The ACM Awards are coming, and we’re not treating it like background noise. We lay out what to expect from the show in Las Vegas, how to watch on Amazon Prime, and what it means that Shania Twain is hosting for the first time. Then we make our ACM predictions with zero fluff, debating what “Entertainer of the Year” should actually reward, and why the new-vs-established “rivalry” narrative feels more like marketing than reality. 

From there we hit the week’s music news with an eye for what matters: Morgan Wallen teasing a new era, Luke Combs setting huge concert attendance records, and the constant push toward genre blending across country, rock, and everything in between. We also talk about why certain artists thrive right now through touring, streaming, and fan engagement, and how that shifts the industry’s gatekeeping. 

Then we dive into our question of the day: who is the best drummer of all time? We explain what to listen for as a non-drummer, read listener picks, and argue our way to a final ranking that’s guaranteed to spark comments. We wrap with charts, birthdays, and a mailbag packed with practical music industry advice, including what to do after a TikTok blow-up, streams vs ticket sales, and how to handle gear failure in a high-pressure studio session. 

Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who will argue with our drummer list, and leave a review with your pick for best drummer of all time.

Episode Links

• Jim Cristaldi: https://jayfranze.com/episode27/
• Bob Bullock: https://jayfranze.com/episode28/
• Dalila Mya: https://jayfranze.com/episode102/
• Mark Badolato: https://jayfranze.com/episode140/
• Stephanie Rabus: https://jayfranze.com/episode149/

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You know that moment when you realize the thing you’ve worshipped as a fan is now your actual job? That’s where this conversation with guitarist and recording artist Kieran Robinson begins, and it only gets wilder from there. We talk through how a young musician goes from growing up on Queensrÿche and classic rock to performing alongside Geoff Tate, learning songs with serious technical weight, and walking the tightrope between confidence and imposter syndrome.

We get into the real mechanics of making a legacy project work. Kieran explains how he approaches writing and demo-building for Mindcrime III, why the goal is to keep the music in the same sonic universe as Operation: Mindcrime, and what happens when Geoff takes a draft and transforms it with melody, synths, and arrangement choices. If you’re into songwriting, producing, or progressive metal composition, you’ll hear a practical workflow you can steal, plus the mindset required when the fanbase knows every note and expects the music to be played with respect.

Then we shift to the live world: the iconic Viper Room night, the nerves of performing in front of other pros, and why playing Mindcrime feels more like theatre than a standard rock set. Kieran also shares what touring really looks like, from dividing time with Faster Pussycat to the unglamorous truths of backstage riders, band pranks, and recording on the road with portable studios in hotel rooms. We wrap with gratitude, perspective, and the reminder that rock is still a community built on craft, feel, and showing up ready.

Subscribe for more interviews, share this with a friend who loves heavy music, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

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• Geoff Tate: https://www.geofftate.com/

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Broadway looks like a dream from the sidewalk, but the reality is closer to a high-speed stress test. We sit down with Nashville performer and “View From Nashville” creator Jay Bragg to get honest about what’s happening on Lower Broadway right now, why tourism shifts are rattling working players, and how new entertainment districts could stretch an already thin scene even further. Jay breaks down why Broadway can be an elite boot camp for stagecraft while still becoming a trap that quietly rewires artists into tip-driven cover machines.

We also zoom out to the country music industry and the future of Music Row. Labels don’t break stars the way they used to, TikTok and social media momentum act like prerequisites, and signing a deal can feel less like validation and more like taking on a bank loan with strings attached. Jay shares why independence can be the smarter path when you know your definition of success, keep overhead low, and build skills that let you steer your own career instead of handing the wheel to someone else.

Then we tackle the hard topic: AI music. From Suno-assisted “work tapes” to producers replacing session parts, we talk about what gets disrupted, what still counts as ethical tool use, and why trust with fans is so fragile. Jay also explains how getting knocked off a long-running Broadway gig pushed him to create New Vaudeville, a modern reboot of a family lineage that AI can’t replicate.

Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review if it helps you see Nashville and the music business differently. What part of today’s industry feels most broken to you right now?

Episode Links

• Jay Bragg: https://www.jaybragg.com/

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