Welcome to the PILOT EPISODE of True Tunes Connect, a new chapter in this continuing story that began back in 1989. After 5 years, (and 120 episodes) we are calling this Season 2, Episode 1.)

Thirty years ago, I interviewed a freshly minted artist named Sheryl Crow for the pages of our old print magazine, True Tunes News, right as her first hit single was breaking. We had a feeling there was something deeper going on than “just having some fun.” Turns out we were right. (Our Patreon members can find a digital reprint of that original article in their feed.)

For this pilot, we’re dropping in on a private event recently held near Lipscomb University that we called “Wisdom From The Well”, where one of my Music Industry Studies students, Abby Whitman, sat down to interview Sheryl herself. I open the show, then hand her the mic — and she did a better job of it than I did three decades ago.

A note for longtime listeners: True Tunes Connect isn’t the classic True Tunes Podcast, though it comes from the same place. These episodes run shorter — usually 15 to 20 minutes — built around two things we care about most: developing artists, and developing the audiences who need them. The long-form conversations you remember haven’t gone anywhere; they’ll surface from time to time as Special Features, and the full extended interview (including the rest of this Sheryl Crow conversation) is available to our Patreon members (and coming soon to our Substack subscribers) at Patreon.com/TrueTunes and TrueTunes.Substack.com.

We will also continue to throw super-short “Microdose” episodes into the feed, along with some @45RPM specials. But True Tunes Connect is a wider, more comprehensive project we are developing to connect artists to the ideas, inspiration, and resources they need, and listeners to the artists they love. It’s about artist – and audience – development and connection, with expressions that include the podcast, articles, workshops, books, and gatherings. You’ll hear about it all – including our creed – here on the pilot and in upcoming episodes. Spread the word!

If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH!