--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a system in place in Nashville…" description: "\"There's a system in place in Nashville, and for a long time, I was trapped in this idea that the only way to do it was to come to town, get a record de..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/sam-hunt-3215_artist_there-s-a-system-in-place-in-nashville-a_2403642.jpg" --- # There's a system in place in Nashville, and for a long… ![“There's a system in place in Nashville, and for a long time, I was trapped in this idea that the only way to do it was to come to town, get a record deal, and do it the way they say. And that system works. But it caters to a specific kind of artist, and I didn't necessarily fit that mold.” quote by Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/sam-hunt-3215_artist_there-s-a-system-in-place-in-nashville-a_2403642.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/sam-hunt-3215_artist_there-s-a-system-in-place-in-nashville-a_2403642.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/sam-hunt-3215_artist_there-s-a-system-in-place-in-nashville-a_2403642.jpg) > “There's a system in place in Nashville, and for a long time, I was trapped in this idea that the only way to do it was to come to town, get a record deal, and do it the way they say. And that system works. But it caters to a specific kind of artist, and I didn't necessarily fit that mold.” [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The music industry often forces artists into a narrow template, limiting those who don’t fit the conventional mold. **In simple terms:** Industry expectations can restrict unique talent. Key Takeaway Seek alternative paths outside mainstream channels. Themes creativity industry authenticity individualism Mood determined reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - indie releases - online platforms - direct fan engagement - collaborations - self‑production Key Concepts music business artist identity market dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you leverage existing structures while staying true to yourself? - What unconventional strategies could amplify your voice? A Different Perspective Mainstream success still offers resources and visibility that independent routes may lack. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-didn-902489/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Nashville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nashville/) [Nashville Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nashville-long-6027657/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Record deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record-deal/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trapped Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trapped-idea-6027658/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [If you get trapped in the idea that what is most important is what image of yourself you're giving to the world, you're on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-moreau/if-you-get-trapped-in-the-idea-that-what-is-most-important-is-what/) [Jeanne Moreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-moreau/) > [I spent 11 years in Nashville trying to get a record deal. That was the time I was living in my car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmie-allen/i-spent-11-years-in-nashville-trying-to-get-a-record-deal-that-was/) [Jimmie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmie-allen/) > [When I first started playing the banjo and miraculously fell into a record deal in Nashville, TN, there was a period when I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-washburn/when-i-first-started-playing-the-banjo-and-miraculously-fell-into-a/) [Abigail Washburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-washburn/) > [I grew up listening to everything, and when I got signed to a record deal out of Nashville, that was my introduction to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/i-grew-up-listening-to-everything-and-when-i-got-signed-to-a-record/) [Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/) > [I went to Nashville when I was 10. Tried to get a record deal. Everybody was like, 'You're 10. It's not gonna happen. Come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-darwish/i-went-to-nashville-when-i-was-10-tried-to-get-a-record-deal/) [Tiffany Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-darwish/) > [I'm openly gay, and I've got a major label record deal in Nashville, and it happened when I was 42 years old. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-m-openly-gay-and-i-ve-got-a-major-label-record-deal-in-nashville/) [Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/) > [David is purely a conceptual artist. He didn't play any instruments or paint or anything. We were painters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-weymouth/david-is-purely-a-conceptual-artist-he-didn-t-play-any-instruments-or/) [Tina Weymouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-weymouth/) > [I just wanted to be an artist. I didn't care how or what; I just wanted to express my artistic integrity, and I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/i-just-wanted-to-be-an-artist-i-didn-t-care-how-or-what-i-just-wanted/) [Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/) > [As a child I prayed that my calling be revealed - but not with expectation and not with a destination. I became an artist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-smith/as-a-child-i-prayed-that-my-calling-be-revealed-but-not-with/) [Kiki Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-smith/) > [Wasn't the whole point of being an artist, or at least part of it, that you didn't have to wear a tie?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/wasn-t-the-whole-point-of-being-an-artist-or-at-least-part-of-it-that/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [As an artist, I didn't think I was gonna get an Oscar. I've never said this, but I've never looked at it like, "We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-shea-jackson-jr/as-an-artist-i-didn-t-think-i-was-gonna-get-an-oscar-i-ve-never-said/) [O'Shea Jackson, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-shea-jackson-jr/) > [I always knew would be some sort of artist, but didn't know what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-prelutsky/i-always-knew-would-be-some-sort-of-artist-but-didn-t-know-what/) [Jack Prelutsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-prelutsky/) > [I can't imagine anybody who ends up being an artist who didn't pass through a time of geekiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-can-t-imagine-anybody-who-ends-up-being-an-artist-who-didn-t-pass/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [It seemed like a very small possibility for me to become an artist. I didn't have the need to be on the stage; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aurora/it-seemed-like-a-very-small-possibility-for-me-to-become-an-artist-i/) [Aurora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aurora/) > [There's not a hip-hop artist that didn't snatch of piece of Bob Marley. It's totally impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/there-s-not-a-hip-hop-artist-that-didn-t-snatch-of-piece-of-bob/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) ## More by Sam Hunt > [New experiences give you new perspectives on life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/new-experiences-give-you-new-perspectives-on-life/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [Sometimes I'm not even aware of some of the issues going on with me in my life until I sit down and start kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/sometimes-i-m-not-even-aware-of-some-of-the-issues-going-on-with-me/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I do think I'm country, but your definition of that word might be different from my definition. In my opinion, country music, the sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-do-think-i-m-country-but-your-definition-of-that-word-might-be/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I was pretty gung-ho about music and pursuing that and figuring that whole thing out, so I was wide-eyed and ready to go when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-was-pretty-gung-ho-about-music-and-pursuing-that-and-figuring-that/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [We drove right past That no trespassing sign Sat on the tailgate And watched the planes take off Thought we had all night There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/we-drove-right-past-that-no-trespassing-sign-sat-on-the-tailgate-and/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [In a small town, it's either sports or a band with your buddies. I was always athletic. But in college, I was exposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/in-a-small-town-it-s-either-sports-or-a-band-with-your-buddies-i-was/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [You want to stand out and be unique and do something different. I always try to zig when they zag - I guess it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/you-want-to-stand-out-and-be-unique-and-do-something-different-i/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I had some interesting costumes... the one that I remember right offhand is Zorro when I was a lot younger. I was a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-had-some-interesting-costumes-the-one-that-i-remember-right-offhand/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [There's not a day goes by that I don't appreciate the freedom that I have to make music and tour and spend time with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/there-s-not-a-day-goes-by-that-i-don-t-appreciate-the-freedom-that-i/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [Well there ain't enough smoke in my eyes To hide the kinda games you're trying to play Honey don't you act so surprised You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/well-there-ain-t-enough-smoke-in-my-eyes-to-hide-the-kinda-games-you/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I wish I could make multiple records, stylistically. The way that I'm gonna remedy that is to make a diverse record with a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-wish-i-could-make-multiple-records-stylistically-the-way-that-i-m/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [The first song I learned on the guitar was a Kenny Chesney song called 'What I Need to Do'; it was just an easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/the-first-song-i-learned-on-the-guitar-was-a-kenny-chesney-song/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I wasn't intentionally trying to be different, but that was an element of what I naturally do that happened to be unique enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-wasn-t-intentionally-trying-to-be-different-but-that-was-an-element/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I love what Drake does, but I don't want to be called the Drake of country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-love-what-drake-does-but-i-don-t-want-to-be-called-the-drake-of/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) > [I've tried to work really hard on never phoning in the lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-ve-tried-to-work-really-hard-on-never-phoning-in-the-lyrics/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) [Explore all 136 Sam Hunt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's a system in place in Nashville, and for a long time, I was trapped in this idea that the only way to do it was to come to town, get a record deal, and do it the way they say. And that system works. 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