NBC's Songland Podcast

Ryan Tedder has had a truly remarkable career as a songwriter, with a veritable hall-of-fame roster of top talent, including Adele, Paul McCartney, U2, The Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Sam Smith, and many, many more, but also as the lead singer and principle writer for his band One Republic. In this pre-season introductory episode, Ryan tells the story of writing “XO” for Beyonce, and what it means to him to be a part of this groundbreaking new show as one of the three writer-producers.    Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Shane McAnally has had one the best writing careers in the history of country music, having written 39 #1 hits and counting, for artists such as Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt, Jake Owen, Midland, Little Big Town, Jo Smith to name a few, and is one of the three writer-producers on NBC’s Songland. In this pre-season introductory episode, Shane talks about writing from personal experience on “Mama’s Broken Heart,” a song he wrote with Kacey Musgraves, and a big hit for both Musgraves and Miranda Lambert. . Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Ester Dean has written hits for Beyonce, Rihanna, Usher, Katy Perry, and Christina Aguilera to name just a few, and is one of the three writer-producers on NBC’s Songland. In this pre-season introductory episode, Ester talks about how she got to the top of the songwriting game, and takes us through the story of being called to the studio in the middle of the night to write “Superbass” for Nicki Minaj. . Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

In this first introductory episode, Dave Stewart, co-founder of Eurythmics, iconic songwriter and record producer, and co-creator and executive producer of Songland on NBC, a new show all about the intimate and mysterious art of songwriting, talks about what inspired him to create this groundbreaking new show, and also tells the creation story of one of his own hit songs, the classic “Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics, written with Annie Lennox in a practice space above a frame shop in under an hour. .  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

In this recap of the Songland Premiere episode, multi-grammy-winning superstar John Legend and winning songwriter Tebby Burrows take us through the birth and amazing Shane McAnally-led evolution of her song “We Need Love”.  Hear the full John Legend version at the end of the episode! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

will.i.am tells the story of writing the Black Eyed Peas hit “Where’s the Love”, and the surprising last-minute turn the song took when Justin Timberlake heard it and was inspired to write a part..    And winning songwriter Adam Friedman talks about the journey his song “Be Nice” made, from a cathartic hang-out with friends, through the alchemy of Songland, to become the next Black Eyed Peas single. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Country mega-star Kelsea Ballerini and winning songwriter Darius Coleman discuss the evolution of Darius’s haunting “Better Luck Next Time”. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

The Jonas Brothers, currently roaring back with a brand new album, together with winning writer Able Heart, show how an unknown writer can come out of nowhere with a huge record as they take us through Heart’s banger “Greenlight”.   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Grammy winning songwriter and pop star Meghan Trainor tells the story of her mega-hit “All About That Bass” and how it pulled her from a career writing songs for others into stardom in her own right; and winning writer Kole takes us through the evolution of “Hurt Me”, the song that elevated her from long-time fan of Trainor’s to friend and studio collaborator. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Critically acclaimed singer songwriter Aloe Blacc breaks down his hit featured in the classic Beats by Dre commercial, “The Man”, and he and Kyle discuss Kyle’s winning song that will be featured in the new Fast and Furious franchise film directed by David Leitch, “Hobbs and Shaw”.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Superstar rapper/songwriter Macklemore takes us through his seminal hit ‘Thrift Shop’, with some surprising points of inspiration; and winning writer IRO talks about coming up as a busker in New York before writing his winning song “Shadow”, which landed him not only Macklemore’s next record, but also on stage with Macklemore in front of 40,000 people in Brazil, just a few short weeks after the two met for the first time on Songland. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Katelyn Tarver takes us through the evolution of her bittersweet winning song “Young”, which not only was selected by country hitmakers Old Dominion as their next single, but also landed in the new national Jeep advertising campaign -- a remarkable pair of achievements for a young songwriter.  With foreword on songwriting by Old Dominion.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Pop songstress and siren Leona Lewis takes us behind her haunting and heartfelt ode “Thank You”, and winning writer Rozee talks through the remarkable evolution of her song “Solo Quiero (Somebody to Love)”, which started out as a guitar ballad called “Fighting for Us”, and ended up, under the brilliant tutelage of Ryan Tedder, as the Leona-Lewis-led Latin pop smash you will hear at the end of the show.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Songland show-runner and co-creator Audrey Morrissey and producer-panelist/pop hook phenomenon Ester Dean take us behind the scenes for the inception and remarkable first season of this groundbreaking show.  Hear first-hand how the seemingly impossible was accomplished: a truly intimate, safe space, where established artists and young writers alike felt comfortable enough to be themselves at their most vulnerable and creative, all inside a national television show.    Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

In this season one finale, Ryan Tedder talks about his unique jump from the Songland producer panel to the guest artist’s chair, as he and bandmate Zach Filkins open One Republic for the first time to outside songwriters.  And winning writer JT Roach talks about how he studied One Republic’s “Counting Stars” in his early days as a songwriter, and the surreal thrill of bringing it full circle as he lands that historic guest writer spot on the new One Republic record, with his smash ‘Somebody to Love’.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Country hitmakers Lady Antebellum peel back the curtain on their Grammy-winning smash single “Need You Now,” and writer Madeline Merlo shares the story behind her winning song, the backroad party anthem “Champagne Night.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Luis Fonsi, the megastar behind one the biggest singles of all time, “Despacito,” gives us a glimpse into his personal habits as a songwriter. And promising young talent PipoBeats breaks down his infectious winning song, “Sway.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

R&B siren and hitmaker H.E.R. gives us a glimpse into her personal path as a songwriter and her experience on Songland, and this week’s winner Raquel Castro talks us through the birth and evolution of her winning song, “Wrong Places.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Country megastars Florida Georgia Line tell the story behind one of the hits that put them on the map - their smash collab with Bebe Rexha, “Meant to Be” – and writer Griffen Palmer takes us inside his winning song, “Second Guessing.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

In this episode we’ll hear from the one and only Boyz II Men, the classic vocal group that provided the soundtrack to every graduation, every prom, and countless other memories for so many - and from winning writer ChrisLee on the song that just won him a place in that amazing history, “Love Struck.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Songwriting wonder and pop superstar Bebe Rexha talks about her humble beginnings and how all songwriters are “one song away” from breaking through. And winning writers Anna Graceman and Greg Scott discuss their unprecedented two-song win, a mash-up of Anna’s inspiring verses from her track, “Bones,” and Greg’s massive chorus hook from his winning anthem, “Miracle.”  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

The wildly talented actor, singer and songwriter Ben Platt tells the story behind a favorite song of his own, the beautiful “Grow As We Go.” And writer David Davis takes us through the evolution of his deeply personal winning track, “Everything I Did To Get To You.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Multi-Platinum R&B phenomenon Usher tells the story behind his 2004 breakup classic, “Burn,” and writer Ryan Cam takes us through his vibey winning track, “California.”  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Country star Martina McBride describes her conversational style of songwriting as she talks through her 2011 favorite, “Teenage Daughters,” and winning writer H A L I E takes us behind the curtain on her winning song, “Girls Like Me.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Pop phenom Julia Michaels describes her own genesis as a songwriter and lets us in on some of the early inspirations that helped launch her remarkable career, and winning writer Keegan Bost takes us behind the scenes on his winning song, “Give It To You.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers