This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Justin Gammella, a hit songwriter, producer, top liner, and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles. With over a billion streams to his name and more than 100 released cuts, Justin’s catalog includes Bella Poarch’s viral hit “Build a Bitch” and collaborations with artists like Benson Boone, Lennon Stella, Steve Aoki, and FINNEAS. A true “working class” pop songwriter, Justin brings a decade of professional songwriting experience to the table and is also the host of the Producer Points podcast.

In this episode, Ari and Justin dive into the realities of professional songwriting in today’s music industry. They explore how songwriters get paid, how publishing works, and the controversy around non-writing artists receiving songwriting credit. They also touch on newer developments like songwriters earning master points and how the industry continues to evolve in the streaming era. This episode also takes on the growing role of AI in music—how Justin uses it in his workflow, the ethical questions it raises, and the need for safeguards across the industry.

Chapters

00:00 The Role of Songwriters in the Music Industry

05:12 Journey to Becoming a Professional Songwriter

10:04 Understanding Publishing Deals

17:30 Monetization in the Streaming Era

23:15 The Songwriting Process and Collaboration

31:54 Vocal Production: The Heart of Music Creation

39:08 The Art of Pitch Songs: Collaboration and Emotion

42:17 Navigating the Modern Music Landscape: Major Labels vs. Indie Artists

45:57 Songwriting Credits: The Controversy of Co-Writing

50:11 The Evolving Role of Songwriters in the Streaming Era

54:56 AI in Music: Opportunities and Ethical Considerations

01:01:36 Defining Success in the New Music Business

Edited and mixed by Ari Davids

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

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Nawai Ravikant

The AI-powered Podcast Player