We had the good fortune of connecting with Stacy Hogan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stacy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

Sure! As a teenager, like most musicians, my first priority was to perform and reach that acclaimed “MTV status”. Well, while I was pursuing that dream, MTV sold out to become a reality TV channel and major labels started to pay less attention to the genre I was most interested in.. rock. Understanding early on that opportunities can be fickle and fleeting was pivotal in my decision to supplement these rock star aspirations with starting my own music business early on. I started getting hired to produce music for others when I was 15 and it eventually led to a job in Nashville, and ultimately my own business. It was important to have something that couldn’t be taken away from me. After alot of work.. alot of paid dues.. being signed as an artist twice to major labels (once to Universal/Republic.. then to Sumerian/Warner), I kept learning the hard lesson that self-reliance was the key.

Building a production company essentially became my day job and gave me the freedom to pursue my own personal musical projects (i.e. “Lovers and Liars” & “Sin Shake Sin”). It also was a constant way for me to improve my production skills in the meantime.

Building a business meant my next meal didn’t depend on how well the next song performed or how much a corporation decided to promote the next single. Instead, I work my own hours.. I am my own boss.. when I travel now, I see more than just the inside of a hotel and a stage.

For 2 decades now, my business, “A Writer’s Paradise”, has garnered an ever expanding clientele of songwriters around the world who hire me to produce, co-write, mix, etc.. their projects and take them from a rough idea to a ready-for-radio product.

Indepedently, when songs I wrote ended up in TV shows or movies, it did more to expand my audience than any record label ever did. So, being an independent artist who owns their own music business is a “best of both worlds” approach to balancing stability and success. Putting all your eggs in one basket isn’t something I ever wanted to consider, especially in the new streaming age centered around the normalized devaluation of music just so a few software owners can become billionaires. … and in the end, my music ended up on MTV plenty.. just featured on their reality shows instead. 🙂

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

My clients come from 99% word of mouth and 1% advertising. It’s great working with established songwriters, but I’m always excited when I work with new songwriters that have no idea how much potential they may have. They send me rough ideas they’ve put into their phone.. sometimes just lyrics and a little mumbling… or sometimes just words through an email with no music at all. I assess direction, instrumentation, genre, arrangement, etc.. and then I choose which exact musicians and singers I feel will match the target to really make this song shine. After recording, overdubs, mixing, and mastering.. they get their song back… they freak out.. never imagining that they could own a piece of music that is 100% theirs and it turn out competitive with anything you hear out there on the radio.

I.e…random example.. I have a client, a now retired veteran Bobby Joe Peace, who didn’t start writing songs until his 60’s. He sent me his ideas from his phone.. got back a production.. and we did many songs together as his craft started to improve each and every time until before you knew it he was getting artist cuts and signing contracts with Sony/ATV (one of the biggest and most successful music publishing companies out there) as well as having his songs consistently licensed by artists. (His songs are very popular on my song licensing site, (www.ASongParadise.com). This is a business of mine that offers original songs for singers and just resulted in its first #1 Billboard hit song.

I have always given 100% attention to detail to each and every project from all of my clients. Whether they are a hit songwriter or a first time songwriter who has no idea about the music industry, they both get my absolute best effort.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
You’ll hear it from everyone.. Nashville isn’t the same Nashville it was.. that said.. whether it’s old Nashville or new Nashville, there’s plenty for everyone. House of Cards is a speakeasy hidden underneath the Johnny Cash Museum…. love that place. The Red Phone Booth (another hidden gem where you enter through a phone booth).. I love Printers Alley, although much of it is going away due to corporate buyouts…but the Bourbon Street Blues Bar is still solidly entertaining people. Basement East for an awesome local show.. then hop across the street next door for some Viking mead. 🙂

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Debra and James Hogan – that’s for sure.. (My Mom and Dad). Both talented musicians themselves, they showed me what it was like to grow up in a musical household and gave me non-stop support when I played piano in the living room hours at a time trying to work out most likely either a Mozart or Jerry Lee Lewis song… and that was just the beginning. Their support never wavered.    Also my kick ass wife, Lauren Hogan, who is an extraordinary artist herself.    She not only plays killer bass guitar, but is an amazing painter.  Check out her original artwork here:  http://www.LaurenAlexandraArt.com     Lastly, my pal Manuel Roman is a hard working top notch video editor and has his name on many hit shows.  In a world of fickle industries, it’s good to surround yourself with loyal hard-working driven people.   I’m fortunate to have these people in my life.

Website: www.awritersparadise.com

Facebook: facebook.com/awritersparadise

Other: www.ASongParadise.com (Original Songs for Singers) www.SinShakeSin.com (Stacy’s rock project)

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutTennessee is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.