Larry Stewart of Restless Heart: The Frontmen, 80s/90s Country, AI & The Future Of Music :: Ep 39 Circling the Drain Podcast

From Receptionist to Record Exec: The Sheila Shipley Biddy Story :: Ep 41 Circling the Drain Podcast

Sheila Shipley Biddy went from small‑town radio and seven failed interviews to running one of Nashville’s most powerful record labels. In this episode, the first woman to head a major label on Music Row sits down with us to talk about discovering artists, fighting industry sexism, and the stories behind some of country music’s biggest careers. Sheila shares intimate memories of working with legends like Glen Campbell, Waylon Jennings, Alabama, Roger Miller, Don Williams, Patty Loveless, Gary Allan, and LeAnn Womack. She opens up about fighting for “difficult” artists, taking career gambles, launching Decca Records, and what really changed when Napster, streaming, and 360 deals hit the business. In the most personal part of the conversation, Sheila reflects on her faith, her work with Music Health Alliance, and surviving the devastating loss of her husband and son within months of each other. If you care about country music history, radio, or how the record business really works behind the scenes, this is a masterclass in both the business and the humanity of Music Row. 02:21 – Moving to Nashville, small‑town radio roots, and seven Monument Records interviews 05:40 – Turning down TV news and working for less than $100 a month 07:21 – Early days at Monument: Roy Orbison, Larry Gatlin, Ray Stevens, Kris Kristofferson 08:06 – Waylon Jennings, intimidation, and becoming the only rep he’d work with 09:49 – Reading Waylon’s energy and protecting him in public 09:58 – Jumping to RCA and “failing downward” to bet on herself 12:20 – Telling radio the truth about a bad record and earning lifelong trust 14:23 – When that honesty paid off years later at Decca 15:10 – Sexism on Music Row and being mistaken for “the secretary” 17:55 – Mentors, office politics, and being the only woman in the room 20:02 – How Sheila helped bring Alabama to RCA (and why they were first passed on) 22:02 – The phone call that changed Alabama’s life forever 23:47 – Inside Alabama’s rise and balancing Southern imagery and the Confederate flag 26:12 – 50 years in music and how the industry has changed 27:23 – Taking artist failures personally and why she “couldn’t leave it at the office” 28:13 – Fighting three times for Waylon’s “Rose In Paradise” to go No. 1 29:22 – Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith and the risk of “left‑of‑center” country 33:25 – Roger Miller’s “Big River” and selling Broadway to Country radio 36:47 – Working with Glen Campbell and hearing him sing Amazing Grace on an airplane 39:59 – Remembering promotion brothers, early MCA days, and lost friends 41:27 – Becoming the first woman to run a major label in Nashville (Decca) 42:27 – Building Decca from scratch: logo, staff, budget, and vision 45:38 – Dawn Sears, incredible talent, and when an artist doesn’t want it badly enough 48:10 – Discovering Gary Allan in California and why she refused to change his image 49:50 – The album cover where you can’t see Gary Allan’s face (and why that mattered) 49:50 – LeAnn Womack’s showcase strategy and choosing MCA/Decca over “everyone” 51:46 – Why “Never Again, Again” had to be the first single 53:58 – When radio programmers and Alan Jackson fell in love with LeAnn’s album 54:44 – Old‑school radio: when DJs really chose the music and broke artists 55:51 – How small‑market radio and relationships built careers 58:15 – Chasing trends vs. creating trends in country music 59:27 – Roster strategy: male/female, tempo, traditional vs. modern 1:02:09 – From singles deals to full albums and the cost of breaking an artist 1:05:14 – SoundScan, Napster, and watching country sales spike – then slide 1:06:20 – 360 deals, touring, and why tickets are so expensive 1:08:39 – Live Nation, fees, and the squeeze on mid‑level touring acts 1:09:24 – AI, fully AI movies, and the fear inside the creative community 1:09:59 – Life after labels: Music Health Alliance and helping artists get healthcare 1:11:14 – Losing her husband after a long illness and the strength of faith 1:11:44 – Her son’s sudden death at 52 and holding him as he passed 1:13:25 – The Reba McEntire birthday lunch her son never forgot 1:15:01 – Being more than “the label”: real friendships with artists 1:15:24 – Legacy, loss, and why these stories need to be told before they “circle the drain” Follow Johnny B: https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman [https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman] Follow Jay Harper: https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff [https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff] Follow Jim: www.jmvos.com [http://www.jmvos.com] Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co www.itsyourshow.co [http://www.itsyourshow.co]

Chris Golden on Oak Ridge Boys Legacy, Presidents, Elvis, and 478,000 Miles :: Ep 40 Circling the Drain Podcast

Award-winning artist and multi-instrumentalist Chris Golden joins Johnny B and Jay Harper to swap stories from a lifetime in music. From growing up in the Golden family dynasty (son of Oak Ridge Boys’ William Lee Golden), to playing for every living U.S. president, to singing with his kids and racking up 478,000 miles on the road, this episode is loaded with behind-the-scenes tales, faith, family, and a lot of laughs.   Chris talks about:   – Growing up on the Alabama–Florida line in a deep musical family   – The Oaks’ gospel-to-country transition and backlash from the “church crowd”   – Forming The Goldens and Golden Spear, Muscle Shoals sessions, and label drama   – Playing the White House, One America Appeal, and hanging with multiple presidents   – Touring life, that red sparkle Ludwig snare, and his monster hybrid drum kit   – Voiceover work (Heinz 57, ad auditions, and chasing the “Sam Elliott” spec)   – Recording 34 songs with his dad and brother, and now sharing the stage with his kids   – His upcoming album “A Better Man” and the song “Where My People Are”   03:18 Growing up on the Alabama–Florida state line   07:58 Golden family music roots and Inspirational Country Music Awards   09:56 Rusty Golden, Beatles, Elton John, and brotherly rivalry   10:47 Dad hands Chris a guitar: three chords and “Home on the Range”   13:42 Early bands: Boys Band, Cedar Creek, and Golden Spear   17:19 Muscle Shoals sessions and CBS developmental deal   22:14 The Goldens, label cuts, and touring with William Lee Golden   27:49 Pandemic records: 34 songs with Dad and Rusty, three albums of covers   29:29 Chris’s kids join the show: the next Golden generation   30:48 Opening for Ricky Skaggs with daughter Elizabeth on fiddle   37:14 Glen Campbell, hairspray, and backstage heroes   38:50 Roy Clark, Jim Halsey, and the Oaks’ trip to Russia   41:59 Realizing the family was “extraordinary” and the grind of early Oaks days   47:17 All-night gospel sings: sundown to sunup   53:39 Playing for every living U.S. president at One America Appeal   56:36 The first red sparkle Ludwig snare and why it still matters   1:02:00 Shaking hands with the President at the White House   1:02:38 Drum nerd talk: Chris’s hybrid Pearl/DW/Ludwig/Meinl/Zildjian/Sabian kit   1:06:04 Palace Theatre “family and friends” shows in Gallatin   1:08:21 478,000 miles on the van and the song “Grateful”   1:10:11 Voiceover stories: Heinz 57 campaign and hillbilly reads   1:16:31 New album “A Better Man” and “Where My People Are”   1:17:27 How Chris’s song “Home” helped Johnny B through a rough patch   1:18:26 Where to find Chris Golden and Circling the Drain online   Follow Chris:  https://chrisgolden.net/ Follow CTD:  www.circlingthedrain.net Follow Johnny B: https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman [https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman] Follow Jay Harper: https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff [https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff] Follow Jim: www.jmvos.com [http://www.jmvos.com] Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co www.itsyourshow.co [http://www.itsyourshow.co]

Larry Stewart of Restless Heart: The Frontmen, 80s/90s Country, AI & The Future Of Music :: Ep 39 Circling the Drain Podcast

Larry Stewart, the voice of Restless Heart and member of The Frontmen, joins Circling The Drain to talk about breaking through in 80s and 90s country, early resistance from Music Row, touring with Alabama, and how one phone call changed his life. Larry shares the origin stories of Restless Heart and The Frontmen, the realities of road life, raising a family while constantly touring, and why today’s country boom feels bigger than ever.   The crew also digs into modern country (Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Ella Langley), how AI is already reshaping the music business, why live shows are more important than ever, and what it really takes to stay married 40+ years in this industry. If you love 90s country, harmony-driven bands, and real behind-the-scenes stories, this one’s loaded.   02:24 Six straight number ones, becoming “road dogs,” and the Wheels era   03:36 Why radio embraced Restless Heart before the industry did   04:37 How a Belmont kid working at the Country Music Hall of Fame became the lead singer   05:45 Recording the first album, getting married, signing to RCA, and “the rest is history”   08:06 Harmony magic: how five voices created the Restless Heart sound   11:20 Where the songs came from and the role of Tim DuBois and Alabama   12:24 First big tour with Alabama, stage fright, and playing for 15–18,000 a night   14:13 Band chemistry, breakups, reunions, and outlasting most marriages   16:39 Growing up in Kentucky, gospel roots, piano, and choosing music over baseball   20:44 From JUCO ball to Belmont: the crazy path that led Larry to Nashville   25:20 Naming Restless Heart and the terrible band names that didn’t make the cut   25:27 How The Frontmen started with a lobby conversation and a wild idea   26:54 Randy Owen, early Frontmen shows, and taking the act to the troops   28:20 Performing in Iraq, Afghanistan, and on aircraft carriers – bonding through USO-style tours   29:39 COVID shutdowns, livestreaming Fridays at Five, and doubling down on The Frontmen   32:27 Building The Frontmen as a business: LLC, trademark, and brand strategy   33:31 Putting the band together in Nashville and finding the right players   35:46 Modern country: Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Ella Langley and the 90s influence   37:40 Why country that “hits a nerve” is connecting with massive audiences   38:36 How Restless Heart finally landed on their name (and why “Lazy River Boys” didn’t happen)   41:54 Guilty pleasures, Broadway tunes, Taylor Swift, and not listening to much music anymore   43:01 42 years of marriage, missing family time, and coaching his kids to make up for the road   45:21 Kids, grandkids, and why none of them went into music   48:16 AI, demo singers, and why live music is becoming even more valuable   49:12 Can AI build an artist’s entire image and album from scratch?   51:45 Tracks vs live: how The Frontmen actually run their show   55:13 Where to see The Frontmen live and how Larry stays out of trouble on social media   Follow Larry and The Frontmen:  https://www.larrystewartmusic.com/ https://www.thefrontmenlive.com/ Follow Johnny B: https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman [https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman] Follow Jay Harper: https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff [https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff] Follow Jim: www.jmvos.com [http://www.jmvos.com] Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co www.itsyourshow.co [http://www.itsyourshow.co]

Californians, Old Nashville, and the Death of Class :: Ep 38 Circling The Drain Podcast

Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim McCarthy dive into how Nashville and Middle Tennessee have changed under the wave of California and out-of-state transplants. From McMansions and roaming dogs to the death of “old” Music Row, they unpack what’s been gained, what’s been lost, and why some newcomers bring their problems with them.   They also hit on the impact of the Telecommunications Act on radio, the shift in the music and movie industries, old money vs new money, the immigrant work ethic, and how social media turned everyone into a political pundit.   If you love Nashville, radio, music history, and a good rant about culture, money, and manners, this one’s for you.   Timed Highlights:     01:17 California and LA “refugees” landing in Tennessee   03:20 From farmland to McMansions: Johnny’s neighborhood transforms   05:13 “The Duttons” move in: roaming dogs, dune buggies, and entitlement   08:05 No-income-tax migration: Texas, Florida, Tennessee and beyond   10:11 Wichita, Montana, Idaho and the new playgrounds for the wealthy   13:13 Voiceover, LA unions, and movie work leaving California   15:27 How unions strangled opportunity in Hollywood   15:53 Remembering “old Nashville” and Music Row’s golden era   17:32 Urban Cowboy, arenas, Predators, Titans and a new city identity   19:02 When Elvis played Murfreesboro and Nashville had no big venue   19:36 The 2010 flood and Nashville’s turning point   21:00 Insurance, healthcare and the real business of Nashville   23:02 “Bringing California food” to Tennessee and why it failed   24:39 Sticker shock: $26 California pizza in Vegas   25:22 Tiny portions, big prices and Southern “meat and three” culture   27:18 Sylvan Park, Monell’s and eating with total strangers   28:55 Nashville gets cosmopolitan – real restaurants arrive   29:18 Bell Meade money, radio paychecks and brutal honesty   32:22 Old money snobbery in New Orleans and Charleston   33:29 Generational wealth: who earns it, who blows it   34:39 Trust fund kids, cash flashes and zero self-awareness   36:58 The Murdoch saga and destroying a family legacy   38:17 Strong men, weak men, good times, bad times   39:19 Immigrant grit, building empires from nothing   40:55 Vietnamese and Cambodian communities thriving in New Orleans   42:02 Cultural distrust and the Vietnamese grocery experience   42:55 California fear in Tennessee vs New York’s evolution   43:33 Johnny’s “John Dutton” neighbor and hoping he’s just unaware   44:05 Dog safety, coyotes and suburban “protection money” jokes   45:00 Southern accents and being stereotyped as dumb   46:25 Facebook community pages, bad spelling and zero punctuation   46:49 Texting culture and the death of proper sentences   47:35 Everyone’s a pundit now: social media, politics and Artemis skeptics   48:04 Wrap-up: Real talk, real idiots, and where to find Circling The Drain   Follow Johnny B: https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman [https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman] Follow Jay Harper: https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff [https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff] Follow Jim: www.jmvos.com [http://www.jmvos.com] Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co www.itsyourshow.co [http://www.itsyourshow.co]

Is AI Killing Real Music? Jared Rogers & John Berry on Faith, Vinyl, Streaming and the New Nashville :: Ep 37 Circling the Drain Podcast

Circling The Drain welcomes artist and storyteller Jared Rogers, with a special guest drop‑in from country legend John Berry. They dive deep into what’s happened to the magic of music: from growing up around Kenny Rogers and Opryland to the harsh reality of streaming payouts, AI “artists,” and the corporatization of radio and Nashville.   Jared shares the story behind his powerful duet with John Berry, “Bridge We All Must Cross,” how faith and real-life struggle shape his writing, and why he’s pushing back against the way DSPs and AI are devaluing human creativity.   If you care about real songs, real musicians, vinyl, radio, and the future of music in an AI world, this one hits home.   2:42 Growing up around the business: Kenny Rogers, Tanya Tucker, Lorrie Morgan, Joe Diffie   3:35 Falling in love with storytelling, songwriting and the stage   3:56 John Berry joins the show from the yard in his work shirt   4:32 How the Jared Rogers & John Berry duet came together   5:41 John on choosing “Bridge We All Must Cross” and first hearing Jared’s songs   7:01 John’s Christmas legacy, “O Holy Night,” and being known for faith-based music   8:18 Jared on running sound for John and why he looks up to him as an artist and believer   9:06 Johnny B’s ’80s Athens, GA story and early John Berry interview   10:13 Life in Athens, UGA fans everywhere, and 38 years of marriage   10:51 Kenny Rogers’ classic weekend: music, sports and a young Jared meeting Michael Jordan   12:56 Studio lessons from John Berry – how legends record vocals   15:08 Kenny Rogers’ “first or second take” magic vs. working the song   16:12 Autism benefit show, calling out a reluctant donor from the stage   17:19 Why charity matters after John’s cancer battle and benefit experience   19:39 Music Health Alliance and the power of community in Nashville   20:31 Robin Berry’s role – harmony, touring and doing life together   22:52 Back to Jared – growing up as Kenny Rogers’ nephew and his dad’s voice   25:27 Inside Jim’s studio: Marvel, Jesus, and the “chop shop” joke   27:04 Jared’s musical influences: BB King, David Gilmour, Bruce Springsteen, Jeff Beck, Van Halen   28:47 Meeting Meat Loaf in Vegas and the best advice he gave Jared   30:17 Radio nostalgia: when DJs, records and MTV made music feel magical   31:23 Jared’s favorite part of the business: building songs in the studio   31:57 The spiritual message behind his album “Sinner Man”   33:00 Writing “Bridge We All Must Cross” at 150 mph and finishing in 20 minutes   34:30 Co-writing with Jerry “Papa Bear” Williams and crafting the track   35:00 Why John Berry was the only choice for the duet   37:05 The reality check: streaming platforms are killing songwriters   39:03 Why Jared loves radio and hates what deregulation did to it   40:42 Vinyl vs downloads – what we lost when music left the jacket and liner notes   44:10 The math of streaming: rich platforms, broke creators   45:14 Why Jared wants off DSPs and back to tangible music   46:32 Remembering the needle on vinyl and the drama of dropping the record   47:09 How Broadway and Nashville lost their soul to high-rises and bars   48:31 AmericanaVille in Livingston – intimate listening rooms vs no traffic   50:00 Today’s country: trucks, whiskey, heartbreak and a few standouts   51:18 Social media grind: crowded, loud and hard to convert to real fans   51:49 A better model: direct-to-artist digital sales that actually pay   53:38 The economics of being a working musician in 2020s America   55:00 Life in the shadow of a famous family name and refusing to be a copy   57:46 Hank Jr. as the example of what happens when you finally become yourself   58:19 Why many new artists are still chasing music radio that’s almost out of gas   59:44 Podcasting as the new radio and a path for artists to own their stories   1:03:36 How AI and synthetic “artists” are flooding the market   1:07:15 Entire AI albums, fake singers and charting “artists” that don’t exist   1:09:44 Faith, revelation and what AI disruption might really mean   1:10:14 Terminator, I Robot and why AI isn’t just sci‑fi anymore   1:13:19 Vinyl outsells CDs again and Gen Z brings records back   1:14:26 Why human imperfection and “off” notes are what make records exciting   1:15:00 Old records with energy: Dave Clark Five, Rare Earth and beyond   1:16:47 World premiere spin: “Bridge We All Must Cross” – Jared Rogers & John Berry   1:17:03 First verse – a troubled mind and the path back to the light   1:17:44 Chorus – the bridge we all must cross and the cross we all must bear   1:18:14 John Berry’s vocal enters – voices blend and lift the hook   1:19:39 Jared on watching legends and staying a student in the studio   Follow Jared and John: https://www.instagram.com/jaredrogersofficial/ https://www.johnberry.com/ Follow Johnny B: https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman [https://www.facebook.com/john.e.bozeman] Follow Jay Harper: https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff [https://www.facebook.com/harperjeff] Follow Jim: www.jmvos.com [http://www.jmvos.com] Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co www.itsyourshow.co [http://www.itsyourshow.co]