Expanding the hip-hop and R&B music industry

The country music business ecosystem in Nashville continues to thrive. But what about other genres of music, like hip-hop and R&B?

In recent years, Nashville has attracted industry professionals who are motivated to build up the industry support for hip-hop here and bring more opportunity to local artists. Today, we hear about this side of the music industry that continues to grow, including two recent songwriting camps that aim to connect a new generation of hip-hop and R&B artists to industry professionals — and each other.

This episode was produced by Jewly Hight and Mary Mancini.

Guests

• Eric Holt, Lovenoise Founder and Professor, Belmont University
• Jewly Hight, Senior Music Writer, WPLN News
• Anay Richardson, Prescription Songs
• Kelly White, Prescription Songs
• SeddyMac, Singer-Songwriter and Hip-Hop Artist
• Jack Vinoy, Organizer, ca.mp3
• KJ Mitchell, Producer/Engineer

Further listening and reading

• With the nationwide release of ‘MLB,’ Tim Gent and A.B. Eastwood reach another level with Nashville hip-hop | WPLN
• A songwriting camp aims to build Nashville hip-hop’s industry connections | WPLN
• Even total newbies are welcome at this grassroots hip-hop songwriting camp in Nashville | WPLN
• Tracing Nashville’s hip-hop roots | This is Nashville
• Making Noise: How a Sunday night party changed Nashville | WPLN