Conversations with Ashley Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Smith.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have always loved music. Growing up, my mama was always playing music on the radio or singing around the house. As a kid, I sang in the choir, but I was also really shy, so I never wanted to be in the spotlight. By the time I got to middle school, I had started to develop my music tastes and ended up buying my very first CD (Brandy’s self-titled debut album Brandy) from a yard sale. When I got home and opened the case, there was a Boyz II Men CD inside the case.

From there, I was hooked; I listened to those CDs repeatedly and while reading Brandy’s liner notes. I was captivated by all of the ppl that went into the production of an album and song. I read those liner notes every day. I wanted my name to be known too, but the songwriter was the only job I understood, so I decided to be a writer. I eventually started using my lunch money to support my music addiction to buy other CDs and occasionally tapes if I couldn’t afford to purchase the CD. I read everything single liner note to every single album and single I have ever purchased.

Eventually, I started buying music magazines to keep up with my favorite artists. I noticed an older white guy in the pictures with some of my favorite artists (Brandy, Monica, Whitney Houston, etc.). I thought it was cool that he got to hang out with all the stars, so I did some research and learned that his name was Clive Davis, and he was an A&R. After researching what an A&R did, I decided I wanted that job. The only problem was I was a small-town country girl from Chattanooga; I didn’t know how to make that happen.

My parents told me I needed to focus on college and get a “real job” as I got older. I eventually did, but I was never passionate about any of them like I was music. I started working with local artists to manage them, but nothing happened, so I finally decided to go corporate, but the passion never left. After a few more failed attempts at managing artists, I gave up. I wanted to be an A&R, not a manager! Managing just felt like glorified babysitting for ppl with egos bigger than their work ethic.

My closest friend and the companies head of production, Renaldo “Fantasticks” Stewart, told me that I would be back to the music because I loved and knew it like the back of my hand. He was right about two years later ended up meeting very talented artists, and I was back, but this time I was in Music City, so my goal was more attainable.

I knew that without the proper industry connections, I needed more visibility. So, I started to produce my own artist’s showcases and open mics to get myself more. At the time, I didn’t have a company or brand; I just put on different events. I even started a couple of podcasts. Anything that would raise my visibility, and overall, it worked!

Eventually, I became a formal business and named it Talented10th Entertainment. Talented10th Ent. focuses on Artist Development, which is the job of an A&R. With the digital age, most artists don’t get the development that artists did in the 90s, which is a big reason for a downshift in the quality of music.

Our goal is much like Motown’s to help polish artists to their full potential. We also teach them the business to make wise choices for their career.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has definitely not been smooth! It’s the entertainment industry! You deal with lots of broken promises and false starts. Then you have the basic greed, envy, and jealousy, but I’m a very spiritual person so I believe that in everything there is a blessing and lesson.

I also deal with regular small business woes like raising capital, finding quality help, late nights early mornings, etc.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a business owner, but I’m also creative so I get to really be a part of the entire process. So, people, are very left-brained business people who aren’t that creative and some people are very right-brained and their business is a mess.

I get to take my creative visions to the team and watch them bring them to life, all while reminding them of deadlines, budgets, and analytics. The thing that makes me unique is. I really study the industry and its past and present in order to predict future trends.

I’m a nerd in that way.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Be confident and be yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Leave your ego at the door. Surround yourself with ppl who understand THEIR genius, so they will complement yours. It’s ok to walk away from something that isn’t working for you.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Talented10thent.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/talented10thent?utm_medium=copy_link
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/talented10thent/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/talented10thent