You
The thing I think really makes Nashville different from New York and LA is the fact that the
town works together.
Nashville really isn't a bubble. I think that's why a lot of us here in Nashville love organizations
like Solid because in a sense you're doing what leadership music has been trying to do,
which is everybody needs to interact.
Many of the business people and friends that I have today, ten years later, are from who
I met and used to go to Happy Hour with with Solid.
I've been in the industry for almost eleven years now and Solid was one of the first things
I got involved in and I'm now seeing people that I don't know that are running the organization.
I don't know, in other words, they're a whole new generation and that's the most important thing
is that it's proof that Solid works. It's proof that it's a success.
I can't imagine a young person getting ready to take the baby steps in this industry choosing
not to be in touch with Solid. I think Solid is the greatest thing I've ever seen in my life.
It didn't even exist when I was here and we were shortchanged because of that.
That would be my first bit of advice. Interact with them, get to know them,
join them, be a dues-paying member, participate. It's a must-do.
Solid is comprised of six committees working together to accomplish its mission.
The Education Committee, Social Committee, Communications Committee,
University Outreach Committee, Community Outreach Committee, and the Alumni Committee
which is comprised of all the previous members of Solid.
We are now going to take a little time to explore how each committee contributes to Solid's overall success.
The Education Committee works to create programs of interest to everyone involved in Solid.
The goal is to develop an overall knowledge of the music industry through panels and special events
as well as educate others about major issues currently facing the music industry.
I recommend to any person looking for a studio career to get a little bit of life experience as well.
It's extremely valuable. A lot of the rules are the same but I have feedback to deal with which is a huge problem.
I'm very good.
My first inkling about that I was going to do was the lady who ran the studio.
It was a very nice, very proper English lady. She was a studio manager. She said,
Eddie, there's this American chap here with very big hair.
And you do all that weird stuff anyway so we're going to put you on that session.
I'm going to start the relationship then.
In my opinion, I thought that I had discovered the next white one or the next Christophe or something.
Then of course the press kind of jumped on the thing that he was the next melon camp
or the next spring esteem because I was an urban lyricist.
But it was an incredible moment.
Realizing that, I thought I had discovered something that was really as prolific as a response
that made me wail at the willy.
You've got to stay close to the issues. You've got to understand what's going on
and be interested in it enough to learn it.
There is a tremendous emphasis on education and understanding each other's roles.
Walk a mile in my shoes attitude.
Solid does a great job of doing that.
There's always, you know, at the education events, there's always a lot to learn.
Usually from an aspect of the business is that you're not familiar with.
This is a group that embraced me when I came into a town and didn't know what I was doing.
Thought I knew what the music industry was, didn't know what the music industry was.
What are some of the pitfalls to avoid?
What are some of the issues that we have that they're going to have to deal with?
What can they do better to help this business grow?
Because that's really what makes this town tick.
Solid actually brings in the Joke-a-moneys of the world, Tony Browns,
and the people that we're all looking up to and trying to get songs to
or trying to get meetings with or whatever the case may be, Solid brings them to you.
So I really feel like we're making a connection with the new and the old
and just kind of, you know, bridging it together.
I think Solid's really come a long way and it's only going to get better.
The social committee is responsible for creating a forum for young professionals
to network by organizing events and planning functions.
The Solid experience is built around exactly what you see in the background there.
Comradery, friendship, networking, education.
I always say you just got to show up.
I mean, that's 80% of it right there.
A vast majority of people I know I met through Solid,
through doing something with Solid, through somebody I knew in Solid.
I mean, I was doing stuff with Solid a year before I ever joined.
I've stuck around three years because I decided to join the board
and I have just learned so much and I still had so much more to learn
and I've made so many good friends.
I didn't want to leave them behind.
For you to be able to learn what's going on
and be ready for a job that you're looking for on down the road,
networking, relationships, understanding the business to me,
or the three biggest things that you should probably get into
because at the end of the day, it's about who you know.
It's about timing and being in the right place at the right time.
Truly, you got to be prepared.
You got to be ready to go when that position comes open
or when that opportunity arises.
But if you know the right people and you've done your homework,
then you'll be set to go.
I think everyone, once they've found out what you're all about,
will want to participate if they have time.
It's a lot of work, a lot of education, a lot of opportunity,
but mostly, it's a lot of fun.
The dinner of champions.
It's all yours, pal. No, no, no, thank you.
The Communications Committee is responsible for the ongoing communications internally
between solid members and externally between solid and the community.
This committee is designed to not only keep members informed of solid events,
but also to promote awareness to the general public and the press.
The organization has evolved.
It's taken a lot more seriously now.
It has a lot more respect among industry leaders and other people.
And I think that we've got our ducks in a row a little bit more, so to speak.
We're becoming a really recognizable name on the row,
a household name on the row, if you will.
A lot of these challenges that we face are really challenges that can be solved
by a lot of one-on-one communication.
Chris and Kyle and Robert and the ones that started solid
had that same philosophy of eliminating the competition.
You know, we're friends, let's work together as friends, let's help each other.
There's more value to your company by understanding more areas of this business.
I've learned how to put together an EPK, which is something I've never done before.
It's been a great experience.
Heidi was my communications chairperson.
Learning how to delegate to people.
It's really important.
I think supposedly as an industry leader that, you know, you pass it on down.
We're real fortunate to have a great sense of community still in this industry,
but I think we can be strengthened by reconnecting in a sense
and recommitting ourselves to organizations like SOLID
to really even bolster that further.
The University Outreach Committee was established with the intent to be a liaison
between universities nationwide and Nashville's music community.
Throughout the year, special SOLID programs and panels are offered to students
through the work of the University Outreach Committee.
I've always been into extended education and, you know, I went to Belmont,
but Belmont didn't always have the hands-on things that SOLID is able to provide.
The reality is that you have to look for the best people.
And I think people that join SOLID are definitely on a path to be considered for the job
because it's showing that they want to learn, they want to be better than just people
who are content to be in the same job over and over again and perform at the same level.
By design, I mean, part of SOLID's greatness is the fact that you're bringing these young people together
that are new to the industry, and one of the main points is getting to know other people in the industry.
So that was the great part about SOLID, was it forced us to meet other people,
to get to know other people, and I have to say that I have benefited from that
and that I've used those relationships for years after SOLID.
Helping others is the foundation on which the Community Outreach Committee hinges.
This committee is focused on continuing to build SOLID relationship with the Nashville community
through a series of outreach events.
The local community is what we're here for. CMA gives back to the music industry community.
We support you guys, we support leadership music, we support NSAI.
Many organizations on the road that do things beyond the scope of what CMA can do,
which is part of the reason you give back to the community.
And just to get, I mean, even personally to be able to give back and make a difference
in something else at the end of the day I think is very rewarding.
I remember several Saturdays working at hands-on Nashville with the SOLID group
and everything from planting trees to building houses and, you know, it was a social thing
but also a community service.
We get out too, we get out and volunteer within the music community, within the general community
and I think already having that experience is really important.
There's, you know, a bunch of young people that are really up and comers in this organization.
I just can't wait to see what's going to happen the next year.
I have to say that I think that I benefited directly from SOLID.
I mean, again, by getting involved in being a part of SOLID I gained a lot of experience,
I gained a lot of education and it gave me the confidence when I was out in the industry working
and I think that I even directly benefited from it.
I think that several of my employers hired me directly as a result or a reaction to my being involved in SOLID.
And cut!
Thank you.
Thank you.
