustin Lynch and Mackenzie Porter). New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 14: Chris McHugh | 25 Sep 2023 | 01:01:05 | |
Chris McHugh is an A-list session drummer living in Nashville, Tennessee. He has played on 1000’s of records and 100’s of hit songs for artists like Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Alabama, Little Big Town, Blake Shelton and many many more. In addition to his studio work, Chris was the live drummer and music director for Keith Urban, and has also toured with artists like Garth Brooks and Amy Grant. On this episode, Chris shares his journey of how he got his start in the Christian rock band White Heart, how he transitioned a touring career into playing on big records, what it’s like touring with some of the biggest artists in the world, and how to make a song sound like a hit (when you’re Chris, you just know). New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 13: Chris "Falcon" Van Belkom | 19 Sep 2023 | 00:41:17 | |
Nashville-native, Chris "Falcon" Van Belkom is the Vice President of Combustion Music Group, a boutique publishing company and record label on Music Row. Over the years, Falcon has seen the indie company celebrate over 100 Number 1 Songs as he's worked with hitmakers such as Ashley Gorley, Kings of Leon, Brett Tyler, and more. Falcon also works on the A&R side at Combustion having helped sign and develop country music artists including Jameson Rogers, Corey Kent, and Kolby Cooper. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 12: Jacob Durrett | 12 Sep 2023 | 00:50:03 | |
Jacob Durrett is a Nashville hit songwriter and producer currently signed to Big Loud Publishing and Warner Chappell Music. He has written songs for some of the biggest names in music, including Morgan Wallen, Diplo, Zayn, HARDY, Nelly, and Devin Dawson. Jacob's been a part of several #1 songs as both a writer and producer - including Big, Big Plans (Chris Lane) and Wasted On You (Morgan Wallen). New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Q&A Bonus Episode A | 07 Sep 2023 | 00:38:35 | |
Join the Ten Year Town community and email list here. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 11: Emily Landis | 05 Sep 2023 | 00:48:58 | |
Originally from St. Louis and a graduate of Belmont University, Emily Landis is a Nashville hit songwriter currently signed to BMG Music. She's written songs for many major country music artists including Larry Fleet, Seaforth, Tiera Kennedy, Kassi Ashton and more. Emily's first big success was with Gabby Barrett's "The Good Ones" which spent three straight weeks at Number One and is now 3x certified platinum. On this episode, Emily shares how songwriting became her free therapy, what it was like quitting social media for an entire year, how the journey of her first number one felt like "dominoes of dreams coming true," and how it taught her to focus on family and life first, and let the career take care of itself. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 98: Blake Pendergrass | 12 Aug 2025 | 00:51:57 | |
Blake Pendergrass is a songwriter originally from Raleigh, North Carolina. A graduate of Belmont University, Blake landed his first major label cut with “865” on Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous. Since then, he has written several more songs for Wallen, including “Dying Man,” “Ain’t That Some,” and “Just In Case” — which became his first #1 as a songwriter. He also has had cuts on albums by Chase Rice, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Chris Lane, Nate Smith and more. He is currently published by Back Blocks Music. In this episode, we talk about Blake’s path from Raleigh to Nashville, how he keeps track of ideas, his first #1 hit, his songwriting process, and many other stops along the way. -------------------------------------------------- New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 10: Wynn Varble | 29 Aug 2023 | 00:48:36 | |
Wynn Varble has had 30+ year career as a hit songwriter in Nashville with songs cut by country's biggest stars, including Garth Brooks, Lee Ann Womack, Brad Paisley, Darryl Worley, Montgomery Gentry, and Trace Adkins to name a few. Wynn's been nominated multiple times for the CMA or ACM Song of the Year Award and his first number 1 song, "Have You Forgotten" by Darryl Worley, spent 7 weeks at the top of the Billboard Country Chart. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 09: Cameron Bedell | 22 Aug 2023 | 00:52:51 | |
Hailing from Wichita, Kansas, Cameron Bedell is a Nashville hit songwriter and producer currently signed to Liz Rose Music and Warner Chappell music. He's written songs for many major country artists such as Dylan Scott, Hailey Whitters, Seaforth, Lauren Alaina, and recently had a two-week number one with Jimmie Allen’s "down home." Cameron shares his journey, from making songs in high school on his dad's work computer, to moving to Nashville and transitioning from R&B to Country, how he keeps a level head after success, and focusing on writing songs that "resonate" with the listener. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 08: Brett Tyler | 15 Aug 2023 | 00:55:10 | |
Minnesota’s own, Brett Tyler, is a hit songwriter currently signed to Combustion Music Group. He’s written songs for the biggest names in country music (Morgan Wallen, Blake Shelton, HARDY, Lainey Wilson and Maren Morris) and had his first number one with Jameson Rogers’ and Luke Combs’ “Cold Beer Calling My Name.” Brett’s second number one came earlier this year with “Wild As Her” recorded by Corey Kent. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 07: Courtney Allen | 08 Aug 2023 | 00:50:09 | |
This week's episode welcomes our first publisher-guest Courtney Allen! New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 06: Billy Montana | 01 Aug 2023 | 00:45:43 | |
Billy Montana has had a 30+ year career in Nashville with songs recorded by some of the biggest stars in country music, including number ones with Garth Brooks, Jo Dee Messina, Sara Evans and Lee Brice. On this episode, Billy reflects on both the lows (writing for 12 years before having a hit), and the highs (one of his songs entering the chart already at number one), and what it was like hearing his Grammy-nominated “Bring on the Rain” on the radio for the first time right after 9/11. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 05: Brad Clawson | 25 Jul 2023 | 00:54:06 | |
This week’s guest is Brad Clawson. Brad was born and raised in Texas before moving to Nashville and signing a publishing deal with Tape Room Music where he's had his songs recorded by many major artists including Chris Janson, Parker McCollum, Mitchell Tenpenny and more. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 04: Trannie Anderson | 18 Jul 2023 | 00:49:45 | |
No. 1 Songwriter Trannie Anderson moved to town right after college ready to take on whatever flexible jobs she could so she could write at 11am everyday, "when everyone who is serious about it is writing." New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 03: Matt Roy | 11 Jul 2023 | 00:52:35 | |
Matt Roy is a singer and songwriter from Glen Rock, New Jersey. Matt has had cuts with artists like Morgan Wallen, Kane Brown, Chris Young, and earned his first multi-week number one single with Chris Janson’s “Done.” Since moving here in 2018 as a college freshman, Matt’s beeline to now established hit songwriter is due to both his talent as an artist and his sense of songwriting as a business. Get ready to hear a lot of inside baseball on this one. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 02: Marc Beeson | 04 Jul 2023 | 00:49:20 | |
Marc Beeson has had a 30+ year career as a hit songwriter in Nashville. Along the way he has written multiple #1 radio singles and songs for legendary country artists such as Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood and more. Marc's massive crossover hit “When She Cries” by Restless Heart won the ASCAP Best Country Song and Best Pop Song of the Year Award. Marc's seen Music Row through many changes over the years and on this episode shares his wealth of experience and insight on what it takes to build a lasting career as a songwriter in Nashville. MARKERS: 7:17 (LA COWRITING SCENE IN THE 80’S) 8:50 (WHY HE MOVED TO NASHVILLE) 11:20 (HOW YOU USED TO SHOW PEOPLE SONGS) 12:30 (HANGIN AROUND KENNY ROGERS' STUDIO) 14:20 (MAKING THE FIRST DIGITAL RECORDING IN LA) 15:15 (GETTING THE CALL TO COME TO NASHVILLE) 17:05 (A SIGN OF WHERE HE SHOULD BE) 17:55 (MAKING RECORD WITH MARK BRIGHT, TOM SKYLER) 18:35 (ON GETTING TOLD NO) 20:00 (GETTING HIS FIRST PUBLISHING DEAL) 21:55 (WORKING WITH PROS) 22:20 (ON BOOKING YOUR OWN RIGHTS; USING A DAYBOOK) 23:50 (ON TAKING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOU CAREER) 26:05 (GETTING HIS FIRST HIT) 28:30 (WE HAVE NO CONTROL) 29:20 (ON HEARING WHEN SHE CRIES FOR THE 1ST TIME) 31:50 (ON WHEN SHE CRIES CROSSING OVER) 33:10 (on the peace he felt getting his first hit) 35:50 (reminders for young writers) 37:20 (music industry inflection point) 39:10 (ON GETTING A CUT WITH CHICAGO) 43:20 (BE THE BEST AT WHATEVER YOU’RE DOING) 45:42 (HOW DO YOU STAY MOTIVATED) 46:30 (ON FINDING OUT WHERE THE BAR IS SET) 49:05 (FISHING FOR MARLIN) New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 01: Jimi Bell | 27 Jun 2023 | 00:55:05 | |
This episode features Jimi Bell, a singer songwriter from Hawkinsville, Georgia. Jimi's written songs for some of the biggest artists in town including Bailey Zimmerman, Kip Moore, and Brantley Gilbert to name a few. Last year one of Jimi's songs "Last Night Lonely" recorded by Jon Pardi reached #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Jimi's built a career in Nashville by being both thoughtful and hard working. Hear him discuss where he sources inspiration for songs, his methods for getting great writes, and his tips for building a songwriting brand. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Summer Rewind: Chris DuBois | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:29:34 | |
Chris DuBois is a hit songwriter and award-winning publisher from Nashville. He has written numerous #1 songs, including “You Should Probably Leave” by Chris Stapleton, “Mud on The Tires” by Brad Paisley, and is a two-time recipient of the CMA Triple Play Award (three #1 songs in one year). In 1999, Chris co-founded Sea Gayle Music which went on to win the ASCAP Country Publisher of the Year award in 2010 and 2011. Additionally, Chris is adjunct instructor at Belmont University where he teaches a class on songwriting. --------------------------------------------------- New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| INTRODUCING: Ten Year Town | 14 Jun 2023 | 00:01:01 | |
It’s often said that Nashville Tennessee is a ten-year town. It takes 10 years to build your circle, land that job or big audition, 10 years to be discovered and get your shot, 10 years to write the song that’ll change your life forever. Join Troy Cartwright as he sits down with hit songwriters, musicians and music city execs to discuss their journey through Music Row, the struggles of getting started and what it takes to stay at the top. Subscribe to Ten Year Town to get new episodes sent direct to your phone and send your questions and thoughts to connect@tenyeartown.com. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 97: Dave Barnes | 29 Jul 2025 | 01:04:36 | |
Dave Barnes is a GRAMMY-nominated artist and songwriter originally from Knoxville, Tennessee. He’s written songs for artists including Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, and Thomas Rhett, but is equally known for his own work as a recording artist. His song “God Gave Me You” became a massive hit for Blake Shelton, earning Barnes a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Song. In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to balance being a successful songwriter and artist, the making of his latest record Featherbrained Wealth Motel, how his creative process has evolved, and many other stops along the way. --------------------------------------------------- This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. --------------------------------------------------- Troy Cartwright is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 96: Neil Medley | 22 Jul 2025 | 00:49:14 | |
Neil Medley is a songwriter originally from Louisville, Kentucky. He’s written songs for some of the biggest names in country music, including Jake Owen, Cody Johnson, Luke Bryan, Hudson Westbrook, and many others. His song "Country Song Came On" is the current single for Luke Bryan. He is signed to Riser House. In this episode, we discuss his journey from Kentucky to Nashville, his first #1 song with Jake Owen, the ups and downs of being a working songwriter on Music Row, and many other stops along the way. --------------------------------------------------- This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. --------------------------------------------------- Troy Cartwright is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| The Red-Bellied Woodpecker and the Creative Loop | 15 Jul 2025 | 00:14:01 | |
This week on Ten Year Town: Troy Cartwright shares a few thoughts on the creative loop and the story of a Red-Bellied Wood Pecker. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 95: Rob Williford | 08 Jul 2025 | 00:55:37 | |
Rob Williford is a GRAMMY-nominated artist and songwriter originally from Gastonia, North Carolina. He’s written songs for artists including Luke Combs—penning several #1 hits like “Doin’ This,” “One Number Away,” and the RIAA-Certified Diamond single “Beautiful Crazy”—as well as Tim McGraw and others. His new record, Johnny & Jenny, was released on June 27th, 2025. In this episode, we talk about Rob’s journey from small-town North Carolina to writing arena anthems, making records in Muscle Shoals, his creative process, how he approaches his own music, and many other stops along the way. This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 94: Tammy Rogers (The SteelDrivers) | 01 Jul 2025 | 01:05:02 | |
Tammy Rogers is a GRAMMY-winning musician, vocalist, and founding member of The SteelDrivers. Originally from Tennessee and raised in Irving, Texas, she got her start touring with Patty Loveless before becoming an in-demand session player, recording with artists like Bill Anderson, Eric Church, Neil Diamond, Chris Knight, and Reba McEntire. She’s also an accomplished songwriter, with cuts by artists including Terri Clark and Thomm Jutz. The SteelDrivers earned a GRAMMY in 2015 for Best Bluegrass Album for The Muscle Shoals Recordings. In this episode, we talk about Tammy’s journey as a musician, the evolution of The SteelDrivers’ sound, their brand new record, winning a GRAMMY, and many other stops along the way. This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 93: Paul Cauthen | 24 Jun 2025 | 00:55:17 | |
Paul Cauthen is a singer-songwriter from East Texas, known for blending country, rock, gospel, and soul. He began his career as one half of the Americana duo Sons of Fathers before launching his solo career in 2016 with the album My Gospel. His 2019 release Room 41 marked a breakthrough, featuring songs like “Cocaine Country Dancing” and earning critical acclaim for its bold sound and storytelling. In this episode, we talk about Paul’s start in the music business, the making of his breakout record Room 41, living on your own terms, and many other stops along the way. This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Adam Wright on Songwriting, “Yellow Bird,” Alan Jackson & The Nature of Necessity | Ten Year Town Ep. 107 | 21 Oct 2025 | 00:46:51 | |
Adam Wright is a two-time GRAMMY-nominated songwriter, artist, and musician originally from Newnan, Georgia. His songwriting and musicianship have led to collaborations with some of Nashville’s most respected artists, including Alan Jackson, Lee Ann Womack, Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks, John Legend, Brandy Clark, Robert Earl Keen, and many others. In this episode of Ten Year Town, we dive into the stories behind his songs “Billy Get Your Bicycle” and “Yellow Bird” from his new record Nature of Necessity, as well as his creative process, book recommendations, and more. -------------------------------------------------- This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. --------------------------------------------------- Troy Cartwright is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Nine Years of CMA Fest: What It Taught Me About the Industry | 18 Jun 2025 | 00:06:36 | |
This week on Ten Year Town, something new: Troy Cartwright reads his latest Substack post—a reflection on nine years of CMA Fest, how it’s changed, and what it says about industry right now. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 92: Anderson East | 10 Jun 2025 | 01:00:08 | |
Anderson East is a GRAMMY-nominated artist and songwriter originally from Athens, Alabama. Known for songs like “This Too Shall Last,” he blends R&B, soul, and roots rock into a sound all his own. In 2019, he received a GRAMMY nomination for Best American Roots Performance for “All On My Mind.” His new album, Worthy, was released on May 30, 2025, via Rounder Records. In this episode, we talk about Anderson’s musical roots, working with Dave Cobb, the making of Worthy, how he approaches genre and songwriting, and many other stops along the way. This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 91: Ben Rector | 03 Jun 2025 | 01:02:36 | |
Ben Rector is a singer songwriter originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Over the past decade, he has built a dedicated fanbase through consistent touring and a catalog of self-written, self-released albums. His 2015 album Brand New debuted in the Billboard Top 10, with the title track going RIAA Platinum. He is currently on tour and just released his new album The Richest Man In The World. This episode's "stat of the week" is brought to you by Chartmetric. This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 90: Jon Decious | 27 May 2025 | 00:45:42 | |
Jon Decious is a Nashville-based songwriter originally from Monticello, Kentucky. His recent credits include three songs on Lainey Wilson’s 2024 album Whirlwind (“4x4xU,” “Counting Chickens,” and “Ring Finger”), “Armadillo” from Miranda Lambert’s Postcards from Texas, and cuts with Anderson East, Ashley McBryde, Tyler Halverson, and Carter Faith. In 2024, he signed a joint publishing deal with Reservoir Media and One Riot. This episode's "stat of the week" is brought to you by Chartmetric. This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 89: Walker Hayes | 20 May 2025 | 00:58:55 | |
Walker Hayes is a GRAMMY-nominated country artist and songwriter originally from Mobile, Alabama. He gained national attention in 2021 with “Fancy Like,” which topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, became his first No. 1 at country radio, and is now certified 6× Platinum by the RIAA. In this episode, we discuss Walker’s unconventional path to success, the impact of “Fancy Like,” balancing faith, family, and music, and many other stops along the way. This episode's "stat of the week" is brought to you by Chartmetric. This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||
| Episode 88: Ryan Hurd | 13 May 2025 | 00:57:38 | |
Ryan Hurd is a Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan. He began his career as a songwriter in Nashville, penning No. 1 hits like “Lonely Tonight” for Blake Shelton and Ashley Monroe, and “What If I Never Get Over You” for Lady A. His own artist career has included Gold-certified singles like “To a T” and the Platinum-certified duet “Chasing After You.” He is currently signed to Big Machine for both records and publishing. In this episode, we talk about Ryan’s journey from the writing room to his first record deal, how he crafts his albums, his new deluxe version of Midwest Rock and Roll, and many other stops along the way. This episode's "stat of the week" is brought to you by Chartmetric. This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. New Episodes every Tuesday. | |||