Beginner Songwriters Should Know This

About this episode

The episode discusses the careers of Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie to provide insights for modern songwriters on building sustainable careers in music.

This NJMP episode summary centers on the long-lasting careers of jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie. We start by highlighting their major historical win at the 1959 Grammy Awards, where they became the first Black artists to earn Grammys in the main, non-classical categories. This achievement was a huge moment for representation and recognition in the industry. We then use their success stories to teach modern songwriters how to build sustainable careers in music. The main takeaway is that lasting success requires focusing on two equally important things: Mastering the Creative Craft: This means having a deep passion for the music (dedication), being able to change and stay relevant (adaptability), and making music that is truly authentic to you. Proactively Learning the Business Side: You must understand the practical aspects of the industry, such as knowing how to protect your songs (copyright and publishing), how to get your music used in movies or ads (licensing), how to track your earnings (royalties), and how to read and understand agreements (contract literacy). The episode's central, simple message is this: For a long and successful career, you need both a strong…

People in this episode

Host: Not Just Music Podcast

Topics covered

• songwriting
• music industry
• career development
• jazz history
• representation

Keywords

• songwriters
• music career
• jazz
• Grammy Awards
• business side of music

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Grammy Awards

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