Songwriter Soup – Details, episodes & analysis

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 Music Follow Amy Wadge on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 twenty-five years of experience as a music publisher and advocate for creatives to lead the publishing vertical of HYBE America and the sister company of the Big Machine Label Group. Molinar, who was named one of Billboard’s Country Power Players each of the last three years (‘20-‘22), oversees all aspects of BMM which was named 2021 Publisher of the Year by the Association of Independent Music Publishers Nashville. BMM has been ranked as a Billboard Top 10 Hot Country Publishing Corp for six years running. With offices in Nashville and Santa Monica, BMM’s roster includes the 2023 nominee for the inaugural Grammy Songwriter of the Year (non-classical) Laura Veltz, as well as hitmakers Jessie Jo Dillon, Geoff Warburton, Ryan Hurd, Matt Dragstrem, Sara Davis, Eric Paslay, Brett Young and Maddie & Tae, among others. The catalog features such global hits as “abcdefu”, “The Bones”, “10,000 Hours,” “In Case You Didn’t Know” and 11 #1 hits co-written and recorded by Luke Combs. Molinar was named one of the 2021 Nashville cohorts for Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders Program. He is currently serving his 2nd term on the board of the National Music Publisher Association as well as a member of the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) board. He also serves as a board member for the Academy of Country Music, Music Health Alliance and sits the Country Music Hall Of Fame Education Council. Molinar was named a Rider Scholar while attending Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1998 where he was inducted into the College of Media and Entertainment’s Wall of Fame in 2021. He is a graduate of Leadership Music (2015) and a member of the CMA, ACM, AIMP and Recording Academy. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Molinar is a second generation immigrant of Mexican descent. He and his wife, Amanda, are proud parents of two young boys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 ease, and at what points in his career he had to stand up for his value. This episode also goes into detail about the difference between a track guy and a writer-producer, and how Mike’s desire for a better work/life balance, along with a curiosity for expanding his understanding of songwriting, led him to move to Nashville. https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/mike-elizondo-the-producers/pl.a56f1838e5c34595abb9dc416ecf0a38 https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1qjLC064PnRWeyvOAPJH6R?si=8SkL_uGKTsmqhK7TiONR8w&pi=u-xFlICarcRx20 Instagram: @mikeelizondojr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 episode also covers whether you need to suffer for your art— many people believe they do. Listen for our take on that and other tips on feeling like a success even when you’re blocked. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 songwriter footsteps, the dangers of not being happy for your peers, and the difference between fomo and jealousy. Jessie Jo is an incredible resource when it comes to knowing what the view looks like from the top, and gracefully finding your way back into the joy of the daily songwriter grind. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EFENnraVV8K2W?si=43f2856f40c64a59 Instagram: @jessiejodillon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 proverbial trash can. It feels like injustice! It feels like agony! But in the end, it’s just a part of the songwriter business. This is an important listen for anyone who hates rejection (um…. all of us). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 brand of hustle, how her personality informed her initial money management style, and what drew her to Nashville. Listen to Allison’s music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EFSoEuClhQZiW?si=d06a01d209724317 Listen to Allison’s music on Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/allison-veltz-cruz-the-songwriters/pl.6748139a1ef0436a893fada8acf0d4cf Instagram: @allisonveltzcruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 art of communicating to a larger audience, the joy of being behind the scenes, and remaining a student as music evolves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 helped that his early measures of success consisted of little more than writing “songwriter” on his tax forms and having working air conditioning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices