Ep. 6: Matt McKinney | What Really Happens Behind Nashville’s Biggest Songs

Songwriter Matt McKinney may be one of the newer voices on Music Row, but his impact is already undeniable. Raised in Augusta and shaped by the songwriting culture of Nashville, Matt has built a reputation for sharp lyricism, emotional honesty, and the kind of room awareness that makes great songs possible. Since making his way to town and most recently signing with Position Music, his work has been recorded by Jordan Davis, Tim McGraw, Elle King, Jon Pardi, ERNEST, Lukas Nelson, and more—including Trey Lewis' Double-Platinum, Billboard #1 viral hit “Dicked Down in Dallas.”In this conversation, Matt opens up about navigating egos in the writing room, learning when to lead and when to listen, and why community is Nashville’s real secret weapon. He shares candid insight into the rise of outside cuts, the financial realities songwriters face in the streaming era, and the importance of staying original in a trend-chasing world. And of course, he tells the unbelievable true story behind “Dicked Down in Dallas”—from a college melody to a viral moment that changed everything.Whether you’re a songwriter, an artist building your voice, or someone who loves the stories behind the songs, this episode is packed with perspective, craft, and heart from one of Nashville’s rising talents.00:00 Growing Up in Georgia & Finding Music02:00 Moving to Nashville and Early Expectations03:15 Learning His Role in the Writing Room05:25 Nashville’s Unexpected Community07:27 Understanding the Business Behind the Songs09:05 Writers vs. Artists — Two Different Mindsets12:31 Why Songwriting Often Feels Like Therapy15:00 Ego, Honesty & Trust in Co-Writing18:01 The “Speed Dating” Reality of Writing Sessions20:07 The Hard Truth About Streaming Money23:28 Labels, Splits & Why Writers Struggle30:25 Why Listeners Still Crave Real Stories32:16 Originality vs. Trend Chasing34:07 The Return of Storytelling Songs39:25 How AI Is Changing Music Creation41:19 Inside Cuts vs. Outside Cuts Explained49:00 The Wild Story Behind “Dick Down in Dallas”56:15 Hitting #1 & the Viral Aftermath59:39 Songs That Live On (Even If They Aren’t Released)01:05:36 AI Demos, Budgets & the Future of Songwriting01:15:16 The UGA Crew That Took Over NashvilleFollow Matt McKinney:InstagramFollow The Bilby + Ella Show:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTokFollow Hill:InstagramFollow Willie:Instagram