Songwriter Soup

Latest Episodes:

Jesse Frasure: Addiction To The Game & The Pursuit of “Just One More Hit” May 26, 2025

Show notes

Two time BMI songwriter of the year, Jesse Frasure (“Halfway To Hell” Jelly Roll, “Dirt On My Boots” Jon Pardi, “Marry Me” Thomas Rhett) closes out the spring season, as always, joined by the Songwriter Soup trio.

This episode includes a candid conversation about the highs, the lows, the ease, the difficulty, and the jealousy that come standard with all of our songwriter dreams. Jesse opens up a candid conversation on how to ‘dismantle the bomb’ of driving yourself insane, worrying about things you absolutely can’t control.

The group discusses the importance of keeping your ego in check without suppressing it entirely, and how to stay humble without turning humility into an inferiority complex. Complicated stuff!

Enjoy this episode and we will be back in the fall! Love y'all!

Listen to Jesse Frasure: The Songwriters Playlist on Apple Music

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Rob Ragosta: Community, The Grind and Surfing The Success Wave May 12, 2025

Show notes

You might recognize today’s Songwriter Soup guest’s name and voice—Rob Ragosta (“Need A Favor” & “Winning Streak” Jelly Roll) is the brother of previous SS guest, Joe Ragosta!

On this episode the group talks about family, community and how important the maintenance of both can help keep your head on straight through the ups, downs, highs and lows of the songwriter grind. It also covers the delicate balance of ego and humility and the wisdom of not looking down at anyone, or looking too far up at anyone either.

The road is long, friends you never can tell where everyone ends up! Best to be a kind person to everyone. Enjoy this episode of The Soup!

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Trent Willmon: Production, Vocals & The Outside Songs Keeping The Songwriting Community Alive May 05, 2025

Show notes

This week on Songwriter Soup, the trio is joined by Nashville producer and songwriter, Trent Willmon. This episode covers a wealth of information about production, vocals, and why Trent is open (and even excited!) to record outside songs with his frequent collaborator, Cody Johnson. For those of you who don’t know, an outside song is a song that an artist cuts without being on the copyright. There are a thousand reasons why that is going out of style and a thousand reasons why it shouldn’t.

The discussion also meanders around studio etiquette, covering the subtle art of working with artists in the vocal booth and how incredible Nashville’s studio cats are. Enjoy!

Trent Willmon: The Songwriters Playlist on Apple Music

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Connie Harrington: The Yoda Of Music Row Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

This week, the Songwriter Soup trio is joined by the incredible Connie Harrington (“I Drive Your Truck” Lee Brice, “Mine Would Be You” Blake Shelton, “No Caller ID” & “Bless Your Heart” Megan Moroney).

No shortage of wisdom, truth bombs and tears on this episode, y’all. Connie has seen it all and managed to stay, not just relevant, but bar-setting every damn time she gets one to stick to the wall.

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But... How TF Does Music Actually Make Money? Erica Rosa Explains It All - Part 1 Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

The Songwriter Soup crew sits down with FBMM’s own, Erica Rosa, lovingly and accurately known as the “royalty guru", to explore how money flows through the music industry. While originally set to focus on publishing royalties (this is a songwriter podcast after all), things naturally veered right to the actual beginning.

How does music make money from the tippy top down? Erica offers a clear breakdown, from streaming and physical sales to touring and bundling strategies.

Y’all should get a clear picture of the financial pressures on both artists and labels, and perhaps an explanation of the ongoing tension between fair compensation and business sustainability in the music industry

The episode also navigates the intricacies of artist-label relationships, producer deals, and the often-misunderstood world of points, net receipts, and profit splits.

Songwriters, this one is a must listen. If we are ever going to fix it, we have to understand it. Start here!

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Seth Ennis: The Homiest Of Homies Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

Seth Ennis (“The Boys Back Home” Dylan Marlowe & Dylan Scott, “She Drives Away” Jon Pardi, “Hooked” Dylan Scott, “Tough To Tie Down” Jordan Davis) joins The Soup gang to discuss the challenges of going from an artist who writes great songs to a full time hit songwriter and the importance of friendship as you make your way up the ranks.

Seth and Laura clear up an adorable ten year old work snafu, and coo over how amazing this songwriting community is.

This episode is full of warm feelings and goodness while the four discuss work/life balance, reinventing yourself, and rising with the crew you came in with.

Seth Ennis: The Songwriters Playlist on Apple Music

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REPLAY: Kelly Archer: Canadian Nice With An Excellent Bluff Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

To celebrate Kelly Archer’s recent two-week country number one, “I’m Gonna Love You” (Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood), we thought we’d re-release our interview with our girl, Kelly! Enjoy one of our favorite episodes of Songwriter Soup.

Kelly Archer (“Sleep Without You” Brett Young, “Wild As Her” Corey Kent, “Somebody Else Will” Justin Moore) explains what it’s like to write songs in Nashville before and after becoming a U.S. Citizen. Tricky!

Kelly's story is a wild one with high stakes and time limits, making her one of Nashville’s most steadfast and determined songwriters.

This episode covers writing songs on work visas and how that intertwines with being signed to publishing deals. Kelly sets a shining example for songwriters to know their own worth, negotiate accordingly, while riding the ups and downs of this fickle career path.

The Songwriters: Kelly Archer Playlist on Apple Music

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Steph Jones: Scents and Sensibility - Knowing What You Can (and Can’t) Control Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Steph Jones (“Espresso” & “Nonsense” Sabrina Carpenter, “hole in the bottle” Kelsea Ballerini, “People You Know” Selena Gomez) might actually be the songwriting community’s most easiest to love songwriter.

The Soup Crew learns all about Steph’s interest in scents and how it finds it’s way into her songwriting career, and the path she took through the praise and worship world that led her to a hits in pop and country.

Steph definitely has wisdom to share. Her work ethic, combined with a “maybe yes maybe no” philosophy, establishes a buoyant energy in the writing room, and lets the universe take it from there.

This episode also touches on songwriter rights and how we should ALL (gently) be asking for more. Enjoy this one!

Listen to Steph Jones: The Songwriters playlist on Apple Music

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REPLAY: How To Break Up With A Co-Writer Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

Replay, baby! Nashville's on Spring Break this week, so enjoy this oldie-but-goodie. It's full of great nuggets. We'll see you next week with a new episode!

Break-ups are never easy, especially when it comes to co-writing. This week, our hosts examine the reasons it may be necessary to say goodbye to a collaborator and how to do it with care.

The trio also talks about the virtues of Nashville’s even split policy, writing non-exclusionary lyrics, and what to do when you feel like your songs are getting worse.

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Devin Dawson: Cockiness, Pivoting & Song Nerdery Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Devin Dawson (“God’s Country” Blake Shelton, “The Difference” Tyler Rich, “All On Me” Devin Dawson) is our second songwriter artist guest on Songwriter Soup. Devin walks the crew through how cockiness (hmmm... confidence) helped him boldly switch lifestyles throughout his music career, jumping from garage death metal band to Belmont University student to country artist and hit songwriter.

He unpacks the challenge and beauty of his experience with a spasmodic dysphonia diagnosis that forced him to pivot once again, away from his artist career.

The Soup also gets a little song nerdy discussing craft and form, and Tracy, Laura & Kevin learn a bit about artist deals and how it may affect the writing room. Lots to learn. There will be a part 2 for sure. Enjoy part 1!

Devin Dawson's Artist Page on Apple Music

Devin Dawson: The Songwriters Playlist on Apple Music

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