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Songwriter Soup: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Songwriter Soup
Songwriter Soup is a frank discussion about how to make it in the music industry as a songwriter. It takes grit and a lot of patience, but also sound financial advice.Laura Veltz is a Four-time Grammy-nominated songwriter and is teaming up with Tracy Hackney, a seasoned financial advisor for musicians, to bring you the tips and tricks of the industry. Joined by host and producer, Kevin Sokolnicki, the trio has interviews with some of the most prominent and up-and-coming songwriters and artists in the music industry.Songwriter Soup airs every Monday where you get your podcasts.
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- 1 weeks ago1h 0m
Alana Springsteen: Therapy, Reconnecting With “The Why” & Safety In The Writer Room
This week’s guest, artist and songwriter, Alana Springsteen (“ghost in my guitar”, “Hot Honey” and her latest album I Hope This Helps), discusses the burn out that comes with starting out in the music business at a young age, and the breaking points that led her back to making music for her own soul. Alana and the trio talk about how difficult it is to maintain a sense of genuine purpose in an industry that often props up the optics of monthly listenership and streams, while disregarding the potential and importance of a smaller, passionate, loyal audience. They discuss the evolving role of songwriters in artists’ lives, how a 'no matter what' mindset can transform your creative process and connect you with fans on a deeper level. 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.
- 3 weeks ago1h 5m
Nell Maynard: Fear vs. Love, Funding The Arts & Wisdom In Transparency
In this deeply honest and illuminating episode of Songwriter Soup, Nashville songwriter Nell Maynard (“Opti-MYSTIC” Abbie Callahan, “Blueneck” Chris Housman, “Like A Boy” LEW) joins us for a wide-ranging conversation that challenges traditional music industry norms. From securing a highly unusual publishing deal that grants her 100% ownership of her writing and publishing with zero advance, to opening up about asking her parents for a "values-aligned investment" to replace her $14/hour side jobs, Nell offers a masterclass in transparency. The episode explores the stigma around financial privilege, why historical patronage of the arts is essential when DSPs underpay creators, how to stop over-booking writing calendars out of insecurity and the mindset of "Fear vs. Love.” Nell is full of wisdom and I’ll bet songwriters of all stages have something to learn from her. 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.
- Aug 10, 20261h 13m
Blake Pendergrass: Morgan Wallen, The Grind & Toxic Frugality
Blake Pendergrass (“Just In Case” Morgan Wallen, “Brunette” Tucker Wetmore, “ROCKSTAR” Hardy) is on the Songwriter Soup couch this week breaking down his bizarre entrance into the music industry-an emphatic push from his lawyer parents to skip normal people school and pursue music. Blake walks us thru the typical ten year town songwriter experience of waiting tables, finding community & cowriters doing the same thing, and that first song that gets the ball rolling. We talk “outside”songs (when artists cut songs they didn’t write), and Morgan Wallen, who cuts outside songs while a lot of artists won’t. How many songs does it takes to land one of those? Hint: it’s a lot!! We also break down toxic frugality, the fear that the money you finally made will disappear for no reason and with no explanation. Blake is a fabulous guest we hope you’ll 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.
- Jul 27, 20261h 10m
Ava Suppelsa: Streams vs. AirPlay, Dignity & Service
Hit Songwriter, founder of Hope On The Row, and overall angel, Ava Suppelsa (“Better Me For You (Brown Eyes)” Max McKnown, “Critic” Avery Anna, “Salt, Lime & Tequila” Ryan Griffin) joins the trio on the couch this week. Ava is one of those people that knows how to human. From quitting a cushy record label job to clean up bachelorette 🍆 confetti in order to pursue her songwriter dream, to her first huge hit with Max McKnown, she approaches her journey with a sense of gratitude, humor and confidence that is simply inspiring. She is also the founder of Hope On The Row, a weekly outreach non-profit that feeds Nashville’s unhoused community, which has also become a place where songwriters can connect with each other while doing something good for humanity. What a bad b*tch! We love Ava and this episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- Jul 13, 20261h 17m
Mags Duval: A Weird Kid, Early Luck & “Overnight” Success
Mags Duval (“Ordinary” Alex Warren, “To Love Someone” Benson Boone, “Flame” Teddy Swims) has one of the most interesting songwriter stories we’ve ever heard on the podcast. Born with singular voice and style, she was meant for this from a very early age. In fact, her one and only song, managed to wow Nick Cannon, and jump start her career at thirteen years old (13!). But with all the luck and talent in the world, as it often does, it still took forever to hit. Mags describes the risks and pay offs of staying authentic to her own art making, the toggles between LA and Nashville and how to squeeze the most juice out of both, as well as a quick lesson in recoupment publishing deals (yikes), writing camps, pandemic delays and The Girls Of Nashville. She also walks us through what it’s like to have your first hit literally shift the earth’s crust under your feet (ever heard of a little song called “Ordinary”)? Songwriting is nuts, and this story is sure to give you hope, determination and renew your vows to staying true to yourself. Enjoy!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- Jun 29, 20261h 5m
Ashley McBryde: An Artist Willing To Listen & Learn Could Save The Future Of Songwriting
Artist and genuine songwriter advocate, Ashley McBryde (“Girl Goin Nowhere”,“Martha Divine,” “Bible and a .44”) pulls up some couch this week to bring a massive, unfiltered perspective to the pod.We go everywhere in this one—from Ashley's early days running loss prevention at Guitar Center and getting paid in chicken strips for writers' rounds. We discuss the difference between an artist and a star, as well as the multifaceted experience that comes with pandering to the radio .. or not. But the real crux of this conversation is a heavy, unprotected look at the business side of the artist-writer relationship. The crew breaks down the critical necessity for new artists to negotiate earmarked master points for their songwriters before signing a major label deal (or any deal really! Indie deals, management deals, etc), and why having the humility to admit you don't actually know your own contract's point structure is (or how it works) might be the vital first step to fixing a broken ecosystem. Listen, learn, change it. IF THERE WERE MORE ASHLEY’s IN THE ARTIST WORLD, this could change EVERYTHING for us. This is a must listen for anyone in the music industry - artists, songwriters, label people, publishers, managers. We have to change the way we think about a song and its value or songwriters will not be able to afford to be where they belong—-in songwriter rooms. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
- Jun 15, 20261h 15m
Ben Johnson: 10,000 hours, Lawyers & Treating The Next Gen Better Than You Were Treated
Ben Johnson (“All The Way” BigXThaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman, “TRUCK BED” Hardy, “Dying Man” Morgan Wallen) is on the pod this week to discuss family, outliers, finding co-writers and lawyers. Hey Souper fans, we cover some new territory as it pertains to picking lawyers. We have sadly noticed how often the first lawyer you pick is a name you got from the person you actually negotiate against. We’re too trusting, my loves! Find your own lawyer. Ben is such a fabulous guest, writer and songwriter/publisher. His deals are different than the ones he signed and he explains why. We love Ben! 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.
- Jun 1, 20261h 16m
Lauren Hungate: AI, COVID & Artist Relationships - “Don’t Get Butt Hurt & Burn Bridge”
This week, the Songwriter Soup crew interviews Lauren Hungate (“Holy Smokes” Bailey Zimmerman, “Break First” Tucker Wetmore, “The Aftermath” Carter Faith). Topic wise, we jump all the f around from being a mom & songwriter at the same time, the ideal ballad to bop ratio, social media (friend or foe), discovering artists at the ground floor only to watch them end up in fancier rooms and how to handle that with poise. We also go hard on the use of AI in songwriting and its similarity to Covid (remember getting the Zoomies? — iykyk)…. By that we mean, both are bringing those of us who truly love the art of it to the forefront and how survival of the fittest is alive and well as we live through yet another challenging era for songwriters. We loved this conversation! We think you will too. Enjoy! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
About Songwriter Soup
Songwriter Soup is a frank discussion about how to make it in the music industry as a songwriter. It takes grit and a lot of patience, but also sound financial advice.Laura Veltz is a Four-time Grammy-nominated songwriter and is teaming up with Tracy Hackney, a seasoned financial advisor for musicians, to bring you the tips and tricks of the industry. Joined by host and producer, Kevin Sokolnicki, the trio has interviews with some of the most prominent and up-and-coming songwriters and artists in the music industry.Songwriter Soup airs every Monday where you get your podcasts.
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