Know who the audience is in Nashville. While the four biggest music labels have a home in Nashville, understand that the city's main focus is country music, Christian rock and pop and some jazz music. You are more likely to be noticed and accepted into the culture if your music is based in one of those genres instead of something like punk or hip-hop.
Record your demos at home. With the technology available on a variety of home computers, it is possible to record your music without the use of the studio. Use this as a means to have your songs readily available not only on disc but in an MP3 format as well.
Place your music on the Internet for people to hear. Sites like Myspace.com are designed to help new musicians post their music so people can hear it easily. It also helps to increase your Internet presence by posting your songs on a variety of online music blogs. The goal is to create a buzz within the Internet community.
Find and play gigs at local clubs, bars and honky-tonks. Nashville's vibrant music scene means there is the potential to find an audience even if the venue you are playing is not the Grand Ole Opry. The center of the music scene is at "The District," a section in downtown Nashville consisting of Lower Broadway, 2nd Avenue and Printeri Alley. When playing live, be sure to make yourself accessible by selling merchandise (such as CD's, stickers or T-shirts). Open for popular artists with a large following. Even though you will be playing a shorter set, your music will reach ears that may not have heard you before.
Play the big festivals in town. The CMA Festival is the king of country music festivals, but there are other smaller ones that will bring your music greater visibility. With the higher profile, you will attract not only a larger audience, but the attention of the major labels as well.