Songwriter Soup is a frank discussion about how to make it in the music industry as a songwriter. It takes grit and a lot of patience, but also sound financial advice.
Laura Veltz is a Four-time Grammy-nominated songwriter and is teaming up with Tracy Hackney, a seasoned financial advisor for musicians, to bring you the tips and tricks of the industry. Joined by host and producer, Kevin Sokolnicki, the trio has interviews with some of the most prominent and up-and-coming songwriters and artists in the music industry.
Songwriter Soup airs every Monday where you get your podcasts.
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Maren Morris: Locking In With Creatives, Master Points & The Truth About Radio
Maren Morris ("My Church", "The Bones") parks it on the Soup couch this week for a deep dive on some of the most unexplored topics in the music industry. She unpacks the
Nov 2 58 min
Deric Ruttan: Vulnerability AND Thick Skin - A Songwriter’s Paradox
Deric Ruttan (“What Was I Thinking” Dierks Bentley, “Mine Would Be You” Blake Shelton, “Any Ol’ Barstool” Jason Aldean) joins the trio this week to unlock the secret to s
Oct 19 1 h 30 min
Joybeth Taylor: Managing Astronomical Highs, Off Days & Other Things You Can’t Control
Joybeth Taylor (“Choosin’ Texas” Ella Langley, “I Can’t Love You Anymore” Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen, “Empty Words” Corey Kent) is living through once-in-a-lifetime son
Oct 5 59 min
Publisher Beth Laird: Nurturing Nashville's Songwriters One Snack At A Time
This week, we have Nashville’s most considerate publisher, Creative Nation’s Beth Laird on the podcast. Married to a hit songwriter (Soup season 1 alum, Luke Laird), Beth
Sep 21 1 h 08 min
Alana Springsteen: Therapy, Reconnecting With “The Why” & Safety In The Writer Room
This week’s guest, artist and songwriter, Alana Springsteen (“ghost in my guitar”, “Hot Honey” and her latest album I Hope This Helps), discusses the burn out that comes
Sep 7 1 h 00 min
Nell Maynard: Fear vs. Love, Funding The Arts & Wisdom In Transparency
In this deeply honest and illuminating episode of Songwriter Soup, Nashville songwriter Nell Maynard (“Opti-MYSTIC” Abbie Callahan, “Blueneck” Chris Housman, “Like A Boy”
Aug 24 1 h 05 min
Blake Pendergrass: Morgan Wallen, The Grind & Toxic Frugality
Blake Pendergrass (“Just In Case” Morgan Wallen, “Brunette” Tucker Wetmore, “ROCKSTAR” Hardy) is on the Songwriter Soup couch this week breaking down his bizarre entrance
Aug 10 1 h 13 min
Ava Suppelsa: Streams vs. AirPlay, Dignity & Service
Hit Songwriter, founder of Hope On The Row, and overall angel, Ava Suppelsa (“Better Me For You (Brown Eyes)” Max McKnown, “Critic” Avery Anna, “Salt, Lime & Tequila” Rya
Jul 27 1 h 10 min
Mags Duval: A Weird Kid, Early Luck & “Overnight” Success
Mags Duval (“Ordinary” Alex Warren, “To Love Someone” Benson Boone, “Flame” Teddy Swims) has one of the most interesting songwriter stories we’ve ever heard on the podcas
Jul 13 1 h 17 min
Ashley McBryde: An Artist Willing To Listen & Learn Could Save The Future Of Songwriting
Artist and genuine songwriter advocate, Ashley McBryde (“Girl Goin Nowhere”, “Martha Divine,” “Bible and a .44”) pulls up some couch this week to bring a massive, unfilte
Jun 29 1 h 05 min
Ben Johnson: 10,000 Hours, Lawyers & Treating The Next Gen Better Than You Were Treated
Ben Johnson (“All The Way” BigXThaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman, “TRUCK BED” Hardy, “Dying Man” Morgan Wallen) is on the pod this week to discuss family, outliers, finding co-w
Jun 15 1 h 15 min
Lauren Hungate: AI, COVID & Artist Relationships - “Don’t Get Butt Hurt & Burn Bridge”
This week, the Songwriter Soup crew interviews Lauren Hungate (“Holy Smokes” Bailey Zimmerman, “Break First” Tucker Wetmore, “The Aftermath” Carter Faith).
We jump aroun
Laura collected, sifted, and solicited and we have round of listener questions we’ll be addressing this week. We cover the most asked questions like how to get some dece
May 18 1 h 00 min
Mike Robinson: Having Fun While Waiting For Proof That You Absolutely Are A Hit Songwriter
Mike Robinson (“For The Rest Of Your Life” - Teddy Swims, “Umbrella” Fitz and The Tantrums, “4runner” Brenn!) joins the Songwriter Soup trio this week to discuss how bein
The crew is joined by Austin Goodloe (“Dandelion” Ella Langley, “Rocky Mountain Low” Corey Kent & Koe Wetzel, “I Can’t Love You Anymore" Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen) to
Apr 20 1 h 09 min
David Spencer: Christian Radio, TikTok Smashes & The Psychology of Songwriting With A Day Job
Producer and songwriter David Spencer parks it on the Soup couch this week, bringing a massive amount of cross-genre perspective, jumping from Christian radio hits like K
Apr 13 1 h 07 min
Paul DiGiovanni: Taylor Swift, Boys Like Girls & Nashville’s Emo Boy Influx
This week the trio sits down with the tallest man to ever enter the Songwriter Soup lair: producer and songwriter Paul DiGiovanni (“How Not To” Dan + Shay, "The Ones Tha
Mar 30 1 h 18 min
Nicolle Galyon & Rodney Clawson: Money Scripts, Parenting & How The Best Song CAN Win
This week we host songwriting couple (each a BMI Songwriters Of The Year of years past), Nicolle Galyon & Rodney Clawson.
We cover the importance of acknowledging your “
Mar 2 1 h 08 min
Gabe Simon: Building Economies, Not Empires
Producer and songwriter Gabe Simon (“Stick Season” Noah Kahan, “Blue Banisters” Lana Del Ray, “The Man That Came Back” Jessie Murph) shares his journey from driving Uber
Feb 16 1 h 18 min
REPLAY: Don't Crush The Butterfly
Trio de Songwriter Soup delve into art/business relationships and more on today’s episode. When it comes to a songwriter’s relationship with an artist, what is loyalty ex
Feb 2 56 min
Chart trend
Position in the Music Commentary chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#100#199AugSepOctNov
#23
all-time peak
40
days in the top 50 since Nov 2024
Chart positions
Where Songwriter Soup ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Nov 14, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
I may be the oldest person outside of the “business” who is monumentally grateful for the efforts you have made to educate songwriters. I wrote poetry & frivolous songs in my youth, but my first real song was when I was raising several of our children, homeschooling them, and going through a terrible time in my church in the year 2000.
I retired from working for our local school district at age 58 a couple of years ago, and recently started searching for songwriter advice (at age 60) to learn more about the industry overall.
I never wanted to be a performer, but have felt that several of my songs needed a voice to be heard by more than my family & close friends.
Your podcast has been very educational and inspirational to me.
Laura talked about one of her cowriters who loved gardening in one of the first episodes, and his reaction to her question about turning it into a business resonated strongly with me.
Several episodes intimate the difference between the bedroom songwriter as opposed to commercial.
I really appreciate the frank conversation about the cost of working in the professional songwriting world versus pursuing a passion (such as mine) in the protection of my own environment and goals.
Laura keeps talking about the value of knowing that this podcast is helpful to people out there — even if it is to a very few.
I just wanted to let y’all know your efforts are extremely valuable to a little lady across the country.
There is so much more than songwriter advice within your episodes, including ways to maintain a healthy, happy balance in life, whatever our creative and professional endeavors may be.
I love the tempered, quietly reassuring, way Tracy adds to every conversation, Laura’s passionate zeal for creating within her songwriting community, and the fascinating stories of the team and guests on this podcast.
I started from the beginning a few weeks ago, and just want you to know I’m so enjoying this journey with you while I travel and go about my daily life.
I go to Tennessee a few times a year - usually through Nashville- and hope to visit some of the places you have mentioned- now with much more understanding and interest than ever before!
Lifelyrics · Oct 2025
I am definitely realizing how green I am to this whole business. I am so grateful somebody is unlocking part of what is such a mystery and helping with some of the fear associated with the huge leap this is. Being 41, I know I’m late to the whole game and feel like I don’t have time for all of the mistakes. I know I will make some and learn from them, but not having to make ALL of them is awesome. Thank y’all for this. Amazing advice. I hope this podcast sticks around for a long time.
J_CH33 · Jun 2025
this podcast has taught me so much. going from knowing absolutely nothing about the music industry and how to get into the field of songwriting, to feeling confident in myself and in my abilities. thank you all so much for making this!
miah qumsieh · May 2025
Incredibly practical, insightful, and honest. I recommend you start from the beginning and listen sequentially. Each episode builds on the previous. Thank you Kevin, Laura, and Tracy for all your hard work!!
CMSongs · Mar 2025
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Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Songwriter Soup, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
