Best Songwriter Soup Podcasts (2024)

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Ep38 Brett James 1:09:35

19h ago1:09:35

1:09:35

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 c…

1
Beabadoobee - Coming Home 15:51

11h ago15:51

15:51

Beabadoobee is an award-winning singer and songwriter from England who’s been releasing music since 2017. Her third album is called This Is How Tomorrow Moves. It came out in August 2024 and went to #1 on the UK charts. She made the album with her bandmate Jacob Bugden and with producer Rick Rubin at his studio, Shangri-La, in Malibu. And for this …

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Ep. 238 - SHELBY LYNNE ("Killin' Kind") 1:15:13

3h ago1:15:13

1:15:13

Shelby Lynne is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her landmark classic album I Am Shelby Lynne, which won her a Grammy award for Best New Artist. We recently sat down with Shelby to discuss the evolution of her songwriting, from her early days in Nashville to her recent genre-defying "comeback" album Consequences of the Crown. PART ONE Scott and …

1
Ep37 Expense Coverage, Fees, Master Sharing & More: What To (Gently) Ask for, Even If You Don’t Get it 1:18:19

15h ago1:18:19

1:18:19

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 comm…

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Ep36 Amy Wadge 1:13:23

2h ago1:13:23

1:13:23

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 dista…

1
Remi Wolf - Soup 18:49

1h ago18:49

18:49

Remi Wolf is a singer and songwriter originally from Palo Alto, California. She’s been releasing music since 2019. She performed at Coachella in 2023, and has toured with Olivia Rodrigo, Lorde, and Paramore. Her second album, Big Ideas, came out in July 2024. I talked to Remi about how she and her collaborators wrote and produced the song “Soup.” H…

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Ep. 237 - TAYLA PARX ("thank u, next") 1:23:45

21d ago1:23:45

1:23:45

Three-time Grammy nominee Tayla Parx talks about her artist career and her role as a behind-the-scenes songwriter who has crafted huge hits for Ariana Grande, Panic! At the Disco, Dan + Shay, and many others. PART ONE: Is Dave Grohl this generation's Phil Collins? PART TWO: Our in-depth interview with Tayla Parx ABOUT TAYLA PARX: Three-time Grammy …

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EP35 Listener Questions! Part 1 1:00:58

24d ago1:00:58

1:00:58

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. Learn more about your a…

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Ep. 236 - THE SECRET SISTERS ("All the Ways") 1:21:21

14d ago1:21:21

1:21:21

Two-time Grammy nominated duo The Secret Sisters (Laura Rogers and Lydia Slagle) join us to chat about their development as songwriters and reaching new creative heights with their latest album. PART ONE: Scott and Paul chat about Scott's recent trip to see Norah Jones and Lake Street Dive perform at Red Rocks and discuss the ways concerts have cha…

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Sam Smith - Stay With Me 23:11

20d ago23:11

23:11

Sam Smith is a Grammy and Oscar-winning singer and songwriter from London, England. Their first album, In the Lonely Hour, came out in 2014. It went quintuple platinum in the US, and the biggest hit from that album is the song “Stay With Me,” which has over 2 billion streams on Spotify alone. For this episode, in honor of the song’s 10th anniversar…

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Ep. 235 - CHARLIE PEACOCK ("Every Heartbeat") 1:09:16

28d ago1:09:16

1:09:16

GRAMMY-winning producer, artist, and songwriter Charlie Peacock defies categorization. Paul chats with him about everything from his early days on the Norther California jazz scene, to writing hits for the Christian music world, to producing everyone from the Civil Wars to Switchfoot. PART ONE: Scott and Paul talk about aging, the Rolling Stones co…

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Fenne Lily - Lights Light Up 21:38

2M ago21:38

21:38

Fenne Lily is a singer and songwriter from Dorset, England. She released her first album in 2018, but I didn’t find her music until 2023, when she put out her third album, Big Picture. The album she released in between those two was one that got a little lost in the lockdown, when all her touring plans around it got canceled. All of that plays into…

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Ep. 234 - MADELEINE PEYROUX ("Don't Wait Too Long") 1:12:30

2M ago1:12:30

1:12:30

Acclaimed genre-crossing songwriter and interpreter Madeleine Peyroux takes stock of her songwriting over the years and shares insights into the creation of her latest album. PART ONE Paul and Scott talk music books, the value of recording, and whether or not performers should stick to a strict or loose interpretation of a song when performing live…

1
Re-issue: Vagabon - Water Me Down 19:01

3M ago19:01

19:01

Last year, Vagabon released her third album, Sorry I Haven’t Called, which I’ve been listening to a lot. So I wanted to revisit an episode that I recorded with her back in 2020, about her breakout song "Water Me Down." The episode also features the voice of Eric Littmann, who co-produced the track. He passed away in June 2021, way too young. Vagabo…

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Ep. 233 - BRUCE HORNSBY ("The Way It Is") 1:20:47

2M ago1:20:47

1:20:47

Three-time GRAMMY winner and musical omnivore Bruce Hornsby chats about his wide-ranging career, from pop to bluegrass to jazz! PART ONE: Paul and Scott talk about their Instagram, a wild Genesis fact, and more. PART TWO: Our in-depth conversation with Bruce Hornsby ABOUT BRUCE HORNSBY: Thirteen-time Grammy nominee and three-time winner Bruce Horns…

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Episode 34 Liz Rose 1:04:59

3M ago1:04:59

1:04:59

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 Music Written By Liz Rose Playlist o…

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Episode 33: Chris DeStefano 1:03:53

3M ago1:03:53

1:03:53

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 wri…

1
Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over 22:05

3M ago22:05

22:05

Crowded House formed in 1985 in Melbourne, Australia. They’ve released eight albums, including their most recent one, Gravity Stairs, which came out last month. But on their very first album, they had a big hit with "Don’t Dream It’s Over." Crowded House made “Don’t Dream It’s Over” with Grammy-nominated producer Mitchell Froom, who they went on to…

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Episode 32: Catalog Sales Pt3 51:50

3M ago51:50

51:50

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. Learn more about your ad choice…

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Ep. 232 - RACHEL PLATTEN ("Fight Song") 1:10:46

3M ago1:10:46

1:10:46

You might know Rachel Platten for the wildly successful "Fight Song," but she's in the middle of a renaissance that's bringing her artistry into a new era. PART ONE: Paul and Scott give their unfiltered responses to the new-ish 4-part Stax Records documentary streaming on Max. PART TWO: Our in-depth conversation with Rachel Platten. ABOUT RACHEL PL…

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Jonathan Singleton 1:34:13

3M ago1:34:13

1:34:13

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Songwriter Soup

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Lizzy McAlpine - Staying 18:00

4M ago18:00

18:00

Lizzy McAlpine released her first album in 2020, and her second album in 2022. And between the two, she’s had a lot of success. One of her songs, "Ceilings," was a viral TikTok hit, and has been streamed over half a billion times. So you might think, with all that success, you’d want to keep working in way that’s been working. But while Lizzy was m…

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Episode 30: Catalog Sales: Part 2 with Mike Molinar 1:06:20

4M ago1:06:20

1:06:20

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…

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Ep. 231 - JUDAH AKERS of Judah & the Lion ("Take it All Back") 58:55

3M ago58:55

58:55

Nashville-based platinum-selling indie artist Judah Akers of Judah & the Lion goes deep on the five stages of grief and finding beauty in the midst of pain. PART ONE Paul and Scott dive deep on how Nashville has transformed into a very different kind of "Music City USA." PART TWO Our in-depth conversation with Judah Akers ABOUT JUDAH AKERS Judah Ak…

1
Daniel Tashian 1:11:45

4M ago1:11:45

1:11:45

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 a…

1
The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize?? 20:14

4M ago20:14

20:14

The Flaming Lips formed in Oklahoma City in 1983. Over the last four decades, they’ve put out 16 albums. In 1999, they put out their album The Soft Bulletin, and that brought them a new level of success. And then, in 2002, they followed it up with Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, which was their biggest album to date. Pitchfork named it one of the …

1
Episode 28: Catalog Sales: Part 1 54:46

4M ago54:46

54:46

Strap in, y'all. We're diving into the intricate world of the Catalog Sale. While it's tempting to dream about cashing out and buying an island at 27, it's really important to know how these agreements happen, how much they're worth and when you may *actually* be ready for one in the first place. In the first part of our Catalog Sale mini-series, L…

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Ep. 230 - CAROLYN DAWN JOHNSON ("The Day I Die") 1:23:17

4M ago1:23:17

1:23:17

With an ACM Top New Female Vocalist win and nearly 20 Canadian Country Music Awards, the chart-topping Carolyn Dawn Johnson chats about everything from her songwriting successes to her artist career to her co-writing with Chris Stapleton. PART ONE Paul and Scott dive deep on their opinions about the recently-announced Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induc…

1
Jaren Johnston 1:17:56

4M ago1:17:56

1:17:56

Songwriter & lead singer of The Cadillac Three, Jaren Johnston ("5 Foot 9" Tyler Hubbard, "Raise Em Up" Keith Urban feat. Eric Church, "Meanwhile Back At Mama's" Tim McGraw) knows how to pull a heartstring but can not help but put his southern rock energy into his songs. With a rock essence you can clearly sense from his contribution to the country…

1
Re-issue: Arooj Aftab - Mohabbat 24:34

4M ago24:34

24:34

One of the songs I keep coming back to is “Mohabbat” by Arooj Aftab. It’s really special to me. I listen to it all the time. I’ve been listening to it so often that I wanted to revisit Arooj's episode about it. In the time since the episode has come out, she has released a collaborative album with Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily called Love In Exile…

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REPLAY: You Don’t Suck, It Just Takes A Minute 1:10:12

5M ago1:10:12

1:10:12

Big Machine Music general manager (and Laura’s publisher) Mike Molinar joins the podcast to talk about his philosophy on songwriter-publisher relationships. Mike shares his advice to young songwriters, the nitty-gritty of publishing deals, and how understanding the structure of those deals is the vital to your success. Mike Molinar brings over twen…

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Ep. 229 - DREW HOLCOMB ("American Beauty") 1:17:56

5M ago1:17:56

1:17:56

Folkie Americana indie hero Drew Holcomb joins us to chat about the songwriting process and which of his songs he's not a fan of! PART ONE Scott and Paul debrief the experience of recently seeing the 74-year-old Bruce Springsteen perform with the energy of a teenager PART TWO Our in-depth conversation with Drew Holcomb ABOUT DREW HOLCOMB Memphis na…

1
Mike Elizondo 1:25:48

5M ago1:25:48

1:25:48

Songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Mike Elizondo ("In da Club" 50 Cent, "The Real Slim Shady" Eminem, "Cowboy Casanova" Carrie Underwood, The Encanto Soundtrack with Lin-Manuel Miranda) is simply synonymous with modern music. The trio sits down with Mike to discuss his studio environment and energy, and how it puts his co-creators at …

1
War - Low Rider 18:07

5M ago18:07

18:07

The band War formed in 1969, in Long Beach, California. “Low Rider” is from their 1975 album Why Can’t We Be Friends? The song was a hit as soon as it came out. It went to #1 on the Billboard R&B charts. And it’s just had tremendous lasting power ever since. Besides being in Dazed and Confused, where I heard it, it’s been sampled by The Beastie Boy…

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Episode 25: (Song)writer's Block, Suffering for Your Art & Where Ideas Might Be Hiding 1:10:30

5M ago1:10:30

1:10:30

What’s blocking you? This week, the trio discusses this ironic possibility: it might be that you’re taking this dream job a little too seriously. We all do it! At all stages, in fact. Take breaks, change the subject, nerd out on other people’s hits, or do songwriter exercises— Laura discussed many of her favorite ways to shake her brain loose. This…

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Ep. 228 - NICKEL CREEK ("Celebrants") 1:11:11

5M ago1:11:11

1:11:11

Grammy winners and astonishingly fabulous musicians Chris Thile, Sean Watkins, and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek join us to chat about their fresh approach to songwriting on their most recent album, Celebrants. PART ONE Paul and Scott chat about musical virtuosity, Beyonce, Ricky Skaggs, and the blending of musical genres. PART TWO Our in-depth conv…

1
Jessie Jo Dillon 1:11:43

5M ago1:11:43

1:11:43

On this week’s episode, Laura, Tracy & Kevin sit down with one of Laura’s best friends, critically acclaimed hit songwriter, Jessie Jo Dillon (“10,000 Hours” Dan & Shay, Justin Beiber, “Halfway To Hell” Jelly Roll, “Lies, Lies, Lies” Morgan Wallen). The group gets candid about shaking off the resistance to following in her legendary dad’s songwrite…

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Shania Twain - You're Still The One 18:23

5M ago18:23

18:23

Shania Twain is a singer and songwriter from Ontario, Canada. She’s the only female artist to have had three consecutive Diamond albums — albums that have sold over ten million copies. Actually, her 1997 album Come On Over is the best-selling album by a female solo artist of all time. One of the most iconic songs from that iconic album is "You’re S…

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Episode 23: Millions Of Ways A Perfect Song Can Die (That Have Nothing To Do With The Songwriter) 1:20:44

5M ago1:20:44

1:20:44

Songwriters always blame themselves (or the song) when something stops the process of it becoming a hit. But does it have anything to do with the song? Most of the time, IT DOES NOT. On this week’s episode, the trio discusses how many people and entities cause those interruptions and all of the millions of ways a perfect song can end up in a prover…

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Ep. 227 - ALAN BERGMAN ("The Way We Were") 1:12:50

5M ago1:12:50

1:12:50

Ninety-eight-year-old Songwriters Hall of Famer Alan Bergman chats with us about a wide-ranging career that started with Johnny Mercer and continues to today. PART ONE Paul and Scott talk about the Abba Voyage virtual concert and scare themselves with the possibilities of digital technology. PART TWO Our in-depth interview with Alan Bergman ABOUT A…

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Allison Veltz Cruz 1:11:50

6M ago1:11:50

1:11:50

Laura’s sister and fellow hit songwriter, Allison Veltz Cruz (“Prayed For You” Matt Stell, “Somebody Like That” Tenille Arts, “Let Your Boys Be Country” Jason Aldean) joins the trio for a candid conversation about the sisters’ unique childhood and what lead them to songwriting after their family band broke up. They discuss Allison’s particular bran…

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Danny Brown - Y.B.P. (feat. Bruiser Wolf) 17:33

6M ago17:33

17:33

Danny Brown started his career in 2007 by handing out mixtapes in Detroit, where he’s from. In 2011, he put out his acclaimed second album, XXX. Since then, he’s collaborated with rappers like Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky and JPEGMafia, but he’s also worked with electronic bands like Purity Ring and The Avalanches, and he did a verse on a remix for K…

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Episode 21: Season Three-ever begins! Let's Talk Commerciality: Taking Your Songs From Your Bedroom To Billboard 1:03:16

6M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

Kevin, Laura and Tracy delve into the initial humility that it takes to learn the craft of commercial songwriting by unlearning how you did it before. Ouch! It takes a minute and it feels weird for a bit, but it gets better! After the craft settles in, your uniqueness returns to you and THAT is when the magic happens. The trio discuss the intricate…

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Ep. 226 - NORAH JONES ("Come Away with Me") + profile on Tish Melton 1:30:31

6M ago1:30:31

1:30:31

SUMMARY: Norah Jones joins us to chat about her new album Visions and the evolution of her songwriting since she took the world by storm in 2002. Afterward, stick around for a very special conversation with Tish Melton. The 18-year-old songwriter discusses her new Brandi-Carlile produced EP and more. PART ONE: Paul and Scott reflect on Norah Jones'…

1
Ashley Gorley 1:13:35

6M ago1:13:35

1:13:35

Ashley Gorley has a literal bajillion hits. He’s also got a thriving publishing company in Tape Room Music. With so much success it’s easy to overlook the fact that it took Ashley eleven years to score his first hit. But thanks to his deep connection to the community and the key investment from mentors, Ashley was prepared to ride it out. It also h…

1
Rhiannon Giddens - You Louisiana Man 19:44

6M ago19:44

19:44

Rhiannon Giddens has released five solo albums since 2015. Before that, she was a member of the Grammy-winning band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops. She is now also the artistic director of the Silkroad Ensemble, the musical supergroup that Yo-Yo Ma founded. Rhiannon Giddens is one of those people where I feel like they have to start inventing new aw…

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Episode 19: STEALING! How To Fix A Small Problem Before It Becomes A Big Ass Problem 1:06:22

6M ago1:06:22

1:06:22

What is stealing anyway? In the songwriting world, there are a million ways it can happen. Sometimes (but rarely) it’s quite blatant, and sometimes it’s as innocent as forgetting you wrote the same concept in a different room two years ago. The fact is, it happens. There can be big consequences that can tank your reputation and your finances, but a…

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Ep. 225 - CHARLIE STARR of Blackberry Smoke ("Dig a Hole") 1:19:21

6M ago1:19:21

1:19:21

Blackberry Smoke frontman and primary songwriter Charlie Starr goes deep on his music's Southern roots and wide-ranging appeal. PART ONE Paul and Scott talk Pearl Jam's new single, how travel defines fanhood, and why Blackberry Smoke are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to playing live. PART TWO Our in-depth interview with Charlie Starr AB…

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Emily Weisband 1:31:52

7M ago1:31:52

1:31:52

Emily Weisband (“Thy Will” Hillary Scott, “Boy With Luv” BTS, “Can’t Break Up Now” Old Dominion & Megan Moroney) is one of those people who just billows talent. Even though she moved to Nashville to become a songwriter, it didn’t take any time at all before people started trying to convince her that she should do “the artist thing.” This episode co…

1
Re-issue: Arlo Parks - Black Dog 19:35

7M ago19:35

19:35

I wanted to revisit an episode about one of my favorite songs from 2021, “Black Dog” by Arlo Parks. A few months after this episode originally came out, Arlo Parks won the Mercury Prize for Album of the Year. She was also nominated for two Grammys: Best New Artist and Best Alternative Album. Since then, she released a new album called My Soft Machi…

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