Meet the team behind Nashville music coverage at the Tennessean (2024)

It goes without saying that music is in Nashville's DNA. And at The Tennessean, we reflect our city's most famous export with an all-star team of journalists who provide Nashville and the nation unmatched music coverage every day of the week.

Of course we have country music covered, from the genre's iconic stars to the up-and-coming artists trying to make a name for themselves in the ultracompetitive scene. But our team also digs into the region's massive Christian and gospel scenes, Americana and roots music, rock and hip-hop – not to mention Nashville's offerings in the fine arts, including theater and the symphony.

Our journalists have traveled the country and the globe, delivering concert reviews, artist profiles, award show coverage and album previews. They both bring readers inside the business of music and feed the passions of music lovers. The team owns coverage of the local music scene, but also includes a pair of writers each charged with covering one of the world's biggest stars: Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Taylor Swift.

The team works odd hours, including late nights and plenty of weekends. But when they're in the newsroom, the team fills an entire row of desks situated between The Tennessean's photo staff and the sports department.

Without further adieu, please meet, in alphabetical order, Nashville's new Music Row:

Marcus K. Dowling

My path from Washington, D.C. to The Tennessean includes nearly two decades of award-winning freelance journalism worldwide, covering anything and everything with soul and a rhythm.

As for what I cover here: Much like CBGB’s Hilly Kristal, “Country music, bluegrass, blues and other music for uplifting gourmandizers.”

One show or moment that's meant the most: Between winning 2023’s Country Music Association Media Achievement Award, plus simultaneously watching Americana’s impact grow and mainstream country music suddenly dominating pop culture, I’m staying busy and having fun.

Audrey Gibbs

I am a 24-year-old music reporter hailing from Davidson, North Carolina. A music-lover and story enthusiast since birth, I began writing journalistic pieces at Sewanee: The University of the South, where I received my Bachelor’s in English and minors in politics and Shakespeare studies.

After interning at American Songwriter and Ms. Magazine, I was sold on a future in journalism and applied to Columbia Journalism School. My graduate degree at Columbia taught me the ins and outs of arts criticism and investigative podcasting. Afterwards, an internship at The Current allowed me to explore Georgia’s film industry, further cementing my interest in covering the arts.

I joined the team at The Tennessean in August 2023. I write concert reviews and cover much of Nashville’s indie, alternative and pop music artists. My coverage also dips into country, rock, rap and all other genres when needed.

The first year at the job has been chock-full of memorable moments, like exploring Loretta Lynn’s ranch, talking with Jenny Lewis across her dinner table and interviewing Reese Witherspoon. But seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers headline Bonnaroo 2024 has to take the cake.

With this job, the good times and great music simply “Can’t Stop.”

Melonee Hurt

Hailing from the town Old Crow Medicine Show gave the ultimate shout-out to (Johnson City, Tennessee), I have always loved music.

From growing up on general admission concerts at Freedom Hall to working at the rock radio station (WIMZ) and Cat’s Records in Knoxville and honing my music journalism chops early on as the entertainment editor at UT’s “The Daily Beacon,” I joined The Tennessean first in 2000 and again in 2022.

On the Tennessean’s music team, I am responsible for covering the Christian music industry, all things rock, music business and the arts. I recently created a recurring series called “Nashville Rocks” where I feature people making rock music out of Nashville.

Memorable moments on the job so far for me include interviewing both Adam Jones and Maynard from Tool, seeing Sammy Hagar bestow some high praise on a stunned Marcus King on the red carpet right in front of me, getting to attend and cover the Grammys (a lifelong bucket list entry) and getting to meet and interview Lenny Kravitz in person.

Caché McClay

Originally from Cleveland, I currently serve as the inaugural Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, hired by USA TODAY Network. In this role, I have the privilege of covering one of the most renowned entertainers of our time and her worldwide impact. For this position, I relocated to Nashville from Los Angeles where I worked as a writer and on-air talent for TMZ. Nearly two weeks after moving to the country music capital to work alongside other music journalists at The Tennessean, Beyoncé released her groundbreaking album "Cowboy Carter," which reassured me that I am exactly where I am meant to be at this time. Prior to TMZ, I worked in Washington, D.C. as a reporter at BBC News, covering politics and news from an international lens. Before that, I worked in hard news as a producer for Heart Television. I first began my career as a part-time on-air personality for Radio One's z107.9 station in my hometown after graduating from Howard University. At Howard, I covered stories inside the White House and worked for major outlets such as NBC News and NBC Universal. Upon graduating, I became an award-winning journalist, receiving the NABJ Salute to Excellence Award in 2017.

So far, the most memorable moment has been the release of "Cowboy Carter." I'll never forget staying up all night and reviewing the album, speaking about its significance on national TV, and interviewing other Black country artists and witnessing its impact on culture.

Bryan West

It’s me, hi I’m the Taylor Swift reporter for The Tennessean and USA TODAY! My name is Bryan West. I grew up in Spring Creek, Nevada. My high school dream was to be a corporate executive until I took a journalism elective at Gonzaga University and discovered my passion for storytelling. I transferred to Northwestern University and, after graduation, I was hired by the NBC in Phoenix. I produced and reported for eight years, winning a duPont, Murrow and two Emmy awards.

When I left news in 2018, I joked on my way out the door that I would only return to news if I could cover Taylor Swift every day. The opportunity came in the fall of 2023 when the position went viral and I moved to Nashville.

This job is nonstop and everchanging. I cover all aspects of the pop star, billionaire and philanthropist including – but not limited to – her impact on the economy, collegiate instruction, politics, music industry, movie industry and sports. I’ve had the opportunity to travel to Asia, Australia and Europe to talk with fans and cover her goliath Eras Tour. My favorite part of the job is exchanging friendship bracelets with fans worldwide.