Road to the Arena

Triad Music
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS

Ever wondered what the climb was like for some of the most influential figures in the music industry? How did they get there? And where did they come from?  Come with us as these talented and often relentless individuals weave us through their journeys from garages and bars to arenas and stadiums. and we gotta tell you.... some of these stories are kind of crazy! Hosted by music, business, and technology veterans Wendy Hope, Drew Russell, and Mike Slade, Road to the Arena is an ongoing series from Triad Music. Our goal is to create cutting edge technology designed to eliminate the mystery surrounding money in the music industry. Hopefully these stories will pique your interest. visit triadmusic.com to learn more.

  1. 12 - Gabe Walsh

    07/23/2025

    12 - Gabe Walsh

    Born and raised in America's heartland, Blue Rapids, KS, Gabe's music reflects the down-to-earth charm and genuine warmth of small town living. From energetic anthems to heartfelt ballads, his songs are packed with clever rhymes and a deep love for the country lifestyle. With over 10 years of experience as an entertainer in Nashville, TN and across the United States, Gabe brings a wealth of talent and passion to every performance. From the rolling plains of Kansas to the bright lights of the stage, Walsh's music tells a story that is as authentic as it is compelling. Road to the Arena is an ongoing series from Triad Music. Our goal is to create cutting edge music technology designed to eliminate the mystery surrounding money in the music industry. Hopefully these stories will pique your interest. Visit www.triadmusic.com to learn more.

    47 min
  2. 11 - CJ Solar

    01/09/2025

    11 - CJ Solar

    They said, move to Nashville, write some hits, and the rest will follow. For CJ Solar, writing Jameson Rodgers’ "Some Girls" and Morgan Wallen's breakout hit "Up Down" featuring Florida Georgia Line set the bar extremely high. Nashville changed the “rules” right when CJ was breaking as a writer, but that hasn’t stopped this Southern Rocker from making his own rules and turning every head on the way. When not out touring the country headlining his own shows and opening for such artists as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Jr and Gary Allan, he continues to write and record at the highest level, which is why you see him on many artists to watch lists. More importantly, CJ is a student of the game and an exceptional music mind. He shares his wide array of music insights in this episode. Road to the Arena is an ongoing series from Triad Music. Our goal is to create cutting edge music technology designed to eliminate the mystery surrounding money in the music industry. Hopefully these stories will pique your interest. Visit www.triadmusic.com to learn more.

    1h 4m
  3. 10 - Halle Kearns

    10/18/2024

    10 - Halle Kearns

    Halle Kearns, a rising star, house boat dweller, and native of Columbia, MO, has been making a significant impact in the country music scene since her debut in 2020. She has amassed a following including over 11 million Tik Tok views, 23 million global streams, and 82,000 Instagram followers. Halle’s music has been featured on Spotify’s Hot Country, New Boots, and Wild Country playlists, and she has also been featured by CMT. Kearns' success can be attributed to her honest songwriting, captivating performances, and genuine connection with her fans. Halle is just beginning to tap into her immense career potential. Her latest release, 'Quarter Life Crisis,' begins to reveal the next chapter in Kearns' story, and sets the tone for a new wave of upcoming releases set for 2024 and beyond. Catch Halle on tour with Mason Ramsey this year! Road to the Arena is an ongoing series from Triad Music. Our goal is to create cutting edge music technology designed to eliminate the mystery surrounding money in the music industry. Hopefully these stories will pique your interest. Visit www.triadmusic.com to learn more.

    45 min
  4. 09 - Live Nation. Too Big to Fail

    09/13/2024

    09 - Live Nation. Too Big to Fail

    This episode discusses the current affairs of the music industry, most notably Live Nation's stranglehold on the entire touring industry. From venues to ticketing to the bus company and even the managers, Live Nation's 350+ companies own every side of the most lucrative part of the industry. Mike Slade's company built the first Ticketmaster website, and worked very closely with the founder of the company. Nobody knows more intimately how powerful the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation is than Mike. Listen along as Mike, Wendy, and Drew talk the music business. Road to the Arena is an ongoing series from Triad Music. Our goal is to create cutting edge music technology designed to eliminate the mystery surrounding money in the music industry. Hopefully these stories will pique your interest. Visit www.triadmusic.com to learn more.

    35 min
  5. 08 - Daniel Borge

    07/31/2024

    08 - Daniel Borge

    Daniel Borge is known in Norway for doing what is considered to be almost impossible as an independent Norwegian artist. He has been building a name in Nashville, among well known musicians and songwriters in the American country music industry. The year 2019 marked the beginning of the musical career for the Norwegian country artist. After a Nashville visit, Daniel found himself checked into his flight at the airport, set to go back home to Norway. However, a storm over New York made the return impossible and his return flight got cancelled. Frustrated, Daniel found himself in downtown Nashville (Broadway) with his suitcases, backpacks and no hotel or flight back to his home. As faith would have it, his friend Kinsey Rose invited him on stage and the rest is history. Daniel is currently working with producer Brad Hill (Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne, Kameron Marlowe), and is taking Nashville by storm.

    52 min
  6. 07 - Michael McCrae

    06/18/2024

    07 - Michael McCrae

    Michael McCrae, a Nashville-based singer-songwriter originally from Wilmington, NC, discovered his passion for music during his early teens. The catalyst was hearing a fellow student sing a Stevie Wonder song in chorus class, sparking a lifelong dedication to his craft. Despite lacking a manager and industry experience, Michael's drive propelled him to significant achievements by his early twenties. His determination led to appearances on multiple national TV shows, including receiving standing ovations at the Apollo, as well as featuring on The Tyra Banks Show, The Tom Joyner Show, the Queen Latifah Show, and The Megan Mullally Show. Alongside luminaries like Coolio and R. Kelly, Michael even toured with Stevie Wonder—an experience he reveals in the episode. Learn more about Michael's extraordinary journey and other stories in the ongoing Road to the Arena series by Triad Music. Our goal is to create music technology designed to eliminate the mystery surrounding money in music.

    48 min
  7. 06 - Hunter Hayes

    05/21/2024

    06 - Hunter Hayes

    Hunter Hayes is a self-described music nerd, but this “nerd” is also a multi-platinum singer-songwriter who is an equally brilliant producer and also masterfully plays basically every instrument. While the 2012 mega-hit anthem “Wanted” will live on forever, Hunter’s focus on self-reflection and being present in the creative process is resulting in some of the most inspiring music of his career in 2024, having most recently released the vinyl only album “Space Tapes.” In this episode we get the rare opportunity to peek into Hunter’s thoughtful music mind as he discusses Artificial Intelligence in music and the world, the use of Tik Tok as a music discovery platform, and the interactions between music creation and the instant feedback that streaming and social media provides. Hunter also walks us through his entire music journey, from being invited to perform at the Texas Motor Speedway with Hank Williams Jr. at the age of 5 to current day. This is required listening for new artists!

    55 min
  8. 05 - Mae Estes

    05/07/2024

    05 - Mae Estes

    After you hear Mae Estes' story, you are going to be an instant fan of her self-dubbed genre, “Ugly Country.” Mae got her start at age 7 in the middle of an Arkansas rodeo arena singing the national anthem, and this Hope, Arkansas native hasn’t stopped singing since. Paying dues in Music City for nearly a decade, she has now racked up more than 13 million streams across platforms and over 1M views on YouTube, independently and organically building a quickly-growing fan base with her “plain-spoken truth” (The Boot). In 2022, “Thinkin Bout Cheatin’” became the first release from her debut EP as well as her first video feature on CMT. That same year, Mae was honored with Arkansas CMA Female Vocalist of the Year for the second time. Since then, she signed with Big Machine Records, WME Agency, Kobalt Music, and Blue Bronco Entertainment. She is only getting started on her Road to the Arena! Road to the Arena is an ongoing series from Triad Music. www.triadmusic.com

    50 min
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Trailers

About

Ever wondered what the climb was like for some of the most influential figures in the music industry? How did they get there? And where did they come from?  Come with us as these talented and often relentless individuals weave us through their journeys from garages and bars to arenas and stadiums. and we gotta tell you.... some of these stories are kind of crazy! Hosted by music, business, and technology veterans Wendy Hope, Drew Russell, and Mike Slade, Road to the Arena is an ongoing series from Triad Music. Our goal is to create cutting edge technology designed to eliminate the mystery surrounding money in the music industry. Hopefully these stories will pique your interest. visit triadmusic.com to learn more.

Information

  • Creator
    Triad Music
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Road to the Arena