NHT Blog

Between Nashville-based guests that I have interviewed on my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast and visits that I’ve made to Music City, there have been plenty of opportunities for me to hear established folks there say that getting approached by newbies who just arrived in town more than likely is not going to result in a co-write.

Some of the recent blogs on our site can merge to not only inspire this week’s post but motivate you to create whatever it is that you do.

Back when I used to work in public relations for a National Hockey League team, I was deeply entrenched in stats for the team and its players as well as coordinating with the NHL too.  It bothered me, as a result, when a broadcaster voiced his displeasure with people who are so beholding to citing statistics.

The blog two weeks ago today was about reviving creativity.  I’d like to dig deeper into how AI has impacted not only my own creative process, but the work and mindset of creators across nearly every corner of the digital world.  The truth is, AI has brought us remarkable opportunities—and some very real challenges.  Whether you see it as a tool, a threat, or something in between, there is no denying it is reshaping the way we work in ways we simply cannot ignore.

I’m tempted to say that it’s a generational thing, but I often wonder if it’s actually more personal taste and, specifically, being drawn to or away from various genres of music.  When I grimace at a song that’s playing, is it a statement on my age or just the style of music?

I realize that they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but too many people are using that as a blanket license to switch on cruise control.

At a time when there are so many creators, why is there so much repetition?  I get it that it’s challenging to come up with something fresh every day to post on social media, but other than on a Staples commercial, no one ever said that there would be an easy button.  After all, if it were simple, wouldn’t everyone be not only doing it but succeeding at it?

Maybe it’s because I have been in this line of work for so long but maybe it’s also the combination of nothing surprises me anymore and just a casual attitude by so many.  The fact is that I see far too many people sending out pitches that are completely irrelevant.

While the above will be met with no response whatsoever or just a “No, we’re going to pass,” the fact is that the damage runs deeper than not getting what you were going after.

Last week in Chicago I (pictured above) attended Podcast Movement Evolutions.  Even though I have hosted more than 950 episodes in my eleven-plus years of podcasting, there’s always more to learn.  It’s about getting better at what I do and some intensive days of finding out what’s new.

There’s the old saying that “I can’t get experience without you giving me experience,” or words to that affect.  You need to learn the ropes and get your feet wet in whatever it is that you do.  But along the way to getting those reps is finding out how much you can expect to get paid in the process.

Yes, it’s true.  Two weeks after writing a blog advocating for fair wages for music artists, I’m here today with the prequel.  In other words, what exactly are those fair wages?

Tomorrow morning, I will fly to Nashville.  I won’t be on the ground long before heading to meet recording artist client Kaitlyn Croker for an interview I’ve booked her into on one of the local network TV affiliates.  And that’s just the start.

She has a new single coming out this Friday, so this week her schedule will be absolutely packed.

There is no doubt in my mind that she is all in on her country music career.  But for the artists out there who aren’t sure if they want to continue or not, this is how you find out.