And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan12 Jun 2025

Ep. 213: David Israelite | How Songwriters Get Paid — And Why the System is Broken

In this special episode, Ross Golan sits down with David Israelite, the influential President and CEO of the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA). A fierce and tireless advocate for songwriters, David has spent nearly two decades fighting for the rights, recognition, and fair compensation of music creators in an ever-evolving industry.

From spearheading groundbreaking legislation like the Music Modernization Act to navigating complex battles over streaming royalties and copyright protections, David shares a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into defending the value of songwriting. With unique insights into policy, publishing, and the business of music, this candid conversation reveals why David is one of the most pivotal figures working on behalf of songwriters today.

If you care about music creators and the future of songwriting, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

00:00 – Intro: Why This Episode Matters More Than Ever

03:40 – How Songwriters Get Paid (Explained Like You’re 15)

05:19 – The Truth About Songwriter Pay: 75% Controlled by the Government

07:28 – The Music Modernization Act: Progress or Political Cover-Up?

09:13 – The Broken System: Why Songwriters Can’t Say No

12:01 – Artists vs. Songwriters: The Industry's Unspoken Divide

13:50 – Ghostwriting, Publishing Abuse & The Elvis Tax Nobody Talks About

20:16 – Why Unionizing Won’t Save Songwriters (And What Might)

23:55 – What the CRB Is — And Why It Still Screws Creators

26:22 – Free Market vs. Rigged Game: Labels Win, Songwriters Lose

28:33 – Why Songwriters Have No Real Political Power

31:01 – Consent Decrees Explained: The 1940s Laws Holding Music Back

33:19 – Selective Withdrawals: A Strategy That Could Change Everything

39:10 – Are Big Publishers Quietly Crippling Independent Writers?

45:25 – The Power of ‘No’: The One Tool Songwriters Don’t Actually Have

46:25 – Are Labels and Publishers Working Against Each Other?

49:45 – The Billion-Dollar Boom: Why Everyone’s Selling Their Catalogs

54:37 – Final Word: Gratitude, Hope & the Fight Ahead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(110)

Ep. 255: Brittany Howard | How Alabama Shakes Went From a Garbage Truck to Playing with Prince

Today's guest is Brittany Howard — four-time Grammy winner, the voice of Alabama Shakes, and one of the most singular artists of her generation. But her real story isn't the accolades or the sold-out ...

7 Jul 1h 10min

And The Update Is...Spotify Deletes 500K Streams ,TIDAL Takes a Stand Against AI,The Charts Have a New Enemy

And The Update Is…a weekly beat on the industry . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 Jul 5min

And The update Is...AI Lawsuits Are Coming, Clive Davis Remembered & Olivia Rodrigo Makes History

And The Update Is…a weekly beat on the industry . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

27 Jun 6min

Ep. 254: Zooey Deschanel | Her Secret Identity + The Journey of She & Him

Today's guest is one of the most recognizable faces of her generation — an actor whose voice you'd know in a single frame. But her real story isn't the one you've watched. It's the one she kept secret...

23 Jun 1h 57min

And The Update Is...Heartbreak In The Writing Community, Chart Toppers & Goats

And The Update Is…a weekly beat on the industry . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19 Jun 7min

Ep. 253: Nessa Barrett on Fame, Music, and Finding Herself in Public

Today's guest built an audience of millions before she was old enough to sign a record deal, turned a 30-minute crying freestyle into her debut single, and made one of Gen Z's defining breakup anthems...

16 Jun 1h 24min

And The Update Is...Taylor & Drake Make History, AI Makes Headlines

And The Update Is…a weekly beat on the industry . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13 Jun 7min

Ep. 252: Lizzo | Rock Bottom, #1, and the Game Nobody Explains

Today's guest is a Grammy winner, a two-time Billboard #1 artist, and one of the defining pop voices of the last decade. But her real story isn't the anthems or the awards. It's the part that plays li...

9 Jun 1h 29min