Spotlighting the Black Opry Residency with WXPN’s Artist to Watch
“Why is country music dominated by white people? Why aren’t more Black folks involved in this music that has deep roots in Black music history? Season one of the Artist to Watch podcast tells the story of The Black Opry Residency. You’ll meet a community of artists focused on reclaiming and celebrating country as a Black form of American music."
— John Morrison, Host, WXPN’s Artist to Watch Podcast
Original Reporting & Interviewing / Script Writing / Sound Design & Scoring / Podcast Production / Mixing & Mastering
Client
WXPN
Distributor
PRX
Services
Overview
WXPN is a public radio station known for eclectic music playlists and whose mission is to connect artists and audiences — building community. As longtime collaborators with WXPN, Rowhome was tapped to develop Artist to Watch: Black Opry Residency, a podcast documentary series that tells the story of 5 Black artists working in country and Americana music. The podcast, created as part of a larger Pew Center for Arts & Heritage project, also documents the artists’ participation in The Black Opry Residency Program, which is designed to support their professional and creative development, culminating in a weeklong residency and a sold-out concert performance in Philadelphia.
Rowhome produced this series from start to finish, traveling to Nashville to conduct interviews, capturing field recordings, drafting scripts, scoring, mixing and mastering the entire series. Hosted by John Morrison, a DJ and music writer based in Philadelphia, these 5 episodes served as the premiere season of their Artist to Watch podcast.
Rowhome Productions co-founder, John Myers interviews Black Opry Residency artist, Tylar Bryant in Nashville. | Photo courtesy of Alex Lewis
Over the course of five episodes, the Artist to Watch podcast tells the story of each artists’ journey through the Residency, including talented musicians: Denitia, The Kentucky Gentlemen, Samantha Rise, Tylar Bryant and Grace Givertz.
Rowhome traveled to Nashville, the home of country music, to record interviews with artists, industry professionals and Black Opry founder, Holly G. Then returned home to Philadelphia, to document the artists’ participation in the weeklong Black Opry Residency. They heard an unvarnished take on what life on the road is really like from Amos Lee, blew off steam at a West Philly karaoke bar and performed a concert in front of a sold-out crowd at World Cafe Live.
The Results
As of March 2024, the podcast has been featured in Billboard, American Songwriter and Current, sparking a larger dialog around our National Conservation of Black musicians in country music. Additionally, artists from the residency have received accolades including The Kentucky Gentlemen featured in Rolling Stone and Denitia who was featured on CMT.
Also of note, Beyoncé’s historic release of “Texas Hold 'Em” in February 2024, she became first Black woman with a number one country song.
Featured by many of the top respected media outlets
