Troy Cartwright
Singer-songwriter Troy Cartwright recently added “podcast host” to his resume. More than 30 episodes in, his Ten Year Town podcast sheds light on the plight of Nashville songwriters and the passion and patience needed for just a chance to make it in Music City.
Cartwright has been a lover of songs and songwriting since he was a young kid growing up in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, he moved to Nashville, got a publishing deal and then a record deal.
Years later, Cartwright left his label deal to be an independent artist. With releases such as “Unlove You,” “Wild One” and “Over You By Now,” he has garnered over 115 million streams to date, with 2023 marking his highest streaming success yet. His socials have grown exponentially as well.
As a songwriter signed to Big Machine Music, Cartwright has written songs recorded by Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, Nickelback and several other chart-topping artists. His resilience and perspective make him the perfect host for a podcast about the journey of songwriters like Ten Year Town.
The first season of Ten Year Town featured hitmakers such as Jimi Bell, Marc Beeson, Trannie Anderson, Billy Montana, Wynn Varble and many more—as well as publishers like Tim Hunze, Courtney Allen, Derek Wells and Chris “Falcon” Van Belkom.
Through his interviews, Cartwright uncovers their stories, takes a look into their craft and ultimately extracts words of advice from those behind the hits.
“I’m a really curious person. I just like talking to people,” he shares. “My wife, Mary Lu, and I are always trying to find creative things to do and ways to market. She was like, ‘We should make podcast called Ten Year Town and talk to people about their journey. Then we got started!”
Cartwright wanted to make sure that the podcast highlighted how everyone’s story is different, so that listeners could visualize different paths to success.
“You move to Nashville and hear that it’s a 10 year town, and you’re like, ‘I’m special. I’m going to do it one year.’ Sometimes that is true. Some people we’ve had on the podcast have been in town for 30 years, and some people have been in town for five,” Cartwright says. “For me it was just about trying to capture everyone’s story so that people just getting started could listen to it and [feel like they’re not alone.]”
Some of Cartwright’s favorite moments on Ten Year Town are when his guests speak to those listeners following in their footsteps.
“At the end of every episode I ask, ‘Do you have any advice that you would give to your younger self or to someone just getting started?’ Pretty much everyone’s answer is some version of, ‘don’t quit,'” he says.
“I hope the answer to that question is finding people at the right time, when they need to hear it most. I hope it’s inspiring for them because it’s been really inspiring for me personally.”
Another piece of wisdom Cartwright extracts from his guests is what their role in the writing room is. He says hearing their answers has helped him in his own craft.
“I try to be more present in the room now,” he says. “Sometimes my role is to be the artist, [but sometimes it’s not]. A guy I was writing with recently was going through something and was on fire, so my role was to be the stenographer. I was just trying to capture what he was getting out. I’m trying to be open to that process of understanding I can wear different hats.”
Cartwright’s first season of Ten Year Town connected so well that he has continued to release more, with new episodes featuring Jessi Alexander, Hardy, Luke Laird, Jerry Flowers and more out now.
With the help of his wife, Mary Lu, and some team members, he’s created a significant library of work with Ten Year Town. But it’s not like the singer-songwriter has much time—he is also constantly writing, recording and touring, building his own fan-base while fitting in time to talk to other creators about their lives.
“I’m so happy I’m doing this. It sets my soul on fire,” he says. “I love getting to talk about the craft of songwriting. It’s important to me. The Nashville community has done so much for me, I hope I [can continue] to elevate that so other people can realize how special Nashville is.”
When he’s not working on the podcast, Cartwright is working on a new record and writing three or four days a week.
“I feel like I’ve got three full-time jobs,” he quips. “I’m so grateful. I know how lucky I’m to get to do this. I’ve had a lot of different points where I wasn’t sure if I’d get to, so I don’t take it for granted.”
Ten Year Town is available to listen to here.
Brandon Lake & Sadie Robertson Huff To Host 11th Annual K-Love Fan Awards
/by Lorie HollabaughBrandon Lake & Sadie Robertson Huff
Brandon Lake and Sadie Robertson Huff have been tapped to host the 11th annual K-Love Fan Awards on Sunday, May 26 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
The weekend of the awards will also consist of the Friday night (May 24) kick-off concert headlined by MercyMe with Cain and Consumed by Fire as well as the Sunday morning worship service led by Elevation Worship. More details will be released at a later date.
Tickets for the 2024 K-Love Fan Awards are on sale now, with travel packages still available. For more information, click here.
Grand Opening Set For Friends In Low Places Bar
/by Madison HahnenCountry superstars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood will celebrate the grand opening of their new bar, Friends In Low Places, on March 7. Located at 411 Broadway, the 54,715 square foot, four-floor venue will become the largest honky-tonk on Lower Broadway.
“If you are one of the lucky ones who come to this town and receive its many blessings, don’t you owe something to Nashville?” shares Brooks. “Garth Brooks owes a lot to Music City.”
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood
The first and second floor will feature an elevated experience of a traditional honky-tonk. It will include the largest LED screens on Broadway as well as the newest sound and lighting technology, all of which was installed by Brooks’ road crew. The custom built stage for musicians will sit in the heart of the building, and will feature the Circle G emblem, which Brooks used to perform in Central Park. The first floor will offer two bars, seating and a dance floor. On the second, guests can find an additional two bars, a place to overlook the stage downstairs and sliding glass windows overlooking Broadway.
The third floor will be the private event space for the venue. With the ability to accommodate up to 250 guests, the space will mimic the inviting atmosphere of Brook and Yearwood’s home, featuring a double sided fireplace and patio.
The Oasis Rooftop will offer a beach theme with 10 foot palm trees. Featuring retractable garage doors, an open-air patio and two full bars, The Oasis will be the largest rooftop on the street.
As for food, the menu will be crafted by Yearwood herself. Recipes will be inspired by her own Trisha’s Southern Kitchen, as well as her cookbooks. The venue plans to serve food on all four floors from 11 a.m – 9 p.m every day.
“I can’t imagine there being a Garth honky-tonk without Trisha Food!” says Yearwood. “I’m honored to get to be a part of something so exciting and so big, and to work alongside the love of my life doing it. The whole team at Friends In Low Places is incredible!”
Friends in Low Places was brought to life by EOA Architects and R.C. Mathews Contractor. The venue plans to be open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The opening of Friends in Low Places will also include a police substation in partnership with the MNPD.
Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, More Set For CRS Paddle Royale Ping Pong Tournament
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Paddle Royale Ping Pong Tournament will return to Country Radio Seminar (CRS) on Feb. 28 in the Omni Nashville Hotel’s Legends D-G on the second floor.
The 16-player event has grown each year, with over 800 in attendance in 2023. This year’s tournament will feature players Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Sam Hunt, Russell Dickerson, Tyler Hubbard and returning Champion Chris Lane, along with industry executives Kurt Bardella, Johnny Chiang, Michelle Kammerer, Annie Ortmeier, Jackie Tigue, Jay Williams, Kristen Williams and more to be announced.
Tennessee Titans play-by-play man Mike Keith will come back to call the action, with Rob Stone and Holly Hutton from Audacy WYCD/Detroit serving as sideline reporters. The “Prime Ministers of Pong” George Couri and Tim Roberts will lead the event, which will follow “Amazon Music Presents: Country Heat.” Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and the tournament starts at 9 p.m.
“This is the true test of success in the music business,” says Roberts. “We serve it up, care about spins, and we don’t settle for anything less than No. 1!”
Couri adds, “No music, no panels. Just getting our industry together to have fun and get silly. This thing gets bigger every year, and we are going to make the spectacle of it all even bigger this time.”
CRS 2024 will take place Feb. 28-March 1. Online registration is now closed, and will reopen on-site at the Omni Nashville Hotel. For more information, click here.
Josh Jenkins Signs With Young Guns Publishing
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Laurie Gore, Young Guns Publishing Creative/Admin Assistant; Jason Turner, Keller Turner Andrews & Ghanem, PLLC; Laura Alexander, Young Guns Publishing SVP, Creative; Josh Jenkins; Molly Shehan, Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC; Will Hamrick, Young Guns Publishing CEO. Photo: Mary Craven Photography
SESAC Songwriter of the Year and CMA Song of the Year award winner Josh Jenkins has signed a world-wide exclusive publishing deal with Young Guns Publishing.
Jenkins co-wrote the viral, six-time Platinum smash hit “Fancy Like,” recorded by Walker Hayes, which spent more than 10 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, reached Top 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100, and ruled every country sales and streaming chart for several weeks.
He is also a co-writer on the 2022 CMA Song of the Year “Buy Dirt,” performed by Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan, and is a co-writer on Davis’ current single “Tucson Too Late.” His songs have been recorded by other artists such as Jake Owen, Dustin Lynch, Randy Houser and more. Additionally, Jenkins is the lead singer of the band Green River Ordinance, who have had several records top the Billboard Heatseekers chart throughout his 15-year tenure, along with many songs placed in TV/film.
“We are beyond grateful to welcome Josh Jenkins to Young Guns Publishing,” shares Laura Alexander, Young Guns Publishing SVP, Creative. “Josh is a songwriter I have admired since meeting him nearly 10 years ago. Josh is respected and admired for being a family man, a champion of fellow writers and a true friend to so many in our community. In a lot of ways, it’s his quality relationships that lend to him writing such meaningful, relatable songs. Will [Hamrick], myself and the entire Young Guns family cannot wait to hear the music to come, and we’re thankful we get to watch Josh continue to build on the incredible successes he’s already achieved.”
“I’m grateful to get to join Laura, Will and the entire crew at Young Guns Publishing,” shares Jenkins. “I love the songs coming out of this place and can’t wait to continue my songwriting journey with them.”
Josh Ross To Get ‘Complicated’ With New EP In March
/by Liza AndersonUp-and-coming country artist Josh Ross will release his new EP, Complicated, on March 29.
“Finally! I’m stoked to announce a body of work that showcases lyrically who I am as a person, and me sonically as a creative,” says Ross. “Like a lot of country fans, I listen to all types of music. I am drawn to different sounds and production depending on what the emotion of the song calls for, and I think that comes across in this EP. Complicated represents who I’m becoming as an artist, and I’m excited for y’all to hear it March 29.”
Produced by Matt Geroux, the eight-track collection features piano ballad “Matching Tattoos.” The UMG Nashville/Universal Music Canada artist co-wrote the track with Joe Fox, Mason Thornley and Brad Rempel, and shared it with fans on Friday (Feb. 16). “Matching Tattoos” follows previously released tunes “Single Again” and “Truck Girl.”
“‘Matching Tattoos’ is very personal to me. It is a song that comes from a real experience I went through a few years ago,” Ross notes. “I wrote this song on the Nickelback tour this past year and I hope y’all can connect to the emotion of the song as much as I do.”
He is currently traveling across Canada on his sold-out headlining journey, “The Trouble Tour,” and serving as support for Bailey Zimmerman‘s “Religiously. The Tour.” Ross will also make festival appearances at Stagecoach and Country Thunder, in addition to joining select dates of Luke Bryan‘s “Mind Of A Country Boy Tour” this summer.
Complicated Track Listing:
1. “Single Again” (Josh Ross, Joe Fox, Brad Rempel)
2. “Tell Me A Lie” (Cameron Bedell, Lauren McLamb, Johnny Clawson)
3. “Truck Girl” (Josh Ross, Johnny Gates, Mason Thornley, Jared Griffin)
4. “Complicated” (Josh Ross, Heath Warren, Mason Thornley, Matt Geroux)
5. “She Don’t Smoke” (Josh Ross, Joe Fox, Brad Rempel, Mason Thornley)
6. “Trouble” (Josh Ross, Mason Thornley)
7. “Burn Back” (Josh Ross, Mason Thornley, Sam Martinez, Benjamin Stoll)
8. “Matching Tattoos” (Josh Ross, Joe Fox, Brad Rempel, Mason Thornley)
Carter Vintage Guitars Announces Grand Opening Of New Nashville Location
/by Lorie HollabaughPaseo South Gulch
Carter Vintage Guitars will hold the grand opening of its new brick-and-mortar Nashville location on the top floor of the historic Antiques building at SomeraRoad’s Paseo South Gulch on Friday, March 1.
Since its inception by industry veterans Walter and Christie Carter in 2012, Carter Vintage Guitars has become a Nashville institution where visitors can admire, trade, consign, buy and sell vintage guitars and other fretted instruments. The company’s new location spans 12,500 square feet, housing over 2,000 guitars, a bigger authentication team and the newly reopened Carter Vintage Repair shop led by Greg Ellis. Other additions include an exclusive space for creatives called Carter Studios, a stage, rooms for private appointments, more lifestyle merchandise and expanded office space.
Approaching the guitar-clad doors, customers will be greeted by a new mural painted by artist Brian Law. Beyond the doors, a lobby housing merchandise and accessories precedes a long “Hall of Fame” with historic photos and memorabilia, paying homage to the history of the store, its founders, Cotten Music and music legends who are friends of the brand.
“After over a decade of success, Carter Vintage Guitars had outgrown our storied first home on 8th Avenue, and it had to be fate that another historically significant building was revitalized across the street around the same time,” says Ben Montague, Co-Founder & CEO of The North American Guitar, which merged with Carter Vintage Guitars in 2022. “Our new home in the Antiques building will allow us to offer the same incomparable customer experience, while displaying more inventory, improving capacity for authentication and repairs and supporting our talented team. We also now have the space to provide a destination for music experiences and support for the creative community that complements our core passion of buying and selling guitars.”
In addition to Carter Vintage Guitars instruments, the new retail floor will house inventory from The North American Guitar and Cotten Music, providing a physical home for the three merged brands under one roof.
On The Row: Redferrin Pours Heart & Hard Work Into Debut EP
/by Liza AndersonRedferrin. Photo: Sean Hagwell
Prior to the release of his debut EP, Old No. 7, on Friday (Feb. 16), rising Warner Music Nashville artist Redferrin swung by the MusicRow office to tell his story and play some tunes from the project.
The White House, Tennessee native grew up racing dirt bikes while honing his songwriting skills. He met fellow country artist Tyler Hubbard through racing and the two began to collaborate, before Redferrin switched gears to pursue music full time. His songwriting credits include Florida Georgia Line‘s “Countryside,” Nelly‘s “Lil Bit (feat. Florida Georgia Line)” and Dean Brody and The Reklaws‘ “Can’t Help Myself.”
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow‘s Liza Anderson, Madison Hahnen and LB Cantrell; Redferrin; MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson and John Nix Arledge
After spending the early days of his career writing for others, Redferrin is now writing for himself and coming into his own as an artist. Inspired by an array of influences ranging from Alan Jackson to Ozzy Osbourne, he infuses elements of various genres into his work to create his individual sound, sharing his story through song. The singer-songwriter produced and co-wrote all seven tracks on the EP.
“I try to be as hands-on as I can so that everything gets where I want it to be. There’s a lot of people helping me, but I know I have to steer the ship,” noted Redferrin. “I’ve just been doing my thing and, thankfully, everyone has been so supportive and encouraging.”
He shared his viral smash “Jack and Diet Coke,” which epitomizes his musical style. With more than 30 million global streams to date, the track caught the attention of the famous Jack Daniel’s brand and the company invited him out to tour the distillery. “I fell in love with Jack even more when I got to see the people making it and how down-home it is,” he recalls. “I got to learn about whiskey rather than just drink it.”
As the song’s reach increased, Jack Daniel’s invited him back to write for a week. He stayed in an airstream and fully immersed himself into cultivating the collection, each song leading to the concept of the next.
The artist also shared the track “Lose Her For Nothin'” with the MusicRow team. Redferrin tapped into his White House roots for the song, which he wrote with Cooper Bascom and Rose Falcon. Lastly, he played “Just Like Johnny,” a gritty tune written alongside Micah Wilshire in which he describes the similarities between himself and Johnny Cash while telling the not-as-known side of Johnny and June Carter Cash‘s love story.
To celebrate the release of Old No. 7, Redferrin sold out his first Music City headlining show at Exit/In on Thursday (Feb. 15). He is currently touring with Niko Moon and will join Billy Currington on the road this spring, in addition to several festival appearances.
Redferrin is published independently and managed by The William Gerard Group.
Lainey Wilson & Jelly Roll Take Home People’s Choice Awards
/by Madison HahnenLainey Wilson. Photo: Rich Polk/NBC via Getty Images
Sunday night (Feb. 18), some of music’s biggest stars gathered in Santa Monica, California for the 2024 People’s Choice Awards. The show honored those in music, TV, film, comedy and sports with the fan-voted awards. From the Barker Hangar event center, Barbie star Simu Liu hosted the night.
Broken Bow Records/BMG artist Lainey Wilson was the first artist to perform during the night, delivering a medley of hits including “Things A Man Oughta Know,” “Heart Like A Truck,” “Watermelon Moonshine” and also included her latest release “Country’s Cool Again.”
The next artist to represent Nashville was Wilson’s label-mate Jelly Roll, who won the award for The Male Country Artist of the Year. The Stoney Creek/BMG artist was not in attendance, but shared a message of gratitude on his social media following the win.
“It’s absolutely incredible. Thank you to the fans that voted. Thank you for putting it all over the internet. Thank you for putting it all over your social media, TikTok. Y’all were sharing it for us. That’s what y’all have done every single time for me, my entire career. You’ve never let me down, and I pray I keep making the kind of music that never lets you down. Thank y’all.”
Other music winners from the night include Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Shakira, Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, Ice Spice, Stray Kids, Olivia Rodrigo and Aqua. Click here for a full list of winners.
Troy Cartwright Captures The Heart Of Nashville Songwriters With ‘Ten Year Town’ Podcast [Interview]
/by LB CantrellTroy Cartwright
Singer-songwriter Troy Cartwright recently added “podcast host” to his resume. More than 30 episodes in, his Ten Year Town podcast sheds light on the plight of Nashville songwriters and the passion and patience needed for just a chance to make it in Music City.
Cartwright has been a lover of songs and songwriting since he was a young kid growing up in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, he moved to Nashville, got a publishing deal and then a record deal.
Years later, Cartwright left his label deal to be an independent artist. With releases such as “Unlove You,” “Wild One” and “Over You By Now,” he has garnered over 115 million streams to date, with 2023 marking his highest streaming success yet. His socials have grown exponentially as well.
As a songwriter signed to Big Machine Music, Cartwright has written songs recorded by Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, Nickelback and several other chart-topping artists. His resilience and perspective make him the perfect host for a podcast about the journey of songwriters like Ten Year Town.
The first season of Ten Year Town featured hitmakers such as Jimi Bell, Marc Beeson, Trannie Anderson, Billy Montana, Wynn Varble and many more—as well as publishers like Tim Hunze, Courtney Allen, Derek Wells and Chris “Falcon” Van Belkom.
Through his interviews, Cartwright uncovers their stories, takes a look into their craft and ultimately extracts words of advice from those behind the hits.
“I’m a really curious person. I just like talking to people,” he shares. “My wife, Mary Lu, and I are always trying to find creative things to do and ways to market. She was like, ‘We should make podcast called Ten Year Town and talk to people about their journey. Then we got started!”
Cartwright wanted to make sure that the podcast highlighted how everyone’s story is different, so that listeners could visualize different paths to success.
“You move to Nashville and hear that it’s a 10 year town, and you’re like, ‘I’m special. I’m going to do it one year.’ Sometimes that is true. Some people we’ve had on the podcast have been in town for 30 years, and some people have been in town for five,” Cartwright says. “For me it was just about trying to capture everyone’s story so that people just getting started could listen to it and [feel like they’re not alone.]”
Some of Cartwright’s favorite moments on Ten Year Town are when his guests speak to those listeners following in their footsteps.
“At the end of every episode I ask, ‘Do you have any advice that you would give to your younger self or to someone just getting started?’ Pretty much everyone’s answer is some version of, ‘don’t quit,'” he says.
“I hope the answer to that question is finding people at the right time, when they need to hear it most. I hope it’s inspiring for them because it’s been really inspiring for me personally.”
Another piece of wisdom Cartwright extracts from his guests is what their role in the writing room is. He says hearing their answers has helped him in his own craft.
“I try to be more present in the room now,” he says. “Sometimes my role is to be the artist, [but sometimes it’s not]. A guy I was writing with recently was going through something and was on fire, so my role was to be the stenographer. I was just trying to capture what he was getting out. I’m trying to be open to that process of understanding I can wear different hats.”
Cartwright’s first season of Ten Year Town connected so well that he has continued to release more, with new episodes featuring Jessi Alexander, Hardy, Luke Laird, Jerry Flowers and more out now.
With the help of his wife, Mary Lu, and some team members, he’s created a significant library of work with Ten Year Town. But it’s not like the singer-songwriter has much time—he is also constantly writing, recording and touring, building his own fan-base while fitting in time to talk to other creators about their lives.
“I’m so happy I’m doing this. It sets my soul on fire,” he says. “I love getting to talk about the craft of songwriting. It’s important to me. The Nashville community has done so much for me, I hope I [can continue] to elevate that so other people can realize how special Nashville is.”
When he’s not working on the podcast, Cartwright is working on a new record and writing three or four days a week.
“I feel like I’ve got three full-time jobs,” he quips. “I’m so grateful. I know how lucky I’m to get to do this. I’ve had a lot of different points where I wasn’t sure if I’d get to, so I don’t take it for granted.”
Ten Year Town is available to listen to here.
Late Toby Keith Takes No. 1 Spot On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart
/by Madison HahnenToby Keith
The late Toby Keith has earned the No. 1 spot on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week. After the country star’s passing on Feb. 5, the community took to streaming to honor Keith. With his songs “As Good As I Once Was,” “Don’t Let The Old Man In,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!” “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” and “Courtesy Of The Red, White, And Blue (The Angry American),” Keith made his way to the top of the chart.
Ashley Gorley takes the No. 2 spot this week with seven songs represented on the country charts. These tracks include “All I Need Is You,” “Last Night,” “Thinkin’ Bout Me,” “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us,” “Truck Bed, “World On Fire” and “Young Love & Saturday Nights.”
The No. 3 spot belongs to Zach Bryan this week, with his songs “Hey Driver,” “I Remember Everything” and “Sarah’s Place.” Randy Montana (No. 4) and Chayce Beckham (No. 5) round out this week’s top five.
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.