June 18, 2025
Hit Songwriter/Producer on Publishing Deals and Artists Taking Credit for Songs They Didn't Write
The New Music Business with Ari HerstandAbout this episode
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. https://instagram.com/justin_gammella http://instagram.com/producer_points 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.