Class on Music Row: Inside BMI's Catalog Cast Program

Partnership puts students in publishers' seats, leading to industry success

Every Wednesday evening, a conference room at BMI's Music Row offices transforms into Nashville's most selective classroom. Primarily serving Belmont students, the BMI Catalog Cast program creates a collaborative environment where aspiring music industry professionals don't just learn about the music publishing industry –– they become part of it. 

The program’s real-world impact was demonstrated when Cody Johnson's "'Til You Can't" became a country radio hit. The song had once been selected for Catalog Cast's top 10 compilation by students who saw its potential, years before it found its eventual home with Johnson. 

How the Program Works 

Established in 2005, the BMI Catalog Cast program gives students hands-on experience in the art of song plugging and creative direction. “It's completely different from your typical classroom experience,” explained program instructor MaryAnn Keen, director of creative at BMI who, as a former Belmont student herself, once wished she could have participated in the program she now helps lead. 

The program's structure mirrors the real-world publishing environment it prepares students to enter. Participants are divided into small groups, each tasked with meeting multiple publishers to collect and evaluate unreleased songs. Throughout the semester, they'll review upwards of 200 songs -- all real submissions from publishers who see value in fresh perspectives on their catalogs. 

This collaborative approach benefits both students and industry professionals. “Publishers really love being in the loop with the writers and the students,” Keen explained. “It's a chance for them to stay connected with what's current while giving back to the next generation.” This mutually beneficial relationship has become a hallmark of the program, with publishers actively seeking to participate each semester. 

Success Stories 

The program's intensive nature has proven crucial in developing industry professionals.

“This is the best program at Belmont if you want to work in the publishing or A&R space,” noted alumnus Jason McColl, senior director of A&R at Sony Music. “Catalog Cast was my first experience really critically listening to songs. You learn to listen through the demo/worktape production and hear songs in a different way. These are all skills I still use every day.”  

Alumna Caroline Hodson, now director of A&R at Tape Room Music, reflected on how the weekly song evaluation sessions sharpened fundamental skills used in her current role.  

“We walked into the conference room every Wednesday and had to fight for our favorite songs to stay in the pile,” she recalled. “The process of verbalizing led me to value and grasp the difference between a good song and a great song.” 

This hands-on experience proved equally practical for Mike Giangreco, who rose to become VP of A&R at Big Loud. “Meeting publishers in Nashville, visiting publishing houses, experiencing song meetings and learning how they work –– it was all invaluable,” he said. “The program gives you a great glimpse and hands-on opportunity to apply fundamentals in a safe, structured and most importantly, collaborative way.” 

Building Lasting Networks 

The program's impact extends beyond classroom learning. Songwriter Emily Falvey noted how her 2017 Catalog Cast peers remain active in her professional life today. “My classmates are still people I cross paths with often in the music industry,” she shared. "From artist managers to staff songwriters to innovative artists –– these relationships have extended well beyond college.” 

For Falvey, the program provided crucial early exposure to industry standards. “It was one of my first looks into the caliber of song required to be a published songwriter in Nashville,” she explained. “The program is typically the cream of the crop from Curb College. If you're a Catalog Cast student or alum, it tells me there is an inherent credibility to your professional pursuit.” 

These relationships often come full circle. Falvey experienced this firsthand when, years after completing the program, two of her original songs were selected for the Catalog Cast compilation. “It felt like I had 'made it' as a songwriter in that moment to have gotten that vote of confidence from the Catalog Cast class,” she said. 

Preparing Future Industry Leaders 

The program's emphasis on real-world skills has proven particularly valuable for alumni like Hodson. Her experience in Catalog Cast provided unique insights into music publishing that helped shape her career path. “When I applied for the program, I had experience with A&R internships but had never been on the publishers' side of the desk,” she explained. “It opened my eyes to the rarity of the publishing community in Nashville, and I instantly knew this was the space I wanted to live in.” 

Beyond Technical Skills 

The program develops crucial professional skills that often determine success in Nashville's collaborative music industry. “We hear hundreds of songs weekly on the A&R team,” McColl explained. “What is difficult is listening to 100 good songs and finding the one that is GREAT. Catalog Cast really challenged me and taught me to think about the process in that way – your job is to find the one song that is special.” 

“In a typical classroom, the vibe is to be quiet and polite and listening,” Keen observed. “But the real industry community isn't that way –– you have to jump in there and speak up.” This ability to take initiative while reading the room becomes as valuable as any technical skill learned. 

Looking Ahead 

The program continues to evolve, seeking students who will maximize the opportunity, whether they're certain about their career path or still exploring. As Keen reflects, “You just have to have somebody give you a chance. The no-brainers are the ones that know about the program and want to get into publishing, but I also look for people who are eager and are going to give it a real chance.” 

For many alumni, that chance indeed proved transformative. The program's ongoing success in preparing the next generation of music industry professionals speaks to its enduring value in Nashville's music community.  

And as Falvey noted, “The innovation and foresight of industry leaders is preparing a way for the next generation of music publishers, songwriters, label A&Rs and more. I couldn't be more grateful that this program exists.” 

“The most important thing that it teaches students is that it all truly starts with a song,” McColl added. “A great song should always be the center of any creative process or artist development. Catalog Cast taught me that early, and it is still the North Star that I use to this day.”