01:05 – Dale's early days in West Virginia and how he discovered country music

03:24 – Moving to Nashville and landing his first job in the industry

05:02 – Creating a role by digging into classic song catalogs

08:26 – Early success with George Strait and others

09:09 – What makes a great record executive and song plugger

11:19 – How face-to-face relationships built Music Row’s foundation

14:20 – Reinventing yourself through industry changes

15:54 – Dale’s best advice: consistency, passion, and remembering your mentors

The AIMP Nashville Pubcast is a DiMe Collective Production

01:08 – Katie’s journey from small-town violinist to SVP at BMG

03:46 – How her experience as an artist shapes her A&R approach

05:22 – What A&R really looks like day-to-day—bridging the artist and the label

08:36 – How Katie helps an artist build a project from scratch

11:16 – What draws her to an artist and how she discovers new talent

15:04 – The “secret sauce” behind BMG’s current artist success stories

18:10 – How Jelly Roll’s team pulled off a massive Bridgestone Arena play in under a year

20:15 – Final advice: Never forget the people who lift you up

The AIMP Nashville Pubcast is a DiMe Collective Production

Introduction to Kelly Bolton, VP of A&R at Warner Records
Tim kicks off by introducing Kelly and asking her to share her journey to Warner Records.

Kelly’s Start in the Music Industry
Kelly discusses her internship at TKO Management, working with Toby Keith, and how she found her passion for A&R.

Advice from Cliff Audretch on Publishing and A&R
Kelly explains the advice she received from Cliff Audretch, encouraging her to start in publishing to better understand the A&R process.

Key Skills for A&R Professionals
Tim asks Kelly to reflect on the key skills she developed during her time in publishing and how they shaped her A&R career.

The Importance of Songwriters in Nashville
Kelly discusses how songwriters are the heart of Nashville's music scene and how learning from them has been crucial in her development as an A&R.

Confident and Teachable: A Key Balance for Creatives
The conversation turns to the qualities necessary for creatives and executives in the music industry, and Kelly shares her views on confidence vs. teachability.

The Changing Role of A&R and the Influence of Coastal Labels
Tim and Kelly dive into the shift of power toward LA and New York-based labels and how the Nashville sound is expanding.

What Kelly Looks for in Artists
Kelly outlines what she looks for when scouting new talent—strong songwriting, authenticity, work ethic, and belief in oneself.

Artist Development and Fan Involvement
The discussion covers the long road of artist development and how fans are more involved than ever in shaping an artist's journey.

The Future of A&R and Creativity in the Industry
Kelly reflects on the changing dynamics of the music industry, the importance of shaking things up, and staying true to creative instincts.

The AIMP Nashville Pubcast is a DiMe Collective Production