-
10 Questions with ... Laura Moxley
June 1, 2021
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Laura Moxley joined All Access’ Nashville team last month. A Nashville native, Moxley is a 2021 graduate of the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She gained experience in radio working first as a student host and producer at campus radio station WUTK, followed by stints at Cumulus Country WIVK/Knoxville, TN and then a production and social media content position at Cumulus News-Talk KMJ/Fresno, CA. She also grew up in the music business as the daughter of record industry veteran and longtime Show Dog Nashville SVP/Promotion Rick Moxley.
1. You recently graduated from the University of Tennessee/Knoxville, where you studied Communication and Information, with a concentration in Journalism and Electronic Media. What made you choose this combination?
There are actually three reasons I chose that combination as my concentration in school. First, writing has been a strong suit for me for as long as I can remember. I’m the friend who often was begged by my other friends in high school and college to write their papers for them. I enjoy doing it. Journalism goes hand in hand with my love of writing, so it seemed like the obvious pick. Second, I love being able to tell people’s stories, which is a key part of journalism.
Lastly, as weird as this sounds, I love to talk. I talk people’s ears off quite frequently, and I talk to myself like it’s my job. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted a career where I can talk for a living, so immediately upon my arrival to UT I knew that journalism was the best pick for me, because my first plan was to be a news anchor … which is a story for another time.
2. You worked at campus radio station WUTK. What did you do there, and what are some of the things you learned?
Working at the campus radio station was an addition to my radio production/reporting class, where we were responsible for curating and producing campus, local, state, and national news in a report which we would be assigned to present either during the morning show or afternoon drive at the station. Doing the morning news reports was valuable experience for me to gain confidence in my broadcast voice and write properly for radio.
3. You also interned at WIVK/Knoxville, and then worked for Cumulus again at KMJ/Fresno in a production and social media content role. What did you enjoy most about each of those experiences, and what did you learn?
WIVK was my first taste of the music radio world, and it was a blast. The experience I had there definitely narrowed down my interests for a future career and made me fall in love with the industry. When I worked there, I was part of the promotions team, and I got to utilize the creative side of my brain, which is really important to me in any type of work that I do.
KMJ was a totally different side of the radio world. I got to learn the technicalities of producing a radio show both in studio and remotely, and also got a chance to develop and exercise my radio voice. They actually ended up letting me have my own segment during the afternoon drive on Fridays, which was awesome.
4. You literally grew up in the music industry as the daughter of Show Dog Nashville SVP/Promotion Rick Moxley. What was that experience like? Did you understand your dad's job as a kid? Any funny stories?
To be honest, I never understood my dad’s job when I was a kid, and I always remember being bored out of my mind when my little brother and I would have to sit in his office before we went to school sometimes. I remember looking at his whiteboard of radio station call letters and listening to him talk on the phone and thinking, “Wow that’s boring.”
As I got older, it became much less boring as I got to experience Toby Keith sound checks and attend concerts with him, catching all of the behind-the-scenes action. I’ll never forget when he took my brother and me to Toby’s concert in June of 2018, I’m not sure if he does this anymore, but Toby used to hand the bottle of his Wild Shot mescal (with the worm in it) to a stage/crew member in the middle of the show, and that time he handed it to my dad. It was the funniest thing ever.
5. What advice has your dad given you as you've embarked on a career in the Country music industry?
Not to do it. LOL, kidding … sort of. My dad has always emphasized the importance of being quick and prompt in all aspects of life since a pretty young age. That alone has been carried with me throughout my education and embarkment to the professional world, making it second-nature for me to get things done quickly but with quality, which I’ve found helps me keep up in this fast-paced industry. He has also taught me the importance of having thick skin and not taking criticism to heart, which is super valuable, especially in a career like this.
6. You grew up studying guitar, piano and voice. Did you dabble in any other instruments, and was a career as a musician something you ever contemplated?
Music has always been more of a pastime for me and a stress reliever, and also a way for me and my little brother to bond. I’ve never actually contemplated it being a career. I think I would have stage fright. I would say growing up I more heavily focused on guitar and vocals throughout the years, as opposed to piano, and I attempted to learn ukulele and banjo. I’ve also always wanted to add playing the drums to my arsenal of instruments. Maybe that will be my next project.
7. How was your enthusiasm for Country music sparked? Who were some of your favorite acts growing up, and what drew you to the format?
I can honestly say that working at WIVK in Knoxville drew me to Country as a career, mostly because Country fans are a one-of-a-kind community, and working hands-on with fans at concerts and other events made me realize these were the kinds of people I would enjoy as a target audience from an industry perspective. Their spirit and positivity for the artists they love is unmatched. Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift were definitely the very first Country acts that stole my heart growing up. Attending CMA Fest in Nashville also sparked my love for Country, not only with the talent, but with the environment that a mutual love for Country music can create.
8. What radio stations did you grow up listening to in Nashville, and can you share the moment you knew you wanted to make your career in the music industry?
Growing up, WRVW (107.5 The River) was always blasting in my mom's car on the way to school. As I began to drive myself, I’d say my top stations were 107.5, WKDF and WUBT (101.1 The Beat). (I do also have a huge love for Hip Hop). I’m a very avid Spotify user, to the point that I check for new music as if it’s a social media app and I’m scrolling through my feed. So, if I’m not listening to the radio or SiriusXM, I’ll typically be my own DJ on Spotify.
Music and entertainment are things I’ve been passionate about for a really long time. Movies and theater also really interest me, but once I realized that I don’t have the facilities to play Glinda from “Wicked” on Broadway, the idea for music as a career path took over.
Having a career in the music industry has been in the back of my mind for a pretty long time, so I can’t really pinpoint the exact moment when I knew. I definitely tried my other options in college on news anchoring, political journalism and sports journalism, and quickly realized I need to have passion for those things, which led me to this industry.
9. What's the best Country music concert you've ever seen, and what made it memorable? Who have been your favorite artists to see live, and why? And who are some of the artists still left on your bucket list that you’ve not yet seen perform?
Hands down the best Country music concert I’ve ever seen was Kacey Musgraves at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville during her “Oh, What A World” tour. The stage design and lighting were phenomenal, and so different from anything I had ever seen before. This was right when her album, “Rainbow,” came out, so everything was pink and whimsical, her outfits were everything I could ever dream of, and her song lyrics really resonated with me at the time, so it was an awesome experience.
This one might be biased, but I’ve always enjoyed going to Toby Keith shows. His personality on stage makes the concerts so entertaining, and knowing the words to all of the songs is a plus. Kenny Chesney is another one of my favorite artists to see live. I’ve also been an avid CMA Fest attendee, so I’ve seen a lot of those performers live, which was awesome.
Hearing Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd live is still one I need to cross off my bucket list!
10. What appealed to you about joining the All Access team, and now that you’ve been here for a few weeks, what parts of the job are you most excited about?
The Editorial Assistant position at All Access was my dream post-college job, because I knew it would give me an opportunity to learn all aspects of the business (writing, editing, advertising, radio charts, etc), not just one specific area. I also love to read up on news about artists and celebrities, so what better place to be than All Access? I think what I’m most excited about on my journey is the potential of in-person events and getting to meet the rest of the team (hopefully) in real life as opposed to Zoom.
Bonus Questions
Outside of work, what are your hobbies and interests?
I love to be around people. When I’m not working, I’m usually with my friends, even if we’re just sitting there doing nothing. Along with my frequent Spotify use I’m always fighting to get to be the one that connects to the speaker when I’m with my friends. I’m an avid hot yoga go-er. I am super intrigued with conspiracy theories, and I’ll find myself going down deep rabbit holes on Reddit to try and figure things out. I am a sucker for old horror movies (and new, but the old ones are better). “Silence of the Lambs” takes first place on my list, always. Another hobby of mine is recording vlogs about everything I do and sending them to my friends. Hey, maybe I’ll start a YouTube channel.
Tell us five fun facts about Laura Moxley.
- I have a huge St. Bernard/Great Dane mix named Leo who I talk about way too often.
- My dog is named after my zodiac sign, Leo. If you’re interested in astrology, people say that I closely embody my sign.
- I was a vegetarian for six years.
- I was a part of Kappa Delta sorority at UT.
- In 2019, I moved to California (and then came back because I missed college).
-
-