I've been thinking about this asking this question, so here goes: What is the ratio of successful Country songwriters or performing artists between those who live in Nashville vs those who travel there? This is not necessarily to start a bitter debate, just something I've been wondering about. I think a lot of us have heard that, in order to really make it in Nashville you have to move there. However, is this based on actual songwriter/artist development to reach a certain plateau, or is it more about investing in Nashville?

I've been 'blessed' to become a solicited songwriter to pitch songs there but, even when I go in and meet with the BMI's Asst. VP of Writer-Publisher Relations or the Associate Dir. Of Writer-Publisher Relations, which I always do when I go, while I've always been told by BMI that I am an excellent songwriter, at the end of the conversation they always say "Orlando, you really need to move to Nashville and plug in here, get with other songwriters and collaborate with them." Is this another way of saying "No matter how good you are, in order to be taken seriously by Nashville, you will need to invest in Nashville"? Personally, I love Nashville, and if I could, I would move there.

So, again, I wonder what the success ratio is in Country music between Nashville residents vs non?

Your thoughts?

Orlando Luckey
Label 19 Records
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