The New Music Business with Ari Herstand Hit Songwriter/Producer on Publishing Deals and Artists Taking Credit for Songs They Didn't Write
Jun 18, 2025
Justin Gammella is a hit songwriter and producer with over a billion streams, known for viral hits like Bella Poarch's "Build a Bitch." He discusses the complexities of songwriting credits, the financial structures in the streaming era, and the growing influence of AI in music creation. Gammella shares insights on the importance of fair recognition and the evolving nature of publishing deals. They also explore the delicate balance between human creativity and technology, highlighting the need for industry safeguards amidst rapid changes.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Radio Pays Songwriters More
- Radio airplay royalties primarily benefit songwriters via performing rights organizations, paying better than streaming.
- Labels invest heavily to push songs on radio, which can create lucrative revenue streams for songwriters if successful.
Collaborative Song Evolution
- "Build a Bitch" was initially written via Zoom with a smaller group during COVID and then handed off to the artist who further produced it.
- This illustrates how major label songs often evolve in multiple stages with various contributors.
Top Line is King in Production
- Justin acts often as both producer and top liner, focusing heavily on vocal melody as the key part of the song.
- He prefers the vocal top line to be strong before investing in full production of a track.
