The Zak Kuhn Show Backboard Entertainment

The podcast tour continues! This live episode was recorded during a panel last week at SXSW. Zak is joined by Spotify Nashville Head of Editorial Rachel Whitney, Universal Nashville Director of Streaming Vipen Reddy and Riveter Management Founder Charlene Bryant. We cover it all. Don't miss this conversation!

We are live from Berklee College of Music. This week's guest, and season 3 opener, is Jim Lucchese, the CEO of Sofar Sounds. Prior, Jim was the CEO of The Echo Nest, which was acquired by Spotify in 2014. That technology and team went on to develop tools like Spotify's algorithmic playlists. Jim was also very involved in creating the Spotify for Artists tool. Today, Jim is focused on continuing to grow Sofar shows around the world. You’re going to be inspired by this conversation and love Jim’s passion for what he does. Don't miss the student questions at the end of the episode!

Born in Chattanooga TN, raised in Dallas TX and currently living in Nashville, Shaylen has done it all. After 10 years of living in Los Angeles, Shaylen has accumulated tens of millions of streams as a major label pop artist. Now, she's gone country. If you're on TikTok, you probably know her song "What If I Don't" and her recently released track "Do It Right The First Time", which was featured on the The Kelly Clarkson Show. She's making a name for herself here in Nashville. Don't sleep on it! 

Em Beihold is a rising star. You probably know her song "Numb Little Bug", which went viral on TikTok last year and went to #1 on Hot AC. What you might not know is that Beihold started out fencing, long before it was featured on the Netflix show Wednesday. She has performed on Jimmy Fallon, James Corden, opened up for the Jonas Brothers and has a brand new song coming out this Friday titled “Roller Coasters Make Me Sad”. This episode is a window into how you take a viral moment and turn it into a career. Don't miss it!

Ron Fair is an American A&R executive, record producer, record executive, musical arranger, recording engineer and conductor. In his epic career, Fair has worked with artists that include Christina Aguilera, Vanessa Carlton, Keyshia Cole, The Black Eyed Peas and so many more. We talk about his move to Nashville, how he got started in the biz, his involvement in recording the Rocky theme song and so much more. Ron is a true record man living here in Nashville. You'll be inspired by this conversation.

It's our season 3 premier! Christian Barker has been named one of Billboard's "Top Music Lawyers" and is an Equity Partner in the Nashville office of Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP. Barker has signed his songwriter and producer clients to nearly every publishing company in Nashville and beyond and brokered deals for his clients totaling 8-figures+ this past year alone. Barker thinks outside of the box and puts his own creative spin on the practice of law. You're going to love this conversation, and I can't think of a better guest to kick off our third season!