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I first met Karen Angela Moore in the waiting room of Comanche Studios in Nashville. Immediately she radiated a charm and friendliness that put me at ease. I didn't realize she was there for business as well, and it was a great welcome to my first official business trip to Nashville. As I got to know more about her, I found the her to be the genuine article and I quickly realized she was a mini-tornado of activity. She seems to have her irons in about every possible fire, and appears to be cooking up quite a successful meal out of the music industry. She lives in Nashville, and actually drives to New York City (yes DRIVES) every week to pursue music business. Now THAT is dedication. (Or maybe it is insanity) but either way, Karen is a force of musical nature, and embodies what everyone who is serious about their love of music can and should be, female or male! Below, Karen shares but a tidbit of what she does and her thoughts on it all!

11 years in Nashville...my how time flies! The majority of my current work is in artist development (including repertoire, co-writing, vocal coaching, showcasing, and musical direction), studio production (song demos and masters), packaging (including wardrobing, photo sessions, album cover design), publishing (I'm affiliated with SESAC, ASCAP, and BMI), pitching, radio promotions, artist endorsements, and website setup.

Sounds like a lot doesn't it? It is...but I love it all. Many folks here in Nashville will tell you that you have to limit yourself to one thing. Singing or Writing or Publishing or Production. That you can't do it all - you'll be too scattered. I hear it all the time. Let me ask you - who ever said that to Jimmy Bowen? Who ever said that to Quincy Jones? Whoever said that to Don Was? Whoever said that to Paul Simon? Get a grip. Do what you do and do it well. Keep your intentions clear and will do fine.

I'm always busy. Always working. I believe that one of the reasons that I'm good at what I do is because I'm an artist and a writer as well, and I can identify and help correct many of the problems artists have in their search for "the deal." We have a precarious situation on Music Row right now...many of the people running labels are not musical. NOT MUSICAL!! That's right. They're corporate. It's a tough thing for artists and "suits" to feel camaraderie. It's a different game here than the public is led to believe.

My art (the music) and my business has changed drastically since I arrived here in 1987. The best piece of advice I've had came from Tommy Rolland - music journalist for The Tennessean...he basically said if you want to be in the biz, don't limit yourself to one thing. Go with the flow and don't ignore opportunities. Tommy came to Nashville as a singer/songwriter/guitarist. I culled from that discussion with Tommy, two sayings that I live by... "You'll never get what you want if you stop looking," and "The difference between wanting and having is doing."

My husband and I had a business for 5 years here in town doing props for country music videos. Examples of work: Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox if I Die/Joe Diffie, Lonesome Standard Time/Kathy Mattea, A Thing called Love/Republic Pictures/Feature film, Vicinity of the Heart/Shenandoah/Allison Kraus; etc. etc. etc. We got out of it a couple of years ago when it not longer was profitable. Some of our Jukeboxes are at Dollywood, The Country Music Museum at Opryland, Joe Diffie's home, Tim McGraw's home, etc., etc., etc.

I hosted and produced an industry television show here in Nashville for about 1 1/2 years called "Writers' Night." It was cable and it was fun and quite a learning experience. Artists we had on were: Dave Gibson (Gibson/Miller), Ashley Cleveland, Holly and Barry Tashian (formerly with Emmy Lou Harris), etc., etc., etc.

I believe that you've just got to keep moving and keep working in the thick of it. ALWAYS pay attention to what's going on in the biz - it's YOUR biz. You can't know enough. Who's merging with whom...who just got fired, who just lost their deal...who's writing with who...It can't hurt you to know.

Be aware that this is truly a good ol' boys' town. Truly - look at the label rosters and look at who's who in the Music Row Directory each year. The power jobs and the money jobs are almost all men. Most of the session players are men. You've got to recognize that going in and remember it - so you're not surprised when it hits you upside the head!

Three weeks ago, while in the midst of a pitching session for one of my artists, I was reminded by one of the publishing good ol' boys that "historically women don't hold these kinds of positions in this town." Well, I had to take a deep breath...because IT'S TRUE. But I looked into his eyes and said "Then you'd better get out of my way before I have to walk right over you." Then - I took one of his songs and pitched it to my artist anyway because it's a good song. Don't be an axe grinder...just be aware.

Last year I produced and marketed an album starring Aaron Taylor - #73 - of the Superbowl Champ Green Bay Packers. I produced it, wrote for it, sang on it, set up distribution, did the radio ads, moved to Wisconsin to promote it...we moved 35,000 copies in 90 days. A tidy sum of $$$. Tell me football isn't a man's world? We were on ESPN - in Sports Illustrated - and more...

I spend a considerable amount of time in New York City. My sister has an agency there. Her firm has had artists in Clint Eastwood's film "In the garden of good and evil," lead in the Broadway productions of RENT! and CHICAGO, and RIVERDANCE to name a few. I work at the agency and have contacts in film, theater, and commercials. The difference between NYC and Nashville is TOTAL. There is more money and power in New York and the male/female thing is almost nonexistent; however, the music is very synthesized or classical - not where my heart is! I do however have a need to work in both arenas. The agency represents a lot of name folks including Freddy Fender and Janie Fricke for Film//TV/Commercial.

When I grow up (if that occurs) I would love to be part of a team running a larger record label...not right now...not in this town...! YIKES - The Nashville Music Industry is quite a convoluted mess in VERY big identity crisis today. It will pass - it always does - but as Alan Jackson said "Lordy don't the wheels turn slow." Right now I feel that my best opportunities are outside of the clutches of the big machine here.

The town is full of dreams and that makes it a target for vultures and scams. THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM. What's a fair price for a demo? What's a fair price for an album? Why do I need a producer? Who should get my publishing? Well, that's another article I think!

My album - "All the Wrong Things To Do!" is receiving some airplay and I've actually gotten some royalty checks...DON'T ASK - I won't tell you how small they are!!! I am continuing to work the album for radio. I recently had the great stroke of having a review done by Scott Yanow...He writes and reviews for many industry trades such as Jazziz and Downbeat Magazines. Really quite fun - and yes - jazz has a small presence here in Twang Town. I've also been busy producing several other artists' albums. I love the studio work and it really is fun working with new folks and teaching them what I know...OR think I do!!! I'm in the process of expanding my music publishing company and I am pitching songs from my catalog to other artists for their recordings.

I also had the EXTREME pleasure of escorting the legendary Freddy Fender to the 40th Anniversary Country Music Awards. Freddy's signature sound is unmistakably his own! Songs such as "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" and "Till the Next Teardrop Falls" are just a part of Freddy's massive legacy to the music world. Participating in this event with Freddy Fender was nothing short of a dream sequence!

I could go on and on but I won't! I am thankful for all that I am doing - and the fun I am having during a lot of this!

Member: Karen Angela Moore Email: MOORETUNES Mooretunes@aol.com
Daddy's Girl Music, P.O. Box 40952, Nashville, TN 37204, (615)780-3583
Karen Angela Moore & The John Pizzarelli Trio /M-Pire Rec
http://www.m-pirerecords.com