Business is about creating win-win situations, and I feel it is important to support the folks that are playing top notch country and keep it alive every day, when I can. Country isn't really a money business (try make some hip hop), so I get Marc's feeling about outsiders wanting to get in on 'the cake', so to speak. Must be a similar feeling that drives your viewpoint, Ed.

Having demos done in Nashville is not just about having the greatest players in the world playing my stuff for reasonable rates, it's much more than that. I want Nashville sessions players and singers to be able to find work (and they come from everywhere, Georgia too!), I want to support the studios that can work for rates songwriters' like me can afford, I want the Nashville community to thrive and keep the country traditions alive. Not only for my blue eyes, but to have a place to go with my music in the future. Thats the win-win.

Sure I don't just give away my funds, but as music markets develops today, having a place to go with country songs is not a given, and there's no better town than Nashville to support for that. So when I need to spend money, I lay them where they do most good for me AND for the community that will listen to my efforts (well, basically they won't listen to stuff that don't have a Nashville sound laugh ).

So there might be great players in Georgia, and I certainly think it's a great idea to go local on some things. But look at Jason Aldean. He's from Macon, Georgia, and went to Nashville, even though Macon has great musicians and great artist traditions.

From an International perspective, I would hate to put down my money in a local studio that is striving to be selfcontained with local business. Even though Nashville could be like that, it isn't (I know that first hand). I'm not saying Georgia is, but I think the point is clear. We live in a WORLD, not just in a country, state, town, house or room. cool

So, the local talk won't heat up my seat, cause Nashville is NOT just any local community with small town political viewpoints. It's a beacon for country music worldwide, and everyone with the right attitude and talent is welcomed to go and give it a try (yes yes Marc.. just don't get my hopes up).

I don't mean to take anything away from Georgia, I love songs about Georgia and Georgia artists like Jason Aldean, The Allman Brothers and Otis Redding, Gladys Knight, Ray Charles, Trisha Yearwood, The Black Crowes, Alan Jackson, Billy Currington, Jennifer Nettles, The Zac Brown Band, just to mention a few (well, even the greatest songwriter in the world, Kanye West is from Georgia!) but Nashville just stands out. It's just a better hook to work from, so to speak, for me anyway. love

So I think the dominance of Nashville (that's what you really are talking about, Ed, isn't it?) is both a necessary and a good thing for Country music, and the studios can't be beat, so that's where I'll get my demo work done. And you'll never know, the drummer or picker might even be from your hometown, just chasing down a dream playing your song..

Dammit, I should have pursued that marketing career! Don't know why I'm even writing this..