Songwriter Soup

Mike Robinson (“For The Rest Of Your Life” - Teddy Swims, “Umbrella” Fitz and The Tantrums, “4runner” Brenn!) joins the SS trio this week to discuss how being a no-brainer hit songwriter still involves a frick load of patience while you wait for the proof (a big ol fat hit) to show up. Mike shares his approach on his career as he makes his way through-continue to show up, kick ass (which he does with ease) and most importantly, have a fantastic time doing the job. We think this is the cocktail that can almost guarantee success at this stage of the game, so anyone on their way, but not quite there, would benefit from a listen to this episode. We also discuss some songwriter room dynamics never discussed on the pod.. like that moment when the song has soured and it’s time to maybe, sorta, kinda consider starting fresh. Enjoy this episode! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The crew is joined by Austin Goodloe (“Dandelion” Ella Langley, “Rocky Mountain Low” Corey Kent & Koe Wetzel, “I Can’t Love You Anymore" Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen) to discuss the difference between confidence and cockiness, obsession with music, and not letting tenure spoil the magic of this crazy career.Austin shares stories about how Jelly Roll helped get him signed to a publishing deal, how Ben Rector’s golf game taught him about career stamina and how being a producer is an advantage in the writing room, but also, how it can also put you in a position to be taken advantage of (that whole “sending stems” situation).The group was also joined by The Tennessean so if you’re here because of that article, welcome and enjoy this episode!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Producer and songwriter David Spencer parks it on the Soup couch this week, bringing a massive amount of cross-genre perspective, jumping from Christian radio hits like Katie Nichole’s "In Jesus Name" to producing a viral TikTok pop smash for Neoni, and even helming Jo Dee Messina’s highly anticipated upcoming return album.But before the chaotic six-week period in 2022 where his career exploded all at once, David lived a gruelling double life. He pulls back the curtain on the reality of the Nashville hustle: spending his mornings chasing cuts and his evenings running a private music lesson business, missing family dinners for almost a decade just to keep his dream afloat.The crew digs into the psychology of songwriting with a day job and the gut wrenching moment you decide to give up a steady income to lean into the dream.It’s a beautiful conversation about surviving the terrifying dips of the music business, why you have to wear multiple hats to survive, and the crucial difference between stubbornly "never giving up" and staying curious enough to just "keep going." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week the trio sits down with the tallest man to ever enter the Songwriter Soup lair: producer and songwriter Paul DiGiovanni (“How Not To” Dan + Shay,  "The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home” Justin Moore, “Lose You” Jordan Davis).Paul’s journey is a masterclass in the winding road of the music industry, traversing from the height of 2000s emo with Boys Like Girls ("The Great Escape”) to the final frontier of guitars in Nashville. He pulls back the curtain on the raw reality of starting over from scratch - trading TRL interviews and Taylor Swift collabs for a two-bedroom house shared by four dudes in East Nashville. Paul shares his moving-the-dirt philosophy, reminding every new writer that you have to show up for the bad days if you ever want to strike gold.The crew digs into the nitty gritty of the producer-writer life, exploring why production feels a lot like getting a painful tattoo: a mix of initial excitement, mid-project agony, and a high that only hits once the ink (or the track) is dry.Between his swoopy-haired band roots and his country success, Paul has plenty of perspective (and tea!) on the music business. It’s a candid look at why you need "that dog" in you to survive the industry’s toxicity and why winning the day in the room is the only drug that keeps the real ones coming back.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we host songwriting couple (each a BMI Songwriters Of The Year of years past), Nicolle Galyon & Rodney Clawson.We cover the importance of acknowledging your “money scripts” - those things you knew to be true about money when you were a kid that you dragged into your adulthood. We also touch on that moment when success as a songwriter becomes a temptation to delve into different sides of the music industry.We cover how dynamics at home are affected when spouses bring identical work issues, triumphs and disappointments to the dinner table, and some theories on how to prevent your children from turning into assholes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Producer and songwriter Gabe Simon (“Stick Season” Noah Kahan, “Blue Banisters” Lana Del Ray, “The Man That Came Back” Jessie Murph) shares his journey from driving Uber while on a publishing deal to producing career-defining records for Noah Kahan, Dermot Kennedy, and Lana Del Rey.This conversation explores the financial realities of the music business, the importance of community over competition, and how to build sustainable creative careers. Gabe and the crew delve into some new topics for Songwriter Soup, hope you enjoy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trio de Songwriter Soup delve into art/business relationships and more on today’s episode. When it comes to a songwriter’s relationship with an artist, what is loyalty exactly? Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing?Man, it sure can get tricky as people come and go (and come and go again). Holding too tightly and/or getting one’s feelings hurt can do damage, internally and externally. Let’s talk about it! But wait, are we even talking about songwriting? Totally.Are we talking about EVERYTHING? Perhaps? Either way, hope it helps!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dave Cohen (“Pray Hard”BigXThaPlug & Luke Combs, “Home” BigXThaPlug & Shaboozey, “Good Day For Living” Joe Nichols) is a previously full time touring musician, 5-time Academy of Country Music and 6-time Music Row Award-winning producer and multi-instrumentalist who pivoted to songwriting in recent years.There is so much to learn from Dave regarding expanding your toolbox, being a good collaborator and hang, and understanding those subtle hints that are pulling you towards a career path tweak.This episode covers the ever elusive music row imposter syndrome along with other music maker challenges, and how to treat the next generation better than the previous generation treated you. Enjoy this episode!Watch Dave's episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k4qSLGVzApMListen to songs Dave's played on: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/dave-cohen-the-session-musicians/pl.fc1ef8b91a354a8aa76bb694b6242703See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week the crew is joined by ABSOLUTE LEGEND, artist and GRAMMY-winning songwriter Natalie Hemby (Kacey Musgraves "Rainbow", Miranda Lambert "White Liar", Little Big Town "Pontoon").The crew dives into that [very real] post-number-one depression, choosing family over touring, and getting pigeonholed as a songwriter. Natalie also shares the story of passing up writing "Shallow" with Lady Gaga and how she may be the only artist who doesn't want her own music to be "too successful".See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alysa Vanderheym (Rolling Up The Welcome Mat & Patterns Kelsea Ballerini, “Lose Somebody” Kygo & OneRepublic, “Hold On Me” Jelly Roll) gets into some big fat topics on the pod this week.The discussion covers craftsmanship, critical acclaim and the risks and advantages of artists who veer away from the radio and towards a finer art.The juiciest part of this episode BY FAR is when the crew talks about points, fees, the risk of sending around your production stems, and how easily songwriters get blacklisted for asking for things like participation in income streams aside from copyright royalties.This episode is chock full of sensitive and delicate topics, ones you’ll want to know more about before you’re in the middle of these dramas yourself.Knowing is truly half the battle, so let’s educate ourselves, kids! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Dragstrem (“I’ll Name The Dogs” Blake Shelton, “What My World Spins Around” Jordan Davis, “Just To Say We Did” Kenny Chesney) is a guy you’d meet at a party and find out years later, he wrote all of your favorite country songs.Songwriter Soup is proud to platform the least braggy writer in all of music row and discuss his journey from Starbucks to staff writer and how someone without that self promotion bug makes they’re way thru this business successfully. We cover the value of noodling, keeping it light and staying the course.Enjoy this episode of Songwriter Soup!Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6OsHLYFgEqYSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tayla Parx (“7 rings” & thank u, next” Ariana Grande, “High Hopes” Panic! At The Disco, “Like JENNIE” JENNIE) joins the crew this week and this episode covers a LOT— the LA style publishing deal compared to a Nashville style deal, how to tailor your business set up to fit your life and lifestyle, and how to approach mentoring with the aim to better the culture and leave something sustainable behind. Tayla is a one and only human and a big picture thinker. Lots to learn here guys! Enjoy.Watch and subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SongwriterSoupPodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ok, strap in guys, this will be the most entertaining episode of Songwriter Soup so far, and maybe forevermore. Laura’s prediction for future Songwriter Of The Year, Thomas Daniel, is on the podcast this week, representing (for now, and not for long) the middle class songwriter.By that we mean, Thomas is fully in the meat of ‘publishing deal land’ and hasn’t had that first big hit… YET (absolutely inevitable). His questions and perspectives help fill in some very crucial blanks in the Songwriter Soup ecosystem, and the trio is so grateful and happy to discuss them.This episode covers a ton about mentorship, particularly why hit songwriters sign up and coming songwriters, and how they maybe, kinda, sorta shouldn’t necessarily do that. It also addresses the future of the songwriting industry and the importance of financial literacy at all stages of the career.Enjoy this episode and prepare for sore abs, Thomas is one funny MFer.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ryan Hurd (“Heartless” Diplo feat. Morgan Wallen, “What My World Spins Around” Jordan Davis, “What If I Never Get Over You” Lady A) sits with the Songwriter Soup trio to talk brass tacks music industry business.Ryan describes the justifiable lure of releasing your own music exactly the way you like it, but helps fill in some blanks about how complicated, time consuming, FREAKING expensive and not-at-all-casual it is to switch from songwriter to artist.This episode breaks down so much of the nitty-gritty ins and outs of record deals, merch & touring and pulls back the curtain on the fiscal balancing act that is “doing an artist thing.” A MUST LISTEN if those words are in your periphery.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grammy-winning songwriter and artist Brandy Clark (“Mama’s Broken Heart” Miranda Lambert, “Follow Your Arrow” Kacey Musgraves, Shucked on Broadway) has carved out one of the most respected careers in modern music.Brandy joins the Soup crew for a heartfelt conversation about trusting your instincts, recognizing those life-changing moments, and choosing purpose over pressure. From the Music Row to Broadway, this conversation weaves through the highs, the pivots, and the magic that comes with creating songs that truly mean something.00:00 Introduction01:20 Brandy Clark's Songwriting Journey09:27 Some Love for Lindyville 27:59 Writing 'Follow Your Arrow', Appreciating Kacey Musgrave's35:54 The Value of Music: Personal Impact vs. Mass Appeal36:55 Balancing Creativity and Commercial Success37:46 Iconic Songs43:29 The Impact of Overworking Arists46:39 The Joys and Struggles of Touring01:01:25 SHUCKED!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grammy winning hit songwriter, Shane McAnally (“Body Like A Back Road” Sam Hunt, “American Kids” Kenny Chesney, “Fancy Like” Walker Hayes) has achieved every imaginable accolade and is seen by the community (and most certainly, this Songwriter Soup crew) as one of the greatest songwriters of this era.The trio sits down with Shane for a candid conversation about how addicting the mountain top is, and how gratitude and service can hit like dopamine, if you allow yourself to pivot towards them. Enjoy this episode!Watch the full video & subscribe on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LSrAa7-AV9cSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Carrie Karpenin (“High Road” Koe Wetzel & Jessie Murph, “The Man That Came Back” Jessie Murph, “People Vs. Maryanne Sue” Devon Again) sits down with the SS crew this week to discuss the journey for girls in boy spaces (behind drum thrones and producer seats), the thrill and exhaustion of being a touring musician, and letting your cowriters remind you who you are.This episode covers the risk tenured writers take when lobbing well-placed insults at a newbie and the pain that can cause, how softness is an asset, and how important “taste” is when it comes to making music. Enjoy our conversation with the delightful, Carrie K!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The songwriting community lost one of its finest. Hall of Fame Songwriter, Brett James (Jesus Take The Wheel” Carrie Underwood, “On My Way To You” Cody Johnson, “Mr. Know-It-All” Kelly Clarkson) was known by so many of us as a remarkably open and loving human.He was a fierce songwriter rights advocate, and one of the biggest contributors to the American Songbook in this era. His accomplishments as a songwriter span decades and reach heights we all dream of, but pale in comparison to his kindness. May we all be remembered this way. This episode originally aired on September 9th, 2024.We’re re-releasing this episode of Songwriter Soup this week to celebrate the life of our dear friend, Brett James.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grammy Award winning songwriter and producer, Jordan Reynolds (“Tequila, “Speechless” Dan + Shay & “10,000 Hours” Justin Bieber & Dan + Shay), joins the Songwriter Soup crew to discuss a songwriter’s search for a hero, A.I., studio aesthetics, and the subtle care that comes from making a slow cup of coffee for cowriters.Jordan, a music row staple and everyone’s favorite conversationalist, is a perfect way to start off season three-ever continued, now on YouTube!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two time BMI songwriter of the year, Jesse Frasure (“Halfway To Hell” Jelly Roll, “Dirt On My Boots” Jon Pardi, “Marry Me” Thomas Rhett) closes out the spring season, as always, joined by the Songwriter Soup trio.This episode includes a candid conversation about the highs, the lows, the ease, the difficulty, and the jealousy that come standard with all of our songwriter dreams. Jesse opens up a candid conversation on how to ‘dismantle the bomb’ of driving yourself insane, worrying about things you absolutely can’t control.The group discusses the importance of keeping your ego in check without suppressing it entirely, and how to stay humble without turning humility into an inferiority complex. Complicated stuff!Enjoy this episode and we will be back in the fall! Love y'all! Listen to Jesse Frasure: The Songwriters Playlist on Apple MusicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You might recognize today’s Songwriter Soup guest’s name and voice—Rob Ragosta (“Need A Favor” & “Winning Streak” Jelly Roll) is the brother of previous SS guest, Joe Ragosta! On this episode the group talks about family, community and how important the maintenance of both can help keep your head on straight through the ups, downs, highs and lows of the songwriter grind. It also covers the delicate balance of ego and humility and the wisdom of not looking down at anyone, or looking too far up at anyone either. The road is long, friends you never can tell where everyone ends up! Best to be a kind person to everyone. Enjoy this episode of The Soup!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Songwriter Soup, the trio is joined by Nashville producer and songwriter, Trent Willmon. This episode covers a wealth of information about production, vocals, and why Trent is open (and even excited!) to record outside songs with his frequent collaborator, Cody Johnson. For those of you who don’t know, an outside song is a song that an artist cuts without being on the copyright. There are a thousand reasons why that is going out of style and a thousand reasons why it shouldn’t. The discussion also meanders around studio etiquette, covering the subtle art of working with artists in the vocal booth and how incredible Nashville’s studio cats are. Enjoy!  Trent Willmon: The Songwriters Playlist on Apple MusicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, the Songwriter Soup trio is joined by the incredible Connie Harrington (“I Drive Your Truck” Lee Brice, “Mine Would Be You” Blake Shelton, “No Caller ID” & “Bless Your Heart” Megan Moroney). No shortage of wisdom, truth bombs and tears on this episode, y’all. Connie has seen it all and managed to stay, not just relevant, but bar-setting every damn time she gets one to stick to the wall.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Songwriter Soup crew sits down with FBMM’s own, Erica Rosa, lovingly and accurately known as the “royalty guru", to explore how money flows through the music industry. While originally set to focus on publishing royalties (this is a songwriter podcast after all), things naturally veered right to the actual beginning. How does music make money from the tippy top down? Erica offers a clear breakdown, from streaming and physical sales to touring and bundling strategies. Y’all should get a clear picture of the financial pressures on both artists and labels, and perhaps an explanation of the ongoing tension between fair compensation and business sustainability in the music industry The episode also navigates the intricacies of artist-label relationships, producer deals, and the often-misunderstood world of points, net receipts, and profit splits.  Songwriters, this one is a must listen. If we are ever going to fix it, we have to understand it. Start here!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Seth Ennis (“The Boys Back Home” Dylan Marlowe & Dylan Scott, “She Drives Away” Jon Pardi, “Hooked” Dylan Scott, “Tough To Tie Down” Jordan Davis) joins The Soup gang to discuss the challenges of going from an artist who writes great songs to a full time hit songwriter and the importance of friendship as you make your way up the ranks.Seth and Laura clear up an adorable ten year old work snafu, and coo over how amazing this songwriting community is.This episode is full of warm feelings and goodness while the four discuss work/life balance, reinventing yourself, and rising with the crew you came in with. Seth Ennis: The Songwriters Playlist on Apple MusicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To celebrate Kelly Archer’s recent two-week country number one, “I’m Gonna Love You” (Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood), we thought we’d re-release our interview with our girl, Kelly! Enjoy one of our favorite episodes of Songwriter Soup.Kelly Archer (“Sleep Without You” Brett Young, “Wild As Her” Corey Kent, “Somebody Else Will” Justin Moore) explains what it’s like to write songs in Nashville before and after becoming a U.S. Citizen. Tricky!Kelly's story is a wild one with high stakes and time limits, making her one of Nashville’s most steadfast and determined songwriters.This episode covers writing songs on work visas and how that intertwines with being signed to publishing deals. Kelly sets a shining example for songwriters to know their own worth, negotiate accordingly, while riding the ups and downs of this fickle career path.The Songwriters: Kelly Archer Playlist on Apple MusicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steph Jones (“Espresso” & “Nonsense” Sabrina Carpenter, “hole in the bottle” Kelsea Ballerini, “People You Know” Selena Gomez) might actually be the songwriting community’s most easiest to love songwriter.The Soup Crew learns all about Steph’s interest in scents and how it finds it’s way into her songwriting career, and the path she took through the praise and worship world that led her to a hits in pop and country.Steph definitely has wisdom to share. Her work ethic, combined with a “maybe yes maybe no” philosophy, establishes a buoyant energy in the writing room, and lets the universe take it from there.This episode also touches on songwriter rights and how we should ALL (gently) be asking for more. Enjoy this one!Listen to Steph Jones: The Songwriters playlist on Apple MusicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Replay, baby! Nashville's on Spring Break this week, so enjoy this oldie-but-goodie. It's full of great nuggets. We'll see you next week with a new episode!Break-ups are never easy, especially when it comes to co-writing. This week, our hosts examine the reasons it may be necessary to say goodbye to a collaborator and how to do it with care. The trio also talks about the virtues of Nashville’s even split policy, writing non-exclusionary lyrics, and what to do when you feel like your songs are getting worse.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Devin Dawson (“God’s Country” Blake Shelton, “The Difference” Tyler Rich, “All On Me” Devin Dawson) is our second songwriter artist guest on Songwriter Soup. Devin walks the crew through how cockiness (hmmm... confidence) helped him boldly switch lifestyles throughout his music career, jumping from garage death metal band to Belmont University student to country artist and hit songwriter.He unpacks the challenge and beauty of his experience with a spasmodic dysphonia diagnosis that forced him to pivot once again, away from his artist career.The Soup also gets a little song nerdy discussing craft and form, and Tracy, Laura & Kevin learn a bit about artist deals and how it may affect the writing room. Lots to learn. There will be a part 2 for sure. Enjoy part 1!Devin Dawson's Artist Page on Apple MusicDevin Dawson: The Songwriters Playlist on Apple MusicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Insurance is about the most boring topic on the planet. But! It’s also crucial that small business owners understand how it works, and how to make it work for you as you barrel into the future. In this episode, Tracy finishes out his financial planning strategy by putting a solid floor under those buckets with various types of insurance.The crew also discusses Music Health Alliance, an incredible resource for music people, and some other juicy insurance life hacks, like how to save money and get better care when your health insurance sucks.Between the buckets episode and this one, you should sleep soundly at night knowing your future is as secure as it can be!Music Health AllianceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Driver Williams (“Smoke A Little Smoke” Eric Church, “Days That End In Why” Morgan Wallen, “Back 40 Back” Luke Combs), son of publisher & former head of BMI, Jody Williams, has always known exactly what a songwriter is.This week on Songwriter Soup, the trio talks to Driver about what it was like to grow up in the thick of the Nashville songwriter scene, leaving it to follow his love of heavy metal, how that love somehow led him to Eric Church and the breadcrumb trail that brought him back home. What a wild story! Enjoy. Driver Williams: The Songwriters Playlist on Apple MusicLaura Veltz: The Songwriters Playlist on Apple MusicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode is undoubtedly one of the pillars of Songwriter Soup so, please do not miss it. Tracy takes the wheel this week as he explains the system through which he organizes, manages and grows other people’s wealth.The trio discusses Tracy’s famous buckets (short, mid and long term savings), as well as conventional wisdom most people use that, turns out, might be a less effective strategy for growing wealth.This episode also covers the sometimes inaccurate, and often damaging, use of the word “retirement”, particularly in creative jobs like songwriting.As heady and nerdy as this all sounds, it’s actually dripping in psychology so buckle up (bucket up?), this one might change the way you look at your money.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trio de Songwriter Soup delve into art/business relationships and more on today’s episode. When it comes to a songwriter’s relationship with an artist, what is loyalty exactly? Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing?Man, it sure can get tricky as people come and go (and come and go again). Holding too tightly and/or getting one’s feelings hurt can do damage, internally and externally. Let’s talk about it! But wait, are we even talking about songwriting? Totally.Are we talking about EVERYTHING? Perhaps? Either way, hope it helps!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Songwriter and producer, Andrew DeRoberts (“Somebody To Love” One Republic, “All Night” Brothers Osborne, “The Weekend” Brantley Gilbert) joins the trio to share his signature brand of calm with us all.This episode deep dives into staying comfortable in the uncomfortable moments in a writing room, which everyday parts of this weird job are actually the most fulfilling, how delayed gratification serves you, and when not to sell a catalog.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Soup Trio has a special guest on today - Dr. Death himself, and one of Nashville’s most esteemed estate planning gurus, Jeff Mobley. Why so morbid, you ask? Well, people with intellectual property (songwriters and art makers) should have a particular interest in making sure all of your creations, and the income they generate or could generate one day, ends up in the right hands. Nobody wants to talk about this stuff. To Jeff's point though, the moment you have a kid, you absolutely should be thinking about this stuff, no matter what you do for a living. We have a feeling you’ll be glad you listened to this one, even if you think you’re too young to talk about it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Josh Osborne (“Sand In My Boots” Morgan Wallen, “Body Like A Back Road” Sam Hunt, “Merry Go Round” Kacey Musgraves) joins the Songwriter Soup crew this week reminding us all of how to keep it stellar as a writer and keep it simple as a human. This episode was recorded the day and maybe even the moment he was nominated for yet another Grammy for “The Architect” by Kacey Musgraves. He walks us through the many failed publishing deals it took to get him to his first hit, how doing the math from the very beginning is still benefiting his life and how laughter is the best thing in the world. This man is so freakin' funny. Ok, enjoy! Listen to Josh's songwriter playlist on Apple Music: Josh Osborne: The SongwritersSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tom Douglas is back! The trio is thrilled to have Tom on Songwriter Soup for a second time. As if the world’s problems weren’t solved on part 1, the crew manages to cover some new concepts that with undoubtedly assist the new and established songwriter in their journey through this privileged world of songwriting. What does the mountain top look like from both sides? Did the team get you there or what is just you? How do you keep your equilibrium before and after success? Those are just some of the topics covered this week on the soup. Enjoy! Listen to Tom's songwriter playlist on Apple Music: Tom Douglas: The SongwritersSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tracy is absent today, but Laura and Kevin are soupin’ it, chatting with hit songwriter Trannie Anderson (“Heart Like A Truck”, “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” & “Whirlwind” Lainey Wilson, “3 Feet Tall” Cole Swindell). The three talk first publishing deals, the importance of mentors, and balancing hobbies with work. They also delve into some insights into the dynamics and challenges for female songwriters in country music, and how we might be seeing some signs that things are changing! Hallafreakinlujah!Listen to Trannie's songwriter playlist on Apple Music: Trannie Anderson: The SongwritersSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The trio delves into a few songwriting practices that can help you feel your feelings and unlock your creativity. Tracy also helps unpack why he doesn’t get investment antsy during big shifts like elections, and how you too can stay chill about your investments no matter what is going on in the world. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tom Douglas (“The House That Built Me” Miranda Lambert, “Meanwhile Back At Mamas” Tim McGraw, “I Run To You” Lady A) does what he does best on Songwriter Soup. With his signature eloquence and vulnerability, the patriarch of music row explains what held him back from pursuing his natural calling until his forties. We talk about the powerful effect of our parents voices in our heads, the role of pain as a songwriter’s most effective tool, and how many songs it takes to turn this creative pursuit into a business. Tom's songwriter Playlist on Apple Music: The Songwriters: Tom DouglasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The trio is joined this week by hit songwriter, Brett James (“Jesus Take The Wheel” Carrie Underwood, “Mr. Know It All” Kelly Clarkson, “Out Last Night” Kenny Chesney). Brett takes us through his on again, off again relationship with medical school interwoven between record deals and publishing deals, culminating in a surprise season of hits. The crew discusses how to manage your expectations through seasons of ups and downs, enjoying the mentor position in a room with younger writers, and the future of superstardom in the streaming era. Listen to Brett James' songwriter playlist on Apple Music:Brett James: The SongwritersSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Laura, Tracy & Kevin are joined by Laura’s songwriter manager, Hannah Babitt on Songwriter Soup. The crew attempts to breakdown the multitude of ways that the industry at large might consider compensating songwriters in the streaming era. They delve into the contrasts between Nashville and LA systems, the significance of transparent communication, when and when not to put your foot down, and the delicate balance of maintaining relationships while fostering industry-wide change. This episode is a candid look at the real-time shifts and the thoughtful minds spearheading these transformations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, hit songwriter Amy Wadge (“Thinking Out Loud” Ed Sheeran, “Consequences” Camila Cabello, “Wonder Woman” Kacey Musgraves) brought her signature eloquence and lovable nature to the Soup. She shares her perspectives on being a woman in the songwriting world, how important it is to have people around you who believe in you, and her long distance relationship with her career in songwriting, which for her, involves regular travel overseas. We cover the harrowing chapter of her life during which she and Ed Sheeran were involved in a high profile copyright lawsuit for “Thinking Out Loud”, and we talk thru a few measures songwriters can take to prevent some of these lawsuits from happening in the first place.Amy Wadge: The Songwriters Playlist on Apple MusicFollow Amy Wadge on InstagramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're back! After taking the summer off, Laura, Tracy and Kevin are getting back in the saddle with an episode dedicated to you, the listener, answering questions straight out of Laura's DMs. We're talking pay-to-play publishing, coveting that perfect song idea, and whether or not Nashville is the right place for your songs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of Music City’s matriarchs, Liz Rose (“You Belong With Me” Taylor Swift, “Girl Crush” Little Big Town, “Burn It Down” Parker McCullum) is here for the long haul. Her tips and tricks for how to hang in there and focus on the love of the job are evergreen, just like her hits.Liz's Songwriter Playlist on Apple MusicWritten By Liz Rose Playlist on SpotifyThe Love Junkies Songbook on Apple MusicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chris DeStefano brings a rare set of skills to the writer's room. Trained in film scoring at Berklee, Chris's knowledge of musical mechanics allows him to break out of ruts in writing sessions and infuse his songs with depth and gravitas. From singing in a boys choir in Austria, to session work in LA, to playing in a Salsa band in Las Vegas, to writing hits for Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood, Chris's story proves of one of our favorite themes on this podcast: no matter where your songwriting journey takes you, nothing is wasted.Chris's Songwriter Playlist on Apple MusicWritten By Chris DeStefano on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are you still with us? If you've made it this far into our Catalog Sale deep dive, congratulations, you're a superstar. In the third installment of this series, Tracy's back to give his take on Mike Molinar's master class, we dig further into multiples and admin rights, and wax poetic on the game of commodifying art.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The catalog sale saga continues! This week we're joined by Mike Molinar (Big Machine Music president and Laura's publisher) to give a publisher's perspective on catalog sales in 2024. Mike walks us through the terminology used in these negotiations and shares insights into some of the stress-inducing misinformation that permeates songwriter circles.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Songwriter, multi-instrumentalist & producer, Daniel Tashian (Kacey Musgraves Albums Golden Hour, Star Crossed & Deeper Well) took the long way around to massive success. Like many of us, his musicality was simply way ahead of its time. On purpose or by accident, Daniel managed to stick it out long enough to witness his own Golden Hour and we are all better for it.Daniel's Songwriter Playlist on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/daniel-tashian-the-songwriters/pl.ec6a5197166b4843b60c23882049dd5dWritten By Daniel Tashian Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EFRijbNtegdy8See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.