March 10, 2025
The Business of Hit Songwriting With Bonnie McKee
The New Music Business with Ari HerstandAbout this episode
In honor of Women’s History Month, we are replaying some of our favorite episodes featuring incredible women of the industry. This episode spotlights Grammy-nominated, hit singer and songwriter Bonnie McKee. Since the early 2000s, McKee has written 10 singles that have reached #1 in the US and UK, which have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide combined. McKee is particularly known for collaborating with Katy Perry, co-writing hits such as “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream”, “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)“, “Part of Me,” “Wide Awake” and “Roar” together. She also co-wrote “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz, which became the second-best-selling song by a British artist in the digital era. Additional artists who she has worked with include Britney Spears, Kesha, Cher, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert and Mike Tompkins. Last year, she released her album Hot City featuring the hit single “American Girl.” Chapters 00:00 The Art of Songwriting: Balancing Familiarity and Creativity 03:02 Bonnie McKee: A Journey Through Songwriting and Independence 06:06 Exploring the World of Film: From Music to Directing 08:59 The Dynamics of Songwriting Sessions: Collaboration and Creativity 11:52 Navigating the Music Industry: The Role of Songwriters 14:47 Contrasting Nashville and LA: Different Approaches to Songwriting 17:47 The Challenges of Being a Female Songwriter and Producer 21:31 Gender Dynamics in Music Production 24:44 Navigating Songwriting and Royalties 27:46 The Art of Songwriting: Balancing Authenticity and Popularity 30:48 Song Doctoring: The Business Side of Refining Songs 32:57 The Controversy of Song Credits 34:05 Creating 'Roar': A Triumph Over Misogyny 37:42 Shifts in the Music Industry: A Personal Perspective 40:32 Advice for Aspiring Songwriters 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.