The Table Women Podcast

Sarah and Vic sit down with Management and A&R at Born & Raised Entertainment and TwentySeven Music Publishing Sarah Stickle to discuss:

• Finding your niche and using varied experience to your advantage
• The satisfaction of seeing things through start to finish, and celebrating your wins!
• Diversity in the industry and how it varies from location, genre, and area of the industry
• How underpaying songwriters is a feminist issue
• How gender roles and capitalism make it harder to create change
• Performative allyship - Are the changes we’re seeing long-term?
• Being a queer woman in the music industry 
• The intersection of gender, race, and sexuality 
• Advocating for your peers and creators, and helping others do the same
• The difference in community and creativity between Nashville and LA
• The importance of having peers and a team that fights for you

Notes:

Jason Bernard - https://variety.com/2018/music/news/pulse-music-group-jason-bernard-1203021768/ 

Kobalt - https://www.kobaltmusic.com/ 

Some of Sarah’s recent wins and artists/songs discussed:

• Signing Brian Brundage for management (Tai Verdes' "A-O-K", Rhys Lewis, Maddie Zahm)
• Cuts she helped to secure:
  • 44Phantom ft. Machine Gun Kelly single "don't sleep, repeat"
  • Hayley Kiyoko's "for the girls" - which was also featured in the new Netflix film Do Revenge 
  • Sofia Carson's "Loud"
• Procured the mix for Kane Brown's single "Grand" (mixed by Adam Hawkins)
• Ryan Daly - The new John Legend single "Wonder Woman", the forthcoming Fitz & The Tantrums album, and the current DNCE single

Sarah and Vic discuss the gap in understanding between older generations and Gen Z, and Social media, via first-person concerns gathered anonymously from college students, listeners, and viral artists.  

Topics include:

What happens when the gatekeepers try to jump on the bandwagon

Trusting your creative “gut” over trends and views

What happens if you hit it big and fall off?

Do views and aesthetic decide the quality of the content?

Speed VS. Quality 

Gen Z doesn’t give a fuck about your status quo - the standard was never for us

How old structures like labels can hold you back in the age of viral content

Overexposure and how the industry corrects

Authenticity is king - and Gen Z can spot it better than anybody 

Scandals, cancel culture, and post Me Too accountability

The pressure to be famous and always have a take

Is the next phase of the tech age no tech?

Viral content, evolving trends, and societal “correctness”

The importance of mental health and having to face our faults

How seemingly small social trends influence world events

Mentioned creators:

Idiocracy: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/ 

Loveless “Unholy” Cover: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TdKWSlEXyaI 

Katie Gregson-MacLeod - complex (demo): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvbKTeuxHVI 

Sam Smith “Unholy”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq9gPaIzbe8 

Try Guys: https://www.youtube.com/c/tryguys 

Hit country songwriter Liz Hengber sits down with Vic and Sarah to discuss her incredible career, including:

• Lessons learned over 30+ years in Nashville
• Why it’s important to show up
• Mentorship and how it changes the game
• Lessons from waiting tables and waiting your turn 
• How to stay sharp and relevant in changing times
• The career-keeping perspectives of 7 #1’s and 70+ cuts 
• Why ego has no place in the writing room
• Gender, age, and new generations!

Sarah and Victoria sit down with Senior Director of Creative at Creative Nation, Emily Furman to discuss:

• What it looks like to work your way up in publishing 
• The internal vs. external experience as a woman in music
• Longterm jobs in a short-term industry and when to switch it up
• What it takes to build an artist career that lasts
• How farmers and assertive family prepares you to connect with people
• Advocating for yourself and creatives
• One person’s success doesn’t take away from yours
• Burnout, establishing balance in your life, and less is more
• Check your ego at the door

And so much more!

Notes:

Carnival Music: https://www.carnivalmusic.net/ 

Carnival’s Roster: https://www.carnivalmusic.net/music-makers 

Hailey Whitters: https://haileywhitters.com/ 

Brent Cobb: https://www.brentcobbmusic.com/ 

Creative Nation: https://www.creativenationmusic.com/ 

Beth Laird & the team: https://www.creativenationmusic.com/team 

CN’s Roster: https://www.creativenationmusic.com/clients 

Lainey Wilson: https://laineywilson.com/homepage 

Sarah and Victoria sit down with hit producer-writer Alex Kline to discuss:

Alex’s journey to being one of the top producers in Nashville

What actually goes into being a professional producer?

Having (and losing) a record deal and doing the “artist thing”

The differences in experience when you’re a female producer/writer 

Writing with dream teams… that just happen to be all women

Label and Publishing deals - what’s the tea?

How your priorities and standards evolve with you

Seeing raw talent hidden under a rough exterior 

Hit songs in the world of Covid

Advice for up-and-coming creatives

Alex’s website: 

https://www.alexklinemusic.com/

Alex’s discography:

https://www.alexklinemusic.com/music 

Tenille Arts:

https://www.tenillearts.com/ 

In this special episode, WeBelmont (Women in Entertainment Belmont) President Jamie Emerick interviews hosts Sarah DeFors and Victoria Banks in front of a (zoom) live student audience about their careers, personal and creative philosophies, podcasting, current gender-based social issues, and student questions! 

Hit Country Songwriter Kelly Archer sits down to discuss her wild journey and career, including:

• From re-writing songs for fun to taking a leap of faith and becoming a hit songwriter
• The loneliness of chasing your dreams and importance of community
• What does networking, finding your friends & champions, and betting on yourself look like?
• Follow the free snacks (and booze)!
• The flip from being in-demand to having to prove you deserve to be in the room
• Writing songs for men that feel authentic (and don’t belittle women)
• The difference between working with men and women
• Back to basics - writing what and with whom brings you joy after trying to fit in
• You can choose to not work with assholes (and you should)
• Teams that have your back and what it looks like to know your worth
• The difference between established creatives and the new generation - good and bad
• The story behind “Sleep Without You” by Brett Young and other hits
• Eric Church is Basically Taylor Swift - Get over it!
• Male champions for women in music - we love to see it!
• The sacrifices and rewards of betting on yourself
• Re-writing the same idea and why it’s important to always change your POV
• Being one of (if not the only) woman in your “class” of peers
• Caring too much is a blessing and a curse - know when to lean in & when to let go

Kelly's Bio:

Kelly Archer hails from the beautiful Pacific Northwest of Canada and has been a signed writer in Nashville for the past 20 years. Kelly's songs have been recorded by Jason Aldean, Brett Young, Justin Moore, Travis Denning, Reba, Tricia Yearwood, Eli Young Band, Dustin Lynch, Jo Dee Messina, Montgomery Gentry, Cassadee Pope, Lindsay Ell, Natalie Hemby (Puxico), Chris Lane in the U.S. and Meghan Patrick, Tyler Joe Miller, Tebey, Jess Moskaluke, Shawn Austen, Matt Lang, The Washboard Union and many more in Canada. 

Kelly has had several songs placed in the series “Nashville” and she received the AIMP "Rising Songwriter of the year" award for 2017. Kelly celebrated her first number one song with Brett Young's  "Sleep without you", her second number one with Justin Moore's "Somebody Else Will",  and recently her 3rd #1 with Travis Denning's "After a few".

Notes: 

Kelly Archer: http://www.redcreativegroup.com/kellyarcher 

Kelly’s Cuts: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Songs_written_by_Kelly_Archer 

Praying for Daylight - I’m Moving On: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP8SnPcwjgU 

NSAI: https://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/ 

Cole Wright - https://www.wrightnownashville.com/about/ 

Brett Young “Sleep Without You”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H06Ep1MTRW0 

Eric Church: https://www.ericchurch.com/ 

Vic and Sarah finish answering your questions and answer the S3 rapid-fire questions for themselves!

Trigger Warning for mention and non-graphic discussion of suicide.

Links:

Kimberly DeFors: https://www.instagram.com/kimberly.defors/?hl=en 

Anna Mae: http://www.annamaemusic.com/ 

Miss Americana Taylor Swift: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40RsbcFRwNA 

Taylor Swift & Damon Albarn Writing Scandal: https://www.glamour.com/story/taylor-swift-slams-artist-who-says-she-doesnt-write-her-own-songs/amp 

Gayle: https://www.gayleofficial.com/ 

ABCDEFU By GAYLE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaFd8ucHLuo 

Mickey Guyton: https://www.mickeyguyton.com/ 

Get On The Train By Victoria Banks: https://victoriabanks.bandcamp.com/track/get-on-the-train 

Firefly By Victoria Banks: https://victoriabanks.bandcamp.com/track/firefly 

Karen Kosowski: https://www.karenkosowski.com/ 

Washboard Union: https://www.thewashboardunion.com/ 

In Ep. 27 Sarah and Vic answer your questions to kick off 2022! You, our lovely audience, asked so many wonderful questions we had to split this episode into 2!

Part 1 focuses on answering audience questions, from the practical to deep and personal we get into everything you want to know. 

Next time on part 2, Vic and Sarah will focus on answering more audience questions and the new S3 "rapid fire" questions for themselves!

Notes: 

Kimberly DeFors: https://www.instagram.com/kimberly.defors/?hl=en 

Anna Mae: http://www.annamaemusic.com/ 

Miss Americana Taylor Swift: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40RsbcFRwNA 

Taylor Swift & Damon Albarn Writing Scandal: https://www.glamour.com/story/taylor-swift-slams-artist-who-says-she-doesnt-write-her-own-songs/amp 

Gayle: https://www.gayleofficial.com/ 

ABCDEFU By GAYLE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaFd8ucHLuo 

Mickey Guyton: https://www.mickeyguyton.com/ 

Get On The Train By Victoria Banks: https://victoriabanks.bandcamp.com/track/get-on-the-train 

Firefly By Victoria Banks: https://victoriabanks.bandcamp.com/track/firefly 

Karen kosowski: https://www.karenkosowski.com/ 

Washboard Union: https://www.thewashboardunion.com/ 

Applause Artist Relations Manager Kelly Benini talks about the ups and downs of the entertainment industry, her personal and professional evolutions, and her life mission with Sarah and Vic, including discussion on:

• Reaching back to help the next generation through academic mentorship
• How Kelly got her start booking big acts and helping charities
• It’s okay to change careers and evolve with your wants and needs
• The differences in the industry across genre and job
• Aligning your mission with your actions
• Personal hurdles, self-esteem, and how tough experiences help us help others
• Advocating for your artists and being aware of how to create safe spaces
• How Applause helps give artists of all kinds and sizes power and agency
• Not taking setbacks and others’ successes personally
• Hindsight is always 20/20 - it always works out!

Notes:

To Write Love On Her Arms: https://twloha.com/

Syracuse University Bandier Program: https://newhouse.syr.edu/academics/bandier-program/

Rob Light: https://variety.com/exec/rob-light/

CAA: https://www.caa.com/

Karen Kosowski: https://www.karenkosowski.com/

Altadena: https://www.altadena.co/

Julie Pilat: https://juliepilat.co/

The Idea Fountain: https://juliepilat.co/the-idea-fountain

Dina LaPolt Episode: https://www.art19.com/shows/the-idea-fountain/episodes/f806b7fa-44de-4a6e-8278-fa2eb9829900

LaPolt Law: https://www.lapoltlaw.com/

Busbee: https://variety.com/2019/music/news/busbee-songwriter-producer-dead-dies-1203353319/

Noreen Prunier: https://earlyrising.co/2021/01/26/noreen-prunier/

Ryan Griffin: https://ryangriffin.com/

Riley Roth: https://www.rileyroth.com/

Applause: https://applause.stream/

Sophia Bush Podcast Episode: https://unqualified.com/episodes/sophia-bush/