1-on-1 Coaching with Joe Kelly

ONE-ON-ONE WITH JOE KELLY

Direct, honest guidance from a Nashville executive who’s spent a career
finding songs, building artists, and knowing what plays. Book a private Zoom session, send your music ahead, and get a straight read on where your career stands and what to do next.

From Rural Ohio to the Heart of Nashville

Joe’s career began at DPI Records, in 1990 where he had the rare privilege of working under industry maven Mae Boren Axton (co-writer of “Heartbreak Hotel”) and legendary music executive Jim Foglesong (Country Music Hall of Fame inductee). It was here that Joe developed his deep respect for the traditions of country music and learned firsthand how to build careers from the ground up.

In 1992, Joe joined CDX Nashville, a start-up company then revolutionizing the way new country singles were delivered to radio. Over the next seven years, he became a cornerstone of CDX’s national radio distribution model.

In 1999, Joe was named Southeast Regional Director of Promotion for Intersound Country and Platinum Entertainment, overseeing a seven-state territory with 62 major-market radio stations, including Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa, Charlotte, and Nashville.

In 2001, he was appointed Vice President at Blue Diamond Records, where he managed A&R, marketing, promotion, publicity, and sales—gaining a reputation as a multifaceted label executive.

In 2004, Joe co-founded Aspirion Records Group, serving as VP of National Promotion. At Aspirion, he helped launch singles and develop airplay for notable artists including:

– John Corbett
– Joe Nichols
– Collin Raye
– T. Graham Brown

He was deeply involved in everything from national radio campaigns to artist branding and press development—building careers at both mainstream and independent levels.

As the industry evolved, Joe saw a gap in airplay tracking for independent and secondary market radio stations. In response, he created Traction—a custom-built radio monitoring application that tracks spins across non-monitored stations, giving independent artists, labels, and managers actionable airplay data in real time.

To complement Traction, Joe launched CDXCharts.com—a national platform that publishes weekly airplay charts in multiple formats, including:

– Mainstream Country & True Indie Country
– Americana
– Positive Country/Southern Gospel
– Texas Red Dirt
– AAA

This ecosystem of tools and data has become an essential resource for independent artists and programmers alike, helping level the playing field across the country music landscape.

In 2011, Joe returned to CDX Nashville as Director of Marketing and Label Relations, eventually rising to President of CDX Nashville and launching CDX Records, where he now oversees a full-service record label and distribution division powered by Sony Orchard.

Under his leadership, CDX Records combines the power of national radio promotion, digital distribution, data analytics, and strategic artist development—serving both emerging talent and legacy acts.

Joe’s reputation is built on authenticity, strategy, and heart—and his lifelong mission remains clear: empowering artists with tools, relationships, and insight to succeed in today’s music industry.

Email: joe@cdxnashville.com

CAREER ASSESSMENT

Tier 01

$ 250 /Session

UP TO 3 SONGS

One-hour one-on-one Zoom with Joe Kelly

Full assessment of your music career and next moves

One-hour one-on-one Zoom with Joe Kelly

Upload 3 songs ahead for critique, or singles reviewed for commercial viability

Written assessment sent by email, then discussed in detail live

Book Assessment

CATALOG DEEP DIVE

Tier 02

$ $500 /Session

UP TO 10 SONGS

For the artist with a real body of work — a lifetime of writing or a year in the studio

Professional feedback on up to 10 songs

Joe listens for radio single viability

Guidance on your order of release, so your strongest material leads

Includes everything in Tier 1: Zoom session + written assessment

Book Deep Dive

CUSTOM CATALOG REVIEW

Tier 03

Contact for Pricing

10+ SONGS

For catalogs that run deeper than ten songs

Joe gives the full body of work a complete listen

Tell us the size of your catalog and what you're after

Custom pricing built around your project and goals

Same radio-viability and release strategy, scaled to your catalog

Email For A Qoute

Book

Written Read

Send Music

Meet in Zoom

HOW A SESSION WORKS

BOOK:
Choose your tier and reserve your session with Joe.
SEND MUSIC:
Upload your songs in advance so Joe can listen closely before you meet.
WRITTEN READ:
Joe delivers a written assessment to your inbox ahead of the call.
MEET ON ZOOM:
Talk it through in detail, one-on-one, and leave with a clear plan.

WHO YOU'RE SITTING DOWN WITH

Joe Kelly is a Nashville-based country music executive and CEO of CDX Nashville
and CDX Records. His career spans artist development, label operations,
publishing, and management — with a sharp ear for talent and a reputation for
championing new voices while protecting the storytelling that makes country country.

Ready to book, or have questions on Tier 3 pricing? Reach out to reserve your one-on-one with Joe Kelly.