The Jay Franze Show: Music - News | Reviews | Interviews

Jay Franze
  • 5.0 (18)
  • Music Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

The Jay Franze Show is your source for the latest music – news, reviews, and interviews, providing valuable insights and entertaining stories, stories you won’t find anywhere else. Hosted by industry veteran and master dry humorist Jay Franze, this show delivers a fresh, non-traditional take on the world of music. Jay brings you behind the scenes with insider insights, untold stories, and candid conversations with seasoned artists, industry pros, and rising stars each week. Whether you’re here for the laughs, the information, or to be part of The Crew (his family), he’s got you covered. You will be entertained, educated, and maybe even a little surprised, because nothing is off the table here.

  1. 6d ago

    David Chatfield, Founder and CEO of Harmony Records

    Streaming promised unlimited music, but it also trained us to treat songs like disposable wallpaper. We sit down with Harmony Records founder and CEO David Chatfield to talk about what that shift costs artists and listeners, and why he thinks the next wave is about bringing music back to being an experience you choose, not noise that happens to you.  David walks us through building a record label from the ground up, from the early 1980s world of $125,000 recording budgets and indie distribution to today’s reality of home studios, cheaper lockouts, and the brutal competition of constant new releases on Spotify. We dig into what actually holds up across every era: writing better songs, crafting memorable hooks, arranging music for records, and following through on promotion when things inevitably go sideways.  Then we get practical about music marketing and artist development. David explains why a million streams can still mean nothing if you do not tour, how a small base of superfans can fund a real career through merch and direct support, and why physical media like CDs and vinyl is trending again when the packaging gives people something to hold, read, and keep. We also talk legacy artists, catalog revival, cinematic music videos, radio strategy, and thinking globally about where fans still buy records.  If you got value from this conversation, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more artists and music fans can find the show. What part of today’s music business do you want us to tackle next? Episode Links David Chatfield: https://davidblakechatfield.org/Harmony Records: https://harmonyrecordsmusic.com/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    David Chatfield, Founder and CEO of Harmony Records

  2. Jul 13

    Tropidelic

    A band that adopts a highway, cleans it with fans, then goes straight back to building a tightly synced live show is the kind of story we can’t stop talking about. I’m joined by Rex Larkman, drummer for Tropidelic, for a conversation that moves from Cleveland pride to the real mechanics of modern touring, with plenty of laughs and hard-earned lessons in between.  We get into the Cleveland music scene and how a “Lake Erie ocean” mindset can fuel a band whose sound blends reggae rock, funk, hip-hop, and high-energy drumming. Rex breaks down the drummers who shaped him, from Neil Peart and Trey Cool to Joey Jordison and Carter Beauford, and explains how he approaches recording versus performing so the parts serve the song but the stage still hits like a rush.  Then we go deep on the gear and the why behind it: click track philosophy, backing tracks used as layered support rather than shortcuts, and Rex’s practical Roland SPD-SX setup with count-offs and a kill switch for the nights when tech fights back. We also talk tour life, Warped Tour chaos, rain-soaked shows, and the surreal feeling of playing Red Rocks, plus the “basement of Red Rocks” vibe at The Caverns. We wrap with Tropidelic’s new album First Light, DIY music video production, and a shout-out to the unsung heroes behind every great show.  If you like artist interviews, touring stories, drumming talk, and behind-the-scenes music production, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What’s the best live venue you’ve ever been to? Episode Links Tropidelic: https://tropidelic.com/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    Tropidelic

  3. Jul 6

    Kate Stanton - 7/6/26

    One email, a few MIDI files, and a shared obsession with atmosphere can turn into a finished single that sounds huge. We sit down with Ohio singer-songwriter Kate Stanton to talk about “Rise,” a track inspired by the Greek idea of mania, the kind of love that looks a lot like limerence and fixation. Kate walks us through how the song came together, from early synth sketches to deep vocal layering, and why making music that feels immersive sometimes matters more than showing off flashy parts. A big thread running through our chat is remote collaboration done right. Kate and her German collaborator Tomas build songs through email, Google Translate, Dropbox, and a tight back-and-forth that keeps ideas moving without endless meetings. We dig into real home studio details: piano-first chord progressions, topline melodies, sending stems and MIDI, arranging in Cubase, and how programmed drums and bass can still feel alive when the goal is modern dream pop and atmospheric music. Kate also shares how journaling becomes lyrics, and how the toughest edits happen when a line that reads well simply will not sing. We also zoom out to the bigger creative mission: a concept album exploring love in eight forms, from friendship to self-love, not just romance. Along the way we talk covers, perfectionism, protecting audio quality, the challenge of playing live with an overseas producer, and why albums, artwork, and physical media like CDs and vinyl still deliver an experience streaming cannot replace. If you care about songwriting craft, indie music production, and building a real artistic body of work, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more artist interviews, share this with a friend who makes music, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What kind of love song do you wish more artists would write? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    Kate Stanton - 7/6/26

  4. Jul 1

    New Tours Announced, Favorite Hair Metal Band, and Music News

    Empty seats can cancel a tour faster than bad reviews, yet rock touring is still printing money. We start with a rapid-fire rundown of newly announced rock and metal tours and quickly end up doing what real fans do: clicking past the headline to check official artist sites, compare dates, and figure out whether these runs are truly “fall tours” or just a handful of shows with a catchy label. From there, we dig into the live music economy: major tour earners, the reality of Ticketmaster seat maps packed with available seats, and why some artists overbook venues they can’t fill. We talk about how early tour cancellations protect budgets, but also how they disappoint the people who already made plans, bought tickets, and just wanted a loud night out. We also get into the messy, behind-the-scenes stuff that shapes concerts: leaked and unfinished recordings (and whether fans should listen at all), curfews and fines that can chop an encore, and the kind of production nightmare that happens when a show gets hit with a power outage mid-set. Then we lighten it up with our question of the day on favorite hair metal bands, run through the latest country and rock chart countdowns, and hit July music birthdays. To close, Tiffany shares her new book, Networking Your Way To The Big Stage, including the writing process, imposter syndrome, and how small relationship-building habits can multiply opportunities for artists and anyone working in the music industry. Subscribe, share this with a friend (if not, tell two), and leave a review with your favorite hair metal pick and why. Episode Links Jason Hale: https://jayfranze.com/episode55/Bruce Reiter: https://jayfranze.com/episode67/Jerry Hines: https://jayfranze.com/episode220/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    New Tours Announced, Favorite Hair Metal Band, and Music News

  5. Jun 29

    Jerry Hines, Manager (Craig Morgan, Trey Calloway)

    You can learn signal flow in a classroom, but you only learn touring when the bus doors close and the clock never stops. We sit down with Jerry Hines, a Tennessee-based tour manager turned artist manager, to unpack the behind-the-scenes reality of building a career in live music production and artist development. Jerry shares how a single phone call in 2004 launched him from side jobs into the deep end as a monitor engineer, then into production, front of house, and eventually the high-accountability world of tour management. We talk about what makes monitors such a brutal seat, the kind of mistakes you only make once, and what it feels like mixing under pressure when the stakes are reputation-level high. Jerry breaks down arena vs outdoor show challenges, why relationships matter as much as gear, and the moment the job stops being “about the music” and becomes the business: budgets, staffing, leadership, and being the steady hand when everyone else is spiraling. Then we pivot into artist management and the difference between operating with certainty for an established act like Craig Morgan and selling belief for a developing artist like Trey Calloway. Jerry explains how Broken Compass Management was born, the meaning behind the name, and what it takes to guide an artist through a path that’s rarely straight. We also dig into modern music industry shifts like independent strategy, record label leverage, and how AI could reshape management and touring. Subscribe for more real conversations with the people who make the music business run, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Episode Links Craig Morgan: https://www.craigmorgan.com/Trey Calloway: https://treycallowaymusic.com/Trey Calloway: https://jayfranze.com/episode108/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    Jerry Hines, Manager (Craig Morgan, Trey Calloway)

  6. Jun 24

    Paul Sidoti, Musician (Taylor Swift)

    Rock mythology is fun, but what does a real working career look like after the posters come down? We’re joined by guitarist Paul Sidoti for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with the exact moment KISS flipped a switch in his five-year-old brain and stretches all the way to the day he can email his heroes and actually get a reply. Along the way, Paul shares what those early influences gave him: the drive to learn parts by ear, the hunger for great sound, and the patience to keep getting better even when nobody’s watching.  We dig into the gear and the craft in a way guitar players and music nerds will love. Paul breaks down why the EVH 5150 and 5150III amps became his workhorses, how he sets up clean, crunch, and lead tones for different styles, and why he still respects tools like the Tom Scholz Rockman from the early home-recording days. Then we jump into modern production with a deep look at Scarlet Sound Studio, his Carl Tatz-designed space in Nashville, including PhantomFocus tuning and why Dolby Atmos mixing is no longer optional for many streaming releases.  The best stories are personal: Debbie Gibson as a songwriting hero, Rick Springfield moments that hit even harder because his parents were there, and the “be ready” reality behind getting called for big stages, including his Brian Adams connection. We also talk about playing for the song, why players like Neil Schon are more influential than flashy gets-credit guitar culture admits, and how humility, family, and great mentors keep a career healthy.  If you enjoy conversations about classic rock, Nashville musicians, guitar tone, home studios, Dolby Atmos, and what it takes to stay joyful in the grind, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review so more listeners can find the show. Episode Links Paul Sidoti: https://www.paulsidoti.com/Carl Tatz: https://jayfranze.com/episode24/Bob Bullock: https://jayfranze.com/episode28/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    Paul Sidoti, Musician (Taylor Swift)

  7. Jun 22

    CMA Fest Recap

    Nashville during CMA Fest is a choose-your-own-adventure where every decision has a cost: stand in a line, catch a set, make a meeting, or follow a last-minute invite that turns into the best story of the week. We take you with us from the “question of the day” energy to the real CMA Fest play-by-play, including what it’s like navigating Broadway crowds, building a schedule with the CMA Fest app, and still getting surprised by who walks into the room. We start strong with a private party at Third and Lindsley, where Daryl Worley brings the kind of storytelling and fan connection that reminds you why live country music still hits different. From there, we shift into the music industry side of Nashville with a studio visit to Matt McClure, a listen to Dolby Atmos, and a peek at how modern production can make a song feel immersive and physical. If you love gear, mixing, and how records get made, this part is for you. At Fanfare X in Music City Center, we reconnect with artists we’ve interviewed and talk about the meet and greet grind, the personalities that shine in person, and the frustrating reality that you can miss official performances when the weekend fills up with commitments. Then it’s off to The Local for a writers round featuring Josie Sal, followed by Trey Calloway lighting up the night with a full-band set that proves why Nashville musicians are built different. We wrap with Saturday honky tonk chaos, a standout fiddle moment at Legends Corner, studio talk with Bob Bullock, and the practical details for watching CMA Fest on TV and planning next year. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more fans of CMA Fest, Nashville, country music, and live music stories can find us. What was your favorite CMA Fest moment, or your must-see artist for next year? Episode Links Rocky Rose: https://jayfranze.com/episode8/Matt McClure: https://jayfranze.com/episode15/Chris Franz: https://jayfranze.com/episode27/Bob Bullock: https://jayfranze.com/episode28/Presley Tennant: https://jayfranze.com/episode50/Jason Hale: https://jayfranze.com/episode55/Josie Sal: https://jayfranze.com/episode100/Twist It: https://jayfranze.com/episode101/Dalila Mya: https://jayfranze.com/episode102/Trey Calloway: https://jayfranze.com/episode108/Blake Tyler: https://jayfranze.com/episode120/Mark Badolato: https://jayfranze.com/episode140/Stephanie Rabus: https://jayfranze.com/episode149/Mary Kutter: https://jayfranze.com/episode197/Lee Newton: https://jayfranze.com/episode198/Josie Sal: https://jayfranze.com/episode206/Jay Bragg: https://jayfranze.com/episode208/Kieran Robertson: https://jayfranze.com/episode209/Karen Waldrup: https://jayfranze.com/episode213/Stephen Quinn: https://jayfranze.com/episode216/The Dreamboats: https://jayfranze.com/episode217/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    CMA Fest Recap

  8. Jun 15

    The Dreamboats

    You can feel it when a band isn’t just playing songs, they’re building a world. Johnny from The Dreamboats joins us to explain how a modern rock and roll revival band takes 1950s and 1960s oldies covers and turns them into a full-throttle live performance people cannot stop filming. We talk about the real difference between touring Canada versus the United States, from endless drives between small markets to packed schedules across dense regions, and what it means to uproot your life and land in the California desert near Palm Springs to chase bigger stages. Johnny breaks down why the Dream Boats chose this sound in the first place, and it is more personal than “retro for retro’s sake.” Childhood movies, AM oldies radio, and a shared songbook led to a set that felt natural, then the band layered on choreography, comedy, and jaw-dropping stage moments. We get into why performance matters for ticket sales, how audiences remember feelings more than setlists, and how legendary rocker Ronnie Hawkins validated their approach as real entertainment, not background music. Then we go behind the curtain on music business strategy: a lean team, no manager, the grind of visas and finances, and a surprisingly unrock-and-roll 43-page business plan. Johnny shares their social media marketing workflow, what they post daily, and where they still want to improve at converting a live crowd into long-term fans with better calls to action and tools like QR codes. If you care about live music, band branding, and how to grow an audience without losing the fun, hit play, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review. Episode Links The Dreamboats: https://www.thedreamboatsband.com/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    The Dreamboats
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5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

The Jay Franze Show is your source for the latest music – news, reviews, and interviews, providing valuable insights and entertaining stories, stories you won’t find anywhere else. Hosted by industry veteran and master dry humorist Jay Franze, this show delivers a fresh, non-traditional take on the world of music. Jay brings you behind the scenes with insider insights, untold stories, and candid conversations with seasoned artists, industry pros, and rising stars each week. Whether you’re here for the laughs, the information, or to be part of The Crew (his family), he’s got you covered. You will be entertained, educated, and maybe even a little surprised, because nothing is off the table here.

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