Dave Brainard
Don’t miss 2015 Grammy Nominee DAVE BRAINARD on The Producer’s Chair, Thursday, May 4 at Sound Stage.
by James Rea
Watching Dave Brainard’s producing career unfold has been like watching a rookie knock it out of the park their first three times at bat.
Brainard’s first home run came with Jamey Johnson’s independent album in 2002, which propelled both he and Johnson. Next time up, Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury was the first of two Jerrod Niemann’s albums produced by Brainard in 2010 and 2012, which not only yielded Brainard’s first No. 1 single as a producer, “Lover Lover”, it also sold Platinum in digital single sales. The same album went on to yield a top 5 with “What Do You Want,” and a top 20 with “One More Drinkin’ Song” and … it landed Niemann’s deal with Joe Galante and Arista Nashville. Then, his third time at bat, Brainard knocked it over the center field wall, producing Brandy Clark’s 12 Stories album in 2015, earning Clark and Brainard a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album that same year and Clark a nomination for Best New Artist; two CMA nods (including a nomination for Clark for New Artist of the Year, and a Best Song of the Year win for “Follow Your Arrow”), and a 2017 ACM nomination for New Female Vocalist of the Year and MusicRow Magazine’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award. All of which solidified Brainard’s position on Nashville’s most sought-after ‘A-List’ of rising producers.
Currently, Brainard is working on two Ray Scott albums and eight other projects for artists including Sunny Sweeney, Apollo’s Crown, Jamie Kent, Drew Kennedy, Jessica Mitchell, Anthony Peebles, Kaci Bolls, and Jenny Tolman.
Brainard has also acquired publishing deals with Balmur Music and Big Picture that led to cuts with Neal McCoy, Sammy Kershaw, Kelly Coffee, Ricochet, Brooks & Dunn and the Hunter Hayes/Jason Mraz’s duet, “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me.” He’s also toured as a sideman with Rebecca Lynn Howard, Anthony Smith, Marcel, David Nail, and Jessica Andrews. Brainard established his own deciBel Productions and Mix Dream Studios with engineer Brian Kolb, as one of Nashville’s most sought-after production facilities, for many of Nashville’s most prominent songwriters like Steven Dale Jones, Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins, Mark D. Sanders and John Goodwin.
Then one night while Dave was out with a friend, he was beaten/physically assaulted, which left him hospitalized, with a broken jaw and half of his teeth knocked out, on a long road to recovery, through the balance of 2015 and 2016.
Brainard recently relocated his studio to Nashville’s Berry Hill area.
TPC: Has your court case against your assailants been resolved?
DB: It’s still ongoing. We got a call last week from the DA. A trial date is set for a few months from now. Between now and then, I believe there’s some legal formalities that’ll play out yet.
What’s it like dealing with liars?
DB: When they came out with their side of the story, they definitely had their own version of things. I’m not too worried about it. At the end of the day, I wake up and make music with some of the most talented people in the world… and that’s no lie.
TPC: Is your studio still rockin’ with songwriters?
DB: Nowadays, not being in the demo business, I’m not around as many songwriters as I used to be. Now it’s limited mainly to the songwriters involved with the projects I’m producing. But I’m always looking to connect with songwriters and publishers because that’s really the life blood of this whole business.
TPC: Who are in your close circle of writers?
DB: I love John Goodwin. Often misunderstood, but a true genius. When he hits it off with an artists that I have write with him, I feel like the edges of their creative dialogue are expanded. I know he’s done that for me personally over the years. John’s one of the best writers I’ve been around, because he comes at it from such a unique and brilliant angle.
On the Jenny Tolman project, I’ve become a fan of Aaron Raitiere, who writes for Dave Cobb. He’s recently got a couple cuts with Miranda Lambert. He’s just a fun co-write where everything that comes out of your mouth turns into a song. He’s got that Southern take on things but is also pretty dang smart … Ivy-league education.
There’s a few others that I like to get involved with various projects, like Rory Bourke, Mark Sanders, Jennifer Denmark, Greg Becker etc. but I enjoy getting to circulate in the different camps that come with each project. Sometimes I’m involved with the co-writing, other time’s I’m connecting artist with other writers and publishers, but many times I’m just getting to meet and hang out with the songwriters surrounding an artist, and that’s always cool.
The Producer’s Chair: Who has been your most cherished business mentor?
DB: That one’s easy…Tommy Jackson. He’s the founder of First Note Entertainment, as well as a Barron’s Award-winning financial wizard, a five-time Alabama High School state champion football coach, and on and on. I met him a few years ago when I was finishing up the Kaci Bolls record. She was doing some vocals for a demo session of his and they got to talking about her record. So they came over to my studio and listened to what we were doing and were blown away. We’ve been great friends ever since.
He and his wife Michelle have this horse farm/songwriter’s paradise down in Santa Rosa, Florida, where I like to go to reset, ride some four wheelers, shoot some guns, write some songs and get inspired.
Most times we get together, he talks at such a profound level it hurts my head… I call that the ‘pouring a gallon of milk in a shot glass’ phenomena. He’s been such a mentor to me on a business and spiritual level.
TPC: When considering an artist to produce, what are the most important things that you look for?
DB: I think the first thing really is a gut feeling when I hear someone sing or play. I think in the back of my mind, I’ve got a pretty good sense of what kind of artist I’d be good for, and what I’d probably suck at. Beyond that, I love working with great country artists and I love what happens when I mix what I do, which isn’t necessarily a traditional country approach to making records, to someone who has an honest approach to singing and writing. Whether someone is meant for the Bluebird, or bound for the Bridgestone, I just love it when an artist is original, authentic, intelligent, and has the right amount of crazy. I think if you look at the ones I’ve had success with – that all applies.
TPC: Please explain what a 360 deal is.
DB: When you look at an artist as a business, there’s only a handful of ways to make money. Make a pie chart. There’s the sales and sync license slice from the master recordings, there’s the copyright slice, there’s the touring slice, there’s the merchandise slice, and there’s the sponsorship slice. Maybe some others too, like the leveraging of your brand to gain access to wherever as well as own companies and real estate and marijuana farms and on and on… but let’s not include that… that’s more like the whip cream.
A 360 deal is simply a record label negotiating to take a bite out of the other pie slices, because hell, they’re the ones that own the oven and pay the chef. Something like that…
It seems fair to me. But like any deal, it’s all negotiated based on what you bring to the table.
TPC: What are the most important aspects of artist development?
DB: In the studio, one of the most important aspects of artist development to me is taking the time to experiment. Maybe some producers do it with the wave of a wand or a turn of the knob, but I need the room to make mistakes and establish an environment where the artist feels understood but inspired to explore the edges. I absolutely love the process. I also really enjoy being a part of building the village around an artist and helping bring quality people into the dream.
That’s my vantage point from the creative side, but it goes way beyond the songs and what ends up on a record. I’ve gotten to know many great people in the marketing side of artist development and have such a respect for what they do. All that analytics and stuff is pretty fascinating, I’m glad someone does it!
TPC: What’s your best advice to new producers, on how to get started?
DB: That’s such a broad question because everyone comes into it their own way. I came to Nashville with the goal to be a prolific songwriter, but I had an 8-track recorder and ended up doing the work tapes and demos for my co-writers and then eventually other songwriters. I also stumbled into playing on the road and doing radio tours for major label artists and got to experience how the radio culture worked. When I had my writing deals, I was double booked everyday so I did my songwriting pushups and I built a ton of relationships. Eventually I opened my own studio and learned how to be an entrepreneur, keeping track of budgets watching a bottom line. After getting beat down by the business a few times, I fought the urge to become bitter and learned how to be a positive spirit in the creative process… and in all that, maybe there’s some advice in there. I think every producer brings a whole closet full of unique experiences and skill sets and that becomes their tailored approach to making records.
TPC: When did you start to trust your judgment, of what excellence is?
DB: That’s probably military. It goes back to being in the Air Force … integrity, service before self, teamwork and attention to detail … the core values. It comes from sitting there watching and feeling the gravity of four-star generals command a room of other powerful men and women. It comes from learning proper protocol and observing the teamwork that it takes achieve certain things and leadership. In this industry I look for that too. I’ve felt that in a room with the Joe Galantes and the Tim Dubois’. It’s a very rare quality, to feel the weight or the gravity of leadership in a room the way I used to feel when I’d see Admiral Childs give a speech. Excellence to me kind of comes from somewhere in there. Excellence is this illusive thing that, keeps on making you want to achieve, the best you can … knowing you’ll always fall short. Kinda like a carrot on a 50-foot stick.
In Pictures: MusicRow Celebrates Sixth Annual ‘Rising Women On The Row’ Event
/by Jessica NicholsonCity National Bank staff members pose at MusicRow‘s sixth annual Rising Women on the Row celebration. Photo: © Moments By Moser Photography
MusicRow proudly recognized six Nashville music industry honorees during its sixth annual Rising Women on the Row ceremony on Tuesday, April 25 at Omni Nashville Hotel. City National Bank served as Presenting Sponsor, as it has since the event’s inception.
Pictured (L-R): 2017 honorees Tatum Allsep, Virginia Davis, Kerri Edwards, Kella Farris, Laura Hutfless, and Juli Newton-Griffith. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
The six honorees for 2017, who have become substantial contributors and visionary leaders, were Kella Farris, Business Manager, Farris, Self & Moore; Juli Newton-Griffith, VP, Magic Mustang/BMG; Kerri Edwards, President, KP Entertainment; Laura Hutfless, CEO and Founding Partner, FlyteVu Agency; Virginia Davis, Managing Partner and Artist Manager, G Major Entertainment; and Tatum Allsep, Founder/Executive Director, Music Health Alliance.
Expanding to a larger ballroom at the hotel, the ceremony held its largest crowd to date, with nearly 500 attendees.
Pictured (L-R): Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
Pictured (L-R): Tri Star Sports and Entertainment’s Lou Taylor with MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
Nashville Mayor Megan Barry attended the Rising Women on the Row breakfast and welcomed the guests with a heartfelt message of empowerment. Featured speaker Lou Taylor, CEO of Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group, delivered a 20-minute conversation with MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson on stage.
Kalie Shorr. Photo: © Moments By Moser Photography
Pictured (L-R): Artists Kalie Shorr and Jamie O’Neal with MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
CMT’s Leslie Fram was on hand to introduce a special performance from Song Suffragette Kalie Shorr to conclude the event. Shorr offered music from her EP, Slingshot.
For a full overview of the event, read Robert K. Oermann’s recap here.
Photo: © Moments By Moser Photography
2017 Rising Women on the Row honoree Laura Hutfless. Photo: © Moments By Moser Photography
Bobby Karl Works The Room: MusicRow’s Sixth Annual Rising Women On The Row Breakfast
/by Bobby KarlPictured (L-R): Rising Women On The Row 2017 honorees Tatum Allsep, Virginia Davis, Kerri Edwards, Kella Farris, Laura Hutfless, and Juli Newton-Griffith. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 559
Rising Women is rising up.
MusicRow’s sixth Rising Women on the Row celebration demonstrated that this annual event has evolved into a major date on the industry’s social calendar. It was completely sold out, with nearly 500 attendees packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the Omni Hotel ballroom on Tuesday morning (April 25).
The crowd was a who’s-who of Music Row with tables sold to such power players as CAA, WME, UMG, the ACM, BMG, Sony-ATV, Black River, FBMM and presenting sponsor City National Bank. Mayor Megan Barry put it on her calendar for the first time.
“Music contributes $10 billion to our economy every year, and you make it happen,” Barry told the assembled multitude. To the women in attendance, she added, “You are breaking glass ceilings. All of you are changing the profile of what little girls can be. If you can see it, be it.
“I am glad that you are here supporting each other. We take conflict and turn it into conversation. And we take conversation and turn it into action,” concluded Nashville’s first female mayor.
“We’re honoring female empowerment,” said host Sherod Robertson. “Hopefully, you’re feeling a love fest. Each year, we’re growing and growing.”
Rising Women video greetings came from such mega talents as Martina McBride, Mary J. Blige, Reba McEntire, Meghan Trainor, Britney Spears, supermodel Taylor Hill and Quantico actress Priyanka Chopra. The featured speaker was Tri Star CEO and business manager to the superstars Lou Taylor. She was ably interviewed on stage by Robertson.
Featured Speaker Lou Taylor (of Tri Star Sports and Entertainment) is interviewed by MusicRow owner/publisher Sherod Robertson. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
Taylor was witty, wise and warm. “Success traits come down to two disciplines, thought and action,” she observed. “Practice professional courage,” she advised. “Don’t be above being coached: I’m 51, and I’m coached and trained every day.”
Each of the honorees offered words of wisdom as well. “Powering through what you do: That’s the way we do it; that’s the way we rise,” said Tatum Allsep of Music Health Alliance.
“I’m struck by the word ‘example,’ and I see so many in front of me,” said Virginia Davis of G Major Management. Her clients include Thomas Rhett, Jewel and Danielle Bradbery. “I thank the honorees for being examples. We have so much to learn from one another.”
“Surround yourself with good people,” suggested Kerri Edwards of KP Entertainment. Her clients include Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell and Kelleigh Bannon. “I still pinch myself when I come to work every day: I can’t believe I get to do this.” Quoting her idol Dolly Parton, she concluded, “You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.”
Kella Farris is the founder of the business management firm Farris, Self & Moore. “This is like my friends and family,” she said as she gazed at the room. “It’s awesome to be here this morning.”
“Your friendships are the greatest gifts this industry has given me,” said Laura Hutfless to the attendees. She is the co-founder of the marketing agency FlyteVu.
MusicRow owner/publisher Sherod Robertson welcomes the crowd for the sixth annual Rising Women On The Row event. Photo: Haley Crow/MusicRow
Magic Mustang/BMG publisher Juli Newton-Griffith said, “I don’t feel like I belong, but thank you for having me….with this amazing, amazing group of women.
“Obviously, the key to success is to love what you do,” she added. “Wake up. Show up. You never know when it’s going to be your million-dollar day.”
The Rising Women entertainment was music by Kalie Shorr, one of the key figures of the Song Suffragettes showcase series. This female gathering of songwriters sells out its shows every Monday night at The Listening Room Cafe.
“Twenty artists have received publishing deals through Song Suffragettes, and six have gotten label deals,” said CMT’s Leslie Fram in her introduction of Shorr, who was a CMT Artist Discovery in 2016.
The singer-songwriter began her three-song set with the very event-appropriate “Fight Like a Girl.” To date, this song has generated 1.6 million Spotify streams. Shorr’s just released EP Slingshot also includes “Nothing New.”
Her third song was a brilliantly arranged mash-up of “When I Think About Angels” and “Delta Dawn.” Jamie O’Neal co-wrote and recorded the first-named hit. She joined Kalie Shorr on stage to duet on both songs.
Alpha females in the breakfast crowd included Lori Badgett, Becky Harris, Alison Jones, Teri Brown, Debbie Linn, Lisa Harless, Whitney Daane, Stacy Schlitz, Judi Turner, Pam Matthews and Diane Pearson.
As the years have gone by, more and more men have been coming to Rising Women on the Row. Tuesday’s appreciative and applauding attendees included Mike Dungan, Royce Risser, Dale Bobo, Troy Tomlinson, Woody Bomar, Justin Levenson, Rod Essig, Todd Cassetty, Tom Luteran and Rob Beckham.
Kalie Shorr performs. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser.
Charlie Worsham Celebrates New Album With Station Inn Party
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Vince Gill, Charlie Worsham, and John Oates. Photo Credit: Alan Poizner
Charlie Worsham celebrated the release of his new album Beginning of Things Monday afternoon (April 24) at a bash at the Station Inn, where he performed a set of brand new songs, including his current single “Cut Your Groove,” for friends and industry members. Two of Worsham’s mentors, Vince Gill and John Oates, were on hand for the fun, along with Warner Music Nashville Chairman & CEO John Esposito and Worsham’s Warner Music Group family.
Charlie Worsham with WMN’s John Esposito. Photo: Alan Poizner
Pandora Teams With Goldenvoice To Livestream Stagecoach Country Music Festival
/by Jessica NicholsonPandora has teamed with Goldenvoice to host an exclusive livestream of performances from the upcoming Stagecoach Country Music Festival, slated for April 28-30 in Indio, California.
Performances and artist interviews will be available throughout the festival at pandora.com/stagecoachfestival. The station will be co-hosted by Pandora’s country, rock and Americana curators, Rachel Whitney and Eric Shea.
“With over 60 million listeners every year, Country fans are one of the biggest, most engaged and loyal audiences on Pandora,” said Nick Bartle, chief marketing officer at Pandora. “Partnering with Goldenvoice to livestream one of Country’s biggest events allows us to connect our listeners with this year’s amazing lineup of talent at Stagecoach for three days of exclusive live performances and content.”
Pandora’s audio livestream will feature the following performances:
Friday, April 28:
Dierks Bentley, Cole Swindell, Randy Houser, Jon Pardi, Maddie & Tae, Elle King, Randy Rogers Band, Son Volt, William Michael Morgan, Justin Townes Earl, Anderson East, Dylan Scott, Ryan Hurd, Quiet Life, Bailey Bryan
Saturday, April 29:
Brett Eldredge, Kip Moore, Willie Nelson and Family, Maren Morris, Dan + Shay, Jamey Johnson, Margo Price, Tucker Beathard, Nikki Lane, Robert Ellis, Brent Cobb, John Doe, Traveller, Jonathan Tyler, Brooke Eden, The Walcotts, Ruston Kelly, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Black Pistol Fire, Jackie Lee
Sunday, April 30:
Thomas Rhett, Tyler Farr, Cam, Cowboy Junkies, The Cadillac Three, Wynonna & The Big Noise, Terry Allen, Steep Canyon Rangers, Cody Johnson, Luke Combs, Kiefer Sutherland, LANco, Levi Hummon, Courtney Cole, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Dan Layus
LifeNotes: Mega Manager Sandy Gallin Dies
/by Robert K OermannSandy Gallin Photo: sandygallin.com
Sara Evans’ New Indie Label Takes Flight
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Craig Dunn – Collective Artist Management, Bob Morelli – President, Sony RED, Sara Evans – Artist / Founder of Born To Fly Records, Alan Becker – SVP, Product Development, Sony RED. Photo Courtesy: Sony RED
Sara Evans has launched her own label, Born To Fly Records, named for her chart-topping single and double platinum album, and will be releasing her next album project on the new label. Distributed via Sony Red, the new album, her eighth studio project, is due out this summer.
“I’m extremely excited to be launching this venture and I love that the label is ‘Born To Fly.’ I wrote that song about my own life, coming to Nashville and following my dreams,” said Evans. “It’s a dream come true to surround myself with my own team and truly embrace my entrepreneurial spirit, taking complete control of my career and brand is so freeing. I can’t wait to share this new project with everyone!”
Details about the new album will be released in the coming weeks.
John Berry To Share ‘Songs And Stories’ In New Television Show
/by Jessica NicholsonSongs and Stories With John Berry will highlight the the songs and music that have inspired artists and careers. The first season will feature Berry and guests Billy Ray Cyrus, Craig Morgan, Clay Walker, Suzy Bogguss, Mo Pitney, Neal McCoy, Billy Dean, and more.
The idea began in 2001 as a two-week run of shows, and has developed into two years of concerts, and two-disc CD set (released in 2003), a short story book (2012), and now a television program.
“As an artist whose life and career direction was profoundly changed by a song, I am thrilled to bring the world an opportunity to see and hear firsthand from some of my friends and fellow artists the stories surrounding the importance of some of their favorite and most meaningful songs,” says Berry. “For me and so many others, songs help us express what we feel inside and stories are the inspiration for the song that lies within.”
Admission to the live show tapings is free and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Douglas Corner is located at 2106 8th Ave. S. in Nashville.
“Songs And Stories with John Berry” Taping Schedule:
Monday, May 15
5:00 pm: Billy Dean
7:00 pm: Mo Pitney
9:00 pm: Neal McCoy
Tuesday, May 16
5:00 pm: Suzy Bogguss
7:00 pm: Collin Raye
9:00 pm: Craig Morgan
Wednesday, May 17
5:00 pm: Mark Wills
7:00 pm: Delbert McClinton
9:00 pm: Billy Ray Cyrus
Thursday, May 18
5:00 pm: Jason Crabb
7:00 pm: Clay Walker
9:00 pm: Lee Roy Parnell
MusicRowPics: OSMR Brings The Party With “Sweet Life”
/by Jessica NicholsonSongwriter/producer Danny Myrick with OSMR
Country group OSMR led by Round Hill Music writer Marcus Kiser, along with Brent Lain and Brian Smith, revel in “making their own rules, one song, one sip at a time” on their new single, “Sweet Life.”
This group seems to live by the “making their own rules” tenant when it comes to career decisions as well.
Instead of pursuing the traditional model of playing several showcases around Nashville in an attempt lure in label interest, the band has signed on to open a string of shows for The Cadillac Three in May.
“I’ve done a couple of acoustic versions of the songs, but we haven’t played them full-band yet,” Kiser says. The band has been in the studio prepping their upcoming EP Sweet Life with Round Hill writer/producer Danny Myrick.
Myrick added, “We didn’t want to do the same old thing, so this opportunity came up and we thought it was a great opportunity. We’re also meeting with labels to let them hear the music for the first time. If they want to do the in-town showcases we can, and they have, but it will be cool for labels to come see them in front of real fans and doing normal shows.”
During a recent visit to the MusicRow office, the band played a trio of tracks from the EP, including “Back Pocket,” as well as the title track and “Looking at You.” Jimmy Robbins, Kiser and Myrick co-wrote “Sweet Life.”
The only outside cut from their upcoming EP, “Back Pocket,” came courtesy of an accidental song pitch. After one session, The Cadillac Three’s Neil Mason intended to send Kiser a demo they had recently worked on.
“He sent it to me and I was like, ‘Um, that’s not the track I just sang on.’ He said, ‘Oh, sorry, I sent you the wrong song.’ But it was a song he and Ryan Hurd had written with Aaron Eshuis. I said, ‘Is this a song pitch? Because I really think we could do this song.’ I sent to everyone else and they loved it. And Ryan Hurd killed the demo, he was amazing.”
OSMR’s EP, Sweet Life, releases April 28.
The Producer’s Chair: Dave Brainard
/by contributorDave Brainard
Don’t miss 2015 Grammy Nominee DAVE BRAINARD on The Producer’s Chair, Thursday, May 4 at Sound Stage.
by James Rea
Watching Dave Brainard’s producing career unfold has been like watching a rookie knock it out of the park their first three times at bat.
Brainard’s first home run came with Jamey Johnson’s independent album in 2002, which propelled both he and Johnson. Next time up, Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury was the first of two Jerrod Niemann’s albums produced by Brainard in 2010 and 2012, which not only yielded Brainard’s first No. 1 single as a producer, “Lover Lover”, it also sold Platinum in digital single sales. The same album went on to yield a top 5 with “What Do You Want,” and a top 20 with “One More Drinkin’ Song” and … it landed Niemann’s deal with Joe Galante and Arista Nashville. Then, his third time at bat, Brainard knocked it over the center field wall, producing Brandy Clark’s 12 Stories album in 2015, earning Clark and Brainard a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album that same year and Clark a nomination for Best New Artist; two CMA nods (including a nomination for Clark for New Artist of the Year, and a Best Song of the Year win for “Follow Your Arrow”), and a 2017 ACM nomination for New Female Vocalist of the Year and MusicRow Magazine’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award. All of which solidified Brainard’s position on Nashville’s most sought-after ‘A-List’ of rising producers.
Currently, Brainard is working on two Ray Scott albums and eight other projects for artists including Sunny Sweeney, Apollo’s Crown, Jamie Kent, Drew Kennedy, Jessica Mitchell, Anthony Peebles, Kaci Bolls, and Jenny Tolman.
Brainard has also acquired publishing deals with Balmur Music and Big Picture that led to cuts with Neal McCoy, Sammy Kershaw, Kelly Coffee, Ricochet, Brooks & Dunn and the Hunter Hayes/Jason Mraz’s duet, “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me.” He’s also toured as a sideman with Rebecca Lynn Howard, Anthony Smith, Marcel, David Nail, and Jessica Andrews. Brainard established his own deciBel Productions and Mix Dream Studios with engineer Brian Kolb, as one of Nashville’s most sought-after production facilities, for many of Nashville’s most prominent songwriters like Steven Dale Jones, Dallas Davidson, Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins, Mark D. Sanders and John Goodwin.
Then one night while Dave was out with a friend, he was beaten/physically assaulted, which left him hospitalized, with a broken jaw and half of his teeth knocked out, on a long road to recovery, through the balance of 2015 and 2016.
Brainard recently relocated his studio to Nashville’s Berry Hill area.
TPC: Has your court case against your assailants been resolved?
DB: It’s still ongoing. We got a call last week from the DA. A trial date is set for a few months from now. Between now and then, I believe there’s some legal formalities that’ll play out yet.
What’s it like dealing with liars?
DB: When they came out with their side of the story, they definitely had their own version of things. I’m not too worried about it. At the end of the day, I wake up and make music with some of the most talented people in the world… and that’s no lie.
TPC: Is your studio still rockin’ with songwriters?
DB: Nowadays, not being in the demo business, I’m not around as many songwriters as I used to be. Now it’s limited mainly to the songwriters involved with the projects I’m producing. But I’m always looking to connect with songwriters and publishers because that’s really the life blood of this whole business.
TPC: Who are in your close circle of writers?
DB: I love John Goodwin. Often misunderstood, but a true genius. When he hits it off with an artists that I have write with him, I feel like the edges of their creative dialogue are expanded. I know he’s done that for me personally over the years. John’s one of the best writers I’ve been around, because he comes at it from such a unique and brilliant angle.
On the Jenny Tolman project, I’ve become a fan of Aaron Raitiere, who writes for Dave Cobb. He’s recently got a couple cuts with Miranda Lambert. He’s just a fun co-write where everything that comes out of your mouth turns into a song. He’s got that Southern take on things but is also pretty dang smart … Ivy-league education.
There’s a few others that I like to get involved with various projects, like Rory Bourke, Mark Sanders, Jennifer Denmark, Greg Becker etc. but I enjoy getting to circulate in the different camps that come with each project. Sometimes I’m involved with the co-writing, other time’s I’m connecting artist with other writers and publishers, but many times I’m just getting to meet and hang out with the songwriters surrounding an artist, and that’s always cool.
The Producer’s Chair: Who has been your most cherished business mentor?
DB: That one’s easy…Tommy Jackson. He’s the founder of First Note Entertainment, as well as a Barron’s Award-winning financial wizard, a five-time Alabama High School state champion football coach, and on and on. I met him a few years ago when I was finishing up the Kaci Bolls record. She was doing some vocals for a demo session of his and they got to talking about her record. So they came over to my studio and listened to what we were doing and were blown away. We’ve been great friends ever since.
He and his wife Michelle have this horse farm/songwriter’s paradise down in Santa Rosa, Florida, where I like to go to reset, ride some four wheelers, shoot some guns, write some songs and get inspired.
Most times we get together, he talks at such a profound level it hurts my head… I call that the ‘pouring a gallon of milk in a shot glass’ phenomena. He’s been such a mentor to me on a business and spiritual level.
TPC: When considering an artist to produce, what are the most important things that you look for?
DB: I think the first thing really is a gut feeling when I hear someone sing or play. I think in the back of my mind, I’ve got a pretty good sense of what kind of artist I’d be good for, and what I’d probably suck at. Beyond that, I love working with great country artists and I love what happens when I mix what I do, which isn’t necessarily a traditional country approach to making records, to someone who has an honest approach to singing and writing. Whether someone is meant for the Bluebird, or bound for the Bridgestone, I just love it when an artist is original, authentic, intelligent, and has the right amount of crazy. I think if you look at the ones I’ve had success with – that all applies.
TPC: Please explain what a 360 deal is.
DB: When you look at an artist as a business, there’s only a handful of ways to make money. Make a pie chart. There’s the sales and sync license slice from the master recordings, there’s the copyright slice, there’s the touring slice, there’s the merchandise slice, and there’s the sponsorship slice. Maybe some others too, like the leveraging of your brand to gain access to wherever as well as own companies and real estate and marijuana farms and on and on… but let’s not include that… that’s more like the whip cream.
A 360 deal is simply a record label negotiating to take a bite out of the other pie slices, because hell, they’re the ones that own the oven and pay the chef. Something like that…
It seems fair to me. But like any deal, it’s all negotiated based on what you bring to the table.
TPC: What are the most important aspects of artist development?
DB: In the studio, one of the most important aspects of artist development to me is taking the time to experiment. Maybe some producers do it with the wave of a wand or a turn of the knob, but I need the room to make mistakes and establish an environment where the artist feels understood but inspired to explore the edges. I absolutely love the process. I also really enjoy being a part of building the village around an artist and helping bring quality people into the dream.
That’s my vantage point from the creative side, but it goes way beyond the songs and what ends up on a record. I’ve gotten to know many great people in the marketing side of artist development and have such a respect for what they do. All that analytics and stuff is pretty fascinating, I’m glad someone does it!
TPC: What’s your best advice to new producers, on how to get started?
DB: That’s such a broad question because everyone comes into it their own way. I came to Nashville with the goal to be a prolific songwriter, but I had an 8-track recorder and ended up doing the work tapes and demos for my co-writers and then eventually other songwriters. I also stumbled into playing on the road and doing radio tours for major label artists and got to experience how the radio culture worked. When I had my writing deals, I was double booked everyday so I did my songwriting pushups and I built a ton of relationships. Eventually I opened my own studio and learned how to be an entrepreneur, keeping track of budgets watching a bottom line. After getting beat down by the business a few times, I fought the urge to become bitter and learned how to be a positive spirit in the creative process… and in all that, maybe there’s some advice in there. I think every producer brings a whole closet full of unique experiences and skill sets and that becomes their tailored approach to making records.
TPC: When did you start to trust your judgment, of what excellence is?
DB: That’s probably military. It goes back to being in the Air Force … integrity, service before self, teamwork and attention to detail … the core values. It comes from sitting there watching and feeling the gravity of four-star generals command a room of other powerful men and women. It comes from learning proper protocol and observing the teamwork that it takes achieve certain things and leadership. In this industry I look for that too. I’ve felt that in a room with the Joe Galantes and the Tim Dubois’. It’s a very rare quality, to feel the weight or the gravity of leadership in a room the way I used to feel when I’d see Admiral Childs give a speech. Excellence to me kind of comes from somewhere in there. Excellence is this illusive thing that, keeps on making you want to achieve, the best you can … knowing you’ll always fall short. Kinda like a carrot on a 50-foot stick.
On The Cover: ‘MusicRow’ Reveals 2017 ‘InCharge’ Directory
/by Jessica NicholsonMusicRow, Nashville’s industry publication, proudly unveils its 2017 flagship print directory, InCharge.
The 94-page industry resource serves as the definitive collection of industry gatekeepers and key decision-making professionals within the Nashville entertainment community. Each of the 400 profiles includes current contact information, updated career biography, and detailed board and organizational membership affiliations.
“With each person listed in InCharge, there are countless team members standing beyond the spotlight responsible for keeping the wheels in motion. From legal to label, publicity to publisher, and everything in between, to say ‘it takes a team’ is an understatement. It takes an entire village. And this village and its leaders, known as Nashville’s music industry decision makers, are presented in this annual issue of MusicRow.”
Global entertainment company WME graces this year’s InCharge cover. Co-Heads Rob Beckham and Greg Oswald lead WME’s Nashville office. Under their leadership WME’s team works together to secure opportunities for their diverse roster of clients across all entertainment platforms.
In January 2017, WME’s Nashville office began conducting business from its brand new 40,000 square foot space located at 1201 Demonbreun Street. Beckham and Oswald wanted to create a work environment that would enhance collaboration and productivity. Designed with both clients and employees in mind, the new office space is flexible, collaborative and amenity-rich. At the heart of the office lies The Steps, a multi-functional two-story performance space. Here the team can come together to watch an artist perform, listen to an outside speaker, or hold community events. The space also features a Listening Room made possible through a partnership with Gibson Guitars.
Under Beckham and Oswald’s leadership, the WME team works together to secure opportunities for their diverse roster of clients across all entertainment platforms. In addition to touring, agents also secure film, television, book, endorsement, and digital deals as well as other related opportunities. It is worth noting that WME clients won seven of 11 CMA Awards in 2016 and nine of 13 ACM Awards in 2017.
InCharge is not available digitally. However a searchable database is available for MusicRow subscribed members at MusicRow.com. Single copies of InCharge are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $89, and included with yearly subscriptions at no additional cost.