Scott,

I can't speak to all acts of today, only the one's that I have personal working knowledge of. In the case of both of them I have some direct and inderect knowledge of. They are both involved in the industry and my job is helping guide people like them and others toward their goals. I am an overall "career coach for artists and writers. I am not a manager but do many things a manager does. The difference is that a manager is paid by percentage. I am paid up front and by the hour.

The first is Frankie Ballard. 26 year old good looking guy out of Kalamazoo Michigan. Frankie for years had been playing the the blues clubs in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, etc. So that he was somewhat known as an entity. He was brought to my attention by the coordinator of NSAI (Nashville Songwriter's Association International) In Kalamazoo.

Over a six month period, Frankie made consistant once a month trips to Nashville to write and connect with the inside writer's community in Nashville. We would write songs, I would take him around and introduce him to other writers and artists. The entire rest of the time, five to six nights a week, he played clubs, and did high profile shows in his home areas.

Being very good looking, he became a local sensation,partnering up with a radio station who promoted him as the "fair haired wonderkid." People flocked to see him. Advertising created a snowball effect, and coupled with what we were doing in Nashville, gave him songs of hefty weight that worked well in his situations. It did.

The radio station brought him to the attention of the owner of the Budwiser distributor ship, and a member of the "Phizer company" (Viagra) who were standing by with financial backing. We didn't need it. It also brought him to the attention of artist Kenny Chesny, who used several local acts in areas across the US to open for him.

Frankie did this and multiple other national touring artists. All the while coming to Nashville to work with me and write. I included several friends of mine inside Nashville who had had multiple hit songs and numerous track record. Every trip we introduced him to others.

After six months, we did a CD on him, which provided him product to sell at his shows. His first weekend he sold around 3000, thereby paying back his entire investment. Opening a major concert for artist Dierk's Bently gave him the kick off point for his CD party. Meeting Dierk's and becoming friends didn't hurt either.

The entire process was:
Engage the writer's community, earn their respect on their playing field and remain "below the radar screen' so that everyone was able to feel "THEY" were the one to discover him.
They told two friends and THEY told two friends, and so on and so on. Each successive month, more and more people lined up to write or work with him.
The same time, he played consistantly building his fan club/Myspace, to well over 40,000 members.

In April of last year, Hit writer Walt Aldrich, took him for an informal meeting at Sony Music, where he played with an acoustic guitar and vocals which impressed the entire staff of Sony music, who subsequently signed him to a full publishing deal two weeks later. A month after that, two showcases were done in Nashville, with full band and all the bells and whistles.

The second recieved four recording offers. he signed with Warner Brothers in August. That was nine months after beginning work with me.

At that point he moved to Nashville, and began the process of writing with hit writers, making the rounds, doing corporate events and publicity.

This week he begins his first radio tour and his first single is out. I have started recieving reports from the road that it is going well.

This summer he will be touring with several major artists and doing radio promotions. Now we see what stage it gets to. Off to a very good start.

The other is Steel Magnolia, a duo comprised of Megan Linsey, and Josh Jones. Megan is a very cute young lady out of New Orleans with a big voice and huge Doe eyes. I met her about five years ago, when one of my clients, Julie Moriva of Green Bay Wisconsin, started making continuous trips to Nashville to write and work with me.

Megan paired up with Josh from Karaoke and writer's nights. They wrote with several people around town, myself included and I continued to work with Julie directing her movements in the industry. She does not perform at all, so I helped her find other co-writers, and build her catalogue and connections. Julie helped with Steel Magnolia.

In Septemeber of last year, Megan was told of a television show,"You Can Duet" and they auditioned. They made the show and for two months did the show from week to week. The judge and sponsor of the show, Scott Borchetta, manager and producer of Taylor Swift, became personally involved with them, as well as Kenny Alphen (Big and Rich) and country superstar Naiomi Judd. They helped behind the scenes.

They won the show and won a contract with Scott's big machine records. they have been recording and writing over the past year and working behind the scenes.

Their first single, "Keep On Loving You" was released to radio, and within a month was in the top ten. They are the fastest rising duo in country music history. They are at number five this past week and are going on tour with Brad Paisley in two weeks for the entire summer.


In both cases, extensive fan base and continued touring, Internet and web site, consistant publicity, while simultaneously, writing songs, building "inside the industry contacts" have provided the foundation for them moving through the ranks of the industry. Earning respect onstage and off with the public, and inside and off with the industry, have led them both to be poised to take advantage of publicity.

The songs are written with the best in Nashville, they are produced by the top money people, and are now in the launch phase of.

At the end of the day it is hard work, constant travel and performing. And writing songs. All the time.

I don't know of other acts, but pretty much that is how it has always been done here and how it still is done.

That is what I know.

Marc-Alan Barnette