Nashville's Dirty Secret: The Truth Behind Music Row's Shady Deals 🎤  

I owned a small studio about 10 years ago. We had a client whose parents were quite wealthy and supportive of his "singing" career. We knew he couldn't sing, but the songs were ok and we thought with some singing lessons he would at least be able to record. He was paying very good money for the studio time, session players and even brought drinks and food to the sessions. After 1 year of work, we had 12 songs fully recorded and mixed except for the vocals. He was never able to sing them properly, we tried a million different approaches but nothing worked and he didn't want to bring in a singer. The project was scrapped. A team of 5 people (including me) paid all their bills for a whole year thanks to this. I didn't feel we were scamming the guy, we did our very best for the album and got him vocal coaching and all. It just didn't work out. Some songs were good, it was a pity.

When I came to Nashville to track with clients, the session guys would call these "vanity projects." In my case, the artists knew it was going nowhere but were happy to pay for the experience. Tracking your mediocre song with a room of killers is a once-in-a-lifetime joy. The look on people's faces when musicians simultaneously document their dreams in one take is pretty cool.

"Demo Mills" were common in LA too. I have a friend who became a millionaire running a network of demo mill studios in LA as the "producer". I made some good money cutting bass tracks for him. Sometimes we would even get called to go into a bigger studio like NRG or Sound City at full AFM scale for some deep-pockets wannabe. It was like the fantasy Disneyland for some trust fund baby on Daddy's money. I saw a guy spend $120k on a record that no one has ever heard except for the people who worked on it and his immediate family. It was atrocious.

I arrived in Nashville in mid-1975 by train from Montgomery AL at the ripe age of 18. I came for the "music" business but with a twist, I showed up to sell gear not play any instrument, although I was a decent drummer at the time. I was involved in opening up all of the Dixie Hi-Fi stores in the market working at all of the locations. As Dixie Hi-Fi eventually evolved into Circuit City, I managed every location at some point including the West End store close to Music Row across from the Holiday Inn. Artists, players and writers all required decent home and car audio gear to listen to the music they made, not just gear to gig with. The demand was unreal, we killed it! Selling audio in Nashville was easy as it get because the market wanted the best-sounding playback possible at home and in the car. I always tried to make the best deal I could for the writers and players to get them imnto the best-sounding system for their money. The artists didn't seem to care so much about price as if they had a budget from their label. I can't even begin to the you all of the great talent that came into the stores on a daily basis, most of which could not even hook up or operate their new systems or balance a tone arm. This was pre-cassette and way prior to CDs, everything was on vinyl with a smithering of 8-Track tape and KDF ruled the FM airwaves. I stayed 25 years but Nashville started getting too crazy for me around 1999-2000 so I moved back top Alabama in late 2000. I love Nashville but it became way too much for me way back then. I enjoy your channel and just wanted to point out that many people who support the music industry come and go just like the players, writers and Artists. Good luck in FL!

I have felt that the entertainment industry is a secret society that some one lets you in.

From 2004 to 2009 I was a foh guy in Omaha Nebraska . Every person I ever got from Nashville always told me I need to move there and be a tech. A couple of them told me . we don't have sounds guys like you down there. And I took that as a very very good compliment. Unfortunately in 2009 I got my family disease Ataxia and ended up in a wheelchair. Hopefully I'll make it one day to visit the town.

This video really hit home with me. I moved to Nashville with that guy who got scammed. He was basically a glorified karaoke singer with no look or much talent who had been suckered into believing he had a record deal with an independent label. They did everything you mentioned in this video, sessions at Ocean Way, high end players, the works, and they bled this dude dry. His mom sold her house and gave him the money, his wife was working and contributing, and after trying to release 3 songs, he was broke. The guy turned out to be full of BS himself, so I really didn’t feel that bad for him. Being previewed to all of this in my first year was a real eye opener for me as to how Nashville preys on people like that.

Wow! Lots to unfold here Brad. I’ve been here since 87. I’m surprised I haven’t met you yet. I had my run as an engineer in the late 80s and 90s. ACM and Grammy. Worked at most every studio and every studio musician. Did many records and many, many demos. So I think I have a lot of experience and I’ve seen it all. To say that these “scams” are common is not true. Most everyone I know in this industry we call music are very fair and honest. Like me. I’ve done many demos for free. If I get close to a client who’s doing these demos I try to help them out. I tell them to watch out and take care of themselves. A recording studio doesn’t make much money. The cost to keep it open are astronomical. Studios do not prey on people. Anyone can call themselves a producer. It’s up to the client to do their background checks. Please don’t try to tarnish Music City. I come from the Record Plant in NYC. I’m so glad I did. I love it here and I’m proud of the music community. Awesome people!!! Oh, one other thing. Those people you talk about who make demos that can’t sing? I’ve done those sessions. Platinum selling artists!!! Music is art. Let people do what they want. Do your research before you come here whether you’re an artist or musician. Peace out. You seem like a dude I can hang with!

That so sad. Even though I’ve written a handful of songs, the more I find out about how the music industry treats people the more I’m glad that I’m content to just play covers in my own hometown.

Brad, I remember seeing u with Reggie, Joseph, Rudy, John, and Raymond at 3rd and Lindsley years ago. Previously, I sat in with Reggie and Doobie and Keith Van Horne at Wilhagen's off Murfreesboro Rd. Then they moved on and I even got to sit in and sing a couple of times (although I'm a drummer by trade), one of those being on Reggie's birthday. U are and always have been, and fantastic player. And I can also understand your frustration with the city I've called home since birth. Playing drums with bands as a teenager in the early to mid nineties, I went through the rig-a-marol of artists, bands, and lies for years. I bowed out in the late 2000's after years of frustration. However just recently, I have a friend who is touring on bass with a signed artist and they are going to replace their drummer after the turn of the new year. I'm contemplating auditioning (although I'm years older AND WISER), but am hesitant at my age to even give it another go. The bass player is a good friend who I've played with (one of the best I've ever played with actually) many times over the years. Really since I was a 17 year old playing in Printers Alley back in 93. Maybe I'll raise a glass to one more chance for the good times. We'll see. I love your channel. It represents everything I LOVE and LOATHE about the music industry. Keep up the good work buddy. You're doing good stuff here!

They even may steal a song from someone who could not afford the scam.

Brad, you are spot on, brother! Back in 1983 I was signed to a writer's contract with the biggest music publisher in the world, by a guy who wrote/co-wrote many top ten country hits. They wanted me to move from Indiana to Nsshvplle to write and play guitar on their in house demos. I was making a good living at home, making twice what the piublisher was offering, playing and teaching. So I diidn't go...before I got that contract I went to se veral small publishers. EVERY one wanted money to record demos, etc..

Morning Bad Brad!!! Hope you and Krew have a great day!!🟣🔵⚪🔴

My band was almost a victim of one of these scams. In the end it smelled bad, so we didn’t commit to it.

I used to manage Soulshine Pizza Factory in Midtown. We had some of the best musicians around come through nightly. Unfortunately, we had to close the doors because of loud music. We even had one of those cool “live music venue” guitar pick signs out front. We were a couple of blocks off of music row. It wasn’t because of loud music. It was because deeper, out-of-town pockets came into town. Unfortunately, the soul of Nashville is gone. There’s still a few out there, but the rest are a dime a dozen.

Lindi Ortega’s song Tin Star gives some insight on the Nashville scene. I believe she is a great singer songwriter but at the time probably didn’t fit the whats happening now. I just can’t understand whats wrong with having variety in the music scene rather than having everyone look and sound the same.

I remember cutting tracks as a session player. at a tiny studio (on Analog), for a country dude who was an okay singer, but a fairly good songwriter. I built the tracks up from basic acoustic demos, to full-fledged working songs with actual parts/hooks/etc. That was what I was hired to do. Demo got some airplay,, but politics, “whisperers” and buddy-systems came into play. (Basically the same thing you mentioned….) Project got re-recorded, over-funded, and over produced into ear-candy fluff. Some of my original recorded parts were kept. Others were re-recorded by “A-listers” (quite a weird feeling for a 24 year old to have 45/50 y/o “A-listers” playing parts I’d written, over again. lol. The final demo got the guy a songwriting deal, which he TURNED DOWN, in order to make a stab at being a recording artist. Ended up getting NO deal. Never really heard of him again. Weird lesson. lol.

It's definitely one of if not the heart of it. If you haven't been, you need to go. There are 30+ performances going on at any time. The talent is unbelievable. 3 hours straight, no breaks. It will change your outlook and give you a whole new appreciation for working bands.

Hello Bad Brad.. Myself 50+ yrs of being on stage..Professionally. I worked the Music scene in LA..& Nashville ..Ended up on Warner Bros/Avalon Records with CDS released Worldwide with artist "Lance Powers" 🌐..Music biz is All a BIG SHAM!!! Watch the YT movie. Dark side of the Music industry. Take care & ROCK ON!!!!

I don't know. Quite often I've found home D.I.Y. recordings of songs to be more interesting and fun than expensive "professional" tracks lol.

Those scammers got their hooks into a friend of mine in Oregon and took him for 30K...they were out of the LA scene and liked to throw around Grammy talk. Cheers Brad!

Oh yes Brad- I had this exact thing happen to several friends of mine- tens of thousands of dollars!!! If you can I highly recommend you watch a documentary called "Off the Charts". It is about the song-poem industry- kind of a similar thing- I know you would like it! Really enjoy your videos!!

There are shell games everywhere you go. Its sad too because sometimes people hold on to their dreams so tight when the time comes they don't know how to let go. But i can see how you could fall into the trap if you have a good salesman selling caviar dreams and champaign wishes. .

Great video Brad! What does "off the card" mean?

Brother,you said it ALL in one word the “LOOK”. I know big big artists that were signed but were sent immediately to a vocal coach. A husband and wife both were done that way back in the early 90’s. They were signed on “LOOKS” My daughter and I saw Him one night when A-T must not have been working and his vocal was soooo FLAT. It was HORRIFIC. My daughter was about 8 or 9 and she said “Daddy that man can’t sing very good” From the mouthes of babes. People would be shocked to know who he was.

same type of things happens now with kids and sports , appealing to parents for training camps, travel teams with weekly tournaments all over the place , private coaching ... for the chance of a college scholarship pro career etc

Yeah, Welcome to The Conn Job side of music, I got a similar story when we were down in San Marcos Texas, I'll do a live stream about that tonight, Thursday 8/22/24 & I'll give you a shout out Brad. So cool you're doing these to help keep people informed on what's going on so they don't get burned by an industry that doesn't care, maybe that's why the truth is they're hurting financially. Great video Brother, Keep On Creating, Rock On & God Bless.

Ringo's song comes to mind,All I gotta do is act naturally ".

I did auditions at Curb. That studio was UNREAL!

Sharks and minnows. So true. When i lived there everyone said "you have to join the union" however, if you want to survive, you have to work outside of the union. I witnessed musicians being held over from one session to play on 3 sides for a completely different session during the night time ( less chance of getting caught by the union). Whoever was footing the bill for the undocumented session, was just scammed because they cut those tunes in 1 to 3 takes and they were done. They were essentially piggybacking off session 1. So the studios were making bank. You learn quick who the sharks are. I learned if anyone asks for money....run away as fast as you can. If you were truly good, you wouldnt have to pay a dime. I moved away in 1999 so its probably so different now. I remember playing on some sessions for beer and smokes ( for friends) they would also return the favor when i needed them for my projects. Lol. Like you, i just loved playing and being in that scene. Some of it was dark and sometimes it was like, holy crap, im playing side by side with so and so and learning so much. Some of the best times of my life was being there in the mix of things. I actually played for a guy who came to town and got a record deal with warner bros the same week. He had the total package, but nothing ever came of it. Its a crazy business for sure.

It’s one of those “It’s not “What” you know,it’s “WHO” you know”.

Loving these videos you make, giving an insight to Nashville. We visited from the UK last year, and had a B bender fitted at Joe Glaser’s. You’re doing a great job mate 👍😎

Ya need to do a video on the Chart payola scams

Someone said that lower Broadway is not the music scene in Nashville. Is that true?

Tedesco said out in LA they would say they were doing a Demo. But actually be Tracking. Demo's paid a lesser amount than the Tracking sessions. Tracking is and was pretty much Instruments Only. So at times to try and fool the players they'd have singers singing. However they would not be recording them. I think either Bill Pitman or Billy Strange would be going "Their Tracking I just know it !" And Tommy would be like "Your Moms Tracking"

Same everywhere. All about money.

The great Dale Watson has a song called “That’s country, my ass” which touches on the way a certain artist got her career started in Nashville.

Dude man, your amp is is Seattle at the Guitar Center. I’d post a pic but I can’t on RU-vid comments. Rock on! You’re awesome.

The dirtiest little secret is you have to be a FREEMASON to land a session gig in Nastyville...

Does that come under 🐂💩ing people!!!!??? thats terrible to do that to people!!!

The old rope a hope......Ive done a number of Vegas showcases where a promoter looks for artists to get bookings on the strip. We would back 5 or 6 of these pilgrims. Sad to see these out of towners get taken. BTW I know a operator here who has a slick radio play hustle and takes 2 to 300 grand off "up-and-coming acts". He's the next step after the demos are done.

For some it's a bucket list item. You know nothing will come of it because it's not on that level. But you've been a weekend warrior for the last 40 or 50 years. Holding down your day job for all those years and don't mind paying $10,000 to record some songs in Nashville, just to say that you've done it. 😃 I'm doing that with venues too. Get a gig in a venue for little pay or whatever just to have played that venue. My bandmates in my country band here in San Diego, did that about a year before I joined the band. Spent a week in Nashville partying and recording some songs. An expensive but fun vacation. 😂 And stories to tell.

Thanks!

Nashville shuffle... know a few that fell prey to that...

as you may know even to this day, i run a small guest house studio…small but powerful - especially because MY skills come with it… 5000 songs since 1986 ain’t too shabby - that’s how i met Lance and Keith.. when my cousin David brought them in. Some songs over the years were good some were not so good….(i have them ALL logged on one hard drive) no matter what - I always gave the client and the song my best at honing in on timing, pitch, interpretation, conviction - and let’s not forget “vibe”…. anywho. BADBRAD…. i have been glued to your vids… and i only have one suggestion that i hope you will consider. look directly at the lens because your eyes don’t connect with the watcher…. it will make it way mo betta brother… keep up the good work. btw i am guilty of not connecting on some of my Christmas vids i’ve done so it is a pet peeve i reckon…it can be a challenge but well worth meeting

5k to 5.4k plus Ina day or two., go brother go, aweome.

I support the right to fail in style.

Oh man this is so familiar.. I remember playing for a guy that was taken by some of these types in the late 90s. I think he sold a mortgage company and had a couple million in the bank. He did the album video and tour bus lol I think he had a lot of fun though. I know I enjoyed the fun camaraderie and paycheck 😂

Thanks Brad! Wow. All about money. Say, JBLZE is coming to the Hard Rock Live in Tampa, on December 16th! I gotta see them!

It's a hard business AND CROOKED

Don't know if Phil Spector could be called shady but he surely produced some monster hits during his years on earth. I heard he had a habit of waving his 357 in the booth to get his point across. Guess he's part of Nashville ghosts now.

I first rode into Nashville in 1967. Not many musicians desired to be there back then. It was known as a town with hillbilly singers and musicians and country music wasn't even that popular then but I knew what was going on there. Most of the studios around music row were just a bunch of converted houses. My studio was on Music Square West and my front door faced RCA's Studio A's front door. I rented the whole house, all floors and basement for $175.00 a month. I could tell the real estate owners abhorred musicians. They thought they were all a bunch of druggies and a lot were. Lol! The city of Nashville did not support the music business there then either. Times have changed.

They will sell you you’re own dream. Sweet talk your ability, dazzle you with the possibilities of your potential. Name drop who they rub shoulders with, and perhaps give you some off the cuff lessons that build your confidence. They might even say you’re in a development deal, but your the one paying upfront for the recording, pics, maybe a video, website etc. Some folks just want to be a boss and they spend their money buying time from others thinking they are buying their way into the scene, but with no real clout.

Was hoping this story would continue.......... Could you elaborate on this...?

I've often said in the CD days: Record for 3k and use 10k for promo. My first indie CD made $ 2009..2nd broke even 2014... this one will lose 2024...but as a songwriter I gotta keep doing , but print only 100 as the label don't wnat us now.

Makes you wonder how Jamey Johnson got his career going. I’ve seen 4-5 people jacked for 10-30,000 back in the nineties from down here, came home with a cd or music video that impresses at the local bar scene. One buddy of mine , he had a flat pitch spent a buttload and came home. I said, what do you make from the whole experience? He said, I learned that I have to be in it for the long haul to get my money back. I looked at him puzzled, then he said 1-2 beers at a time . Talking about the drunk buddies and folks buying him a beer, lol.

Truth , all things that glitter are certainly not gold, served time in Nashville myself in the late nineties, rubbed elbows with the stars, had some opportunities that I didn’t take, my fault for sure , but it’s a super gamble for sure, too bad country music died

Nothing but sharks there, I know for sure

That’s why. I have always liked the Texas music country scene rather than Nashville….way more originality and going for it also better songs …most of the Texas artist write their own songs not sitting in a room with 12 people writing a song

Reminds me of the Mad Men episode where the rich kid wants to use daddy’s money to make Jai Alai the next great American sport. At least they sorta tried to talk him out of it. Pete: I’ve got signatures…Horace Cook Jr is all dressed and ready for the oven. Don: You heard em boys, don’t stop until you see the whites of his pockets.

Yeah, Nashville has allows had this thing with the songwriters from what I’ve been told. The new guy brings the hook and the original idea. I remember back when I was 17 (88) and headed to MikeE’s I saw a studio just being built. Latter when I saw that it was openI went to go see the place. What I saw was shocking. All this guy did was put up mattresses egg carton matts all over the walls. Nothing was clean, graffiti and trash all over the place, and he was running a cassette 12 track. I was flabbergasted. The place closed down a month later. 🍺😂

Payola never went away

Just because someone is great locally doesn't mean success in Nashville. Too bad a lot of people are conned.

Radio plugging is another aspect of the music industry that's highly questionable.

I was wondering besides making a living when you recorded on someone's recording do you still get some satisfaction from going back and listening to the recordings?

if there were more dudes like you the world would be a better place. ☝️ i imagine dudes that get signed to a label and receive an advance experience this 10 fold . and end up in 100k debt before they even getva video done and hit the road to tour .. end up half a million dollars in debt. a lot of money to pay back the record company before the band actually starts to make a true net profit.

I used to see people getting off the Greyhound bus back in the day on 8th ave. with stars in their eyes and a guitar strapped to their shoulder! Been a thing forever! I do not understand how folks can't tell they DO NOT have the goods! I am an intermediate guitar player and have played in cover bands in Nashville and all over the S.E. but man I know what I can and can't do! They need some self awareness!!!

I guess Nashville is no different than the L.A. scam scene providing headshots and spreads for your modeling career

yep, met the best and the worst people in the music business

Creativity-Money. 😁😕

Probably some of the best money they would ever spend?

I moved to NYC ( 34 Years)To Play with Better Players Than Me... & Make $$$ .... I DID...

Now with the internet, at least you can do it yourself now. If I ever decided to take this from a hobby to a profession, I’d just do what you’re doing. Post it, try to gain a following, monetize it and keep the $$$ myself. If you cut out the middleman, you can make a lot more from a lot less people that way. It’s a lot easier said than done obviously but at least you’d die with your boots on if you failed. The system is such a scam it’s not even really worth it.

this is totally different subject but at some jamms I would be on A list as won't get stuck sitting in with someone that wasn't that great!!

man ya gotta stop leaning in and out, i'm getting dizzy.

Think Venture Capitalists, it's not about your talent, stupid, it's about your marketability.

But they can tell their friends back home they are recording in a studio in Nashville and probably make the local paper😂

we had these songwriter Con men in Australia they were normal semi Successivle players that own A grade studios. they would grab an attractive girl that could Barely sing, con her out of money, normal a rich family tell her we will deliver this and that, and she would end up with an expensive demo that would go no where.one of theses guys got caught and ended up on a Current Affair tv show.

So you're saying there's a few shady people working in the business.😅

I have a former bandmate a SUPER talented young guy and a killer player in this area take off to Nashville about 7 years ago to be a STAR he is still there today doing nothing more than a hired gun.

coffee time