In the meetings and events world, the phrase “surprise and delight” gets used a lot. So does “experiential.” Yet not every experience actually creates emotional connection — and that’s ultimately what attendees remember.
During CMA Week in Nashville, we saw once again what planners, executives, and guests respond to most: authenticity over spectacle, story over production, and moments that feel real instead of manufactured.
Not bigger. Not louder. More human.
And music — when brought to audiences through the voices of the songwriters who actually lived the stories — continues to be one of the most powerful tools for creating those moments.
Four Events. Four Formats. One Clear Pattern.
Across the last few days, Songwriter City curated very different experiences for very different audiences — and yet every one of them led to the same result: engagement, focus, and genuine connection in the room.
Fireside Keynote Session – Natalie Hemby & Jessi Alexander at the Nashville Music City Center. An unscripted conversation blending music, storytelling, and insight into creativity and AI adaptation. The result was a keynote that felt less like a lecture and more like an invitation into the creative process — intimate, emotional, and surprisingly relatable.
Post-Dinner Songwriter Experience – Josh Kear & Jon Nite at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. With more than 30 #1 songs between them, their stories and humor kept the audience captivated after a long conference day — a time slot that is notoriously difficult to win. The room stayed locked in.
VIP Executive Experience – Josh Jenkins & Trannie Anderson at the Gibson Garage. A private interactive performance in one of Nashville’s most iconic spaces. Two of country music’s in-demand writers stripped it down to the raw ingredients : conversation, vulnerability, storytelling, and songs that guests already loved.
VIP Client Event – The Warren Brothers on stage at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater. High energy. Unforgettable chemistry. A masterclass in how humor and honesty can break down walls and bring an entire room together.
Different venues. Different audiences. Different objectives. But the emotional outcome was the same.
Why It Works — and Why It’s Needed Now
In a world full of noise, polish, production, and automation, people are craving the opposite — something real. Live storytelling through music cuts through the clutter not because it is perfect, but because it is personal.
For planners, executives, and hosts searching for ways to: deepen connection, reinforce messaging, build culture, or elevate an event beyond the expected
The answer isn’t always bigger production. Sometimes it’s a microphone, a guitar, and a story that means something.
Our Mission
No matter the location, format, venue, or occasion, our mission stays the same:
to curate elevated songwriter experiences that are engaging, authentic, and create unforgettable moments that matter.
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