For the second time in a matter of weeks, the Netherlands has decided not to participate in the 2027 Eurovision, citing "sensitivities" over the involvement of Israel in the contest.
In a statement issued by NPO - its spokesperson Jurre Bosman says;
"We have known for some time that Israel's participation elicits various reactions in society and causes discussion and division... therefore, after consultation with the Board of Broadcasters, the NPO has decided to forgo participation in 2027."
The Czech Republic pulled out two weeks giving as its reason, financial constraints. Ireland has also declared that it would not take part citing Israel's participation, while Spain is currently considering its position.
Martin Green CBE, Director Eurovision Song Contest has issued the following statement:
“We’re deeply sorry that NPO will now not take part in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest. We understand their decision, and we respect the strength of feeling behind it in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands is one of the founding countries of the Contest and has been part of the Eurovision family since the very first edition in 1956. Dutch artists, fans and broadcasters have shaped the Contest over seven decades, and the Netherlands has been a creative and valued voice in it.
We recognise that opinions about the Contest are deeply and sincerely held at the moment, and that they differ widely, both within countries and between them. We do not dismiss any of those views. Public service media exist to serve their audiences, and it is right that our Members weigh these questions carefully, in dialogue with their own communities".
Chris Brown Handed Suspended Sentence
American singer-songwriter Chris Brown has been handed an eight-month suspended prison sentence at London's Southwark Crown Court for an affray involving a music producer at a West End nightclub.
The ruling follows an incident in February 2023 at the Tape nightclub in Mayfair, where Brown struck producer Abraham Diaw twice in the head with a glass tequila bottle during an altercation. Both Brown and his vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, pleaded guilty to charges of affray earlier in the year. While prosecutors detailed a violent scuffle that left the victim injured, the judge opted for a suspended sentence rather than immediate incarceration. Supporters cheered outside the courtroom as the 37-year-old entertainer departed following the final judgment.
Irish Jazz Festival Concludes On Historic Note
The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival concluded on Monday 26th October, bringing to a close an expansive weekend of performances that drew over 100,000 patrons and featured more than 500 musicians across various venues in Cork. Established international acts and domestic performers alike contributed to the multi-day program, which has served as a cornerstone of the nation’s autumn arts calendar. Local authorities and festival organizers reported strong attendance figures throughout the holiday weekend.
Anthropic Sued Over Elvis Presley Recordings
The artificial intelligence firm Anthropic is facing legal action from Authentic Brands Group for allegedly utilizing 274 songs by Elvis Presley to train its artificial intelligence models without proper authorization. The plaintiffs argue that the company infringed upon copyrighted material, including iconic compositions such as "Can't Help Falling in Love," to optimize its generative technologies. This litigation highlights ongoing structural and legal tensions between major music catalog holders and technology firms regarding data scraping, copyright boundaries, and the economic valuation of intellectual property in the digital era.
Tate McRae Achieves Global Chart Milestones With Single Debut
Pop singer-songwriter Tate McRae has secured the number-one position on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts with her new single, "Housewife". According to market metrics compiled by Luminate, the track accumulated 55.9 million streams and sold 6,000 units globally during its initial tracking week. The commercial momentum of the single was substantially augmented by a high-profile promotional performance at the 2026 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, solidifying McRae's operational standing within upper-tier global pop music markets.
Fontaines D.C. Earns Initial Number-One Spot on ARIA Albums Chart
Irish rock group Fontaines D.C. has reached the summit of the ARIA Albums Chart for the first time with their fifth studio album, Dopamine Chamber. The critical and commercial performance of the release marks a significant milestone for the band, representing their fourth entry into the top 50 in Australia. The achievement underscores a broader transnational market stabilization for alternative rock music formats, occurring alongside notable high-charting entries from legacy electronic and contemporary country-folk artists.
Major Labels Advance Challenges Against Music Platforms
The ongoing legal confrontation between the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and generative artificial intelligence companies has intensified, with landmark copyright lawsuits proceeding against platforms like Suno and Udio. Major record groups are seeking strict regulatory compliance, including the implementation of RIAA-backed content labels on streaming services to explicitly distinguish human artistry from synthetically generated audio. Concurrently, the industry is navigating complex financial restructuring, driven by private equity acquisitions and strict state-level legislative crackdowns on ticket resale pricing caps.
Jamie Miller's "Babydoll" Topples "Patient Zero"
He took his time but Welsh-born singer Jamie Miller has topped the UK Official Singles Chart with "Babydoll" - his first ever chart entry, having released thirteen previous singles none of which made the Top 100.
The fourteenth - "Babydoll" - was released last August. The song -penned by Jamie Miller, Hayley Warner, and Michael Blum - explores the theme of finding yourself falling for someone who comes with the clear potential to break your heart, choosing to embrace the danger and intensity of the crush rather than walking away safely.
It replaces Taylor Swift's song "Patient Zero" which had spent three consecutive weeks at Number 1 on the UK Official Singles Chart and makes Jamie Miller the first Welsh artist to top the UK singles chart in 15 years.
Fontaines Top UK Album Chart
Fontaines D.C. has achieved the third-largest opening week for an album in the United Kingdom this year, securing the Number 1 position on the Official Albums Chart with their latest release, "Dopamine Chamber".
Released to widespread critical acclaim, the record marks the acclaimed Dublin-born, London-based post-punk band's second career leader on the UK albums tally. This milestone follows a high-profile cycle of new releases dominating the British music landscape, underscoring the group's continued commercial and artistic momentum across the region.
Dónal Lunny, Irish Folk Legend, Dead At 79
The Iirsh folk musician and producer Dónal Lunny, who founded such popular Irish bands as Emmet Spiceland, Planxty, The Bothy Band, Moving Hearts, Coolfin, Mozaik, LAPD, and Usher's Island, has died.
The recipient of the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, Dónal was born in Tullamore, Ireland on the 10th of March 1947. While attending the National College of Art & Design college in Dublin, he formed his first band Emmet Folk which under the name Emmet Spiceland, would score a Number 1 hit in Ireland with "Mary From Dungloe".
Some years later, he produced a single for Skid Row (featuring 17-year-old Gary Moore), before going on to play on or produce albums for such acts as Kate Bush, Mary Black, Paul Brady, Elvis Costello, Indigo Girls, The Waterboys, Fairground Attraction and Eddi Reader, Sinéad O'Connor, Clannad, Maurice Lennon, Baaba Maal, and Five Guys Named Moe. He also had a son, Shane, with singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor.
Dónal Lunny died on the 23rd of October 2026 in Dublin, Ireland, at the age of 79, from cancer.
Raye Wins The 2026 Mercury Prize
British singer-songwriter Raye has been crowned the winner of the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second studio album, "This Music May Contain Hope". The annual accolade, celebrating the most outstanding album produced by a British or Irish artist, was presented during a live ceremony broadcast from the Utilita Arena in Newcastle.
After narrowly missing out on the award during a previous nomination cycle, the London-born artist secured unanimous praise from the judging committee for her intricate composition techniques and emotionally transparent lyricism, which explores complex contemporary themes.
Following the presentation of the trophy by broadcaster Sian Eleri, Raye delivered a live performance of her critically acclaimed track, "I Hate The Way I Look Today," accompanied by a full brass and big band ensemble. The recognition marks a monumental milestone for independent songwriting, validating a body of work heavily anchored in vulnerability and sonic innovation. Industry analysts suggest that this victory further solidifies her status as one of the definitive creative voices of modern popular music.
Despite Major Trauma, Randy Travis Is On His Way Back
A major archival milestone has developed for country music traditionalists with the release of a new single, "I Know Where I'll Be," from Randy Travis. The track serves as a prominent preview for his upcoming studio album, "Same Old Way", which is scheduled for distribution on November 13, 2026, through Warner Records Nashville.
Travis, whose performing career was severely altered following a debilitating stroke in 2013, compiled the 12-track project using previously unreleased vocal recordings preserved for years in storage. The restoration and curation of these master tapes were overseen by his longtime producer and close associate, Kyle Lenning, marking a highly emotional comeback for the Country Music Hall of Fame inductee.
Music Publishers Accuse Australia of Legalising Theft
The International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP), which represents approximately 90 percent of the global commercial music publishing market, has fiercely condemned a newly drafted artificial intelligence copyright policy by the Australian government. In a formal intervention reported by the Australian Financial Review, the Brussels-based organisation accused the administration of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of creating a framework that would essentially "legitimise larceny" by allowing AI developers to train their models on copyrighted musical works without explicit permission or fair compensation. This aggressive pushback sets up a high-stakes, direct confrontation between Canberra policymakers and the world’s most dominant music catalog administrators, including publishing giants tied to Sony, Universal, and Warner Chappell.
technologies. Songwriters and publishers argue that the unauthorised ingestion of their lyrical melodies and harmonic structures threatens the financial foundational rights of human creators.
To view the rest of today's Songwriting News Stories, click HERE.
To view today's Songwriting Obituaries, click HERE.
Jim Liddane
Today's Top Song Worldwide Remains "Patient Zero"
•
Limerick City, Ireland
Today's Top Song Worldwide is yet again, the ubiquitous
"Patient Zero" by
Taylor Swift.
"Patient Zero" was released as a single somewhat unexpectedly on the 25th September 2026, having been chosen from one of four additional tracks on "The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore", an expanded edition of Taylor’s 2025 album "The Life of a Showgirl".
The song itself was written by Taylor Swift with Max Martin and Shellback, who also produced it with Swift and features Martin on keyboards and programming, Shellback on drums and programming, Fredrik Burstedt on violin, Anders Pettersson on pedal steel guitar and mandolin, and Andreas Wiberg on acoustic guitar.
So from a songwriter's point of view - what's so interesting about the song itself?
For a start, I find "Patient Zero" particularly fascinating because Taylor has actually given a fairly clear account of the circumstances that inspired it, which is a bit unusual for a song that inevitably invites speculation about one of her former relationships.
The most revealing anecdote concerns the song's actual origin. Taylor explained that she was spending time with a group of friends when one of them said that the new girlfriend of an ex-boyfriend had contacted her to ask whether she had experienced the same behaviour from him. What amused and interested Taylor was that the other women immediately began telling similar stories of their own. Taylor saw a much broader subject in the situation: the strange experience of being contacted by the woman who is now involved with a former partner and being able to recognise, from personal experience, what she is going through. She decided to write the song entirely from the perspective of the former partner receiving that telephone call.
That, I think, makes the title "Patient Zero" rather clever. Taylor uses the language of disease metaphorically: she was the first person to contract the "illness" represented by the man's destructive behaviour, while the new girlfriend is now experiencing the same symptoms. The song consequently becomes less a conventional breakup song than a kind of warning passed from one survivor to another. The central idea is not "I had him first", but "I know exactly what you are going through because I was there before you."
There is also an interesting irony in the way the song emerged. Taylor and her collaborators Max Martin and Shellback travelled to Sweden to celebrate the extraordinary success of "The Life of a Showgirl". They went to a studio intending, essentially, to reflect on what they had achieved, but Taylor later explained that they did what they tended to do when they were feeling something: they wrote more songs. "Patient Zero" was one of four songs produced during that period, alongside "Pink Clouding", "Babylon" and "Cleveland!".
The song therefore seems to have originated from a genuine conversation rather than from a preconceived attempt to write another autobiographical Taylor Swift "revenge" song. Nevertheless, listeners have naturally tried to identify the man behind it.
There are suggestions online that some of its imagery recalls songs associated with Joe Alwyn, particularly the medical imagery of "You’re Losing Me", but other fans have connected it with different relationships in Taylor's past. There is no confirmation that any particular former partner is the subject, however, and Taylor's own explanation points towards a composite or fictionalised situation rather than a straightforward portrait of one individual.
The recording itself is also musically quite interesting. It has a relatively relaxed, shuffling pop rhythm, but the arrangement is decorated with acoustic and country-derived colours, particularly fiddle, mandolin and pedal steel. That gives the song a slightly sinister, almost folk-pop character beneath its contemporary production. It is not a ballad in the traditional sense; Taylor delivers the verses with a conversational, almost conspiratorial quality, as though she is passing on information to someone who has just discovered that her seemingly perfect relationship is not what it appeared to be.
The music video adds another dimension. Taylor plays a woman who is apparently dead and attempts to warn another woman about the man they have both been involved with, while Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell play central roles. Taylor described the video as an opportunity to explore gothic ghost stories, true crime and psychological thrillers, with the decaying house representing the emotional decay of a relationship. The cinematic concept is consequently much darker than the relatively breezy musical surface of the record.
Personal I would regard "Patient Zero" as an interesting rather than wholly successful Taylor Swift song. Its greatest strength is probably its premise. The idea of the former girlfriend becoming a kind of unofficial counsellor to the new girlfriend is original, and the phrase "I was patient zero" gives the song a memorable conceptual hook. It also demonstrates one of Taylor's continuing strengths as a songwriter: taking an ordinary conversational situation and finding an unusual metaphor through which to examine it.
I am less convinced however by some of the actual writing. Taylor is capable of extraordinarily precise observational songwriting, but here some of the imagery feels familiar and some of the lines appear designed more for immediate recognition than for subtlety. The song occasionally approaches the territory of the Taylor "explanation song" in which she makes sure that the listener understands exactly who was right, who was wrong and what the moral of the story is.
Nevertheless, I think the song has considerable merit. The chorus is catchy without being excessively conventional, the production gives it an attractive rhythmic momentum, and the fiddle and mandolin provide an unusual texture within Taylor's recent pop catalogue. More importantly, the song has a recognisable "point of view". Taylor does not simply sing about being hurt; she transforms the experience into a conversation between two women who discover that they have been caught in the same pattern. That is a more mature idea than the title might initially suggest.
So my assessment is that "Patient Zero" is a clever, engaging and musically attractive late-period Taylor Swift song, although not perhaps one of her finest pieces of songwriting. Its most significant achievement is probably conceptual rather than melodic: it takes a familiar Taylor subject — romantic damage — and finds a fresh narrative perspective. The fact that the song grew from an actual conversation among friends makes that perspective feel considerably more convincing than it might have done had it simply been constructed as another piece of relationship mythology.
The question now is - following Emma Langley's unparalleled 25-week run as "Today's Top Song" - how long can "Patient Zero" stay on the summit?
Jim Liddane
Today's Top Song In All Continents
•
Limerick City, Ireland
Here is today's breakdown of the Top Song in each of the following territories.
North America
Today's Top Song in North America is
"Patient Zero"
- recorded by Taylor Swift
and written by
Taylor Swift, Max Martin and Shellback.
By the way - if you think that you might have heard the phrase "patient zero" before but in a non-musical context, then you're right.
The term is commonly used nowadays as a label given by medics to the first person to be infected by a disease during an outbreak.
However, the phrase itself was actually the result of a typo.
In 1984, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) contact-tracing study code-named a French-Canadian flight attendant named Gaëtan Dugas as "Patient O" - with the "O" standing for "Outside California".
However journalists misread the letter "O" as the number zero ("0"), giving rise to the phrase "Patient Zero"!
However, although still riding high in the USA, "Patient Zero" is no longer Number 1 in Canada, where it has been replaced by Tate McRae's hit "Housewife", so who knows?
Latin & South America
Meanwhile, today's Top Song in Latin & South America is
"Bby Wow"
- recorded by
Karol G, Judeline & Rusowsky
and written by
Karol G (Carolina Giraldo Navarro), Judeline (Lara Fernández), Rusowsky (Ruslán Mediavilla)
, Tainy (Marco Masís)
, Omer Fedi and Andrés Jael Correa Ríos (Rios).
Incidentally, the Spanish singer Judeline recorded her vocals for "Bby Wow" in a makeshift recording studio located inside the back of a fried fish restaurant in her hometown!
Europe
Crossing over to Europe, Today's Top Song is (believe it or not!)
"Patient Zero"
- recorded by Taylor Swift
and written by
Taylor Swift, Max Martin and Shellback.
The music video for "Patient Zero" (which was written and directed by Swift and features Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson with cameo appearances from Cara Delevingne and Matthew Stafford), was actually shot all the way back in March 2026, months before it officially premiered at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 27, 2026.
Africa
Moving along, Today's Top Song in Africa is
"Nayvee’s Prayer"
- recorded by
DJ Zinhle, Nayvee Womculo & Young Stunna
and written by
Ntsako Rigege and Sandile Fortune Msimango.
The song is in the form of a prayer asking God to remain present through all phases of life, and it has become the fastest song by a South African female artist to reach two million streams on Spotify, hitting that milestone in mere days after its late September release.
Australia - Oceania
Meanwhile in Australia - Oceania, Today's Top Song is
"Patient Zero"
- recorded by Taylor Swift
and written by
Taylor Swift, Max Martin and Shellback.
Australia - Oceania really took to Emma Langley's "Choosin' Texas", making that territory the song's biggest Market outside of North America, but like everywhere else, down under has totally succumbed to "Patient Zero".
The outlier this week however is New Zealand where "Patient Zero" has been replaced at the top of the sales charts by Olivia Dean's "Man I Need".
Asia
Finally, Today's Top Song in Asia is
"Ai Must Be"
- recorded by
Sakurazaka46
and written by
Yasushi Akimoto (lyrics), and composed and arranged by Tadashi Tsukida.
Hinatazaka46 is a popular Japanese idol girl group produced by Yasushi Akimoto and signed to Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
Despite its title - the song is not about AI as in artificial intelligence, but instead explores "Ai" (which can also mean love in Japanese - covering unconditional love, parental love, family love, and compassion for living things!)
It moves past traditional, restrictive social structures or rituals (such as wedding traditions shown in the music video) to a firm declaration of how one chooses to care for the world.
So now you know!
Jim Liddane
ISA • International Songwriters Association (1967)
internationalsongwriters@gmail.com
The News
Today's Songwriting News
Songwriting and Music Publishing news is widely covered nowadays, even in the mainstream media. Here we present the latest news, covering all musical genres, and assembled hourly from 27 different sources
Today's Songwriter Obituaries
The International Songwriters Association remembers and honours the songwriters, music publishers performers, musicians, record producers, and music industry personnel who have recently died
Todays Record Sales Charts
The top selling songs of today, comprising physical sales, streaming and airplay, compiled daily from a wide variety of reputable sources and encompassing multiple musical genres worldwide
Jim Liddane's Blog
Jim Liddane's daily blog recounts the stories (some of them allegedly true!) behind the great songs, along with advice and anectdotes from top songwriters interviewed by the International Songwriters Association
The Interviews
Below is a brief list of interviews.
To view the full list, click
HERE
Andrew Lloyd Webber Interview
The New York Times have named Andrew "the most commercially successful composer in history" while ISA members have consistently voted "Evita" as the best musical of all time
Richard Addrisi Interview
Richard Addrisi wrote "Never My Love" intending to record it himself. The Association took it, and made it the second most-played song on radio and television of the 20th century in the USA
Dennis Locorriere Interview
He found fame as the voice of Dr. Hook, with hits like “Sylvia’s Mother” while as a songwriter, his work has been recorded by Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson!! His name? Dennis Locorriere
Buck Ram Interview
His songs have been recorded by simply everybody! Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, The Beach Boys, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston etc etc etc!
Jim Lauderdale Interview
A Grammy-winning performer who once backed Fats Domino, before going on to pen hit songs for George Strait, while releasing 36 solo albums to date. His name? Jim Lauderdale
Chip Taylor Interview
What could Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Fats Domino, Cliff Richard, Janis Joplin, Dusty Springfield and Shaggy have in common? They've all recorded songs penned by Chip Taylor!
Charles Strouse Interview
His first song sold a million. His musical "Annie" became one of the longest-running shows on Broadway. But the song that sold 10 million was by rapper Jay-Z. His name? Charles Strouse
John D Loudermilk Interview
When the first song you've ever written is a Top 10 hit and you yourself get offered an RCA recording contract - well you just have to have it made! Well John D Loudermilk had anyway!
Graham Lyle Interview
Graham penned not only Gallagher & Lyle's "I Wanna Stay with You", "Heart On My Sleeve" and "Breakaway", but also Tina Turner's "What’s Love Got To Do With It". And many more!
P J Proby Interview
He went to Hollywood to become an actor, released records, did demos for Elvis, wrote songs for Ricky Nelson and Johnny Burnette before finally emerging as a full-blown rock star himself
Larry Henley Interview
He scored a #1 as a singer with "Bread & Butter" before writing for everybody from Tina Turner to Wille Nelson, But he's still best known for the classic "Wind Beneath My Wings"
Simon May Interview
Cliff Richard, "EastEnders", The Pointer Sisters, "Howard's Way", Richard Clayderman, "Eldorado", and Ruby Turner all share just one thing in common. Which is? Simon May!
Beth Nielsen Chapman Interview
She's written songs for Tanya Tucker, Bette Midler, Faith Hill, Neil Diamond, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, but has in addition also released several outstanding solo albums
Gary Osborne Interview
His first song was published at age 15. He has had covers ranging from Cliff Richard to Jennifer Warnes - yet is still best known for his co-writing with Elton John and Jeff Wayne!
Jona Lewie Interview
As a teenager, he backed Gene Vincent. Then scored his first hit "Seaside Shuffle" in 1972, going on to produce "Stop The Cavalry" and "You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties"
Mitch Murray Interview
The Beatles record your first song, but you're not too impressed. Instead, you go on to pen dozens of hits for other acts, and a country issues a set of postage stamps in your honour!
Wayland Holyfield Interview
To date, he has scored more than forty US Top Ten Country hits, including fourteen Number Ones, and he even got to pen his own state's song - "Arkansas (You Run Deep In Me)"!
Dan Hill Interview
An international singer-songwriting star at 23 whose first hit "Sometimes When We Touch" was covered by more than 130 other singers, Dan Hill is undoubtedly the stuff of legends
Les Reed Interview
When he can pen songs recorded by artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks, Bing Crosby, Marvin Gaye and Luciano Pavarotti, then Les Reed is clearly no ordinary songwriter!
Chas Hodges Interview
He worked with Joe Meek, backed Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent, played with hit-makers Deep Purple, to finally emerge as one-half of one of Britain's most loved acts - Chas & Dave
Steve Harley Interview
Most often praised for an innovative approach to music, his band, Cockney Rebel and the song "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)", bear testament to a unique musical talent
Guy Clark Interview
A luminary in the realm of American folk and country music, Guy Clark leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of those who have been fortunate enough to listen to his compositions
Mel Tillis Interview
He has released a hundred singles, scored six Number One hits, and penned million-sellers not just for himself, but also for such luminaries as Kenny Rogers, Tom Jones and Patsy Cline
Bill Anderson Interview
He wrote his very first hit in 1958, his latest was nominated for a Grammy in 2023, and Steve Huey of AllMusic called him "one of the most successful songwriters in country music history"
Eric Woolfson Interview
Starting out as a session pianist during the heyday of Merseybeat, Eric Woolfson emerged as a songwriter of note, before founding what would become the legendary Alan Parsons Project
Mike Read Interview
When you are an iconic BBC DJ, and have edited the "Guinness Book of Hit Singles", what is left to do? Well how about penning a raft of hit songs? Mike Read has done all this. And more
Marty Wilde Interview
Marty Wilde is an iconic singer, songwriter and record producer - one of the tiny number of music personalities to have scored a British hit in every decade from the 1950s to the 2020s
Nik Kershaw Interview
Nik has released 27 singles, and 20 albums. Has worked with everybody from Elton John to Genesis' Tony Banks. And he also performed at Live Aid, alongside Sting, Queen and Bowie!
Jerry Reid Interview
As a singer-guitarist, he is the tops. As a songwriter, well how about his songs for Elvis and Johnny Cash? And as for his acting - well there's always "Smokey & The Bandit". 1, 2 and 3!
Ron Miller Interview
Ron Miller pens hits for Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand and Ray Charles - yet manages to maintain the lowest profile of any hit songwriter we know. But he spoke to us!
Stephen Schwartz Interview
Stephen Schwartz conquered Broadway at the age of 23 with 'Godspell' and his work includes 'Wicked', 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' and 'Enchanted', winning 3 Grammys and 3 Oscars!
Keith McCormack Interview
Given just how many new songs are released each and every day, what are the chances of a new songwriter penning the best-selling song for any given year? Well Keith McCormack did!
Hank Cochran Interview
He arrived in Nashville on a bus, but within a year, his songs were at the top of the Billboard charts. Since then, every country star of importance, has recorded at least one of his tunes
Mick Hanly Interview
Limerick-born Mick Hanly is the only Irish songwriter to be awarded both the prestigious BMI Most Played Country Song Of The Year Award and the equally prestigious BMI MillonAir Award
Bruce Welch Interview
Bruce Welch co-founded The Shadows who backed Cliff Richard. But then, he went on to pen million-selling songs for Olivia Newton John and to set up his own music publishing company
Guy Chambers Interview
His production and songwriting credits include Queen, Diana Ross, Tom Jones, James Blunt and Kylie Minogue, while his co-writing with Robbie Williams has so far sold fifty million units
Dallas Frazier Interview
He cut his first record at fourteen, and three years later, had his first US Number One as a songwriter. Elvis Presley, Number 1s, Gold Discs and Grammies, Dallas Frazier has done it all
Bill Martin Interview
Bill Martin, the Eurovision-winning writer whose songs have been recorded by everybody from Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, Van Morrison & The Bay City Rollers, to country's Waylon Jennings!
Tony Hatch Interview
Tony Hatch has written hits for Petula Clark, Chubby Checker, Jackie Trent, Bobby Rydell and Connie Francis. And of course, he also penned the legendary theme for TV's "Neighbours"!
