NashvilleHype!

Posted Sep 4, 2006 by Paul
Filed under: Exclusive Interview

(ed note: originally published on 8/11/06)

Glenn Sweitzer is the epitome of a “behind the scenes” worker in Nashville. Even though he’s been personally responsible for creating some of the best known and influential album covers and marketing programs, few outside the inner-circle would even know his name, or his business – Fresh Design + Film.

His resume reads like a who’s who of popular music. From Tim McGraw to Rascal Flatts and Wynonna to the Grammy’s, Glenn has been very busy quietly doing what he does best, make great looking packages. Recently he has expanded his business to include more film work and video shoots, including a Reba McEntire video just completed. I recently got a chance to do a rare interview with Glenn and I found him to be one of the kindest and goodhearted people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting in Nashville.

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Posted Nov 27, 2007 by Paul
Filed under: Exclusive Interview

“I continue to live in Greensboro so I can continue to believe that the music business is about good music when in reality, once you’re in Nashville for a week, you’re reminded that it’s not.” - Kristy Jackson”

I haven’t done an Exclusive Interview here on NashvilleHype! in a long time, so when Kristy Jackson asked to be a friend on our NashvilleHype! Myspace, I knew she would be the perfect candidate.

Kristy doesn’t live full time here in Nashville, and she gives a surprisingly direct and honest answer as to why she doesn’t as you see in the quote above - but she does visit often and will sometimes write for the country market.

Kristy is the owner of Fever Pitch Music, a record and publishing company that has released 6 titles so far (four of which are Kristy’s). In addition to this, Kristy has written what every songwriter would like to write, a bona-fide hit song. In fact, the song has achieved a level of success very few hit songs actually achieve - over 2,000,000 plays on radio as noted by BMI. Read more »

Posted Aug 24, 2006 by Paul
Filed under: Exclusive Interview

DreamScapers INTL is the company that books Peter Adams and I recently got to interview both the founder, Brian Waymire, and one of his employees who handles Peter’s career, Alex Berry.

The interesting thing about DreamScapers INTL is the way it handles business with the venues it’s trying to book. It’s personalized, and these interviews offer good insight into not only what a booking agent is looking for, but also the talent buyer.

These are interesting interviews even if you’re not an artist or band simply because, thanks to Brian and Alex, we get a back-scene look into what they do.

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Posted Sep 17, 2006 by Paul
Filed under: Exclusive Interview

Rusty Gaston literally exploded on the music scene several years ago - but he’s not a household name. However, if you work or worked in the trenches along with other ‘behind the music machine’ workers in Nashville, you know the name.

Rusty began his career in Texas working with his good friend Keith Andersen at an Opryland style theme park. Years later, Rusty would be one of the top players in music publishing, and Keith Andersen would be one of the top artist in the country.

There are several record producers in town that have had staying power and get to work on numerous records. When we were writing songs for a company in town, James Stroud, Barry Beckett, Tony Brown and Jimmy Bowen seemed to produce everyone. Then came Scott Hendricks for a while. Now it’s Dann Huff and Byron Gallimore. Rusty ran Byron’s publishing company Song Garden successfully for a number of years.

He’s since struck out on his own. Teaming with Tim Nichols and Connie Harrington to form This Music.

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Posted Sep 11, 2006 by Paul
Filed under: Exclusive Interview

Bart Allmand is one of a kind.

Years ago we helped put together a benefit for a friend of ours who’s wife had suddenly died. We had every artist in Nashville (more than 50), from Garth Brooks to Reba, donate autographed items for an auction held at Barbara’s. Thanks to the generosity of those artist, we were able to raise a decent sum.

While sitting at a table a very famous songwriter comes up and sits with us. Nicest guy in the world, but a little (and we apologize in advance) ‘out there’. He looked us in the eyes and said they were pointed in a different direction. This even though technically you can only look into one eye at a time. We spent hours sitting and talking. This writer was not Bart. But we get the idea that it could’ve been.

To give you an idea, we asked Bart “How far would you go to get a cut?” Kris Kristofferson famously (as legend has it) flew a helicopter to Johnny Cash’s house to drop off a demo tape. Bart? Well, we’re really not sure. He mumbles a little and then offers something about Bill Cosby. But we suppose when all you have to do is open the roledex and make a call directly, helicopters are unnecessary.

Bart, just like our new friend at the benefit, Earl Bud Lee, has what used to be known as ‘personality’. And maybe that’s why guys like Bart and Bud are such good songwriters. They have personality.

Bart co-wrote “You Cant Take The Honky Tonk Out Of The Girl” which Brooks & Dunn took to #3 on the charts. His new #1 is “Brand New Girlfriend” performed by Steve Holy.

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