You might see Amy Wright hosting The Curve or perhaps leading the interviews on Insights. You may hear her voice on a few DittyTV voiceovers. But Amy is fully immersed in DittyTV in ways you may not know. Learn more about her in this Q&A.
We see you as the host of The Curve. What can you tell us about the show and why viewers should tune in?
The Curve is focused on the more modern side of Americana music. It’s where artists are elevating the genre to new heights and taking you places that are surprising. You will discover some really dynamic new artists like The War and Treaty, Nicki Bluhm, and the Cordovas. For this reason, we do a lot of premieres on The Curve, so tune in and you will not be disappointed.
2) We also see you frequently on Insights. What can you tell us about that show and your involvement with it?
Insights is our show that is dedicated to interviews. It’s where viewers can find out more about the artists they love. I have always been interested in what makes people tick, so I was immediately drawn to conducting interviews. Understanding an artist’s journey and their passion can really connect you more to their music and getting to chat with the artists is one of the favorite parts of my job.
3) Do you have any special moments that stick out about either show or simply in your time as a DittyTV VJ?
The reality is that I truly love what I do as a host. I think what stands out for me most is getting to know the artists better. Artists arrive at our studio and we get to spend a few hours together. I am always amazed at how open they are to sharing their lives through their music and otherwise—it’s hard to do.
4) And while viewers see you all the time on Insights and The Curve they may be unaware of your full involvement with DittyTV and the new Ditty Foundation. You and your husband, Ronnie, founded DittyTV and are still in charge of its operations. Can you offer us a glimpse of the initial founding of DittyTV and how the whole thing came about?
Ronnie and I are tech entrepreneurs and musicians/music lovers. About six years ago, we were literally contemplating whether there was a way to combine our expertise in technology and our love of music. We had purchased a building on South Main Street in Memphis and built a studio, mainly for our own use. At first we were just going to broadcast concerts for our friends, but one thing led to another (being entrepreneurs) and we decided to launch a 24/7 broadcast, similar to vintage MTV, which we both grew up watching. We now have more than 5 million global viewers each month. We did not come from a television background, which I believe has served us well because we focus on great content and do not limit ourselves to historical conventions. More recently, we founded The Ditty Foundation dedicated to preserving Americana and Roots music. All along, we have given all of the audio and video media back to artists who tape in our studio as a part of our Concert Series. We decided that our passion is working with the artists and that by forming The Ditty Foundation, with DittyTV as a part of the Foundation, we would be able to expand our support and promotion of the artists in this genre.
5) So give us an idea of your day-to-day involvement with Ditty.
I am involved in many aspects of DittyTV including marketing, fundraising, operations, The Vibe and Dime (our new DittyTV store), and on-camera hosting—and I enjoy it all.
6) You’re a Memphis native. What do you think DittyTV means to a city so steeped in music history?
We could have chosen any city to launch our network, but Memphis has such a storied music history that it really made sense. Memphis is ground zero for so many sub-genres of Americana and Roots music that it felt like this was where we needed to be. And of course, we are excited to build on the rich musical past while participating in the future of Memphis music.
7) And you’re a bit of a musician yourself. Tell us what you play and do you ever have time to play music these days?
I am a fiddle player and a vocalist and I like to write music as well. Ronnie and I try to play music every night together, even if it’s just a few songs. Our love of music is why we do this.
8) Along those lines, what do you do when you just want to relax or have fun? Play music of course, entertain, and travel and experience new things.
9) If you were going to perform one and only one song on a TV talent show, what would it be and why? It would be “Me and Bobby McGee.” I know it was written by Kris Kristofferson, but I fell in love with Janis Joplin’s version at an early age. I know every word and I wouldn’t be worried about forgetting the lyrics. But beyond that, I really just love the song.
