Ten Year Town

Troy Cartwright
  • 4.9 (108)
  • 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. 15h ago

    Thoughts on My Grand Ole Opry Debut

    There's a circle of wood in the middle of the stage at the Grand Ole Opry House. They cut it out of the floor of the Ryman and carried it over when the Opry moved, so that anybody standing in the middle of that stage is standing on the same boards Hank stood on. This week, I get to stand on it. These are a few thoughts I have about that. About my ten years in Nashville, an Opry debut, and the two songs I'm playing — including one called "Shoulders," which is about the fact that I didn't get anywhere by myself. It's about my dad, who's been a fan since before there was anything to be a fan of. It's about a kid at home who was born in May and is going to learn what a life looks like by watching mine. Somebody carries it forward so you can stand on it. Then it's your turn to carry it on. 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.

  2. Aug 11

    Michelangelo, the Sistine Chapel, and Why the Bullsh*t Is Ancient | Ten Year Town Bonus Episode

    Michelangelo didn't wake up one morning wanting to spend four years painting a ceiling. He was a sculptor. But the Pope had a ceiling, and the Pope had money. In this bonus episode, Troy Cartwright reads an essay about an artist named Aaron Reese, who bought a newsstand at 39th and 4th in New York City to sell his ceramics — and about the uncomfortable, ancient intersection of art and commerce that every working artist has had to figure out. There was never an Eden where artists made exactly what they wanted and everybody showed up. Aaron Reese has an old newsstand. Michelangelo had a pope. And I have an Instagram. This piece started as a letter I wrote for my newsletter, Letters to Myself, at https://troycartwright.substack.com — short things like this, whenever they come to me. All free. 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.

  3. Aug 4

    Wyatt Flores on Stillwater, Music Row, and his new album Scared of Heights | Ten Year Town Ep. 130

    Wyatt Flores is a country artist and songwriter from Stillwater, Oklahoma. He has over 1.4 billion career streams, RIAA certifications including 2x Platinum for "Please Don't Go," and a debut album, Welcome to the Plains, released in 2024. His new album, Scared of Heights, produced by Charlie Handsome, Jacob "JKash" Hindlin, and Gian Stone, is out now via Island Records and MCA.  In this episode, we discuss Wyatt's journey from his first paid bar gig in Oklahoma — and writing "Travelin' Kid" in a barn that same night, then refusing to play it for nearly a year — to dropping out of school without telling his parents, getting labeled a TikTok artist and touring into debt to prove it wrong, and the Music Row co-writes where he felt like a box someone had to check. We also get into the making of the new record. 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. #WyattFlores #ScaredOfHeights #CountryMusic #RedDirt #Songwriting #Nashville #Oklahoma #Stillwater #DriveAllNight #HateMyself #HalfTheMan #TenYearTown #TroyCartwright #MusicPodcast #NewMusic 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.

  4. Jul 28

    Dylan Scott: From Bastrop, Louisiana to Seven #1 Hits | Ten Year Town Ep. 129

    Dylan Scott is a country artist and songwriter from Bastrop, Louisiana. He is a multi-Platinum artist with seven number one singles at country radio, including the triple-Platinum "My Girl," "Nobody," "New Truck," "Boys Back Home" (with Dylan Marlowe), and his most recent chart-topper, "What He'll Never Have." He has nearly 5 billion career streams, a CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year, and a GMA Dove Award. He is currently signed to Curb Records. In this episode, we discuss Dylan's journey from signing a record deal while still in high school — and learning the hard way that a deal doesn't "make it happen" for you — to almost quitting after three failed singles, until a phone call with his future wife convinced him to keep going and inspired him to write "My Girl," his first number one. We also get into the question his wife asked him on the way to a t-ball game that changed how he measures success, and his brand new single, "Dear Big City." 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. #DylanScott #TenYearTown #CountryMusic. 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.

  5. Jul 21

    The Engagement Trap: Why Great Art Doesn't Chase Attention

    What happens when a company—or an artist—starts optimizing for engagement instead of trust? In this solo episode, I unpack why Netflix's biggest competitive advantage isn't its algorithms or its catalog, but the relationship it has with its audience. That same tension exists in music, where creators are constantly tempted to simplify, explain, and optimize their work for platforms that reward attention over originality. We talk about the difference between commodities and premium brands, why record labels used to function as curators, how streaming changed the value of recorded music, and why the best songwriters refuse to sand off the very edges that make their work memorable. Ultimately, this episode is about resisting the pressure to make art that's easier to consume—and instead making work that's harder to forget. 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.

  6. Jul 14

    Brice Long on Writing No. 1 Hits for Gary Allan, Jon Pardi & His New Album All I Ever Wanted | Ten Year Town Ep. 128

    Brice Long is a songwriter and artist from Hopkinsville, Kentucky. As a songwriter, he has written No. 1 hits including Gary Allan's “Nothing On But The Radio” and Jon Pardi's “Heartache On The Dance Floor,” along with Randy Houser's “Like A Cowboy,” which was nominated for CMA Song of the Year. As an artist, Brice recently released his new album, All I Ever Wanted. In this episode, Brice shares the story of leaving Kentucky for Nashville, the years it took to land his first major hit, and the lessons he's learned from a career spanning decades in country music.  -------------------------------------------------- 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. #BriceLong #CountryMusic #Songwriting #AllIEverWanted #JonPardi #GaryAllan #RandyHouser #TenYearTown #Podcast #Nashville 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.

  7. Jun 30

    Shane McAnally (Part 2) on TONY Awards, SMACK Publishing, Sobriety and Advice For His Younger Self | Ten Year Town 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 2, we discuss his TONY award winning musical, his publishing and record company SMACK, sobriety, and his advice for his younger self.  -------------------------------------------------- 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.

  8. Jun 23

    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.

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4.9
out of 5
108 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
    165
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ten Year Town
  • Show Website
    Ten Year Town

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