Bob DiPiero, Kix Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Easton Corbin, Chris Young & Ronnie Milsap – HuffPost 8.20.14
Mike Ragogna: This is my traditional question that applies to all creative people, be they songwriters, recording artists or performers. What is your advice for new artists?
Bob DiPiero: Do it because you have to. Do it because you are driven beyond sage advice from others against attempting such a foolish path. Don’t have a plan B and most importantly keep the heart of a student. Never stop learning.
Kix Brooks: Money is a byproduct-you’ve got to love this so much. It’s a day and night, full-time, play for nothing, jam and write every chance you get type of lifestyle. If you’re doing this because it looks like an easy way to make a living, it’ll never happen for you.
Carrie Underwood: That’s a tough question to answer. I think there’s so much that artists have to figure out for themselves along the way and no amount of advice could adequately prepare them for so much that lies ahead. That said, I think it’s important to surround yourself with people that you like and trust. Keep those around you who will keep you grounded. People that will tell you how it really is. And give it your all, all the time! Every chance you get to perform is a chance you get to prove yourself.
Easton Corbin: My best advice is to make great connections when you come to town and to write with as many great writers as possible to help you develop what you do.
Chris Young: If you aren’t already a songwriter, try it. When you can say what you want to say, in your own words, it’s incredibly easy to show an audience who you are.
Ronnie Milsap: Just what we’re talking about right now. SONGS! Great songs. Don’t just cut hits, don’t cut things that someone says is gonna be big. You can have a hit, and no one will remember. Really push yourself, think about what you want people to think about when you’re not on the top of the charts. Artists that matter–whether it’s Ray Charles or Willie Nelson–they didn’t chase trends, they made music. They did things that were considered crazy! Modern Sounds In Country & Western,Red Headed Stranger, Stardust? People thought a black man doing country, Willie doing a concept album and standards were nuts, and those albums are now classic. When I really pulled on R&B and soul, people weren’t too sure. But I knew that was right for me and I was right. People can’t know your heart or your heart. Just do it for the right reasons, really think about why and then trust your music. Your music, though, not chasing the business.
Mike Ragogna: Do you feel that songwriting, given the way the music business is evolving, can still be a viable career path?
Bob DiPiero: Unfortunately, there is no longer a middle class of songwriter. You are either the big winner or the almost ran. That being said, I know a lot of young, newly minted multi-millionaires in my songwriting community that were virtually unknowns ten years ago.
Kix Brooks: There will always be a need for great songs, and I think great songs will always make a lot of money. The thing people who write songs outside of the industry generally don’t understand is the difference between good and great. Good songs generally get played a couple of times and then “go in the pile.” The greatest composers in the world are in Nashville, and until you’re here and feel how good some of these writers are, it’s hard to appreciate the level of competition. You can’t just mail it in, and if you work and dig and write day after day with writers you can actually learn from, and if you get lucky one day, that magic might just fall out of you and you’ll get to hear something you helped create on the radio! And I’ve got to say, it’s just about the greatest feeling in the world.
Chris Young: Absolutely. I write a lot of my music, but not all of it. I have always subscribed to the “best song wins” theory when making an album. In fact, my last number one, “Who I Am With You,” is a song I didn’t write. I think a lot of artists feel the same way.
Easton Corbin: I definitely think it can be a viable way to make a living, but you have to be able to adapt to the changing styles in country music.