Trannie Anderson's Breakdown

"It was hardly enough to get by, but they got me started in the right direction..."

Texas-born and Tennessee-based, Trannie Anderson has made a name for herself weaving her storyteller sensibilities into small-town anthems. In 2018, Trannie signed a co-publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing, an opportunity that has led to her songs being recorded by artists such as Lainey Wilson, Dan + Shay, Gabby Barrett, Nate Smith, Meghan Trainor, Pentatonix, Reba McEntire, Lauren Alaina, Tenille Arts, and others. Trannie co-wrote Lainey Wilson’s hit single “Heart Like A Truck'' which reached #1 on the Mediabase country radio chart in April of 2023. She has also had songs placed in ads and television shows with T-Mobile, Dodge Ram, Tractor Supply, Marshall’s, CW’s Riverdale, Netflix’s Maid, Fox’s Proven Innocent, American Ninja Warrior, American Idol, Fox Sports, Lifetime, and more.

---

How would you describe what you do in the entertainment industry? Not just your title, but your actual day-to-day.

I write songs with and for artists. 

Describe your first paying job in the industry. How did it help to advance your goals or define your trajectory? Would you choose this entry point again?

My first consistently paying job in the music industry was for a small publishing company called Catch This Music in 2016. They signed me to my first publishing deal and I was paid an advance every month to live on. It was hardly enough to get by, but they got me started in the right direction by introducing me to artists/songwriters I still work with today. When it closed down a year and a half later, I signed a much better co-publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing. 

Describe the moment you felt you "made it". What did it look like and how did you arrive there?

It depends on what you consider truly "breaking-in" but I would say my first publishing deal. My friends Caroline Hobby and Jennifer Wayne set me up with several publishers around town to "shop for a deal" during the summer of 2016. That really helped put me on Nashville's radar even in the smallest way and doors slowly opened up for me after those meetings. I got close to Caroline and Jennifer because of the dog-sitting business I owned, Pup-Stars Pet Services. They were 2 of my clients and after getting to know me better they offered to help make connections for me in the music industry.

What do you wish you knew before you took your first step into the industry? What essential advice could have informed your expectations, timeline, approach, etc…

The music industry is a marathon and not a sprint. I didn't expect anything to happen quickly but it requires patience, belief, self-confidence, and drive that a rare person has. Since it's such a process, I wish I had known that not every happenstance will make or break my career. It's healthy to feel the highs and lows, but the music industry has so many of them on a weekly basis that it can be unnecessarily exhausting to ride them all. I would go back and give myself the wisdom to know what's worth my energy and what isn't.

What still excites you about the industry? If you had 48 hours in the day, where else would you be exploring in the industry?

At the moment I get most excited about starting the writing process of a new record or EP with artists I love. I see a vision alongside them and can help them sketch it all out and fill in the pieces over the months before it all comes together in the studio. It can be tough and limiting to write for just one specific slot on a project so I love helping connect all the dots and build a full story and experience for the listeners. I learn so much more about the artist that way and can help them create more meaningful and personal art.

Where can we follow along with you?

instagram.com/trannieanderson

---