Pitch List

This week, Chris sits down for a conversation in the studio with one of his dream guests since the very start of Pitch List: Martina McBride! The 14 time Grammy nominee is the definition of female country music for her generation. She’s cut hit after hit and sold out arenas across the country, all the while pulling off an impossible feat - recording songs with substance and meaning, and making them massive commercial successes. Jump in to hear the incredible music journey she’s been through - from her start selling merch and getting her first opening act gig for Garth Brooks, to her early influences and the x factors that make her want to cut a song. Plus, don’t forget to check out her exhibit currently at the Country Music Hall of Fame, “Martina McBride: The Power of Her Voice”.

We know it's been a shorter season than usual, but after today’s show, Pitch List is pressing pause for the moment. We can’t say for sure when we’ll be back, but we know in our hearts that we will in some way. So for now, we want to say thank you for listening and loving the show over the past 5 years. It’s been an absolutely amazing journey. Now go write your asses off!

-Chris and Daena

This week, Chris sits down with Grammy award-winning, absolute legend Jim Ed Norman! From his start in the 70s as a composer, arranger, conductor + player on The Eagles' iconic "Desperado" and "Hotel California" records, to his work as an A&R man / label head at Warner Nashville and Curb Records putting artists like Faith Hill and Randy Travis on the map, Jim Ed's career is one of the most eclectic we've seen. He was one of the first Nashville execs to work towards signing more Black artists in the 80s, and was also a pioneer of expanding the Americana movement in the 90s. To have a career that stretches over numerous decades is not an easy feat to achieve - and Jim Ed remains active in the music world today, earning his first Grammy just last year. He’s currently reunited with The Eagles to lead their 70-piece orchestra on the Hotel California arena tour, so be sure to grab your tickets after you dive into this episode. Settle in for some great stories and industry wisdom in this interview, and thanks for listening!

In a brand new episode of Pitch List, Chris invites Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Vanessa Carlton on the show! Vanessa’s creative journey has brought her all over the map - from her roots as a ballet dancer, to starring on Broadway, to signing her first publishing deal at 18 years old before her explosive debut single “A Thousand Miles” soared to the top of the Billboard charts. Since then, she’s come into her own as an artist, gradually moving away from mainstream pop, and into more exploratory indie music, pairing poetic lyricism with gorgeous musical soundscapes. Dive into this episode for an inspiring chat about chasing down vulnerability and love through music, and don’t forget to check out Vanessa’s record “Love is an Art”, out now. Thanks for listening!

Calling in from LA, Chris meets up on Zoom this week with 2x Grammy award-winner Ian Fitchuk! Ian’s what you’d call a triple threat - a boundary-pushing writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. You might recognize him as one of the minds behind Kacey Musgraves’ critically acclaimed album, “Golden Hour”, alongside our S4 alum Daniel Tashian; but Ian’s career stretches far beyond this. He moves flawlessly through a genre-bending range of artists, from mainstream country and Americana acts like Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris, to left of center pop and indie sensations such as LANY, MUNA and Phoebe Bridgers. Jump in for Chris and Ian's musings on everything from why having fun is one of the most important ingredients in art, to how moments of perceived failure have turned out to be integral to success. Thanks for listening!

This week, Chris sits down in the studio with indie pop singer/songwriter Sasha Alex Sloan. Aside from her wildly successful artist career (she currently clocks in at over 9 million monthly Spotify listeners), she’s also written tunes for Carly Pearce, Meghan Trainor, Katy Perry, P!nk, Charli XCX, and many more! If you’re not familiar, her music is lyrically poignant, confessional, and emotionally stunning all wrapped up in tight pop production. In this episode, she and Chris talk about imposter syndrome, their respect for pure songwriting + more - including Sasha’s upcoming full length record and the first single, “WTF”, which is out now. Plus: Chris admits he loves ABBA and bonds with Sasha over their shared love of Karen Carpenter’s voice. Thanks for listening!

To kick off Season 5, we invited the iconic writer/producer Luke Laird to join us on the show. It’s safe to say that Luke is a Music Row powerhouse. Over the last decade, he’s written 24 No. 1 country singles, earned two GRAMMY wins for writing and producing for Kacey Musgraves, and co-founded publishing company Creative Nation with his wife, Beth. You’re going to want to take notes on this one. Get ready for his tips on getting the best song out of a co-write with an artist, insight into how he started producing by making Garageband demos, and how a publisher that believed in him changed his life and career trajectory. Plus, you’ll hear about the process creating his first ever record called “Music Row” - streaming now! Buckle in for a great season!

Earlier this year, we had a chance to listen to YOUR songs through our summer song contest on Instagram. Today, we're excited to present a special Pitch List minisode featuring the co-winners of that contest! Check it out to hear from Mike Cali and Daniel Leathersitch on their music journeys so far; plus, we'll take a listen to the winning tunes - "Once Upon a Lime" and "Ball Cap".

In our Season 4 finale, we’re going out with a bang as Chris sits down with 2x Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Natalie Hemby! A self-proclaimed “14-year overnight success”, Natalie gives us an inside look at her music journey - from the early days cutting her teeth as a demo singer and chasing the artist dream, to giving a Grammy acceptance speech for her group “The Highwomen” (while literally riding a roller coaster at Dollywood). Fast forward to getting her first record deal at age 44, and releasing her new sophomore solo album “Pins and Needles”, the 90s rock inspired record she’s been wanting to make since the start of it all. Listen on for an honest, funny, and insightful chat as Natalie reveals some of the worst songs she’s ever written, why you have to go out and live life in order to write the great ones, and in true Pitch List form, we discuss why it’s crucial to always come back to the heart and the love of music. Thanks for an incredible season, y’all!

Welcome to our third and final part for S4’s Music Biz Series! This week, Chris sits down with an old friend and the Executive Director of NSAI (Nashville Songwriters’ Association International). As one of the places Chris recommends to check out first when you’re new in town, NSAI is more than just a place to network and get song feedback. They are songwriter advocates to the core. Listen on to learn how they were formed, what they do for the songwriting community (including their instrumental part in helping pass the MMA), and Bart’s advice for finding collaborators who are “headed north” - and how to find success alongside them.

Welcome to part 2 of our Music Biz Series! This week, Chris chats with Kris Ahrend, the CEO of the new MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective). A result of the Music Modernization Act that passed in 2018, this non-profit is paying out mechanical streaming royalties to songwriters and publishers that have gone unmatched for years, as well as committing to getting writers paid correctly from now on. In this episode, you’ll learn how to sign up for the MLC (hint: it’s super easy and free), why transparency is a key feature of their organization, and most importantly, all the ways you should be getting paid for the music you create! Don’t forget to head to our website for our listening guide and resource list that goes along with this episode, and stay tuned for our final part of this series coming soon!