And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan Ep. 227: Ryan Tedder pt.4 | The Modern Music Economy, A.I. and The Future, and How to Win
Nov 4, 2025
Ryan Tedder, Grammy-winning frontman of OneRepublic and hitmaker across genres, dives into the evolving music landscape. He discusses the decline of the middle class in songwriting due to streaming and AI, stressing the need for a survival mindset. Ryan reveals how collaboration dynamics have shifted and the increasing number of contributors per song, impacting income. He shares insights on using AI creatively while protecting rights and emphasizes the importance of unique artist identities in a tech-driven future. A must-listen for music enthusiasts!
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Episode notes
How The Internet Changed Songwriter Economics
- The internet and cheap recording lowered entry, but increased collaborators per song, inflating credits.
- That shift multiplied writers per top-10 and diluted individual publishing value.
Giving Away A Big Chunk For An Interpolation
- Ryan described an act that preemptively gave away 30% of a hit to an interpolation and panicked when told its value.
- That one generous split likely cost them millions in long-term value.
Plan For Radio To Maximize Long-Term Income
- Treat streaming metrics and DSP charts differently than legacy radio metrics when planning releases.
- Build radio plans when possible because radio still multiplies long-term songwriter income.
