Music Citizens

Latest Episodes:

Music Citizens Episode 6: The Syncmaster Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

Behind every Instagram ad, commercial, or TV trailer you see, there is a fierce battle over what song will get to play in the background. Music sync is one of the last places where independent artists can still make money, but it’s an increasingly crowded field. Meet: the Syncmaster, Katie Jelen, who’s fighting to get their songs placed.

Jason Moon Wilkins — Host
Justin Barney — Reporter
Kate Jelen — Sync Rep, Honestly Good Music
Madeline Dowling — Music Supervisor
Lynn Grossman — Owner, Secret Road
Que Parks — Musician
Annalisa Franklin — Musician

This episode was produced by Emily Siner, Justin Barney and Jason Moon Wilkins. Mixing and Mastering by Michael Pollard. Scoring by Jay Ragsdale. Special thanks to Tony Gonzalez, Jewly Hight, Celia Gregory, Megan Jones, Leigh Mayo, Carly Butler, Stephanie O’Byrne, and everyone who helped.
Institutional support from Tennessee Arts Commission, First Horizon Foundation. Follow WNXP on social platforms as @WNXPNashville

TEASER: Music Citizens Episode 6 Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

WNXP 91.ONE - Nashville's Music Experience
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://wnxp.org/weeklyrecord/
FOLLOW US:
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wnxpnashville
X: https://twitter.com/wnxpnashville
TIKTOK: https://tiktok.com/@wnxpnashville
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/wnxpnashville
BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/wnxpnashville.bsky.social

Music Citizens Episode 5: The Tastemaker Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

Music Citizens Episode 5 goes inside the highest stakes job in the industry - A&R. Through the lens and life of A&R lifer Kim Buie, we get to see that this glamorous job is mostly about losing. Missing out on artists who become superstars (her near-miss tale of N.W.A. is amazing), knowing that the majority of albums you help shepherd into the world will flop and being the person who has to say no to a musician’s lifelong dream. Buie explains what’s kept her going through all that, what shaped her tastes and how her approach differs from the way most major labels are approaching talent acquisition in the TikTok era.

· Jason Moon Wilkins — Host
· Justin Barney — Reporter, Producer
· Kim Buie — A&R legend
· Pete Ganbarg — A&R Executive
· Ben Folds— Musician
· Aaron Lee Tasjan - Musician

This episode was produced by Justin Barney, Emily Siner and Jason Moon Wilkins. Mixing and Mastering by Michael Pollard. Scoring by Jay Ragsdale. Special thanks to Tony Gonzalez, Jewly Hight, Tasha A.F. Lemley, Carly Butler, Stephanie O’Byrne, and everyone who helped.

Institutional support from Tennessee Arts Commission, Metro Arts Thrive and First Horizon Foundation. Follow WNXP on social platforms as @WNXPNashville

TEASER: Music Citizens Episode 5 Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

Buie explains what’s kept her going through all that, what shaped her tastes and how her approach differs from the way most major labels are approaching talent acquisition in the TikTok era.

Music Citizens Episode 4: The Wrangler Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

When you go to a live show these days, you are expecting to see a spectacle — some artistic production that will blow you away. Behind the scenes, there’s one person responsible for bringing this production to life, wrangling dozens of people and fixing daily snafus - the Production Manager. Episode 4 of Music Citizens goes behind the scenes with Nashville production manger Tori Butash. We explore how her job has become more complicated in recent years and how the pandemic continues to impact touring. Voices in the episode include:

· Jason Moon Wilkins — Host
· Justin Barney — Reporter, Producer
· Tori Butash — Production Manager
· Nick Sanborn and Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso — Touring Musicians
· Michael Pollard— Touring crew member
· Various Wilco tour members

This episode was produced by Justin Barney, Emily Siner and Jason Moon Wilkins. Mixing and Mastering by Michael Pollard. Scoring by Jay Ragsdale. Tape sync by Brian Burns. Special thanks to Tony Gonzalez, Jewly Hight, Marquis Munson, Cindy Abrams, Carly Butler, Stephanie O’Byrne, and everyone who helped.

Institutional support from Tennessee Arts Commission, Metro Arts Thrive and First Horizon Foundation. Follow WNXP on social platforms as @WNXPNashville

TEASER: Music Citizens Episode 4 Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

When you go to a live show these days, you are expecting to see a spectacle — some artistic production that will blow you away. Behind the scenes, there’s one person responsible for bringing this production to life, wrangling dozens of people and fixing daily snafus - the Production Manager. Episode 4 of Music Citizens goes behind the scenes with Nashville production manger Tori Butash. We explore how her job has become more complicated in recent years and how the pandemic continues to impact touring. Tori Boutash is The Wrangler. Coming July 9 anywhere you get your podcasts.

Music Citizens Episode 3: The Tuner Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

Episode 3 of Music Citizens tells the story of Brent Arledge who is the most prolific piano tuner in Nashville, and possibly the world. He tunes the Ryman, the Schermerhorn and the Grand Ole Opry. He services dozens of studios and is trusted in the homes of countless Nashville musicians. Arledge’s craft can be heard on every song coming out of Music Row that features piano.
But elite piano tuning is grueling work. It’s taxing on the body, it strains relationships, and it never leads to fame or glory. How does someone become the top piano tuner in Nashville? And why would they want to?
Voices in the episode include:

Jason Moon Wilkins — Host
Justin Barney — Reporter, Producer
Brent Arledge — Piano Technician
James Arledge — Piano Technician
T Bone Burnett— Producer, musician
Ian Fitchuk — Producer, musician
Georgia Middleman— Singer/songwriter

This episode was produced by Justin Barney, Emily Siner and Jason Moon Wilkins. Mixing and Mastering by Michael Pollard. Special thanks to Tony Gonzalez, Jewly Hight, Rachel Iacovone, Char Daston, Tasha A.F. Lemley, Meribah Knight, Jesse Strauss, Carly Butler, Stephanie O’Byrne, and everyone who helped.

Institutional support from Tennessee Arts Commission, Metro Arts Thrive and First Horizon Foundation. Follow WNXP on social platforms as @WNXPNashville

TEASER: Music Citizens Episode 3 Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

Music Citizens Episode 3: The Tuner ready for launch on Monday, April 7th.

Episode 3 of Music Citizens tracks down Brent Arledge, Nashville’s, and possibly the world’s most prolific piano tuner. Arledge has played an uncredited part of every top ten hit featuring piano to come out of Music Row for the past 25 years. He tunes The Ryman, The Schermerhorn and The Grand Ole Opry. He is trusted in the homes of so many Nashville musicians.

In a city that is often so good at recognizing the key players on a song, service workers like Arledge are often forgotten. This episode gives credit where credit is due.

Music Citizens Episode 2: The Operator Nov 21, 2024

Show notes

Episode 2 of Music Citizens tells the story of Piper Payne, a scrappy, independent record manufacturer who opened up in the middle of the recent vinyl boom. But as her story unfolds, we discover the vinyl industry is at a profound inflection point that no one has reported on — until now.
Voices in the episode include:

Jason Moon Wilkins — Host
Justin Barney — Reporter, Producer
Piper Payne — Owner and founder of Physical Music Products
Drake Coker — CEO at Nashville Record Pressing
Scott LeMasters — Owner of The Vinyl Lab
Mark Michaels — CEO of United Record Pressing
Cam Sarrett — United Record Pressing
Alex Barnes – Physical Media Products
Leo Lydon – Rickshaw Billies Burger Patrol

This episode was produced by Justin Barney, Emily Siner and Jason Moon Wilkins. Mixing and Mastering by Michael Pollard. Scoring by Jay Ragsdale. Special thanks to Tony Gonzalez, Jewly Hight, Rachel Iacovone, Marquis Munson, LaTonya Turner, Meribah Knight, Jesse Strauss, Carly Butler, Stephanie O’Byrne, and everyone who helped.

Institutional support from Metro Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Tennessee Arts Commission, Metro Arts Thrive and First Horizon Foundation. Follow WNXP on social platforms as @WNXPNashville

Music Citizen Episode 2: The Operator ready for launch on Thursday, November 21! Nov 14, 2024

Show notes

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected