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PODCAST

Ten Year Town

Troy Cartwright

Join Troy Cartwright as he sits down with hit songwriters, musicians and music city execs to discuss their journey through Music Row, the uncertainties of getting started and what it takes to stay at the top.

music music interviews

All Episodes

62:36

Episode 91: Ben Rector

Ten Year Town ·

2025/06/03

Ben Rector is a singer songwriter originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Over the past decade, he has built a dedicated fanbase through consistent touring and a catalog of self-written, self-released albums. His 2015 album Brand New debuted in the Billboard Top 10, with the title track going RIAA Platinum. He is currently on tour and just released his new album The Richest Man In The World. In this episode, we talk about Ben’s journey from indie beginnings to chart success, the business of being a...

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45:42

Episode 90: Jon Decious

Ten Year Town ·

2025/05/27

Jon Decious is a Nashville-based songwriter originally from Monticello, Kentucky. His recent credits include three songs on Lainey Wilson’s 2024 album Whirlwind (“4x4xU,” “Counting Chickens,” and “Ring Finger”), “Armadillo” from Miranda Lambert’s Postcards from Texas, and cuts with Anderson East, Ashley McBryde, Tyler Halverson, and Carter Faith. In 2024, he signed a joint publishing deal with Reservoir Media and One Riot. In this episode, we talk about Jon’s journey from playing bass in The...

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58:55

Episode 89: Walker Hayes

Ten Year Town ·

2025/05/20

Walker Hayes is a GRAMMY-nominated country artist and songwriter originally from Mobile, Alabama. He gained national attention in 2021 with “Fancy Like,” which topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, became his first No. 1 at country radio, and is now certified 6× Platinum by the RIAA. In this episode, we discuss Walker’s unconventional path to success, the impact of “Fancy Like,” balancing faith, family, and music, and many other stops along the way. This episode's "stat of the week" i...

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57:38

Episode 88: Ryan Hurd

Ten Year Town ·

2025/05/13

Ryan Hurd is a Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan. He began his career as a songwriter in Nashville, penning No. 1 hits like “Lonely Tonight” for Blake Shelton and Ashley Monroe, and “What If I Never Get Over You” for Lady A. His own artist career has included Gold-certified singles like “To a T” and the Platinum-certified duet “Chasing After You.” He is currently signed to Big Machine for both records and publishing. In this episode, we talk about Ryan...

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41:59

Episode 87: Kameron Marlowe

Ten Year Town ·

2025/05/06

Kameron Marlowe is a country artist and songwriter originally from Kannapolis, North Carolina. He has earned multiple RIAA certifications, including a platinum certification for his song “Giving You Up.” He is currently signed to Columbia Nashville and published by Sony Music Publishing. In this episode, we talk about Kameron’s journey from working a parts counter in North Carolina to playing arenas, the evolution of his songwriting, the pressure of early success, his new record Sad Songs for...

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57:47

Episode 86: Ryan Whelpley

Ten Year Town ·

2025/04/29

Ryan Whelpley is a touring director at Red Light Management. Originally from Eerie, Pennsylvania - he has built a career working behind the scenes with artists like Kip Moore, Tim McGraw, Jordan Davis, and many, many others. After starting as a bellhop at the Gaylord Opry Hotel, he has served as a sound guy, a carpenter, a production manager, and a tour manager and many other stops along the way. In this episode we discuss his journey from production manager at the Wild Horse Saloon, to bein...

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20:05

Creating Art in a World That Won’t Stop Scrolling

Ten Year Town ·

2025/04/17

How do we stay creative and inspired in a digital world filled with constant noise, distractions, and context collapse? In this reflective exploration, we dive into the challenges artists and creators face in today's overwhelming online environment—where attention spans shrink, authenticity is rare, and AI-generated content threatens our creative identity. Drawing inspiration from history's great pivots—like Van Gogh’s shift during the photography revolution—we uncover timeless insights abo...

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57:47

Episode 85: Logan Mize

Ten Year Town ·

2025/04/15

Logan Mize is a country artist and songwriter from Clearwater, Kansas. Since releasing his debut album in 2009, he has built a career as both a signed and an independent artist. Along the way, he has amassed over 350 million streams and several RIAA Gold certifications. He is currently published by Big Yellow Dog Music. In this episode, we discuss Logan’s journey from Kansas to Nashville, building a career outside the traditional industry system, what it takes to tour and raise a family, the ...

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63:05

Episode 84: Muscadine Bloodline

Ten Year Town ·

2025/04/08

Muscadine Bloodline is a country music duo from Mobile, Alabama, made up of Charlie Muncaster and Gary Stanton. Since forming in 2015, they’ve built a strong independent presence in the country music scene. Their single “Me On You” was certified Gold by the RIAA in 2025, and they received their first ACM nomination for Duo of the Year the same year. In late 2024, they joined Post Malone as a supporting act on his “F-1 Trillion Tour,” performing in cities across the U.S. In this episode, we di...

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59:19

Episode 83: Monty Criswell

Ten Year Town ·

2025/04/01

Monty Criswell is a Grammy-nominated songwriter originally from Satsuma, Alabama. Over his 30-year career, he has over 300 cuts and his songs have been recorded by some of the most recognizable names in the format including George Strait, Eric Church, Trace Adkins, Parker McCollum, and Scotty McCreery. Criswell has received multiple award nominations, including two Grammy nominations for Country Song of the Year ("I Saw God Today" and "Just Fishin'") and a CMA Single of the Year award for "I ...

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17:19

On Writing, Creativity, and Finding a Honey Tree

Ten Year Town ·

2025/03/27

This is a special bonus episode featuring some thoughts on The Writing Life by Annie Dillard. If you'd like to dig a little deeper you can read more here: https://troycartwright.substack.com/p/finding-a-honey-tree. 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 C...

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52:36

Episode 82: Scott Friedeck

Ten Year Town ·

2025/03/25

Scott Friedeck is the founder of The Graphic Guitar Guys, a company based in Dripping Springs, Texas that creates custom graphic-wrapped guitars for artists, festivals, and major music brands. Originally from southeast Texas, he founded his company 13 years ago. What started as an idea while touring with Texas artists like Robert Earl Keen and Ryan Beaver has grown into a full-scale business producing thousands of guitars each year. His work has been used by artists including George Strait, G...

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51:14

Episode 81: Simon Tikhman & Chief Zaruk (The Core...

Ten Year Town ·

2025/03/18

Simon Tikhman and Chief Zaruk are the co-founders of The Core Entertainment, a music company specializing in artist management, records, and brand partnerships. Since launching in 2019, The Core has built a roster that includes Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith, Josh Ross, and Nickelback. In 2024, their artists had multiple chart-topping singles, sold out international tours, and were named CCMA Management Company of the Year. Additionally, The Core recently announced a partnership with Universal ...

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58:14

Episode 80: Deric Ruttan

Ten Year Town ·

2025/03/11

Originally from Bracebridge, Ontario, Deric Ruttan has written multiple No. 1 hits for artists like Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton, and Jason Aldean. His songwriting credits include chart-topping songs such as “Mine Would Be You,” “Any Ol’ Barstool,” and “What Was I Thinkin’.” As an artist, he has released several albums of his own, earning JUNO and Canadian Country Music Award nominations. He is currently published by Sony Music Publishing and Stoneleigh Road Songs. In this episode, we discus...

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36:02

Episode 79: Craig Wiseman (Part 2)

Ten Year Town ·

2025/03/04

Craig Wiseman is a Grammy-winning songwriter and one of the most successful hitmakers in country music history. Originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, he has written over 30 No. 1 songs for artists like Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, and Florida Georgia Line. His catalog includes career-defining hits such as “Live Like You Were Dying,” “The Good Stuff,” and “Summertime.” In addition to his songwriting success, he is the founder of Big Loud Publishing, which has grown into one of...

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38:12

Episode 79: Craig Wiseman (Part 1)

Ten Year Town ·

2025/02/25

Craig Wiseman is a GRAMMY-winning songwriter with over 30 No. 1 country hits. Originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, he has written songs for Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, and Florida Georgia Line, including “Live Like You Were Dying,” “The Good Stuff,” and “Summertime.” He founded Big Loud, now a major Nashville music company, and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015. In part one of this episode, we discuss his journey from Mississippi to Music Row...

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52:14

Episode 78: Hayes Carll

Ten Year Town ·

2025/02/18

Hayes Carll is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter originally from The Woodlands, Texas. He has written and recorded multiple albums, including KMAG YOYO, Lovers and Leavers, and Trouble In Mind. The 2010 film Country Strong featured his song “Hard Out Here,” and artists like Kenny Chesney, Lee Ann Womack, and Brothers Osborne have recorded his work. His song “Chances Are” was nominated for Best Country Song at the 2016 Grammy Awards. In this episode, we discuss Hayes’ upbringing, how his t...

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46:38

Episode 77: Adam James

Ten Year Town ·

2025/02/11

Adam James is a songwriter originally from Loami, Illinois. He has written songs for Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, and many others. He recently achieved his first #1 hit with Chesney’s “Knowing You,” which was also nominated for ACM Song Of The Year. Adam is published by Universal Music Publishing Group. In this episode we discuss the "country flip," Knowing You, AI, writing and finding success with your friends, and many other stops along the way. This episode's "stat ...

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56:11

Episode 76: Brandon Lancaster

Ten Year Town ·

2025/02/04

Brandon Lancaster is an artist, songwriter, and lead vocalist of the Nashville-based band LANCO. Originally from Smyrna, Tennessee, Brandon and his bandmates garnered national attention with their debut single “Greatest Love Story,” which became a No. 1 hit on the Country Airplay chart and was just certified 5x Platinum. LANCO has toured with major acts such as Dierks Bentley, Luke Combs, and Miranda Lambert, and just released their sophomore album “We’re Gonna Make It”. In this episode, we d...

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54:17

Episode 75: Conner Smith

Ten Year Town ·

2025/01/28

Conner Smith is a country singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. He signed his first publishing deal at 16 and released his debut album, Smoky Mountains, in 2024. His breakout hits include “I Hate Alabama” and the Gold-certified “Take It Slow.” He has toured with artists like Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Chase Rice and Parker McCollum. He is currently signed to Big Machine Records’ Valory label. In the episode, we discuss Conner’s early introduction to songwriting, the success of t...

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129 results

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