Ten Year Town

Rocky Block is a songwriter born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He has written songs for some of the biggest names in country music, including Morgan Wallen, Thomas Rhett, Jake Owen, Cody Johnson, and more. In addition to his success in the country genre, he has cuts with artists like Teddy Swims, Flo Rida, Nelly, Lil Dirk and Post Malone. He is currently signed as a writer to Big Loud Publishing.

In this episode, we discuss the stories behind some of Rocky’s biggest songs including, “Man Made A Bar” and “Broadway Girls”, his advice for new songwriters, and many other stops along the way. 

New Episodes every Tuesday.

Find the host Troy Cartwright on Twitter, Instagram. 

Social Channels for Ten Year Town:

Youtube

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

This podcast was produced by Ben VanMaarth.

Intro and Outro music for this episode was composed by Troy Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.  

Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura. 

Artwork design by Brad Vetter. 

Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

“Trapper” John Morris is the SiriusXM Programmer for Y2K Country and The Highway.

After starting in college radio at the University of North Texas, Trapper has spent the last 38 years working in radio with stops in Waco, Tyler, Memphis, New Orleans, Dallas, and now Nashville.

Trapper shares insight into the relationship between radio and country music, the type of data stations used to test new songs, and how big programs like The Highway find new and upcoming talent.

New Episodes every Tuesday.

Find the host Troy Cartwright on Twitter, Instagram. 

Social Channels for Ten Year Town:

Youtube

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

This podcast was produced by Ben VanMaarth.

Intro and Outro music for this episode was composed by Troy Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.  

Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura. 

Artwork design by Brad Vetter. 

Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

Jillian Jacqueline is a country singer and songwriter originally from Chester Springs, Pennsylvania. Over her career, she has collaborated with Vince Gill, Kieth Urban, Charlie Worsham, and in 2022, released her debut album “Honestly.”

In this episode, Jillian shares her journey, from touring in a family band as a kid, moving to Nashville after college to write songs, her tips for staying inspired, how she values her time after becoming a mother, and much more.

New Episodes every Tuesday.

Find the host Troy Cartwright on Twitter, Instagram. 

Social Channels for Ten Year Town:

Youtube

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

This podcast was produced by Ben VanMaarth.

Intro and Outro music for this episode was composed by Troy Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.  

Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura. 

Artwork design by Brad Vetter. 

Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

BJ Hill, originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, is Senior Vice President of  A&R at Warner Chappell Music. BJ has signed some of your favorite songwriters including Nicolle Gaylon, Jordan Reynolds, Charles Kelley, Dan Smyers (of Dan + Shay) and many more. He has worked in A&R on both the label and publisher side and has been an advocate for songwriters in town for over 20 years.

In this episode, we discuss BJ’s origins, from studying recording engineering at MTSU to learning what a hit sounds like while interning in the tape room basement, how he finds and develops new songwriting talent, why it’s important to be a “good hang” and much more. 

New Episodes every Tuesday.

Find the host Troy Cartwright on Twitter, Instagram. 

Social Channels for Ten Year Town:

Youtube

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

This podcast was produced by Ben VanMaarth.

Intro and Outro music for this episode was composed by Troy Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.  

Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura. 

Artwork design by Brad Vetter. 

Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

Clay Mills is a songwriter originally from Cleveland, Mississippi. He has penned #1 songs for Darius Rucker (“Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It”), Diamond Rio (“Beautiful Mess”) and many more. He’s a two time GRAMMY-nominated songwriter and a 16-time ASCAP Award winning songwriter/producer. In addition to his songwriter accolades, he is the co-founder of the songwriting community SongTown.com (http://SongTown.com).

In this episode, we discuss Clay’s path from Mississippi to New York to Nashville, the stories behind several of his biggest songs, why he started mentoring songwriters and many other stops along the way.

New Episodes every Tuesday.

Find the host Troy Cartwright on Twitter, Instagram. 

Social Channels for Ten Year Town:

Youtube

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

This podcast was produced by Ben VanMaarth.

Intro and Outro music for this episode was composed by Troy Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.  

Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura. 

Artwork design by Brad Vetter. 

Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

Adam Doleac is country music singer and songwriter originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He has amassed 370+ Million on-demand streams and his song “Famous” is RIAA certified gold. In addition to his success as an artist, Adam has had songs cut by Dan + Shay, Lainey Wilson, Kane Brown, Darius Rucker, and more. He is currently singed as a writer to Sony Music Publishing.

On this episode, Adam shares his unique path to country music, his approach to songwriting, his love of the road, and much more. 

New Episodes every Tuesday.

Find the host Troy Cartwright on Twitter, Instagram. 

Social Channels for Ten Year Town:

Youtube

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

This podcast was produced by Ben VanMaarth.

Intro and Outro music for this episode was composed by Troy Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.  

Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura. 

Artwork design by Brad Vetter. 

Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

Jason Albers is a drummer originally from Midland, Texas and currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a founding member of the band Flatland Cavalry. Over the past 10 years, Flatland has released 4 studios albums, played 1,000’s of shows, and most recently was nominated for a 2024 ACM Award.

In this episode, we discuss the origins of Flatland, being in a band and excelling at your role, opening for Luke Combs, and much more. 

New Episodes every Tuesday.

Find the host Troy Cartwright on Twitter, Instagram. 

Social Channels for Ten Year Town:

Youtube

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

This podcast was produced by Ben VanMaarth.

Intro and Outro music for this episode was composed by Troy Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.  

Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura. 

Artwork design by Brad Vetter. 

Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

Chris DuBois is a hit songwriter and  award-winning publisher from Nashville. He has written numerous #1 songs, including “You Should Probably Leave” by Chris Stapleton, “Mud on The Tires” by Brad Paisley, and is a two-time recipient of the CMA Triple Play Award (three #1 songs in one year). In 1999, Chris co-founded Sea Gayle Music which went on to win the ASCAP Country Publisher of the Year award in 2010 and 2011. Additionally, Chris is adjunct instructor at Belmont University where he teaches a class on songwriting. 

This is part 2 of a special 2-part episode and includes Chris’ thoughts about the state of the music industry, the early days of SeaGayle, signing and working with Chris Stapleton, how he stays driven to write songs after 25 years, and much more.

New Episodes every Tuesday.

Find the host Troy Cartwright on Twitter, Instagram. 

Social Channels for Ten Year Town:

Youtube

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

This podcast was produced by Ben VanMaarth.

Intro and Outro music for this episode was composed by Troy Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.  

Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura. 

Artwork design by Brad Vetter. 

Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

Join the community at www.tenyeartown.com
if you have a question of your own, submit it at tenyeartown.com.

Q1: how do i find producers and musicians to make records?
Q2: what is the best way for consumers to support songwriters?
Q3: where do songwriters hang out in Nashville?
Q4: how do I level up as a songwriter?
Q5: has the music business changed?
Q6: how do i become a studio musician?
Q7: how do I get into a&r?

New Episodes every Tuesday.

Find the host Troy Cartwright on Twitter, Instagram. 

Social Channels for Ten Year Town:

Youtube

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

This podcast was produced by Ben VanMaarth.

Intro and Outro music for this episode was composed by Troy Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.  

Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura. 

Artwork design by Brad Vetter. 

Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

Chris DuBois is a hit songwriter and  award-winning publisher from Nashville. He has written numerous #1 songs, including “You Should Probably Leave” by Chris Stapleton, “Mud on The Tires” by Brad Paisley, and is a two-time recipient of the CMA Triple Play Award (three #1 songs in one year). In 1999, Chris co-founded Sea Gayle Music which went on to win the ASCAP Country Publisher of the Year award in 2010 and 2011. Additionally, Chris is adjunct instructor at Belmont University where he teaches a class on songwriting. 

This is part 1 of a special 2-part episode and includes Chris’ start in the music industry, his friendship and business partnership with Brad Paisley, his success as both a songwriter and publisher, the advice he teaches in his college songwriting students, and much more.

New Episodes every Tuesday.

Find the host Troy Cartwright on Twitter, Instagram. 

Social Channels for Ten Year Town:

Youtube

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

This podcast was produced by Ben VanMaarth.

Intro and Outro music for this episode was composed by Troy Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.  

Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura. 

Artwork design by Brad Vetter. 

Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.