Ashley Cooke Speaks On The Making Of Her 24-Song Debut Album [Interview]

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Photo: Courtesy of Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music

Hailing from all over the nation, rising country star Ashley Cooke knows how to connect with all types of people, leading her to cultivate a uniquely relatable writing style and modern pop country sound. This past year has been a big one for the Big Loud Records/Back Blocks Music artist, as she has toured the nation with Cole Swindell and Luke Bryan, and made multiple national television appearances as well as her Ryman and Grand Ole Opry debuts. Cooke returned to the historic Opry circle last month to perform and announce her debut album Shot in the Dark.

The Opry NextStage artist gave fans a taste of the project leading up to it’s Friday (July 21) release, unveiling five of the tracks. Now, the full 24-track collection is out for the world to hear. The album features collaborations with Colbie Caillat, Brett Young, Jackson Dean and Nate Smith, and marks one of the longest debut albums from a female country artist to date. Last week, Cooke sat down with MusicRow to talk about the creation of Shot in the Dark and her journey thus far.

Growing up, she had many “home towns.” She lived in 19 different homes before she turned 18. Cooke was born in Wisconsin and then moved to California to support her sister Jenn‘s acting career. When she was 15, she and her family made their way to Florida.

Cooke resided in the sunshine state up until she left for college. It’s where she feels her most formative years took place and where her love of country music truly developed, which is why she decided to film much of the album’s content there.

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During those years, she learned and drew musical inspiration from Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and more.

“They take a universal feeling and make it feel very specific. I love that because there’s love, loss, heartbreak, parents, career and so many things you can talk about in music. The way that they say things are just so unique, and we can all feel them,” says Cooke.

She notes that Luke Bryan, who she is currently on tour with, is also a huge inspiration of hers.

“I love how he just entertains, he [knows] how to put on a show and make people [feel good]. That to me was so important to incorporate. I have my more singer-songwriter songs [on the album] like ‘It’s Been a Year’ and ‘Never Til Now (feat. Brett Young)’ that are more lyric/story driven, but then I have others like ‘Moving On With Grace,’ that are a lot of fun and I feel build an arc in a show.”

In her early teen years, Cooke and her sister had formed a musical duo and began traveling to Nashville and writing on Music Row before her sister took up acting. It wasn’t until 2015 that she officially moved to Music City and enrolled in Belmont University to study marketing. Cooke jumped back into music when she entered the Belmont Country Showcase her senior year and won. She then gained traction on TikTok in 2020, propelling her forward as a solo act.

Cooke shares that her writing has evolved since she was a teenager, as she has grown and lived more life. She pulls from her personal stories as well as her experience moving around and meeting people of various backgrounds to hone in on timeless concepts and feelings everyone can relate to, conveying them musically.

“I was always the new kid, which could cause some people to [crawl back] into their shell. So I had the choice to either do that or force myself to be extraverted, make friends and connect with people of different upbringings quickly. It is because of that that I feel I’ve got a decent grasp on different types of humans, and I have friends across the board from different areas and backgrounds. I’m not just from one town in a certain area, and when writing songs for all these different people, I think that serves me well.”

Cooke co-wrote 20 of the album’s tracks and penned one by herself. When crafting Shot in the Dark, those interpersonal skills also helped her to determine which collaborators she wanted to work with on certain song ideas.

“There’s been a lot of times when I’ve been on the road that I’ve heard something in a conversation and think, ‘That’d be so cool [to write about.’ Then [the idea] spirals. I’ll write it down in my phone and I’ll know who I want to write it with, thinking, ‘Oh so-and-so would crush this or so-and-so has mastered this [element] before.’ I’ll save certain ideas for certain people,” she shares. “Sometimes I’ll write a whole song and it’ll feel right—then there’s other times when I know I need a friend [or friends] to help me get out of my own head and bring their flare to it.”

Cooke remembers the moment she got the idea for one of five songs that she released early “Enough to Leave,” which she wrote alongside Matt Roy and Lauren Weintraub about deciding to walk away from a relationship.

She recalls staying in a hotel one night while on tour and not being able to fall asleep until she got the idea out. At 2 a.m., Cooke wrote the entire chorus by herself and then felt the need to bring others in before continuing, knowing specifically that Roy and Weintraub would help the song come to life.

The only number she wrote solo, “Next to You,” came to her the morning after her Opry debut as she walked out to kitchen counter covered with flowers and champagne bottles. The track talks about how true contentment is achieved when you’re surrounded by people you love.

“I never thought [‘Next to You’] would make the album or even be [released],” confesses Cooke. “I just sat down in this T-shirt I’ve had since middle school and I was honestly just journaling with a guitar.”

The closing track, “State I’m In,” highlights her ability to relate to people of various backgrounds united with her skill for pinpointing the strengths in her collaborators.

“I was in a van, driving through somewhere in the midwest, heading to a show. I was scrolling through Instagram and seeing all of my friends getting engaged, married, having babies or buying houses. I was so excited for them and couldn’t wait to be a bridesmaid or an ‘aunt.’ I looked up from my phone and realized that we’re the same age, but I’m with my band on the way to a show and they’re in a house they just bought pregnant in California. I thought that would be such a cool play on the idea ‘State I’m In.’

“I’m in Ohio and she is in California, but we’re also in different states of our lives. I wrote the title down in my phone, thinking I could write it [solo], but then I said to myself, ‘You know who would crush this? Emily Weisband and Jordan Reynolds.'”

Another organic song on the record is one of the early releases “Mean Girl (feat. Colbie Caillat),” which is a melodic, thoughtful warning to an ex’s new girlfriend penned by Cooke, Caillat, Nicolle Galyon and Jimmy Robbins. A big fan of all the talent in the room, Cooke went into the writing session with a specific idea. That idea quickly morphed into a cool play-on-words duet born from a different approach they came up with during their writing break.

The title track also formed spontaneously from a conversation, which took place during the end of a retreat Cooke was on with Weisband, Jordan Minton and Corey Crowder. Minton initially said the phrase in reference to taking a risk in the music industry, but it sprouted another double-meaning idea in Cooke’s mind.

While the song is about two strangers taking a shot in the dark—literally and figuratively—Cooke determined that the title summed up her career thus far. The artist notes that if she hadn’t taken a “shot in the dark” with the Belmont Country Showcase, TikTok and more, she wouldn’t be where she is today.

In August, she will kick off the “Shot In The Dark Tour,” her first-ever headlining trek. Cooke hopes that she’ll be able to continue to connect with people everywhere through the album and live shows.

“This is my first time letting people know who I am as an artist and lyricist. I hope that people hear my music and feel a similar way about me to how I felt about the [artists] I loved growing up, and that they find themselves in the songs. I hope they find something that makes them think, ‘I want to hear that line over and over again,’ because it’s so relatable. I want them to feel like the songs are part of the soundtrack to their lives and what they’re going through.”

Apple Music Spotlights Undiscovered Song Gems With Lost & Found Program

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Apple Music is launching Lost & Found, a new program spotlighting Nashville songwriters by showcasing some of the best country tracks that have never been released, making them available for the first time to fans worldwide.

Thousands of songs are written each year by talented writers that are doomed to never be recorded—until now. With Lost & Found, Apple Music has worked with the songwriting community to select and release six lost demos to be re-recorded for the first time by established and rising country stars. The found songs will be available in Spatial Audio exclusively on Apple Music.

“At Apple Music, we are passionate about celebrating and championing artists and creators,” says Kelleigh Bannen, Apple Music Country’s host. “From advocating for the songwriters, to highlighting the enormous wealth of untapped music, Lost & Found is emblematic of what we do every day, not just here in Nashville, but worldwide. We’re so excited to continue marching towards that mission and look forward to inviting incredible artists to partner with us in unique ways like this.”

Kelleigh Bannen and Jelly Roll. Photo: Courtesy of Apple Music Country

Beginning today, Apple Music will release one new found recording each month, beginning with Jelly Roll’s version of “Dragging These Roots,” written by Ben Hayslip, Josh Thompson and Jesse Frasure. “Dragging These Roots” hit the Apple Music team’s desks back in 2019, and was one of hundreds shared by the publishing community for Lost & Found.

“When Apple Music shared the concept with me, I immediately called Frasure on FaceTime from their listening room to let him know I was definitely cutting the song,” Jelly Roll told Apple Music. “I’m so grateful to Apple Music for shining a light on all these creators and their great artistry.”

“I was so excited to hear this lost song got found by Jelly Roll. It’s one of my favorites that I’ve cowritten, and I was hoping it would eventually get to see the light of day,” Frasure tells Apple Music. “Having one of my favorite artists and friends, Jelly Roll, be the one to cut it was icing on the cake. We had a great time going into the studio on this one, he’s a truly soulful singer behind the scenes, and he put so much heart into it. I can’t wait!”

Apple Music is also premiering Lost & Found Radio, a monthly companion radio show hosted by singer-songwriter Lori McKenna. The show will kick off today (July 25) with a special live radio episode co-hosted by Bannen, and features the writers who are being highlighted as part of Lost & Found. Lost & Found will also have its own dedicated space on Apple Music where listeners can find playlists for the lost demos, the newfound singles, the Lost & Found Radio episodes and more playlists from the participating songwriters.

Lost & Found’s Live Broadcast Special airs today on Apple Music Country and Lost & Found Radio’s debut episode featuring Jelly Roll, Frasure and more, airs at 2 p.m. CT, also on Apple Music Country at apple.co/am-country.

Taylor Swift Springs To No. 1 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Taylor Swift. Photo: Beth Garrabrant

With all 22 songs from Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) on the country charts, Taylor Swift secures the No. 1 position on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week.

Swift, the sole writer on all 22 tracks, made Spotify history with this project, a re-recording of her third album with its original 16 songs and an additional six previously unreleased vault cuts. On its release day, July 7, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) became the most-streamed country album in a single day in Spotify history.

Tracy Chapman maintains the No. 2 spot on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week with “Fast Car,” followed by Ashley Gorley at No. 3 with 10 currently charting hits. Jordan Schmidt and Ryan Vojtesak round out the top five at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Renowned Business Manager Chuck Flood Passes Away

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Chuck Flood

Veteran business manager and Co-Founder of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc. (FBMM), Chuck Flood, passed away Friday morning (July 21) in Nashville with his family by his side. He was 78.

Born Charles Martin Flood Jr. on Sept. 12, 1944, in Waco, Texas, his parents were Charles Martin Flood Sr. and Maida Tull Flood.

Flood attended Baylor University in Waco, which is where he met his wife Beth. The two spent most of their lives in Nashville, raised two daughters and were known not only for their affection and love for each other, but also for their epic parties hosted at their home with friends and family. They shared more than five decades of deep love and friendship. Beth passed away in 2021.

Flood was a prominent figure in the entertainment industry for more than four decades. His career included time at Capitol and Warner Bros. Records in the A&R and national promotion departments. He was also a Partner at Hayes Street Music.

In 1986, Flood founded Chuck Flood & Associates at his dining room table with the help of John Sayles and Betty Sanders.

He later joined forces with Frank Bumstead, Mary Ann McCready and John McCarthy forming what would become FBMM today. Flood was incredibly proud of his career at FBMM and saw his employees and clients as an extension of his family.

Chuck Flood is preceded in death by his parents; Hattie Robinson; his sister, Cecile Marie; and his wife, Beth.

He is survived by his beloved sister, Catherine Flood Weiss of Austin, Texas; daughter Sarah Flood and husband Robert Ryland of Elgin, Texas; and daughter Rachel Flood and husband Kristian Vatalaro, of New York, New York. He is also survived by three grandchildren: Martha Zo Ryland of New York, New York.; Henry Ryland of Elgin, Texas; and Joe Vatalaro of Atlanta, Georgia.

A celebration of life to share memories and honor Chuck and Beth will be held in Nashville. Details will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, the family asks and appreciates that donations be made in Chuck’s name to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) or to Doctors Without Borders.

Radio Promotions Veteran Jan Woods Dies

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Jan Woods

Independent radio promotions veteran Jan Woods passed away at her home in Hermitage, Tennessee on Thursday, July 20. Woods was the Owner of Jan Woods Promotions, whose primary focus is the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart, Billboard‘s Indicator and secondary markets.

With over two decades of experience, Woods worked with dozens of artists throughout her career, including Billy Ray Cyrus, Dolly Parton, Toby Keith, The Bellamy Brothers, Joe Nichols, George Jones and more.

She started her radio promotion career in 1994 with the launch of Jan Woods Promotions. Focusing her efforts on making friends in the music business, many of her colleagues remembering her for her humor and love of God. Woods worked the MusicRow Chart and Billboard Indicator chart, knowing that most independent artists would have their best radio shot starting with those starter charts.

Her charming temperament and passion for music served Woods well. Her office was adorned with multiple Gold and Platinum plaques for her success at country radio.

Woods is survived by her daughter Christina (Jeff) Bear and son Chris (Cathy) O’Guin; grandchildren Brittany Bear, Hope Bear, Faith Bear, Christopher O’Guin and Carly O’Guin; and great-grandchildren Cooper Cancel and Scarlett O’Guin.

Woods’ visitation will be at Cole and Garrett Funeral Home in Goodlettsville, Tennessee on Friday, July 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A service will follow. She will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Goodlettsville.

Cole Swindell Tops The MusicRow Radio Chart With ‘Drinkaby’

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Cole Swindell‘s “Drinkaby” is the No. 1 song on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart this week.

The tune was written by Jon Pardi, Jordan Schmidt, Hardy and Hunter Phelps, and appears on Swindell’s deluxe album Stereotype Broken. It follows his three Platinum-certified, hit singles from his fourth album Stereotype, “Never Say Never” featuring Lainey Wilson, “Single Saturday Night” and “She Had Me At Heads Carolina.”

“Drinkaby” currently sits at No. 14 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 13 on the Mediabase chart.

Swindell was a big winner at the ACM Awards in May, taking home Single of the Year and winning two awards for Song of the Year—as songwriter and artist—for “She Had Me At Heads Carolina.”

Click here to view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Chris Young Channels Summer Vibes On New Track

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Hot enough for you?

The country stars are fully in tune with summertime this week.

Efforts by Dan + Shay, Hardy, Mickey Guyton & Kane Brown, Lionel Cartwright, Uncle Kracker and Travis Denning sound custom made for warm weather.

The most summer-sounding of all is Chris Young, who wins the Disc of the Day award.

Newcomers? We’ve got ‘em, with Christian Parker, Whitney Miller and our DISCovery Award winner Cassandra Davis all lending their voices to the vacation season.

O.N.E. THE DUO / “Superpower”
Writers: Shane Stevens/Nash Overstreet; Producer: Nash Overstreet; Label: Visionary Media Group
– Being a woman is a superpower sez the mother-daughter duo. It’s a charming single, but it would sound a lot more “country” if it had some actual musical instruments in the production instead of just electronic loops.

HARDY / “Truck Bed”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Michael Hardy/Hunter Phelps/Ben Johnson; Producers: Joey Moi/Derek Wells/Hardy/Ben Johnson; Label: Big Loud Records/Big Loud Rock
– She’s kicked him out, so now he wakes up “on the wrong side of the truck bed” in the front yard. Now he has to go to work with a hangover. Instruments twang merrily, the gang sings along and a goofball vibe reigns supreme.

CAYLEE HAMMACK / “That Dog”
Writers: Caylee Hammack/Jake Mitchell/Aaron Raitiere; Producers: Caylee Hammack/Dann Huff; Label: Capitol Nashville
– The fiery redhead is totally over him, but she misses the dog. Sassy and spirited.

CHRIS YOUNG / “Young Love & Saturday Nights”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Jesse Frasure/Josh Thompson/David Bowie; Producers: Chris Young/Corey Crowder/Chris DeStafano; Label: RCA
– The melody quotes “Rebel Rebel” by David Bowie, but this uptempo romp is country all the way. It’s a joyous celebration of old trucks, small towns, radio tunes and necking in the parking lot. Roll down the windows and crank it up on a carefree weekend.

CASSANDRA LEWIS / “Too Much”
Writers: none listed; Producer: Dave Cobb; Label: Elektra/Low Country Sounds
– My ears perked right up. This Portland, Oregan singer-songwriter will kick off her new album with this soul ballad. It’s a stately heartbreak outing with a spare arrangement that frames an extraordinary vibrato-vocal performance. She aims for the stratosphere and then soars above it. A remarkable, singular talent.

DAN + SHAY / “Save Me the Trouble”
Writers: Jordan Reynolds/Ashley Gorley/Dan Smyers/Shay Mooney/Jordan Minton; Producers: Dan Smyers/Scott Hendricks; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– She’s a heartbreak waiting to happen, so this power ballad throws down a warning. As we have come to expect, the singing here is simply excellent. The layered harmonies and understated production both work splendidly. Hit bound.

WHITNEY MILLER / “Nobody”
Writers: Hailey Nicole Verhaalen/Kelly Anne Seidel/Makena Hartlin; Producer: none listed; Label: Whitney Miller Music
– Smoldering and sensuous. She’s in a fever dream that he’s being unfaithful, so electric guitars echo and swirl around her steamy, smoky vocal. Miller is a former Miss United States (2012) who is also a mixed martial arts fighter and kickboxing commentator. Her singing is a tough as she is.

MICKEY GUYTON & KANE BROWN / “Nothing Compares to You”
Writers: Tyler Hubbard/Bebe Rexha/Jordan Schmidt; Producers: Tyler Hubbard/Jordan Schmidt; Label: Capitol Records Nashville
– They sound pretty good together, his plaintive, roughshod delivery contrasting nicely with her sunny, scintillating soprano. The slow-burn, bluesy tune gives Mickey, in particular, plenty of room to vamp and improvise. Smooth listening.

BRANDON DAVIS / “Still Gonna Be”
Writers: Brandon Davis/Daniel Agee/Joe Ragosta; Producers: Daniel Agee; Label: Big Yellow Dog Music
– He sings with passion, but the song isn’t worth the effort.

UNCLE KRACKER / “Reason to Drink”
Writers: Matthew Shafer/Blair Daly/Troy Verges; Producer: none listed; Label: UK
– A summertime party song. You’ll feel like you’re heard it before.

TRAVIS DENNING / “Things I’m Going Through”
Writers: Matt Mulhare/Jordan Dozzi; Producers: Jeremy Stover/Paul DiGiovanni; Label: Mercury Nashville
– He’s so relatable. He delivers this heartbroken meditation in a conversational, everyman voice that worms its way right into ya. The little details in the lyric are really cool. I remain a big fan.

LIONEL CARTWRIGHT / “Sleepwalking”
Writer: Lionel Cartwright; Producer: Lionel Cartwright; Label: Soul Mine Recordings
– Totally groovy. The gentle, mellow track is embellished with his tasty guitar licks, and the tune sways like a hammock on a summer afternoon. The creamy, dreamy, romantic mood is pure pleasure. This veteran hit maker still has the goods. Seek this ultimately enjoyable single out now. You can thank me later.

CHRISTIAN PARKER / “Hickory Wind”
Writers: Gram Parsons/Bob Buchanan; Producer: none listed; Label: CP
– Parker’s album Sweethearts drops on August 18. It is his tribute to the seminal 1968 Byrds country-rock masterpiece Sweethearts of the Rodeo. This single from it comes out tomorrow (July 21), and it’s a dandy remake of Gram Parsons’ timelessly eloquent waltz. Lilting and lovely. In addition to all the songs on the original album, the collection contains versions of “I Still Miss Someone,” “Satisfied Mind” and “Truck Store Truck Drivin’ Man.” Highly recommended.

My Music Row Story: KBFM’s Chris King

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Chris King

The “My Music Row Story” weekly column features notable members of the Nashville music industry selected by the MusicRow editorial team. These individuals serve in key roles that help advance and promote the success of our industry. This column spotlights the invaluable people that keep the wheels rolling and the music playing.

Chris King is the Founder and Partner of King Business Financial Management (KBFM), a business management firm in Nashville. With over 10 years as a business and financial manager, King founded the firm in 2019 and has grown it to be the home to over 40 clients spanning genres across the music industry.

King was born in raised in Memphis, Tennessee, which informed his love for all different genres of music from a young age. During his college years at the University of Tennessee at Martin, he quickly realized that he had an affinity for numbers, but more importantly, he had a passion for interacting with people. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and shortly after graduating, King moved to Nashville.

His dedication and motivation helped him quickly rise through the ranks at the business management firm FBMM, where he worked for six years. After leaving FBMM, King became a Partner at Blue Sky Group Business Management where he spent four years as the head of their entertainment business management division before departing in 2019 to launch KBFM.

MusicRow: Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. I went to the University of Tennessee at Martin for college.

Lucy Hughes Mckelvey, Marcus King, Chris King

Were you into music growing up?

Definitely. My mom was an R&B fan and my dad was into Earth, Wind & Fire. I really got introduced to country music by riding in the car with my sister my freshman year. Jason Adlean‘s first album was really the first album that introduced me to country music.

What did you study in college?

I studied accounting. I didn’t know anything about the music industry and I certainly didn’t know that you could be an accountant within the music industry. I had taken an accounting class in high school and that’s what made me fall in love with it.

I didn’t want to do taxes all day, so I was trying to find some sort of accounting work that didn’t mean being a CPA and dealing with tax returns on a consistent basis.

How did you figure out how to make that happen?

I just moved to Nashville. I was engaged at the ripe age of 20. I met my wife at UT Martin and she is is originally from Nashville. She moved back so I moved here and [started looking for a job]. I got married on a Saturday and on that Monday, I went in for an interview at FBMM.

I was simply searching for a job in some type of money management. A lot of the stuff I had studied in college was about helping small businesses with their accounting needs, so I was trying to find something where I could help somebody, whether that was with a business or personal finances. I lucked out getting a job at FBMM, where I was able to be in the best of both worlds, dealing with personal stuff and with business things.

Drew Parker, Chris King, Ray Fulcher

What was your first impression of the music business?

It was crazy. At the interview, they asked me if I knew what a royalty was. I have no idea. The first day I walked in, they said, “You’re going to work on [a big band’s] touring and their personal stuff.” For a year and a half, I got to see all of that.

It got me a ton of experience that I just couldn’t have learned anywhere else. I got to work on a few baby bands as well during that time. After that, I got to work on [one of the world’s biggest pop stars] for a year and a half.

How long were you at FBMM?

I was there for seven years. The last four years I was there, I got to work all over the place. That’s where I really fell in love with what I was doing even more. I got to work on a rock band from Athens, Alabama and a rapper from Pittsburgh. Forming personal relationships with them was what made me want to go out on my own.

KBFM staffers

Stephanie Mundy Self was my boss on some clients, so I was learning from her for a year and a half. She is such a hard worker—she eats, sleeps and breathes what she does. She really made me understand kind of that type of work ethic. Duane Clark was great—he always had an open door policy. I worked with Jen Conger for the last four years I was there. They were always open to talk with people and help people learn.

What was the next step for you?

I partnered with Harlan Hallett for a new company called Blue Sky Group. I was there for about four years. John Strohm connected us when I left FBMM. For somebody that had as big a clients and experiences as John did, to take a chance on a 28 year old kid starting his own thing, was so cool.

My years at Blue Sky were great. I learned a ton. Harlan’s background was more on the royalty side, so being there, I really got to learn a ton about catalog sales. Whenever I started at Blue Sky, it was me, Harlan and one other. We built it up and when I left, we had maybe seven or eight people in the office.

I left in February of 2019. Two employees came with me that I hired right out of college, Lucy Hughes Mckelvey and Erin Barry. We started building our team. I started looking around for other people, somebody I could bring in that could bring in to grow our network. I met Mallory Mason Pascal through Mandy Morrison over at City National Bank. We met in November of 2019 and started talking a lot. I basically felt like I was trying to court someone to date them. [Laughs] I was just trying to tell her why she should trust me. Then COVID hit and we cut the brakes for a while.

Chris King, Jordan Walker, Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Lucy Hughes Mckelvey

By the end of November of 2020, I was able to persuade her to come over. She was number five in the office including me, and now we’re up to 16 people on a day-to-day basis. We’ve also really grown our client roster. During COVID, I think a lot of artists realized they may be a company with a huge name, but not necessarily getting the service they thought they were and the one-on-one attention. We’ve got clients from The Basement to Bridgestone, so even though we’re smaller, we have all the knowledge and we can also give you more of that one-on-one feel.

That’s awesome. What are your goals for KBFM?

Just to keep growing. As long as we can offer the same service that we are now, I would love to get as big as we can possibly get knowing that we’re giving the same service out to everybody.

What would you tell young accountants wanting to do what you do?

Always be willing to learn. Try to research it yourself. With my kids and with my employees, I always encourage them to research [the answers they are looking for] and figure out the why behind it.

I would also say money is not everything. No one got in the music industry for money, at least not on the business side of things. It’s going to come with time. Find something that you’re passionate about and do it—the money will come if it’s supposed to come. If not, you’re still going to live a happy life to where it doesn’t matter.

KBFM Parnters Mallory Mason Pascal (second to left) and Chris King (far right) with their spouses

What is something people may not know about you?

I’m a big Justin Bieber and Michael Jackson fan. Lucy likes to ask people what concert they would want to go to, dead of alive. Mine is definitely Michael Jackson.

I got to take my eight-year-old to the Justin Bieber concert here in Nashville last year. That was a pretty special moment. I basically forced him into becoming a huge Justin Bieber fan like me, so he was standing up singing the whole time. That was a really cool experience.

What is a moment that you’ve had that your little kid self would be impressed with?

I got to go to Madison Square Garden two years ago to see [my client] Marcus King play a show at Madison Square Garden. There’s a lot of moments like that. When I was in college, my mom passed away from cancer. There are so many moments like that where I wish I could call her and tell her about.

I grew up in Memphis and got an accounting degree—I just hoped to work at some accounting firm. Now I’m working with Grammy winners and CMA winners. I have to pinch myself a lot. I hope the butterflies never go away.

Ryan Vojtesak Re-Enters Top 5 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Ryan Vojtesak

Ryan Vojtesak re-enters the top five on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week, moving from No. 6 to to No. 4. He is co-writer on Morgan Wallen’s tracks “Last Night,” “You Proof,” “Thinkin’ Bout Me,” “Everything I Love” and “Cowgirls.”

Filling out the top five, Ashley Gorley sits atop the chart at No. 1 for the 11th consecutive week as a co-writer on Chris Janson’s “All I Need Is You,” Parmalee’s “Girl In Mine,” Russell Dickerson’s “God Gave Me A Girl,” Hardy’s “Truck Bed,” Nate Smith’s “World On Fire” and Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” “Cowgirls,” “Everything I Love,” “Thinkin’ Bout Me” and “You Proof.”

Tracy Chapman remains at No. 2 with Luke Combs’ cover of her solely-written “Fast Car” still rising. Zach Bryan‘s “Something In The Orange” keeps him at No. 3 and Chase McGill sits at No. 5 with six charting songs.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Country Music Hall Of Famer Jerry Bradley Passes

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Jerry Bradley. Photo: Tony Brown’s book Elvis, Strait to Jesus; courtesy of Melissa Core and Rick Caballo of Dead Horse Branding

Music industry titan and Country Music Hall of Fame member Jerry Bradley has passed away at age 83. He died peacefully on Monday (July 17) in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

His 40 years of success in the record and publishing industries are unique in the Nashville music business community.

Jerry Bradley and the CMHOF’s Kyle Young at Bradley’s induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

As part of what is known as “The First Family of Music Row,” Jerry was the son of Nashville sound architect Owen Bradley as well as the nephew of the renowned A-Team guitarist Harold Bradley, who were both in the Hall of Fame. His late wife was the iconic Connie Bradley, who led ASCAP for three decades.

Other members of the Bradley dynasty include Jerry’s sister, longtime BMI executive Patsy Bradley, and his son, current BMI Nashville VP of Creative Clay Bradley, as well as other family members who made an impact on the music business.

Jerry Owen Bradley was born in Nashville on January 30, 1940. He was a practical jokester in his youth. When he decided to follow his dad and uncle Harold’s footsteps into the music business, after two years in the army, Jerry started working with his family’s music publishing company, Forrest Hills Music. He also started learning to engineer and produce records in his dad’s studio, Bradley’s Barn, after it was built in 1965.

Learning from his father, Jerry watched and often contributed to sessions with artists like Webb Pierce, Loretta Lynn, Brenda Lee, Gordon Lightfoot and more.

Jerry and Connie Bradley. Photo: Donn Jones/CMA

Coming up in the music business as Owen Bradley’s son made Jerry ache for a shot at building his own reputation. In order to make a name for himself, Jerry asked Head of RCA Nashville Chet Atkins—who was ironically Owen’s competition at the time—for a job.

Jerry came on as an assistant for Atkins in 1970, but soon found himself behind the sound board as a staff producer. A few short years later Jerry became Head of RCA Nashville in 1973.

If making a mark for himself was what Jerry yearned for, he did that and more. With Jerry at the helm from 1973 to 1983, RCA Nashville experienced its famed success with country hitmakers Alabama, Ronnie Milsap, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride and many more. The label was heralded Label of the Year by Billboard for ten consecutive years, and launched the careers of some of country music’s most legendary stars.

“When my daddy died, my mother told me he was proud of me. He never said that but he told her that. That touches me,” Jerry told MusicRow in a 2021 interview about his family’s legacy.

One of Jerry’s early signings was Alabama, a family band from Fort Payne, Alabama. Jerry helped design the artwork for their first RCA Nashville album My Home’s in Alabama, and started their iconic trademark of Alabama spelled with a capital “A” at both the beginning and ending of the word. The now Country Music Hall of Fame members would go on to celebrate multiple Platinum and multi-Platinum albums.

Jerry Bradley and Charley Pride attend the 2019 Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Another stunning success of Jerry’s was his work with Ronnie Milsap, who recorded 35 No. 1 hits for RCA Nashville. Jerry produced many of Milsap’s hits, with publisher Tom Collins co-producing some as well.

He made history while working with Charley Pride, who became one of country music’s first Black superstars. Pride recorded hits such as “Someone Loves You Honey,” “Burgers and Fries” and “Where Do I Put Her Memory” under Jerry’s supervision.

During his time at RCA, Jerry was also the force behind the renowned 1976 album, Wanted: The Outlaws, from Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter and Tompall Glaser. He was meticulously involved in the imagery for the project, modeling the cover after a vintage, western wanted poster. The album became the very first country album to achieve Platinum status.

Like his father and uncle Harold, Jerry was very involved in the success of the Music Row community. He was President of the Country Music Association in 1974-1975, and was heavily involved in CMA’s annual Fan Fair (now CMA Fest).

Jerry was also known as a prankster on Music Row. Some of the many pranks he pulled were sticking spoons to his face during formal industry events while speeches were being given, and sneakily planting corn in the yards of his colleagues’ offices.

Connie and Jerry Bradley with Harold and Patsy Bradley at the Owen Bradley statue on Music Row. Photo: Courtesy of Jerry Bradley

“When country music was taking off in the Garth Brooks era, Soundscan came out and all of the sudden country music was selling more than anything else, dad grabbed me one day on a Sunday and we went and planted corn in everybody’s front lot,” Jerry’s son Clay remembers. “In about three weeks they all had corn stalks growing.”

“I took Kenny Chesney on his first ride up 16th Avenue going the wrong way telling him I was checking the corn stalks. He didn’t know what the hell I was talking about until we got up the street,” Jerry admitted.

Jerry married the late ASCAP executive, Connie Bradley, in 1979. The two were married for nearly 43 years, until Connie unexpectedly died in March of 2021. There’s no doubt the two were the ultimate Music Row power couple.

From another marriage, Jerry had two children, Leigh Jankiv and Clay Bradley, who also went on to work in the business. Jerry’s cousin Bobby Bradley Jr. is also a noted recording-studio engineer. Bobby got his start at Bradley’s Barn, and went on to work with Johnny Cash, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Marty Stuart, Tammy Wynette, Trisha Yearwood and more at many different studios.

Jerry left RCA Nashville in 1983 and stepped into leading Opryland Music Group, which owned all the Acuff-Rose publishing catalogs. Opryland Music Group became the first Nashville publishing company to win ASCAP and BMI Song of the Year honors in 1990. Acuff-Rose has been a steady earner because of its catalog of old songs, which included the classics of Hank Williams, Roy Orbison, Don Gibson, John D. Loudermilk, the Everly Brothers and Dallas Frazier. With a fire in his belly to elevate the company, Jerry went to work acquiring new staff, song pluggers and hit songwriters such as Dean Dillon, Casey Beathard and Kenny Chesney. Soon the Opryland Music Group was battling with the multinational corporate giants like Warner Chappell, EMI, Polygram Music and BMG.

Jerry Bradley. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Jerry retired from the music business in 2003. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019 for his incredible impact on Music Row. Jerry has mentored such successful music industry professionals as his son Clay Bradley, Troy Tomlinson and Joe Galante.

“I never lost the fact that it was fun,” Jerry shared. “I had fun.”

Jerry Bradley is predeceased by his parents Owen Bradley and Katherine Bradley; his uncles Harold Bradley, Charlie Bradley and Bobby Bradley; his aunt Ruby Strange; his wife Connie Bradley; and the mother of his two children, Gwynn Hastings Kellam.

He is survived by his sister Patsy Bradley; his children Leigh Jankiv (Rob LeBlanc) and Clay Bradley (Sara); his grandchildren Josh Jankiv (Ashley), Eli Jankiv, Emma Jankiv (Matt Acott), John Bradley and Lillian Grace Bradley; and his five great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Cedar Creek Yacht Club on Sept. 10 at 4 p.m. This is the place Jerry enjoyed the most. He was a 60-year member and he spent his time on Old Hickory Lake with his family and friends on the “STUDIO A” houseboat.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please make a donation to Music Health Alliance.