Today’s guest is one of country music’s most renowned, talented and distinguished writers. From his early days of writing and drumming in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to being crowned Songwriter of the Century by ASCAP, he has indeed created for himself a monumental platform in the history of country music. As the writer of songs including Brooks and Dunn’s “Believe” to Blake Shelton’s “Boys ‘Round Here” to Morgan Wallen’s “Chasin’ You”, he has amassed over 350 cuts, 130 singles, and 29 #1’s. After moving to Nashville in 1985 to pursue a career in songwriting, he received his first chart success after having co-written “The Only One” from Roy Orbison’s album, Mystery Girl. In 1990, our guest signed his first publishing deal with Almo/Irving Music, and ten years later, he signed with BMG Music Publishing. In 2003, he opened his own publishing company, and within the first year of the independent company’s operation, he experienced the first single of the catalog; “Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw not only peaked at the top of the charts for ten weeks, but it also was named NSAI Song of the Year, CMA Song of the Year, ACM Song of the Year and won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song. In 2012, our guest co-founded Big Loud’s management division, the launchpad of Florida Georgia Line, followed by Big Loud Records in 2015. His success has continued to escalate at exponential levels throughout the years. He was proclaimed ASCAP’s “Songwriter of the Year” in 2003, 2005, and 2007 in addition to being named “Writer of the Year” by NSAI and Music Row in 1997. In 2009, he received the impressive honor of NSAI’s “Songwriter of the Decade” and won the 2014 Heritage Award from ASCAP as the most performed country songwriter of the century. Following those years of success, hard work & accomplishments, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in October of 2015. In 2017, he was honored with a CMA Triple Play Award for FGL’s “Anything Goes” & Blake Shelton’s “Gonna” & “Came Here To Forget.”. For the past 18 years, Wiseman has hosted The Stars of Second Harvest Show at the Ryman, showing his philanthropic heart and giving all proceeds to the Second Harvest Food Bank Of Middle Tennessee. To date, this musical event has raised over $2 million for the food bank. And The Writer Is… Craig Wiseman!Watercolor by: Michael Richey White  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 156: Craig Wiseman

Your weekly update with industry news and happenings from ATWI. Update for the week of June 21st, 2022. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

And The Update Is...June 21st, 2022

Today’s guest is an American songwriter and record producer. He is best known for his work with Justin Bieber, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, The Kid Laroi, and Gracie Abrams. He has charted five songs in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, including The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” and 24kGolden and iann dior’s “Mood” which both charted at number one. Our guest was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and began playing guitar at 10 years old. After playing in bands and singing covers at venues around LA, he discovered what it meant to be a producer and became enamored with the career. At 16, he began an internship with producer Benny Blanco before moving to New York City to attend New York University. While attending NYU, he worked as a producer and songwriter with Gracie Abrams and Omar Apollo, executive producing both their debut projects. After dropping out of NYU to return to Los Angeles, he began working full time on music. During the pandemic in 2020, he met and began working with longtime collaborators The Kid Laroi, Lil Nas X, Omer Fedi, and 24k Golden. In October of that year, he got his first Billboard Hot 100 #1 song with “Mood” ft. Iann Dior, which topped the chart for 8 weeks. Later that year he produced The Kid Laroi’s breakout hit “Without You” and in July of 2021 produced “Stay,” a fast-paced pop rap, pop rock, and synth-pop song, which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 7 weeks, later becoming the 2nd longest running song in the top 10 of all time and spent the most weeks at #1 in pop radio history. He earned a nomination at the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards for Album of the Year for Lil Nax X’s ‘Montero,’ which Slatkin worked on as a producer and songwriter, working on “That’s What I Want”. Our guest was named to Variety’s Hitmakers of the Year in 2021 and to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 List in 2022. He was an honoree for Pop Song of the Year at the 2022 BMI Pop Awards for “Mood” and was nominated for Producer of the Year at the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards! And The Writer Is… Blake Slatkin!Watercolor by: Michael Richey White  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 155: Blake Slatkin

Your weekly update with industry news and happenings from ATWI. Update for the week of June 6th, 2022. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

And The Update Is...June 6th, 2022

Today’s guest is a lifelong advocate for empowering creators and the Founder and Executive Chairman of Downtown Music Holdings. Since its start in 2007, Downtown has become the leading service provider to the global music business by driving equity and innovation across the industry. As Executive Chairman, he leads Downtown’s Board of Directors, drives strategic development and works with the executive team on transformational growth opportunities for the organization. Today, Downtown manages more than 23 million music assets on behalf of over one million artists and enterprise clients hailing from 145 countries from a catalog that spans 100 years of popular music, including music for film and television, and the single largest independent sound recording catalog in the industry. The company’s diverse client base features some of the biggest brands in music and entertainment, including iconic songwriters, composers and recording artists, major film and television production studios, gaming companies, the world’s largest music companies, music asset owners and other music service providers. Over the course of his career, our guest has received numerous esteemed recognitions, including Variety’s New Leaders, Billboard’s Power 100, Crain’s New York “40 Under 40,” and is a recipient of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Indie Award. He serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), and is co-founder of NY is Music, a non-profit coalition dedicated to advancing the importance of the role of music in economic development, culture, and education in New York State. And The Executive Is… Justin Kalifowitz! Watercolor by: Michael Richey White  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 154: Justin Kalifowitz

Your weekly update with industry news and happenings from ATWI. Update for the week of May 23rd, 2022. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

And The Update Is...May 23, 2022

With his countless musical ventures, today’s guest has defined the term reinvention. In collaborating with some of the world's largest artists to date, he has paved the way for unique creativity. From being the frontman of alternative rock band, The Sleepy Jackson to half of electronic music duo Empire of the Sun, after 20 years of music making, he now emerges with a mystic, domestic wisdom on the comparatively unadorned and transportive new debut solo album, Listen To The Water. He has always taken the road less traveled, and now that road has led to a secluded cabin on a private lake in Northern California, and the birth of a new chapter of music. “I have hard-wired myself to be in a constant state of ever-grow. I will never be satisfied. You don’t make a record for no-one to hear. I want people to be captivated by it. In a way it’s a life story. You want them to hear the mistakes, the wisdom, the failure but also the glory”, our guest reflects. And The Writer Is… Luke Steele!Watercolor by: Michael Richey White  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 153: Luke Steele

Your weekly update with industry news and happenings from ATWI. Update for the week of May 9th, 2022. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

And The Update Is...May 9, 2022

Today’s heavy hitter guest broke out with critically acclaimed 2020 debut album, A ROCK, “an album that owes as much to AC/DC as George Jones” and “one of the most self-assured full-length debut albums in years'' (Billboard). The project joins countrified mixtape HIXTAPE VOL. 1 and most-recent HIXTAPE VOL. 2, as well as career-launching EPs THIS OLE BOY and WHERE TO FIND ME. HARDY is the 2022 ACM Songwriter of the Year and two-time AIMP Songwriter of the Year, additionally nominated for New Artist of the Year at the 2021 CMA Awards. One of CRS’ 2021 New Faces of Country Music, a CMA Triple Play award recipient and a Vevo DSCVR artist, the pride of Philadelphia, Miss. has earned his reputation as "a breakout in the making" (HITS). HARDY has co-penned 11 #1 singles since 2018, including his own chart-topping, double platinum-certified single “ONE BEER” feat. Lauren Alaina + Devin Dawson, and most-recent #1 alongside Dierks Bentley and BRELAND, “Beers On Me.” Current Top 10 hit “GIVE HEAVEN SOME HELL” is a hard-charged tribute to a fallen friend, the most-added single of the week at country radio upon launch. Serving as direct support on Morgan Wallen's Dangerous Tour now, he has also opened for Jason Aldean, FGL, Chris Lane, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell and more.. And The Writer Is… HARDY!Watercolor by: Michael Richey White  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 152: HARDY

Your weekly update with industry news and happenings from ATWI. Update for the week of April 25th, 2022! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

And The Update Is...April 25th, 2022

Today’s guest is an urban legend in the flesh. An acknowledged virtuoso in the music industry, he began his career as a prodigy at the age of 15. Tireless in his work ethic, our young guest quickly established himself as a formidable musical force, with a trail of outstanding accomplishments writing his indelible page in music history. The wildly successful producer/songwriter/musician, has been an in‐demand producer since his early beginning; megastars line up to work with him to insure that next smash. He has added to the hit lists of music talents such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Sam Smith, Mary J. Blige, Beyonce, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Brandy, Jennifer Lopez, Jay Z, Notorious B.I.G., Drake, Big Sean, Toni Braxton, Kelly Clarkson, The Pussycat Dolls, N'Sync, Backstreet Boys, Jessie J, Ludacris and countless others. CEO of his production company, Sonix, Inc., our guest has garnished over 250 million sales worldwide. He also serves as National Trustee, Vice President of Advocacy, and Los Angeles Chapter Governor of the Recording Academy (Grammys) to improve the rights for all music creators and is a happily married father of four children:. And The Writer Is… Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins!Artwork: Michael Richey White See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 151: Rodney Jerkins

Your weekly update with industry news and happenings from ATWI. Update for the week of April 11, 2022. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

And The Update Is...April 11, 2022

Today’s guest is a 17-year-old singer/songwriter who creates the kind of self-possessed pop music that’s empowering for both artist and audience. Since making her debut with the boldly confessional “dumbass”—a heavily playlisted track that premiered in early 2020—the Nashville-based musician has independently released a series of singles built on her unfiltered yet beautifully nuanced brand of songwriting. Her debut single for Atlantic Records, “abcdefu” has quickly proved a breakout hit for our guest, topping charts left and right with a viral stint that’s been fueled by the creation of over 1.5 million TikToks using the track. Along with propelling her to #1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart, “abcdefu” debuted at #51 on Billboard’s Hot 100 before reaching #15. The infectiously honest track peaked at #1 on both iTunes’ Pop and overall US charts, along with reaching the #1 most-Shazamed song in the US on November 30, 2021. Along with reaching #1 on Spotify’s Viral Songs Global and being featured on the cover of Spotify’s “Today's Top Hits,” “Fierce Femme,” “Pop Rising,” and “Teen Beats” playlists,“abcdefu” has also been added to Spotify’s “New Music Friday” and “The New Alt,” and many more. Now at work on her debut project, our guest is intent on making music that offers her listeners a certain emotional freedom. And The Writer Is… GAYLE!Watercolor by: Michael Richey White  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 150: GAYLE

Your weekly update with industry news and happenings from ATWI. Update for the week of March 14, 2022. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

And The Update Is...March 28, 2022

Today’s guest is a Pulitzer Prize, Grammy®, Emmy®, Tony® and Olivier Award-winning songwriter, actor and director. Creator and original star of Broadway’s Tony®-winning Hamilton and In the Heights. Additional Broadway: Freestyle Love Supreme (co-creator, guest performer, Special Tony® Award Recipient), Bring It On (co-composer/co-lyricist, Tony® nomination for Best Musical) and West Side Story (2009 revival, Spanish translations). Recipient of the 2015 MacArthur Foundation Award, the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors and the 2019 Portrait of a Nation Prize. Our guest, alongside his Family, are active supporters of initiatives that increase people of color’s representation throughout the arts and government, ensure access to women’s reproductive health, and promote resilience in Puerto Rico. TV/Film credits include: Television/film credits include: Hamilton (2021 Emmy® Award,Outstanding Variety Special - Pre-Recorded), His Dark Materials, Fosse/Verdon, Curb Your Enthusiasm (2018 Emmy® nomination), Saturday Night Live (2017 Emmy® nomination), DuckTales, Sesame Street, The Electric Company, House, We Are Freestyle Love Supreme, Siempre, Luis, 200 Cartas, Mary Poppins Returns, Moana (Grammy® Award for Best Original Song), In the Heights, Vivo, tick, tick… BOOM! and Encanto (2022 Academy Award Nomination for Best Original Song). For Vanessa, best of wives and best of women. And The Writer Is… Lin-Manuel Miranda!Watercolor by: Michael Richey White  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 149: Lin-Manuel Miranda

And The Update Is...March 14th, 2022

We are excited and honored to welcome back today’s guest to not only talk about the craziness of his last few years but also an upcoming release, NFT’s, blockchain and the future of music. Today’s guest is a 3x Grammy award winning songwriter and producer who has worked with everyone from Adele to Paul McCartney, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, U2, Miley Cyrus and Lil Nas X in addition to being the lead singer, writer and producer of the multi-platinum selling band OneRepublic. Most recently, he was a writer on both Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande’s #1 albums as well as writing and producing the Billboard #1 song “Sucker” for the Jonas Brothers, which was also the most played song in the world in 2019. Our guest wrote and produced the title track for John Legend’s 2021 Grammy award winning album Bigger Love. Currently he is in the studio working with MGK, Lil Nas X, The Jonas brothers, and Miley Cyrus on their upcoming projects. As a producer, he received the Grammy award for “Album of the Year” for Adele’s 21 and 25, and Taylor Swift’s 1989. As a songwriter, he has received the National Music Publishers’ Association’s Songwriter Icon Award, as well as 3 RIAA certified Diamond Awards and has amassed over 450mm in record sales. OneRepublic’s latest album, Human, dropped on August 27, 2021. It includes singles, which combined have over 2.5 billion global streams: “Somebody”, “Run”, “Somebody To Love”, “Wanted”, “Didn’t I”, “Better Days” and “Rescue Me”, which has been certified RIAA Gold. Outside of music, our guest served as an executive producer and judge on NBC’s “Songland” and a producer on Nickelodeon’s “California Dreaming.” And The Writer Is… Ryan Tedder!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 148: Ryan Tedder

Your weekly update with industry news and happenings from ATWI. Update for the week of February 28, 2022. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

And The Update Is...February 28, 2022

Your weekly update with industry news and happenings from ATWI. Update for the week of February 21, 2022. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

And The Update Is...February 21, 2022

Your weekly update with industry news and happenings from ATWI. Update for the week of February 14th, 2022. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan

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