From left: John Legend, Shane McAnally, Ester Dean and Ryan Tedder, in a still from the premiere season of Songland. [NBC/Trae Patton]
[Editor’s note: This show really tells what usually happens with a “song”. The writer presents the song in its “baby” form. Then someone comes in and says, “Maybe this word would be better…” and then as you’re recording the song the whole sentence changes! I’m not sure who really gets songwriting credit here… The three judges and the “star” all have a hand in “fixing” the song so there could be at least – at the least! – 4 more songwriters with their hands in the pie. The description does not explain how the writer(s)’ and publishers’ royalties will be split. And in the case of a couple of the songs, other than the title or main chorus line, the whole song was different than the original. Then again, what’s better? A songwriter with a song that no one hears? Or a songwriter with a song on an album being recorded by a chart-topping star? As Will.i.am said, “It’s a house song… a song that can buy you a house.” And as my finance teacher said, “You always have to give up something to get something. Never a freebie.”]
You know the award-winning voices. You know the chart-topping hits. Now discover where the magic behind the music really happens. Welcome to “Songland.”
Every artist is looking for one thing – their next great song. NBC’s new groundbreaking series “Songland” serves as a destination for music’s biggest stars to find their next hit and represents a new chapter for music in television. Undiscovered songwriters are put center stage as they pitch their original creations to top recording artists and a panel of chart-topping music producers in the hopes of creating the artists’ next big hits.
The 11-episode series is an authentic peek into the creative process of songwriting and provides one talented winner per episode with the opportunity to have their song recorded and released worldwide by chart-topping artists. Featured guest recording artists include Jonas Brothers, John Legend, Charlie Puth, Meghan Trainor, will.i.am, OneRepublic, Kelsea Ballerini, Macklemore, Aloe Blacc, Old Dominion and Leona Lewis.
Each week, one guest recording artist comes to “Songland” to hear unknown songwriters pitch their original material. Four songwriters will perform their original tracks in front of the guest artist and three of the most successful and sought-after producers in music: Ryan Tedder, the lead singer of OneRepublic and a four-time Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer for Adele, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé; Ester Dean, a Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer for Rihanna, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj, as well as an actress who starred in the “Pitch Perfect” film franchise; and Shane McAnally, a Grammy-winning songwriter and producer for Kacey Musgraves, Kelly Clarkson and Sam Hunt, who has 38 #1 country records and was named the 2019 ACM Songwriter of the Year. Each song’s lyrics, arrangements, beats, melody and story will be considered by the panel as the producers and guest artist engage in a lively discussion about ways to creatively adapt them to better fit the style and sensibility of the recording artist of the week.
After the performances, the mega-recording artist will choose three songwriters to move forward to the studio and pair each songwriter with the producer best suited to perfecting their songs. In the studio, the songs will take shape in unexpected ways as the songwriter and producer duos work together to win over the recording artist. In the end, a winner will be chosen and their song will be recorded and released for a global audience.
“Songland” is executive produced by Emmy Award-winning Producer Audrey Morrissey (“The Voice”), Director Ivan Dudynsky, Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart, Chad Hines and multi-Grammy-winning recording artist and Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine. Josh Gummersall will serve as producer along with Ryan Tedder. The concept was devised by Stewart, Morrissey and Dudynsky.
“Songland” is produced by Live Animals in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio, Dave Stewart Entertainment and 222 Productions.
CREDITS
Panelists: Ryan Tedder, Ester Dean, Shane McAnally
Executive Producers: Audrey Morrissey, Dave Stewart, Chad Hines, Ivan Dudynsky, Adam Levine
Director: Ivan Dudynsky
Co-Executive Producers: Amanda Zucker, May Johnson
Supervising Producer: Ashley Baumann-Sylvester
Coordinating Producer: Lara Karchmer
Senior Producer: Tyler Furstman
Producers: Josh Gummersall, Ryan Tedder, Katie Franzeo, Suzanne Lee
Segment Producers: Joe Awgul, Hannah Borosky, Stephanie Wilmers
Consulting Producer: Casey Dale
Supervising Casting Producer: Michelle McNulty
Senior Casting Producer: Holly Dale
Production Designer: James Connelly
Lighting Designer: Oscar Dominguez
Origination: Los Angeles, California
Produced By: Live Animals, Universal Television Alternative Studio, Dave Stewart Entertainment, 222 Production
Songland is presented on Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m., immediately after America’s Got Talent on NBC (Channel 9 in Denver).