And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan-logo

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan

Music Podcasts

Every week, we sit down with an acclaimed and venerable songwriter to intimately discuss what happens behind closed doors in the music industry. There are millions of singers, thousands of artists, and only 40 top songs per genre at a time... this podcast is about the people who make them. Produced by Joe London & Ross Golan in association with Big Deal Music & Mega House Music. And The Writer Is... ™ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Location:

United States

Description:

Every week, we sit down with an acclaimed and venerable songwriter to intimately discuss what happens behind closed doors in the music industry. There are millions of singers, thousands of artists, and only 40 top songs per genre at a time... this podcast is about the people who make them. Produced by Joe London & Ross Golan in association with Big Deal Music & Mega House Music. And The Writer Is... ™ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Language:

English

Contact:

4157444692


Episodes

Ep. 179: Mike Shinoda

9/11/2023
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:41:01

Ep. 178: Laura Veltz

9/5/2023
Today’s versatile songwriting superstar earned her stripes touring with her family band. Originally from New York, this writer spend most of her childhood on the road, playing instruments, singing and writing songs. After the family band split up, she moved to Nashville where she dove into the songwriting scene. It took many years of grinding through the Nashville scene before stringing together this most impressive 5 year stretch. She’s been Grammy nominated for four years running, won a CMA Award, an ACM Award and was nominated for the first ever Grammy Award for Songwriter of the Year. Named Billboard’s 2022 Songwriter of the Year and a Variety Hitmaker in 2020, she has also been awarded four NSAI Awards and presented with the Yellow Rose of Inspiration Award by the Nashville-based Song Suffragettes for her contributions to the songwriting community. In 2020, “The Bones” reached number-one on the Country charts, achieving Top 10 on both Hot AC and Top 40 charts and shattering the record for most consecutive weeks held by a solo female artist after spending 19 weeks atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song’s historic reign propelled this writer to become the first female to claim the number-one spot on Billboard’s Top Country Songwriter chart, a feat she held for five consecutive weeks. The global smash also earned her several awards, including the BMI Pop Song of the Year. Her songs have also been recorded by Demi Lovato, Madeline Edward, Kelly Clarkson, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, The Highwomen, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Monsta X, Trisha Yearwood, Little Big Town, Ryan Hurd, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Mitchell Tenpenny and more. It’s safe to say that this writer is a certified hit-maker who’s work ethic and passion for songwriting have propelled her into well-deserved success. #AndTheWriterIs... Laura Veltz!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:27:11

Ep. 177: Jeff Barry

8/28/2023
Today’s guest is a songwriting legend who helped shape the sound of American pop music. Originally setting out to be a recording star, this guest became one of the most respected pop songwriters within the Brill Building complex of the ’60s. A struggling New Yorker, this writer’s fortunes changed considerably when he met his future wife and songwriting partner, Ellie Greenwich, at a party in 1962. Within a short time of teaming up, the duo had an appointment at Don Kirshner’s songwriting factory, New York City’s famous Brill Building. Ushered into the business by Leiber & Stoller, this duo began writing and arranging for the groups signed to Phil Spector’s Philles label. The smash hits “Da Do Ron Ron” and “Be My Baby” resulted from the time spent with Spector and, by 1964, the duo were an integral part of the staff at Leiber and Stoller’s newly formed Redbird Records. Largely regarded by pop aficionados as the mecca for the “girl group” sound, the staff at Redbird, produced tightly crafted, musically sophisticated songs. The duo also penned “Leader of the Pack,” which became a number one hit. They continued to write hit records throughout the ’60s, such as the seminal “River Deep, Mountain High” and the Beach Boys’ 1969 hit “I Can Hear Music,” their songs changing with the times, but still retaining the essence of their earlier Brill Building days. After the marriage broke up, their creative partnership did as well and while Greenwich went on to become a session vocalist, our guest became a staff producer at A&M Records. Throughout the ’70s, he worked with Neil Diamond, the Monkees, and Van Morrison, among other. Overall, this guest’s credits—as a writer, co-writer, producer, or a combination—extend to a mix of different genres. His song "Out of Hand" by Gary Stewart was the longest-charted country record of its year. He also wrote many other country tunes, including "If It Ain't Love by Now," sung by Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius, who later won the Country Music Association's Best Country Duo award. One of this writer’s most successful songs of all was Olivia Newton-John's 1974 worldwide smash hit "I Honestly Love You," which won "Song of the Year" at the American Music Awards, and, for Newton-John, GRAMMY Awards for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Performance. While mainly influential to the pop world, this writer’s impact spans throughout all genres and all corners of the music industry. #AndTheWriterIs... Jeff Barry !! Watercolor by: @artofmrw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:26:18

Ep. 176: Evan Bogart

8/21/2023
Today’s guest is a multi-talented writer, producer, music publisher and executive! He grew up in an incredibly unique environment, being the son of the legendary founder of Casablanca Records, which brought the world Donna Summer, Village People, Parliament-Funkadelic and Kiss. This musical upbringing prompted him to work in virtually every sector of the music industry— he worked at record labels, agencies and as a manager and rapper. Soon enough his songwriting took off and he began working on hits with Rihanna, Beyonce, Madonna, Demi Lovato, Lizzo, Jason Derulo, and many more. Now as an established songwriter, his focus is as CEO of Seeker Music publishing company where he and his team work to develop and support artists. His company represents artists, writers and producers such as Run The Jewels, Kito, Jon Bellion, Teddy Geiger, Sofia Valdés, and many more. Our guest has also dipped his toes into the world of film, serving as the Executive Producer and Executive Music Producer on the movie Spinning Gold, which came out in March 2023, and Verona, which is still in production. On top of all of this success, this writer’s work has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, winning one for Beyoncé’s “Halo” in 2010. Additionally, he has been awarded several BMI awards as both a songwriter and publisher. He is a passionate advocate for songwriters and serves as National Trustee for The Recording Academy and Chair of their Songwriters & Composers Wing. His dedication to the betterment of the songwriting community inspires us, and writers all around the world. And The Writer Is…Evan Bogart! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:26:28

Ep. 175: Maisie Peters

8/14/2023
Today’s guest wrote her first song when she was nine years old and quickly began honing her songwriting skills. After teaching herself guitar, this writer took to open mic nights and busking around West-Sussex, using the money to launch a YouTube channel. Over time, she began cultivating what is now one of the most dedicated fanbases in modern pop. Our guest eventually signed to Atlantic Records in 2018 and released her debut EP, ‘Dressed Too Nice For A Jacket’, later that year. In the years that have followed, our guest has firmly established herself as one of pop’s brightest new talents, racking up over a billion global streams and earning famous fans like Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers and Sam Smith, as well as launching her very own virtual book club, with guests including Annie Lord, Bolu Babalola and Elif Batuman. Running full steam ahead, this writer went on to sell out her second US headline tour and support Ed Sheeran on his mammoth UK/EU stadium tour, with five more dates confirmed for the North American run later this year. Continuing with a landmark year in 2023, this summer our guest released her acclaimed sophomore album The Good Witch, which earned her her first #1 on the UK Album Chart, marking her as the youngest British female solo act since 2014 to claim a #1, and the youngest artist to claim a #1 since Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour. And The Writer Is…Maisie Peters! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:59:20

Ep. 174: Alex Heiche (Sound Royalties)

8/10/2023
We’re excited to announce a special bonus interview with Alex Heiche, the CEO & Founder of our incredible supporters, Sound Royalties. Ross recently sat down with Alex to discuss the artist-friendly royalty funding services they provide. Read below to find out more about Sound Royalties and listen to this conversation on any platform you find your podcasts! Alex founded Sound Royalties in 2014 with the vision of providing funding to music creatives without ever taking ownership of the underlying copyrights. Its unique business model, tailored to creatives’ individual needs, lets creators keep 100% ownership of their copyrights while providing ongoing cash flow during the term of the advance. The company works with all types of royalty streams to maximize a creative’s options, going far beyond solely music streaming platform revenues. To serve its thousands of customers in 16 countries, it works with more than 130 PROs, publishers, labels, and distributors across three continents and maintains an international network of representatives who know their region’s music professionals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:13:39

Ep. 173: Shy Carter

8/7/2023
Today’s guest is a bona fide hit-maker whose worked across all corners of the industry. Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee this songwriter got their start playing saxophone in church and with bands on Beale Street before being discovered by a talent manager. He soon signed a publishing deal and began his career as a successful songwriter and producer. With credits that span Kane Brown's "Heaven" to Charlie Puth's "One Call Away," this writer is one of the most formidable up-and-coming talents in Nashville and beyond. He is among the writers behind Billy Currington's "It Don't Hurt Like it Used To," Sugarland's smash hit "Stuck Like Glue" and Rob Thomas' single "Someday." In addition to his feature on Tim McGraw's "Way Down," he has collaborated with Keith Urban on both "Never Comin' Down" and "My Wave." Named to Variety's 2018 Hitmakers list, he has also worked with Jason Derulo, Meghan Trainor, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Lopez, Nelly and more. His roots in gospel, jazz, R&B and soul developed into an early career in hip-hop, but his gift for storytelling and love of organic instrumentation led to a natural transition into country music. Now, with a transcendent style perfectly suited to the times, he's ready to stand on his own as a country artist. His debut radio single "Good Love" and subsequent EP The Rest Of US are fitting introductions to the man behind the music. And The Writer Is…Shy Carter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:28:20

Ep. 172: Mike Elizondo

7/31/2023
Today’s guest is a grammy award winning producer, songwriter and musician who has worked with an impressive and eclectic group of stars. He spent 11 years under the wing of legendary producer Dr.Dre and produced songs for Eminem, Carrie Underwood, NF, Fiona Apple, 50 Cent, Keith Urban, Twenty-One Pilots, Ed Sheeran, Gary Clark Jr., Regina Spektor, and the Jonas Brothers. A three-time Grammy nominee, Elizondo took home the “Best Rock or Gospel Album” Grammy award with Switchfoot in 2011 for the band’s Hello Hurricane. In 2016, Lin-Manuel Miranda asked him to produce three songs on the Hamilton Mixtape. He has extensive co-writing credits, including Eminem’s “The Real Slim Shady” and 50 Cent’s “In Da Club,” and also penned songs for artists including Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Eve, Snoop Dogg, Macy Gray, Nelly Furtado, and Mandy Moore, amongst others. He’s also worked at Warner Bros. Records where he used his passion for artist development to work with bands such as The Regrettes. On top of all of this, he is also an accomplished musician, having contributed bass to Ry Cooder’s Chavez Ravine and B.B. King’s Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. B.B. King, among other albums. His recent productions include Lauren Daigle, Brothers Osborne, Rag'n'Bone Man, Turnstile, and Disney’s ENCANTO. Today’s guest wears so many hats in the music industry, and inspires artists to explore all of their passions. And The Writer Is…#MikeElizondo! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:28:00

Ep. 171: Natalie Hemby

7/24/2023
Today’s guest signed her first publishing deal at the astonishing age of 19 and has since become one of the most successful and sought-after songwriters in the music industry. She has hits with Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, Lady Gaga, Yola, Dierks Bentley, Rag'n'Bone Man, Lady A, Kelly Clarkson, Little Big Town, and Labrinth, to name a few. She has successfully released her solo work and joined forces with Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, and Amanda Shires as The Highwomen, releasing their critically acclaimed self-titled album in 2019. After scoring the record deal she released her exceptional sophomore album Pins and Needles via Fantasy Records. With all of this hard work and talent, it is no surprise that our guest has also been recognized by the ACM, CMA, CMT, and NSAI Awards for her prodigious and versatile contributions to songwriting. She received a Grammy award for Best Song Written for Visual Media for Lady Gaga’s, “I’ll Never Love Again,” from A Star Is Born, and later a Grammy for Country Song of the Year for "Crowded Table" by The Highwomen. Her work inspires artists of every genre and generation. And The Writer Is…Natalie Hemby! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:12:09

Ep. 170: Jeff Bhasker

7/17/2023
Today’s guest has worked with some of the world's most famous artists and left a lasting legacy on hip-hop. Raised in a musical household in Socorro, New Mexico, this writer fell in love with Jazz at a young age. Later on, he studied Jazz piano and arranging at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where his love of music quickly turned into his life's calling. After graduating, he worked his way around the Boston music scene, playing gigs as a keyboardist before he moved to New York City. There he started to play in more jam bands, and soon found himself infatuated by songwriting. A few years later, he moved to Los Angeles where he started to write demos for Diane Warren and Bruno Mars, slowly gaining recognition in the songwriting and producing scene. In 2008, he was introduced to Kanye West and the duo soon became close collaborators— he’s since worked on four of West’s albums: 808s & Heartbreak, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Watch the Throne, and Donda. This writer's work with West shot his career to new heights, making him a highly sought-after songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer. Apart from his work with West, our guest is also known for producing, cowriting, and playing keyboards for the Some Nights album by Fun., which skyrocketed the group into stardom in 2012. On top of all this success, today’s guest has won Grammy Awards for the songs “Run This Town” by Jay-Z, “All of the Lights” by Kanye West, “We Are Young” by Fun., and “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson, and received the 2016 Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical for co-producing Mark Ronson’s album Uptown Special and producing Nate Ruess’s album Grand Romantic. His work shaped the sound of hip-hop and influenced a whole generation of new producers. And The Writer Is… Jeff Bhasker! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:17:33

Ep. 169: Tyler Hubbard

7/10/2023
Originally from Monroe, Georgia, today’s writer has accumulated 21 No. 1 hits and is a staple on Country music radio. Yet, his Southern-bred authenticity is what makes him a real star. He’s never made a project bearing solely his name — telling his story — until releasing his debut solo album on January 27, 2023. A decade ago as the lead singer of the multi-platinum-selling country music duo, Florida Georgia Line, he received every country award you can think of – CMAs, ACMs, AMAs, and Billboard Awards. The cherry on top of all of this success is that he was only 24 years old when his band took off. As a songwriter who has had more than 100 songs recorded by artists including FGL, Jason Aldean, Chris Tomlin, Zac Brown, and Kane Brown, our guest thought he could be happy as a songwriter for other artists. And he was, but the more he wrote, the more he realized many of the songs were telling his own story, through his music. We’re so happy this songwriter decided to take this courageous leap into a solo career. And The Writer Is… Tyler Hubbard! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:20:07

Ep. 168: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons

12/12/2022
With over 66 million album equivalents, and 55 million digital songs sold, not to mention over 110 billion combined streams, today guest is the singer of a GRAMMY® Award-winning, multi-Platinum rock band. The group developed a grassroots following with a series of independent EPs before making their major-label debut on KIDinaKORNER/Interscope with 2012’s Continued Silence EP and full-length debut NIGHT VISIONS, which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2, while lead track “Radioactive” topped Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs, won a GRAMMY® for Best Rock Performance, and achieved RIAA Diamond status. After achieving their first #1 with “Radioactive,” the band immediately repeated this feat with “Demons,” marking the first back-to-back #1’s for the band, with both songs in the Top 5 simultaneously. 2015’s platinum selling Smoke + Mirrors debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.The 3x platinum selling album EVOLVE followed in 2017, earning a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album and unleashing three No. 1 Alternative radio hits: “Believer,” GRAMMY®-nominated “Thunder,” and “Whatever It Takes.” All three songs were also top 5 hits at Alternative radio. “Believer” was the quickest song to reach #1 for them. The band’s fourth album and platinum selling, ORIGINS, debuted atop Billboard’s Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums charts, while its lead single “Natural” spent nine weeks at No. 1 at Alternative Radio. It was recently announced that their smash single “Thunder” received Diamond certification by the RIAA. With the certification of “Thunder,” Imagine Dragons have notably become the first group in music history to achieve four Diamond singles. For their fifth studio album, the band teamed up with esteemed producer Rick Rubin. 2021’s Mercury — Act 1 debuted in the Billboard 200 top 10. In 2022, they expanded the world of Mercury with a double album, Mercury – Acts 1 & 2, including the single “Bones,” which has gathered over 380 million streams to date and the accompanying music video. And The Writer Is… Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:25:05

Ep. 167: Jimmy Napes

11/28/2022
Today’s guest is an English songwriter and record producer. He has won a number of awards, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, 3 Grammy Awards, and 2 Ivor Novello Awards. He is best known for his work with Sam Smith (“Unholy” "Stay with Me", "Writing's on the Wall", "Lay Me Down", "Too Good at Goodbyes", "Dancing with a Stranger"), Disclosure ("Latch", "You & Me", "White Noise", "Magnets"), Clean Bandit ("Rather Be")‚ Stormzy ("Crown") and Taylor Swift ("Christmas Tree Farm"). Our guest also has songwriting and producer credits with artists including Alicia Keys, Khalid, Normani, Kano, Dave, FKA Twigs, Ellie Goulding, Mary J. Blige, James Bay and more. And The Writer Is… Jimmy Napes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:16:46

Ep. 166: Carianne Marshall

11/16/2022
Today’s guest is Co-Chair and COO of Warner Chappell Music (WCM), the global publishing arm of Warner Music Group. She is at the forefront of a new generation of music executives at the intersections of creative and commercial, entertainment and technology. Known for being a champion of songwriters and their songs, her dynamic, innovative approach drives the development and promotion of music creators at all stages of their careers. Along with Warner Chappell’s Co-Chair and CEO, Guy Moot, our guest oversees the company’s global business, which includes a full spectrum of high-touch support services focused on creating transformational opportunities for its legendary roster of songwriters and rich catalog of songs. Since starting at WCM, she and Guy have built a culture of service and creative identity anchored in the company’s shared values of curiosity, collaboration, and commitment.Prior to joining WCM in June 2018, she was one of three partners at the acclaimed independent music publisher SONGS. During her time at SONGS, the company built a roster of over 300 songwriters, signing Lorde, The Weeknd, Diplo, and many others. She has also held positions at Universal Music Publishing, DreamWorks Music Publishing, and Elektra Records. As one of the leading voices in the music industry, our guest has been named one of Billboard's “Women in Music: The Most Powerful Executives in the Industry” for the past seven years running as well as included in the publication’s esteemed “Power 100” list in both 2019, 2020 and 2022. She was also recognized on Variety’s Variety500, along with the publication’s LA Women’s Impact Report. She holds a BA degree in Communications from the University of Southern California. And The Executive Is… Carianne Marshall! Watercolor by: Michael Richey White Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:16:42

Ep. 165: Sam Hollander

10/31/2022
Today’s guest is a multi-platinum songwriter behind 22 US Top 40 Hits including everything from Panic! At The Disco, One Direction, Fitz and the Tantrums, Weezer, Katy Perry, blink-182, Ringo Starr, Def Leppard, Carole King, Billy Idol, Jewel, Train, Tom Morello and Gym Class Heroes. He’s been named one of Variety’s Hitmakers as well as Rolling Stone's Producer of the Year and most recently held the #1 position on the Billboard Rock Songwriters Chart for nine weeks, a record. And The Writer Is… Sam Hollander! Watercolor by: Michael Richey White Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:23:54

Ep. 164: Take A Daytrip

10/18/2022
From humble beginnings in the NYU dorms to working alongside some of the biggest stars of the last decade, today’s producer duo guests sit at the center of music culture. They became friends during the first week of freshman year at NYU in 2011, bonding over music and genre collisions. They’re musical omnivores who do their best to inhabit the world of the sound they’re working on, from afrobeats to grime, latin trap to garage, country to pop. That appetite manifests itself in their work on Sheck Wes' 5x Platinum "Mo Bamba,” on country star Kane Brown's recent genre-bending collaboration with R&B powerhouse H.E.R., "Blessed & Free,”and "Good in Bed" from Dua Lipa’s Grammy-winning sophomore album Future Nostalgia. Their palette expands from there: alt-rock anthem "Hero" by Weezer, "High,” a heartfelt ballad by Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus, James Blake’s gorgeous single “Life Is Not The Same,” AJ Tracey and Mabel’s UK hit “West 10,” and nearly half of Kid Cudi’s long-anticipated album Man on the Moon III:The Chosen, they have left their mark on nearly every genre. Outside of the US, collaborators include Colombian rapper Feid, who was nominated for a Latin Grammy for his album 19, and international stars like Flohio, Santi, and NSG.In 2020, Daytrip earned their first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 with the gothic Cudi and Travis Scott collaboration “THE SCOTTS,” setting the stage for a prolific 2021. They executive produced multi-platinum star Lil Nas X’s debut album, MONTERO, garnering the duo’s second and third Billboard No. 1s singles with “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” and “INDUSTRY BABY (feat. Jack Harlow).” The album's success is a reminder that they can’t be boxed in. Moving seamlessly across styles and genres to achieve their career-long mission of creating freely and making music that connects with listeners worldwide. And The Writers Are… Denzel Baptiste and David Biral of TAKE A DAYTRIP! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:37:11

And The Update Is...October 10th, 2022

10/10/2022
Your weekly update with industry news and happenings from ATWI. Update for the week of October 10th, 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:02:25

Ep. 163: Nickelback

10/4/2022
Today’s guests are a part of a globally celebrated, multi-platinum rock band and have cemented themselves as one of the most commercially viable and important acts of the past two decades. Their success includes worldwide sales of more than 50-million units, solidifying their status as one of the top-selling acts of all time and the second best-selling foreign act in the U.S., in the 2000’s decade, behind only The Beatles. Their inescapable and irresistible smash “How You Remind Me” was named Billboard’s ‘Top Rock Song of the Decade’. It was the number-one most played song on U.S. radio (any format) in the 2000’s decade according to Neilsen Soundscan, being spun over 1.2 million times. Their album All The Right Reasons was Diamond Certified (10-million copies sold) by the RIAA, in 2018, and has currently sold more than 13-million units in the U.S. and 19-million units worldwide. Amongst all these accolades, they’ve also been named Billboard’s “Top Rock Group of the Decade”, and they have received a staggering nine Grammy Award nominations, three American Music Awards, a World Music Award, a People’s Choice Award, twelve JUNO Awards, seven MuchMusic Video Awards, and have been inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame (2007). With more than 23 chart-topping singles and fans spanning the globe, they boast twelve consecutive sold-out world tours, playing to well over 10-million diehard and adoring fans. And The Writers Are… Chad Kroeger and Ryan Peake of Nickelback! Watercolor by: Michael Richey White Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:32:25

Ep. 162:Christina Perri

9/19/2022
Today’s guest is a multi-platinum singer-songwriter who has earned critical applause and an increasingly fervent fan following since the arrival of her extraordinary, platinum-certified, 2011 debut, lovestrong, which featured the 5x-platinum certified smash, “Jar of Hearts” and gold-certified “arms.” She followed lovestrong. with the worldwide hit single, “A Thousand Years,” exclusively featured on THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 & 2– ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACKS. The RIAA diamond certified track was a multi-format radio favorite, and accompanied by an equally popular companion video, now boasting over 1.3 billion individual views via YouTube alone. HEAD OR HEART, her acclaimed gold-certified, second album, arrived in 2014, highlighted by the RIAA 2X platinum certified single, “Human.” Our guest kicked off 2019 with songs for carmella: sing-a-longs and lullabies, a collection of songs the acclaimed singer-songwriter sang to her daughter everyday, released on Carmella’s first birthday. She released the poignant single “Tiny Victories,” a track she wrote for the HBO documentary FOSTER, which made its premiere in Spring 2019. Most recently, she released songs for rosie in honor of her daughter on what would have been her first birthday and most recently, her latest studio album, a lighter shade of blue, released this summer. And The Writer Is… Christina Perri! Watercolor by: Michael Richey White Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:07:22

Ep. 161: Ben Johnson (live from Austin, TX)

9/6/2022
Today’s guest is GRAMMY nominated songwriter, producer, and artist living in Nashville, TN. He is signed to a worldwide co-publishing deal with Tape Room Music (Nashville) and Artist Publishing Group (Los Angeles) as well as a record deal with BMG (Stoney Creek), and has written songs for artists such as Charlie Puth, Thomas Rhett, Kane Brown, Ava Max, Lee Brice, Meek Mill, Justin Timberlake, Lauren Alaina, Dierks Bentley, HARDY, Parmalee, Jake Owen, David Guetta, Bebe Rexha, and more. Originally from Meridian, Mississippi, he grew up surrounded by music. He is a classically trained pianist and cellist, and grew up performing everywhere from bluegrass festivals to orchestra concerts. From a young age, our guest has written and produced music with his two sisters in their country band Track45 (managed by Missi Gallimore and Gary Borman, and signed to BBR/Stoney Creek). His first major cut was “Patient” with multi-platinum pop artist Charlie Puth on the 2018 album “Voicenotes”. Since then, heʼs had many cuts in both the pop and country worlds, as well as success as a producer. Johnson had his first #1 in 2020 with Lee Brice’s “One of Them Girls”, which stayed at the top of the charts for 3 weeks. He has gone on to write many more #1 songs including “Gone” (Dierks Bentley), “Take My Name” (Parmalee), “Best Thing Since Backroads” (Jake Owen), “Beers On Me” (Dierks Bentley, HARDY, Breland), “New Truck” (Dylan Scott), a Canadian country #1 with “11 Beers” (The Recklaws), and a 4 week Alternative Airplay #1 with Weezer’s “All My Favorite Songs”. In 2021, our guest broke into the top 10 on Music Row Magazine’s Top Songwriter Chart and has been in the top 5 for the last 6 months. He won the 2021 AIMP Song of the Year award for “One of Them Girls” as well as the 2021 AIMP Publisher’s Pick Award for HARDY’s “Give Heaven Some Hell”. Additionally, he was nominated for the 2021 Music. He made history in 2021 with the first song to ever win Country Song of the Year at all three PROs (BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC) with “One of Them Girls”. In 2022, Johnson received his first GRAMMY nomination for “Rock Song of the Year” with Weezer’s “All My Favorite Songs”. And The Writer Is Live… with Ben Johnson! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:54:12