More Cowbell Please: CCM Stories

The lawsuit nightmare.Running out of money.Almost homeless with a young family.And the miraculous “eagle” vision that carried him through.Jess shares how God turned the darkest season into a comeback—writing worship anthems for Chris Tomlin, Passion, John Reddick, TobyMac w Forrest Frank, and more.From pop highs (Backstreet Boys, David Archuleta) to Nashville heartbreak and redemption—this is raw faith in the music business.Next episodes coming:Stu G (Delirious? guitarist – worship music legend)Stacey Willbur (veteran CCM song plugger)Hit subscribe—you don’t want to miss these! 🔥#JessCates #ChristianSongwriter #WorshipMusic #ComebackStory #morecowbellplease

00:00 Intro
00:57 Out of Money & Almost Homeless
01:30 A Vision & God’s Word
02:59 Settling the Lawsuit
03:50 Lawsuit Aftermath04:46 Life Lessons from the Lawsuit
05:15 Lawsuit Outcome
05:41 Selling the Catalog
06:00 Nashville Deals & Humbling Moments
07:18 Forming In Paradise
07:35 Signing with TIM Publishing
08:14 Getting Back on His Feet
08:42 Random Success Stories
09:41 Jess’s Journey Through Genres
10:10 TobyMac, Forrest Frank & Jon Reddick
11:09 “Jeff Cates” & Alt IDs11:41 AI in Songwriting
15:12 10,000 Hours & 3 Guys in a Room
16:10 Career Advice for New Writers
17:50 Embarrassing Songwriting Stories
18:33 Lessons from Hard Sessions
19:38 Fear vs Faith in the Room
21:14 Changing Priorities
22:25 Finding & Living Your Purpose
24:30 Jonas Brothers Session
25:02 Martina McBride “Just Call You Mine”
26:44 Passion “The Lord Will Provide”
27:36 Song Impacts on Listeners
29:28 Goodbye & Thanks
29:35 Outro
🎧ALL EPISODES:.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBt6FZ88v_g64fr3KfLjQgPIM0vUYRZy9PODCAST:Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/0v9dEeIH0OeP1chxSfQ7gj?si=d0HmJihHTjGhiEuwP8cYewListen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-cowbell-please/id1796605641Get vidIQ to grow your channel faster! 🚀https://vidiq.com/morecowbell

Hit songwriter, Jess Cates takes us into the realities of the craft in both LA and Nashville. From mega hits with Backstreet Boys and American Idols, to worship hits with Elevation, Passion, Matt Redman, and the who's who of CCM Christian Music. From millions in sales and billions in streams, to being broke and almost homelessAt one point finding himself needing to sue his non paying publisher. The highs and lows and song backstories you wont believe!Part 2 next week.Credits include songs withMainstream Pop:Back Street BoysNick LacheyJonas BrothersNew Kids on the BlockVertigoCliff RichardAmerican Idol ALUMS:David ArchuletaScotty McCreeryClay AikenDavid CookCountry:LeAnnRimesMartina McBrideCCM:Mercy MeTobyMacForrest FrankLeelandRebecca St JamesMandisaAvalonBebo NormanPoint of GraceSonicFloodJump5The AftersBritt NicoleBen RectorWorship:Matt RedmanChris TomlinPassion MusicElevationJon ReddickJesus CultureMatt MaherChapters00:00 Intro – Season 2 Premiere!
02:13 Welcome Jess Cates
02:27 Nashville Roots & Preacher’s Kid Life
03:19 Growing Up in Franklin Schools
04:01 First Song Ever Written (Age 15!)
04:26 Early Gigs & Talent Shows
04:46 Meeting Michael W. Smith
06:05 One Year at Belmont… Then Quitting
06:17 Writing Worship with Friends
06:54 First Publishing Deal – Brentwood-Benson07:50 How Publishing Deals Actually Work
09:45 Leading Worship on the Side
10:07 First Major Cuts (Avalon, Plus One)
11:01 Signing a Pop Deal in LA
11:27 Moving to Los Angeles12:10 Worship Leading in the Desert
12:40 Finding Family at an LA Church
13:33 Success vs Faith Tension in Hollywood
14:19 Praying in the Bathroom Between Sessions
14:58 Inviting God into Secular Writing Rooms
15:59 Real Faith Conversations with Pop Stars
16:56 The Joshua Tree Surrender Story
17:10 Jonas & the Holy Spirit Lights
18:26 “Incomplete” – Writing for Backstreet Boys
19:51 How the Song Leaked & Exploded
20:19 God’s Joshua Tree Confirmation
23:07 The Mystery of Songwriting
25:01 More LA Hits (David Archuleta, Nick Lachey)
25:14 “Crush” – From Prayer Closet to #1
27:00 The Chris Tomlin “Even So Come” Miracle
30:19 Passion Release & Life-Changing Impact
30:44 Partnering with TIM Publishing
31:37 Why Jess Left LA
31:48 The Lawsuit That Changed Everything
32:00 Running Out of Money
32:20 Landing Back in Nashville
32:50 Spiritual Breakthrough in Hardship
33:41 Almost Homeless with a Young Family
34:28 Outro – Part 2 Next Week!🎧ALL EPISODES:.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBt6FZ88v_g64fr3KfLjQgPIM0vUYRZy9PODCAST:Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/0v9dEeIH0OeP1chxSfQ7gj?si=d0HmJihHTjGhiEuwP8cYewListen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-cowbell-please/id1796605641Get vidIQ to grow your channel faster! 🚀https://vidiq.com/morecowbell

I name the top 5 the most radical Christian music artists in the recorded music era and what they did that shocked the business. And the church. Were they right? Did they go too far? Forrest Frank has posted radical stands lately - Dropping out of the Doves, slamming AI music, refusing to listen to non christian music. It reminded me of those in the past that have done even more radical things, Sadly all but one have passed away, but each lived controversially - and i speculate they may have moderated with time and grace. Follow along as i detail the stands of Carman, Keith Green, Larry Norman, Rich Mullins and of course mr Forrest Frank.

🎧ALL EPISODES:.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBt6FZ88v_g64fr3KfLjQgPIM0vUYRZy9PODCAST:Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/0v9dEeIH0OeP1chxSfQ7gj?si=d0HmJihHTjGhiEuwP8cYewListen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-cowbell-please/id1796605641Get vidIQ to grow your channel faster! 🚀https://vidiq.com/morecowbell

Join Me as I share a personal life update. And LEGAL issues!. I'm also taking to opportunity to give a life story of my journey from Australia to India, opening a Christian music venue, to mixing Grammy-winning tracks for For King & Country and Matt Redman! Discover the heart behind the podcast, inspired by faith, struggles, and stories from CCM legends like Danny Duncan, John Mays and Jackie Patillo, as well as CCM's most well known producers, writers, and Artists like for King and Country's own Joel and Luke Smallbone, Matt Hammit and Aaron Shust. The historic -time following of Charlie Kirks assassination has refocused me on the gospel’s power in music. The GREAT NEWS there's MORE COMING. But not for a couple weeks. Stay tuned. Subscribe! #MoreCowbellPlease

If you've seen the cowbells recent reels showing Charlie Kirk praising Forrest Franks influence, The effect on Lauren Daigle, and Jenny McCarthy you'll have sensed a change. Watch for the upcoming stories and observations in conversation with my guests - we're on a mission!

Chapters:0:00 Intro0:09 Welcome to More Cowbell Please0:17 Channel Stats: 1M Views, 1,400 Subs1:10 Guest Highlights: CCM Legends1:15 Producers: Chris Stevens & More2:04 Songwriters: Matt Armstrong & Ian Eskelin2:11 Executives: Jackie Patillo & John Mays2:27 Skillet’s Manager Zach Kelm2:37 Artists: For King & Country & More2:58 Engineers: Danny Duncan & Others3:06 Concert Promoter Gary Smith3:14 Media: Jessica Morris on Newsboys3:24 Thanks to Our Guests3:28 The CCM Industry Pyramid3:38 Why I Paused the Podcast4:41 Legal Hold on Special Episode5:01 My Australian Roots5:26 India Missionary Life5:58 Outback & Boarding School Adventures6:53 Piano Tuning Apprenticeship7:37 Starting a Christian Music Venue8:09 Bible College & Theological Training8:45 Promoting with David Smallbone9:37 Unsung Hero: Amy Grant Connection10:08 Producing Local Acts11:03 Moving to the USA11:37 Working at a Worship Label12:05 Becoming a Full-Time Mixer13:16 Podcast Inception Story13:56 Charlie Kirk Impact14:28 What’s Next for More Cowbell Please🎧ALL EPISODES:.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBt6FZ88v_g64fr3KfLjQgPIM0vUYRZy9 PODCAST:Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/0v9dEeIH0OeP1chxSfQ7gj?si=d0HmJihHTjGhiEuwP8cYewListen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-cowbell-please/id1796605641

Prince Mulla is a Christ follower working in the Bollywood movie industry as a producer and musician. From leading 500,000 in worship to crafting Bollywood hits, Prince shares his journey as a pastor’s son, navigating faith in a 1.4 Billion people nation where conversion is illegal. Hear stories of his viral song “Zinda” impacting Pakistan persecution, and “Gal” healing loneliness. He's producing homegrown authentic modern worship that the Indian population can relate to - and I frankly find fascinating!. In this podcast we learn about how he's blending traditional instruments like tablas, harmoniums and sitar with western musical influences in this new wave of worship music sweeping thru the Church there.Chapters: 0:00 Intro to More Cowbell Please1:07 Meet Prince Mulla: Bollywood & Faith1:36 Prince’s Christian Roots in India2:03 Music Journey: Harmonium to Keyboard2:26 Studying Music in Chennai2:51 Bollywood Beginnings as Keyboardist3:35 Leading Worship for 500,0005:05 Navigating Bollywood’s Music Scene5:55 Faith in Bollywood: Staying True6:28 Producing Ads & Jingles7:16 Viral Christian Songwriting Begins8:10 Personal Worship Through Music9:05 India’s 26 Languages & Hindi Worship9:45 Christianity in India: 2% & Growing11:13 Conversion Laws in India13:26 Christ Follower, Not Christian14:30 Church Growth Amid Persecution16:47 Indian Worship Meets Western Sound18:07 Western Music’s Impact on India18:36 India’s Wealth Divide Explained19:38 Breaking India’s Caste System21:45 First Impressions of America22:56 Zinda’s Impact After Church Bombing24:36 Gal: A Song for God’s Hug26:41 India’s Got Talent & Guinness Record27:33 Nations of Worship Ministry28:10 Keeping Worship Pure, Not Paid29:12 Rich Mullins’ Money Philosophy29:58 Choosing Ministry Over Money30:27 Christian Music Scene in India31:21 Outro & Duncan Phillips Tease🎧ALL EPISODES:.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBt6FZ88v_g64fr3KfLjQgPIM0vUYRZy9 PODCAST:Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/0v9dEeIH0OeP1chxSfQ7gj?si=d0HmJihHTjGhiEuwP8cYewListen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-cowbell-please/id1796605641