AIMP: Nashville Pubcast

00:49 – "How does a Marine end up in the music business?"Blake tells the story of joining the Marine Corps, originally planning to return to Nashville and pursue songwriting, and how that experience ultimately pushed him toward the business side of music.07:07 – "What inspired you to jump out on your own and partner with Scott Hendricks?"A fascinating look at the personal and professional considerations behind starting a company, including Blake's desire to build something of his own and create a better future for his growing family.13:13 – "What's been challenging about actually starting your own company?"Blake gets candid about the administrative side of entrepreneurship, learning what to delegate, building royalty infrastructure, and recognizing where he needed outside expertise.18:24 – "What do you see changing in the music business that young publishers should be paying attention to?"A great discussion about the importance of relationships over clout, understanding music history, and embracing Nashville's increasingly diverse creative community. The AIMP Nashville Pubcast is a DiMe Collective Production Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

04:04 – "Do you think your time in the military helped prepare you to be a leader, and what skills are important for someone in your position?"Lee explains how the Army shaped his work ethic while also teaching him an important lesson about the music business: every writer and creative works differently.05:25 – "What do you see in a writer that makes you want to sign them?"A great breakdown of what separates writers worth betting on—including work ethic, willingness to take risks, and how they fit within a creative community.07:02 – "What's the difference between a writer who's talented and a writer who's ready?"Probably the strongest question of the episode. Lee explains that a "ready" writer knows how to contribute in different rooms, comes prepared, shows up early, and understands that talent alone isn't enough.17:00 – "What's a common mistake young creatives make in their relationships with writers?"Lee discusses the importance of establishing expectations early, communicating standards clearly, and making sure both the creative and publisher understand what success looks like. The AIMP Nashville Pubcast is a DiMe Collective Production Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

01:06 - Introduction 05:27 – "What are the main points you look at in a sync contract that writers should pay attention to?"
A practical breakdown of fees, territories, media, usage, and the difference between all-in and master/publishing fees. 09:27 – "If you're a writer interested in film and TV, what's different about writing for sync?"
Kourtney explains why emotion and mood often matter more than genre, and why broader lyrical concepts tend to work better against picture. 12:20 – "What is a sync brief, and how do you keep up with all the different music you're looking for?"
A great behind-the-scenes look at how music supervisors communicate their needs and how sync teams interpret reference tracks to find songs that capture the same feeling without simply copying them. 18:10 – "What should a songwriter or publisher have in hand before pitching a song for sync?"
Extremely useful for independent writers: final mixes, instrumentals, acapellas, stems when appropriate, and lyric sheets can make the difference when a supervisor needs something quickly. The AIMP Nashville Pubcast is a DiMe Collective Production Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

00:00 – Introduction 01:35 – Melissa Spillman's career journey 02:35 – What a publisher actually does 04:10 – What publishers look for in songwriters 05:40 – Finding your unique voice 08:10 – AI and Suno demos 11:30 – Nashville vs. LA publishing 13:00 – Understanding publishing contracts 15:10 – Admin deals vs. full publishing deals 16:10 – Why Nashville champions songwriters 18:00 – Protecting the middle-class songwriter The AIMP Nashville Pubcast is a DiMe Collective Production Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

01:12 – "What got you here, and what was your path into the music business?" Mike shares how a football career ended, a walk through Belmont changed everything, and how internships became the foundation of his career. 03:40 – "What makes a great publisher, and what does that role really look like today?" A thoughtful discussion on developing songwriters, identifying talent, and serving as a strategic partner throughout a writer's career. 16:29 – "How do you approach building out a songwriter's career in today's publishing world?" Mike explains why there is no longer a one-size-fits-all approach and how publishers must adapt to each writer's goals, workflow, and creative style. The AIMP Nashville Pubcast is a DiMe Collective Production Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.