Ten Year Town

Troy Cartwright
  • 4.9 (106)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Weekly

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. 

  1. 2d ago

    Shane McAnally (Part 1) on Kacey Musgraves, Why Chasing #1 Hits is a Mistake & His 14-Year Grind | TYT 127

    Shane McAnally is a songwriter, producer, and publisher originally from Mineral Wells, Texas. He is a 4x Grammy Winner, 2x ACM Songwriter of the Year, a Tony-nominated composer, and has written and/or produced over 50 number one songs. Some of his hits include Body Like a Back Road, recorded by Sam Hunt, American Kids, recorded by Kenny Chesney, and Merry Go Round, recorded by Kacey Musgraves. Recently, he was named as one of the New York Times’ 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters. In Part 1 of this two-part episode, we discuss Shane’s early days, including dropping out of college to chase the Nashville dream in his grandmother's borrowed minivan, his unique philosophy on songwriting, including why he believes Nashville's obsession with chasing #1 hits can be a mistake, and the magic of his very first co-write with Kacey Musgraves. There are, of course, many other stops along the way. -------------------------------------------------- This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. --------------------------------------------------- Troy Cartwright is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Lee Brice, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists. #ShaneMcAnally #CountryMusic #Songwriting #TenYearTown #NashvilleSongwriters #CreativeProcess #MusicPodcast #KaceyMusgraves #HitMaker #MusicBusiness #Songwriter #BluebirdCafe 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 Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.   Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura.  Artwork design by Brad Vetter.  Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

    41 min

  2. Jun 16

    Charles Wesley Godwin on Trusting the Tip Jar, The High of Songwriting, Making Seneca & his new album Christian Name | Ten Year Town Ep. 126

    Charles Wesley Godwin is a country music artist and songwriter born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia. He first discovered his passion for music in college, picking up a guitar after realizing his WVU football dreams weren't going to pan out and watching the Avett Brothers perform at the 2011 Grammys. He spent years developing his sound by playing small bars, cafes, and breweries across the country—often sleeping in his car—before breaking through with his independent 2019 debut album, Seneca. He is currently signed to Big Loud and Warner Chappell, and following the success of albums like How the Mighty Fall and Family Ties, he is preparing to release his newest record, Christian Name, on July 24th.  In this episode, we discuss Charles’s journey from playing his very first paid gig at a lingerie show in Estonia to building a nationwide audience. We dig into his early years trusting the tip jar on the road, the freezing winter studio sessions that shaped Seneca, navigating the pressures of the music business, and the night he almost quit music entirely. We also talk about why he considers songwriting to be his true creative high, his five-year wait to co-write with Lori McKenna, and many other stops along the way. -------------------------------------------------- This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. --------------------------------------------------- Troy Cartwright is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Lee Brice, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists. #CharlesWesleyGodwin #CountryMusic #TenYearTown #Songwriting #AltCountry #AmericanaMusic #CWG #ChristianName #Seneca #IndependentArtist #MusicPodcast 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 Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.   Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura.  Artwork design by Brad Vetter.  Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

    56 min

  3. Jun 9

    Brad Tursi on Old Dominion, His new solo album Colorado & Trusting Your Gut | Ten Year Town Ep. 125

    Brad Tursi is a songwriter, guitarist, and member of Old Dominion. As a songwriter, he has penned hits for artists including Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, and Luke Bryan, including Chesney's “Save It For A Rainy Day.” As a member of Old Dominion, he has helped create some of the band's biggest songs, including “Snapback,” “No Such Thing As A Broken Heart,” and “One Man Band.” He has a new solo album, Colorado, available everywhere June 12. In this episode, Brad shares his journey from finding his dad's guitar in the attic in Connecticut to landing in Nashville, the chance encounter that led to writing “A Guy Walks Into A Bar,” and how he ended up joining Old Dominion almost by accident. We dig into the creative process behind his upcoming solo record Colorado, the difference between writing for yourself versus writing for other artists, and why following your gut is the most important skill you can develop in this business. --------------------------------------------------- This episode is sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys (https://thegraphicguitarguys.com) They create custom guitar wraps used by artists and festivals across the industry. A great option for pre-sale bundles, VIP packages, or one-of-a-kind gear. --------------------------------------------------- Troy Cartwright (troycartwright.com) is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Lee Brice, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists. #BradTursi #OldDominion #Colorado #CountryMusic #Songwriting #TenYearTown #Podcast #Nashville #KennyChesney #SaveItForARainyDay#SaveItForARainyDay 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 Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.   Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura.  Artwork design by Brad Vetter.  Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

    51 min

  4. May 12

    Jake Worthington on Texas Country, Traditionalism & Touring with Luke Combs | Ten Year Town Ep. 124

    Jake Worthington is a country music artist and songwriter raised in La Porte, Texas. He first gained national attention as the runner-up on Season 6 of NBC’s The Voice before spending years developing his sound playing dance halls and honky-tonks across Texas. His latest record, When I Write The Song, was released in 2025, and he is currently signed to Big Loud Texas. Worthington has shared stages with artists including Stoney LaRue and Post Malone, and is currently an opener on Luke Combs’ Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old stadium tour. In this episode, we discuss Jake’s journey from garage bands in Texas to national touring stages, growing up on George Strait and Keith Whitley records, his early years in Nashville, the call from Seth England that helped change the trajectory of his career, and many other stops along the way. --------------------------------------------------- This episode is sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys (https://thegraphicguitarguys.com) They create custom guitar wraps used by artists and festivals across the industry. A great option for pre-sale bundles, VIP packages, or one-of-a-kind gear. --------------------------------------------------- Troy Cartwright (troycartwright.com) is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Lee Brice, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists. #JakeWorthington  #TexasCountry  #TraditionalCountry  #LukeCombs  #CountryMusic  #BigLoudTexas  #GeorgeStrait  #Nashville  #TenYearTown  #TroyCartwright 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 Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.   Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura.  Artwork design by Brad Vetter.  Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

    46 min

  5. May 5

    Lessons from Tom Petty on Songwriting, Simplicity, and Staying True | Ten Year Town Bonus Episode

    In this bonus episode, we take a look at the songwriting and philosophy of Tom Petty—what made his songs work, why simplicity matters, and what artists can learn from the way he approached music and career. --------------------------------------------------- If you want to read the Mundanity of Excellence you can find the PDF here: https://academics.hamilton.edu/documents/themundanityofexcellence.pdf --------------------------------------------------- This episode is sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys (https://thegraphicguitarguys.com) They create custom guitar wraps used by artists and festivals across the industry. A great option for pre-sale bundles, VIP packages, or one-of-a-kind gear. --------------------------------------------------- Troy Cartwright (troycartwright.com) is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Lee Brice, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists. #TomPetty #Songwriting #Songwriter #RockAndRoll #MusicTheory #CreativeProcess #TenYearTown #TroyCartwright #AmericanMusic #WriteSongs 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 Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.   Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura.  Artwork design by Brad Vetter.  Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

    15 min

  6. Apr 28

    Randy Montana on Writing No. 1 Hits for Luke Combs & Parker McCollum, his Songwriting Approach, and More | Ten Year Town Ep. 123

    Randy Montana is a songwriter and artist raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He has written songs recorded by artists including Luke Combs, Parker McCollum, Justin Moore, Riley Green, and many others. His No. 1 hits include “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” “I Hope You’re Happy,” “Pretty Heart,” and “Sleepless In A Hotel Room.” On March 16, 2026, Montana claimed the No. 1 spot on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. In this episode, we discuss Randy’s path growing up in Nashville, the stories behind some of his biggest songs, his approach to songwriting, and many other stops along the way. -------------------------------------------------- This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. --------------------------------------------------- Troy Cartwright is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Lee Brice, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists. 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 Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.   Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura.  Artwork design by Brad Vetter.  Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

    53 min

  7. Apr 14

    Zach Abend on “Hometown Home” + HARDY’s “Favorite Country Song” | Ten Year Town Ep. 122

    Zach Abend is a songwriter and producer originally from Syracuse, New York. He has co-written songs for artists including Morgan Wallen, HARDY, LOCASH, Kenny Chesney, and Blake Shelton. His #1 songs include writing Kenny Chesney’s “Take Her Home,” LOCASH’s 2025 single “Hometown Home,” and most recently as a writer on HARDY’s “Favorite Country Song.” He is currently published by Relative Music Group. In this episode, Zach talks about his path from Syracuse to Nashville, his approach to songwriting and production, and his philosophy behind creating songs that connect with artists and audiences. -------------------------------------------------- This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. --------------------------------------------------- Troy Cartwright is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Lee Brice, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists. 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 Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.   Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura.  Artwork design by Brad Vetter.  Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

    50 min

  8. Apr 7

    Mitchell Tenpenny on “Drunk Me,” Songwriting & Nashville | Ten Year Town Ep. 121

    Mitchell Tenpenny is a singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. He broke through with his multi-Platinum No. 1 hit “Drunk Me” and has since earned additional chart success with songs like “Truth About You,” “At The End Of A Bar” (with Chris Young), and “We Got History.” He has released multiple albums including Telling All My Secrets and This Is The Heavy, and has toured with artists like Jason Aldean, Luke Combs, and Jordan Davis. He is currently on his Speed Of Light Tour. In this episode, Mitchell talks about growing up in Nashville, his path to his first No. 1, the reality of sustaining success in country music, and how he approaches songwriting in a town built on great songs. -------------------------------------------------- This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art. --------------------------------------------------- Troy Cartwright is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Lee Brice, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists. #MitchellTenpenny #CountryMusic #Songwriting #Nashville #TenYearTown #Podcast #CountryArtist #MusicIndustry #DrunkMe 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 Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.   Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura.  Artwork design by Brad Vetter.  Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

    58 min
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4.9
out of 5
106 Ratings

About

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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Troy Cartwright
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    158
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ten Year Town
  • Show Website
    Ten Year Town

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