Owning the Music: How The Listening Room Became Nashville’s Best-Kept Secret

In this episode of the XPLR.NASH Podcast, we sit down with Chris Blair, the founder of The Listening Room — one of Nashville’s most beloved venues and songwriter stages. Chris opens up about why prioritizing artists and guests over profits helped him survive 19 years and four relocations in an ever-changing city. We talk through the challenges of operating a fast-paced restaurant + music venue, Nashville’s explosive growth, and what it means to create a space where Grammy winners and up-and-comers share the same stage. Plus, what does the future of The Listening Room look like as downtown Nashville continues to evolve?Website: https://listeningroomcafe.com/Chris’s Podcast: Stories Behind the Songs – available wherever you stream podcasts