WYATT EASTERLING (Part 4): PUBLISHED ON PRX 3 /25/ 2023 - BEYOND A SONG originates in BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA and is sponsored by: THE BLUEBIRD NIGHTCLUB, REAL TO REELS RECORDING STUDIO, AND VISITBLOOMINGTON.COM

Beyond a Song host Rich Reardin talks with North Carolina singer/songwriter and producer Wyatt Easterling. Wyatt Easterling’s decades of success in the music industry includes a myriad of roles from performer to songwriter, and as an executive of both a major record label and publishing company. This wealth of experience and accompanying success in all these varying facets of the industry, give him a unique and valuable understanding of the music business.

When Atlantic Records opened their Nashville office, Easterling signed on as Chief of A&R, and started his track record of success by signing artists such as Tracy Lawrence, Michael Johnson, Neal McCoy, and John Michael Montgomery. Easterling along with Doug Johnson, produced Montgomery's multi-platinum debut album, Life’s A Dance.

Wyatt then partnered with Miles Copeland (Sting, The Police, IRS Records) and formed the Nashville Division of Bugle Publishing Group and Firstars Management as Director of Operations. Easterling brought Keith Urban to Firstars Management and worked at length with Urban in the studio recording the project that landed Keith his first major deal at Warner Bros. Records. 

 In addition to ushering notable artists into the mainstream, Easterling and Copeland created Bugle Publishing Group’s The Castle, the first of its kind songwriter's retreat held yearly at Miles Copeland’s Chateau Marouatte in France. This event saw great success with a long list of esteemed artists and writers such as Keith Urban, Cher, Carole King, Jon Bon Jovi, Peter Frampton, Olivia Newton-John, and Stuart Copeland, to name a few.

 Wyatt then signed alternative roots artist Paul Thorn into the company for management and publishing. Easterling produced Paul's album, Hammer & Nail along with Greg Wells and Billy Maddox for A&M Records, Los Angeles. 

 After Bugle Publishing, Easterling decided it was time to get back to songwriting and promptly signed with DreamWorks Publishing. Eventually Wyatt opened Terra Nova Music, his own publishing company in Nashville, which had eight writers on staff. 

 Wyatt’s songwriting success includes “Modern Day Drifter” (Dierks Bentley), 

“Life’s So Funny” (Joe Diffie), “This Time I’m Taking My Time” (Neal McCoy). 

Wyatt has released his 5th album titled "From Where I Stand" on July 29th, 2022 and is currently touring to support this critically acclaimed release.

Musical selections include: Came to Believe, Sure Smells Like Rain, A Soldier Comes Home, Stay In The Boat, Some Days, Don’t Cry For Me, Proud of What We Have Done

 For more information, visit BEYOND A SONG.COM