The Bilby + Ella Show

The Bilby + Ella show is for music creatives, by music creatives. Broadcasting from the heart of Nashville, we dive deep with artists, producers, songwriters, and visionaries who've found their purpose through the creative process. Each conversation reveals the real stories behind the music: the breakthroughs, the setbacks, and the moments of clarity that shape both artistry and life. We chip away at new creative ideas and strategies that push boundaries and spark innovation. This is where creativity meets purpose, and where every story has something to teach.

The Bilby + Ella Show is a music podcast hosted by BilbynElla, with 19 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

BilbynElla hosts The Bilby + Ella Show, a music show with 19 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #19

  How Rusty Gaston Became Sony Music Publishing Nashville's "Chief Encouragement Officer" | Ep. 19

  Jul 30, 20261 hour

  Our guest this week is the legendary music publisher and song champion Rusty Gaston, CEO of Sony Music Publishing Nashville. Rusty spent 24 years building an independent publishing company (THiS Music) before a call from Jon Platt (SMP's worldwide chairman) changed the trajectory of his career entirely, and he's spent the last six and a half years leading the largest home of country music publishing on the planet, informally known around town as the Chief Encouragement Officer. In this episode, Rusty gets honest about the loneliness that can come with leadership, the rare friendship he had with a "competitor" at another major publisher, and the real math behind commercial songwriting: why it's a game won by perspiration more than inspiration. He breaks down his philosophy on encouragement as a job description, his belief that there's no song too good to find its way in today's world, and tells the story of how Way Maker, a worship song written by one woman in Nigeria, became a global movement. He also opens up about his path from a teenage performer at Six Flags to a defining meeting in Nashville, and what he hopes to pass down to the generations of his family he'll never meet. Whether you're chasing a publishing deal, trying to figure out what it means to lead with humility, or just want to hear someone talk about the power of a song like they've never lost the wonder of it, this one will stick with you. We're endlessly grateful Rusty made the time. Be sure to check out his podcast, Thank a Songwriter, available everywhere you listen! 00:00 – Welcome & Intro: Rusty Gaston, CEO of Sony Music Publishing Nashville 02:56 – Overview: From Independent Publisher to Sony CEO 03:24 – "God's Plan Is Bigger Than Your Plan": Leaving THiS Music 04:37 – The Cold Call From Jon Platt That Changed Everything 06:07 – Moving to Nashville in 1996 & Sony's Country Music Legacy 07:21 – Leadership, Loneliness & the Rare Friendship With a "Competitor" 12:37 – Culture Building, Other-Centered Leadership & What Publishers Do 14:37 – Songs That Have the Power to Change the World 15:05 – Launching the Thank a Songwriter Podcast 18:39 – Why No Great Song Gets Left Behind Today 20:32 – Kix Brooks, the Seven Human Emotions & Where His Optimism Comes From 26:08 – A Third-Grade Memory That Sparked His Love of Music 27:17 – Falling in Love With Records & a Teenage Performer at Six Flags 30:13 – Learning the Word "Intern" & the Full Circle Meeting That Brought Him to Nashville 32:23 – Finding a Mentor Who Opened the Filing Cabinet 33:35 – His Advice for the Next Generation of Songwriters 34:15 – Perspiration Over Inspiration: The Numbers Game of Hit Songwriting 36:42 – Becoming CEO of Sony Music Publishing Nashville in 2020 37:10 – Purpose vs. Hustle & the Death of Ego 41:59 – The Book of Psalms & Becoming the "Chief Encouragement Officer" 49:04 – The Songs That Changed His World: Alan Jackson & Way Maker 54:10 – Happy Birthday, Seven Generations & the Legacy He Wants to Leave Follow Rusty Gaston: Instagram Follow The Bilby + Ella Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Our Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Hill: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Willie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

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  Episode #18

  Dylan Brady on the "Math" Behind a Hit Song, Betting on Himself & Redefining Success | Ep. 18

  Jul 16, 20261h 8m

  Our guest this week is singer-songwriter, artist, and killer soccer teammate of William's, Dylan Brady. He's spent the better part of a decade building a career in Nashville that has run through a record deal, a publishing deal, and now the freedom and uncertainty that comes with being independent. In this conversation, Dylan gets honest about what it actually takes to write hit songs for a living while riding the financial rollercoaster that comes with it, navigating tough financial spots at 27 vs. 17 when he first signed his deals, and being more creatively fulfilled than ever. He breaks down the "math" behind great commercial songwriting, the vulnerability of writing his most personal record to date, and a piece of wisdom from his therapist about finding your own version of a swing set in the middle of nowhere when everything else falls away. Plus, stay tuned to the end where Willie & Dylan bonded over each of their funny and creative uncle names given by their own nieces and nephews. We're so thankful we got to have an honest, funny, and deeply human conversation about staying creative and staying yourself while you wait for the seeds you have planted to grow. Check out Dylan's new album, Gradual, available everywhere you stream and purchase music! 00:00 – Welcome & Intro: Dylan Brady 01:25 – Catching Up on Soccer, the World Cup & Feeling Like "Old Men" 04:15 – Recording Episode 18 & Realizing They Don't Know Each Other's Origin Story 04:44 – Growing Up on Long Island With Zero Long Island Accent 06:59 – Bonding Over Bad Fishing & Why It's a Form of Meditation 10:33 – William's Senior Project That Led Him to Nashville 12:18 – Did Dylan Even Know About the Music Industry Growing Up? 13:05 – A Moment of Gratitude for Each Other's Kindness 14:05 – The Soccer Team as an Escape From Industry Stress 14:58 – Scoring Six Goals the Night of a Breakup & His Therapist's "Swing" Theory 17:23 – Falling in Love With Music, the Brady Brothers & a Twin Brother's Path 20:01 – Ten Years in Nashville & Staying Excited Through the Ups and Downs 21:13 – Why "Being in the Room" Is the Best Part of the Job 23:06 – Evolving From Doing Everything Yourself to Building a Team 24:34 – Creating Something From Nothing & Songwriting as Therapy 26:05 – The "Math" Behind Great Songwriting: Phrasing, Rhyme & Emphasis 31:13 – Writing His Most Personal Record Alone After Nine Years 33:26 – Behind "Lose My Mind" & "Forgot About You" 36:14 – Why "Still Looking For You Everywhere" Means So Much to Him 41:19 – Pre-Release Anxiety & Struggling to Root for Yourself 42:11 – Life Between Deals: Writing, Pitching & Scheduling It All Himself 45:35 – "The Seed You Plant Isn't the Fruit You Eat" 46:13 – The Financial Rollercoaster of Being an Artist at 27 vs. 17 48:38 – Abbey's Song "The Lottery" & Betting on Each Other 52:05 – The Harrison Ford Story: Why You Just Have to Stick Around 56:23 – The New "In the Room" Series Hill & William Are Building 58:23 – Uncle DD, Nieces & Nephews & a Children's Book in the Works 1:01:04 – Writing "Say Cheese" for a Kids' Music Compilation 1:04:46 – Shotgun Questions: Dream Collabs, Go-To Plugins & More 1:07:09 – Closing Thoughts & Thanks Follow Dylan Brady: Instagram TikTok YouTube Facebook Follow The Bilby + Ella Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Our Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Hill: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Willie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

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  Episode #16

  Alex Tamashunas on Why Songwriters Deserve More Credit & How Spotify Is Changing That | Ep. 16

  May 21, 20261h 5m

  Our guest this week has spent her career in the spaces most people don't see: the publishing offices, the writing rooms, and now the streaming platforms quietly shaping what gets heard and who gets credit. As Spotify's Songwriting & Publisher Partnerships Lead, Alex Tamashunas is one of the few people we've met working at the highest levels of this industry with a songwriter's heart still fully intact. In this conversation, Alex opens up about the uphill battle of building real fandom around the people who write the songs, what Spotify's new Song DNA feature means for songwriter visibility, and why AI in the writing room is less a creative tool and more a shortcut that costs you something. She also gets into the advice she wishes more emerging writers heard: the power of first impressions, finding your tribe, and knowing when to shoot your shot. Whether you're trying to navigate publishing, figure out your next move as a songwriter, or just curious about what's really happening inside one of the world's biggest music platforms, we think this one has something for you. We're so grateful Alex made the time to sit with us. Hope you enjoy! 00:00 – Welcome & Intro: Alex Tamashunas 01:00 – How Alex & Willie Met + the Hunter Hayes Connection 03:18 – Growing Up in New Jersey & Falling in Love with Country Music 07:00 – Why Nashville Over LA? Following the Lyric 09:00 – What Does a Music Publisher Actually Do? 11:27 – From Bartending to Publishing to Spotify 13:37 – Spotify's Song DNA Feature & Giving Songwriters Visibility 19:07 – The Gap Between How Much Songwriters Matter & How Little They're Celebrated 23:00 – Building Fandom Around Songwriters: Is the Appetite There? 26:40 – The Double-Edged Sword of Music Personalization & the Loss of a Shared Heartbeat 33:58 – Algorithmic vs. Editor-Curated Playlists: Why Both Matter 35:30 – Advice for Independent Artists & Songwriters Finding Their Footing 43:50 – The Importance of Mentors & Finding a Great Publisher 45:00 – When Songwriters Become Artists: Why Alex Loves Seeing That Transition 48:50 – AI in the Writing Room: Where It Helps & Where It Costs You 56:35 – Authenticity, Connection & What Listeners Are Really Starving For 59:00 – Falling Back in Love with Music & Artist Rec: Annika Bennett 01:03:35 – The Importance of Writing Alone Once a Week Follow Alex Tamashunas: Instagram Follow The Bilby + Ella Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Our Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Hill: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Willie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

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  Episode #15

  Karl Michael on Finding His Sound, Writing with Bruno Mars, and Building Confidence | Ep. 15

  Apr 23, 202658 min

  London-born artist and songwriter Karl Michael joins the Bilby & Ella Show for a conversation rooted in resilience, identity, and staying power. Raised on rap, soul, and R&B, Karl spent years honing his craft and building momentum as an artist, from competing on The Voice UK to stepping into his own as a solo act. His journey reflects a deep commitment to growth and a willingness to evolve along the way. Now based in Nashville, Karl has written with names like Bruno Mars, Teddy Swims, and Yungblud, while continuing to develop his own sound as an artist. In this episode, he opens up about navigating the highs and lows of the industry, growing in confidence as a vocalist, and learning to trust who he is in the room. It’s a conversation about perseverance, self-belief, and what it takes to keep going when the path doesn’t look how you expected. Be sure to check out Karl’s latest single “Way Less Lonely” available now ahead of his upcoming EP. 00:00 Intro + Welcoming Karl Michael 02:10 Growing Up in London + Early Musical Influences 07:20 Falling in Love with R&B, Soul & Pop 11:40 Chasing Music Full-Time + Early Career Moments 17:20 Early Breaks + Writing Opportunities 23:30 Writing with Bruno Mars + Major Collaborations 28:50 Finding His Sound as an Artist 34:30 Moving to Nashville + Finding His Place 40:10 Overcoming Personal Setbacks + Resilience 45:20 The Highs and Lows of the Music Industry 50:30 Building Confidence as an Artist 54:30 Final Thoughts + What’s Next Follow Karl Michael: Instagram TikTok YouTube Facebook Follow The Bilby + Ella Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Our Community⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Hill: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Willie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

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  Episode #14

  David Dennis on The Belonging Co., Leading Worship & Creative Calling | Ep. 14

  Apr 2, 20261h 28m

  Worship leader and artist David Dennis joins us for a conversation rooted in faith, creativity, and calling. Currently serving at The Belonging Co. in Nashville, David has become known for his powerful voice and presence, with many recognizing him from songs like “The Joy” and “I Know That I Know.” But as he shares in this episode, his journey is about far more than the stage. In this conversation, David opens up about his path to Nashville, the challenges and uncertainties he faced along the way, and how his understanding of worship has evolved over time. He gives an honest look at what it means to lead from a place of humility, how to maintain the right posture while performing, and the tension of balancing artistry with a life centered on honoring God. We also dive into the creative process behind worship music, the shifting landscape of Christian music, and what it looks like to pursue both excellence and authenticity in the room and on stage. Whether you’re an artist, worship leader, or creative trying to stay grounded in your purpose, this episode is a real, raw, and encouraging look at building a life and career that’s rooted in something deeper. 00:00 Intro + Meet David 03:10 Georgia to Nashville: David’s Roots 05:35 Growing Up in Church + The Start of His Story 09:34 Belmont, College Years + A Really Hard Season 16:53 How David Got Connected with The Belonging Co. 23:25 Practicing Humility with Your Gifts 30:03 Stepping Back Into Songwriting + Their Creative Process 40:00 Technical vs. Authentic Songwriting 43:00 How David Prepares for Writing Sessions 47:30 Songwriting as a Worship Leader 51:45 Connecting Theology to Songwriting 55:30 Creating Content as a Worship Artist 59:00 Frannie Cash, Forrest Frank, Josiah Queen + More 01:02:45 Entering Your 30s: Life + Perspective Shift 01:07:10 Music That Shaped David + Early Influences 01:15:00 Dream Collaborators for David’s Solo Project 01:18:00 Closing Thoughts + Encouragement Follow David Dennis: Instagram Follow The Bilby + Ella Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Join Our Community⁠⁠⁠ Follow Hill: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Willie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

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