Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Stevens.
Hi Jackie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Looking back, launching Createurs (pronounced “Creators”) feels like a natural next chapter after more than 22 years in country radio and country music.
I was born in Las Vegas because my dad worked at Area 51, it’s possible that maybe I’m part alien. I was raised in Los Angeles by an incredible single mom who worked hard to provide for us while reminding me that just because we didn’t have much didn’t mean we couldn’t be happy. That perspective shaped my work ethic and has stayed with me throughout my life.
The radio was always on in our house. By the time I was nine years old, I was recording my favorite songs onto cassettes, figuring out the exact song in the countdown that the DJ didn’t talk over so I could record the whole song. I didn’t realize it then, but I was already learning radio programming.
At 19, I landed an internship at KZLA in Los Angeles. I wasn’t raised on country music, but I fell in love with it immediately. I was fortunate to learn from incredible mentors like Fred Missman, who taught me the importance of detail in sound, and Whitney Allen and her on-air genius every day. I eventually became Whitney’s producer, executive producer, and music director for her nationally syndicated shows. Spending 15 years alongside Whitney shaped the way I approach creativity and collaboration. In 2022, Whitney was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame and she asked me to be part of that, it will forever be one of my proudest moments in my career.
In 2019, Jimmy Rector gave me the opportunity to join Universal Music Group Nashville with EMI Records. My first year in Nashville I spent more than 220 days traveling. My second year, COVID brought everything to a halt. Those two completely different experiences gave me a front-row seat to how quickly the industry was changing.
Artists are now expected to be photographers, videographers, editors, marketers, and content creators while still writing songs and touring. I returned to radio to produce my talented friend Elaina Smith’s show and saw the changes from the radio side. Programmers have to be on-air, on-air hosts have to be content creators, everybody has to do more with less time and without extra pay.
The idea for Createurs came from a conversation over dinner with friends about how much the industry had changed. Artists at every level needed a place where they could create, collaborate, and focus on their craft instead of worrying about producing endless content.
That’s how Createurs was born.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No entrepreneurial journey is completely smooth, and it wouldn’t be Nashville without a few potholes along the way.
One of our biggest challenges was introducing a concept that people hadn’t really seen before. We weren’t just opening another content studio. We were creating a space where artists, entrepreneurs, podcasters, photographers, and businesses could create professional content while having access to the resources and support they need. It’s taken some time for people to understand that vision, but once they experience Createurs, they get it. One of the things I’m most proud of is that people come back. Seeing creators return again and again tells us we’re building something people truly value.
Finding the right location was another challenge. We knew we wanted to be close to downtown, Music Row, and the heart of Nashville’s creative community, but we also wanted to keep the space affordable and accessible. In a city that’s growing as quickly as Nashville, that isn’t always easy. One thing we refused to compromise on was parking. We couldn’t ask creators to spend $30 or $40 to park before they even walked through our doors. Having free, private gated parking may seem like a small detail, but it’s become one of the things our members and clients appreciate most.
Like any first year in business, there have been plenty of lessons and a few unexpected turns, but each challenge has helped us grow. The advantage of being a small business is we can learn and adjust quickly from those lessons. The industry is always evolving, and so is Createurs.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Everything I’ve done throughout my career helped shape the vision for Createurs. I really believe that radio producers were the original content producers. Long before social media existed, radio was already creating content around artists and their communities. That perspective became the foundation for Createurs.
We help creatives bring their ideas to life. Whether it’s a podcast, photo shoot, music video, brand campaign, or live performance. We’ve built a space where creativity comes first and people have the tools to produce high-quality content.
No two days at Createurs are ever the same. Over the past year, we’ve welcomed more than 200 artists and creators, partnered with five charities, hosted photography workshops, and produced everything from podcasts and radio shows to music videos, brand campaigns, and content for nonprofits. We’ve had the privilege of working with country artists, singer-songwriters, podcasters, entrepreneurs, influencers, local businesses, and organizations, and that’s exactly what we hoped Createurs would become.
The room I’m most proud of is our audio and podcast studio. Before we finished the space, I invited close friends to write messages on the walls. Those notes are still there behind the paint, and every time I walk into that room I’m reminded of the people who believed in this dream before it became a reality. With my background in radio, it’s especially rewarding to see podcasts, interviews, and radio shows being created there every day.
We’re coming up on our first anniversary, and what makes me proud isn’t just the work happening inside the studio, it’s the community that’s grown around it. Watching creators collaborate, encourage one another, and celebrate each other’s successes reminds me why we built Createurs in the first place.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think anyone who chooses a career in a creative industry is already a risk taker because there are no guarantees. Artists pour their hearts into their work without knowing how it will be received, while the people behind the scenes invest their time, energy, and resources to help them succeed. Every step requires faith.
Starting Createurs was the biggest professional risk I’ve ever taken. Leaving a career I’d spent more than two decades building to become an entrepreneur meant betting on myself, my experience, my creativity, and everything I’d learned along the way. It was intimidating and completely worth it.
Entrepreneurship has taught me that you don’t always have every answer, and that’s okay. You learn to adapt, trust your instincts, and keep moving forward. Some of life’s greatest opportunities come from taking chances before you feel completely ready.
The most rewarding part hasn’t been opening a studio. It’s hearing artists tell us that creating content feels less overwhelming, watching creators gain confidence, and seeing ideas turn into something real. Knowing we’ve built a place that people genuinely value makes every challenge worthwhile.
The music industry will continue to evolve, just as technology and the way we create will continue to change. The best thing we can do is stay curious and be willing to evolve with it.
I’ve never been less certain about what tomorrow will bring, but I’ve also never been more excited to keep creating.
Pricing:
- Flexible Membership Packages
- Hourly Studio Rentals
- Photography & Video Production
- Content Creation & Editing Packages
- Podcast Recording & Production
Contact Info:
- Website: https://createursnashville.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nashvillecreateurs
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nashvillecreateurs
