# From Receptionist to Record Exec: The Sheila Shipley Biddy Story :: Ep 41 Circling the Drain Podcast

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/circling-the-drain-7467223/from-receptionist-to-record-exec-the-sheila-shipley-biddy-story-ep-41-circling-the-drain-podcast
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/circling-the-drain-7467223/from-receptionist-to-record-exec-the-sheila-shipley-biddy-story-ep-41-circling-the-drain-podcast.md
Podcast: [Circling The Drain](https://stenobird.com/podcast/circling-the-drain-7467223)
Published: 2026-06-03T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/fff8303e
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/fff8303e/db0e8c9e.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/circling-the-drain-7467223/episodes/from-receptionist-to-record-exec-the-sheila-shipley-biddy-story-ep-41-circling-the-drain-podcast
Duration seconds: 4682

## Resource

Sheila Shipley Biddy went from small‑town radio and seven failed interviews to running one of Nashville’s most powerful record labels. In this episode, the first woman to head a major label on Music Row sits down with us to talk about discovering artists, fighting industry sexism, and the stories behind some of country music’s biggest careers. Sheila shares intimate memories of working with legends like Glen Campbell, Waylon Jennings, Alabama, Roger Miller, Don Williams, Patty Loveless, Gary Allan, and LeAnn Womack. She opens up about fighting for “difficult” artists, taking career gambles, launching Decca Records, and what really changed when Napster, streaming, and 360 deals hit the business. In the most personal part of the conversation, Sheila reflects on her faith, her work with Music Health Alliance, and surviving the devastating loss of her husband and son within months of each other. If you care about country music history, radio, or how the record business really works behind the scenes, this is a masterclass in both the business and the humanity of Music Row. 02:21 – Moving to Nashville, small‑town radio roots, and seven Monument Records interviews 05:40 – Turning down TV news and working for less than $100 a month 07:21 – Early days at Monument: Roy Orbison, Larry Gatlin, Ray Stevens, Kris Kristofferson 08:06 – Waylon Jennings, intimidation, and becoming the only rep he’d work with 09:49 – Reading Waylon’s energy and protecting him in public 09:58 – Jumping to RCA and “failing downward” to bet on herself 12:20 – Telling radio the truth about a bad record and earning lifelong trust 14:23 – When that honesty paid off years later at Decca 15:10 – Sexism on Music Row and being mistaken for “the secretary” 17:55 – Mentors, office politics, and being the only woma…

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## Transcript

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