Songland
Songland is an American songwriting competition series that aired on NBC from May 28, 2019, to June 15, 2020.[1] The show, produced in cooperation with the Universal Television Alternative Studio, 222 Productions, Live Animals Productions and Dave Stewart,[2] sets out to give undiscovered songwriters a chance to create a hit. It gives the viewers a look at the creative process in action.[3] Contestants are selected to work with producers and a recording artist to release a song.[4] The show tries to elevate the traditional role of the songwriter in the process of creating music from "unpleasant secret" to being the celebrated "magic ingredient".[5] Stewart, a musician and composer formerly of Eurythmics, conceived Songland.[3]
Songland
Ivan Dudynsky
United States
English
2
21
Audrey Morrissey
Ivan Dudynsky
Adam Levine
Dave Stewart
Chad Hines
43 minutes
Universal Television Alternative Studio
222 Productions
Live Animals Productions
Dave Stewart Entertainment
May 28, 2019 –
June 15, 2020
The show premiered in May 2019, with three producer-hosts: producer and songwriter Ester Dean; producer and OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder; and songwriter Shane McAnally. In September 2019, the series was renewed, and the second season premiered in April 2020.[6][7]
According to Heavy.com, many of the first season's songs picked by the guest artists for release hit No. 1 on an iTunes chart.[8] Songland was the top new show of summer 2019 "in the key adults 18-49 demographic and among total viewers, according to Nielsen's "most current" metric, which counts a week's worth of delayed viewing per episode where available".[9]
Production[edit]
Musician and composer David A. Stewart, formerly of Eurythmics, conceived Songland.[3] Songland attempts to rework the often thankless and grueling job of songwriting.[5] The general public rarely notes who wrote the lyrics, or the music that catches attention, instead the credit is generally given to the singer,[3] the typical narrative being that they're anonymous "cogs in the well-oiled pop (music) machine".[5] A song is optioned, sometimes passed to other artists, who may wait months or years to record it, or just a hook from it, and all for the singer's own glory.[5] The show tries to elevate the traditional role of the songwriter in the process of creating music from "unpleasant secret" to being the celebrated "magic ingredient".[5]
The show premiered in May 2019, with three producer-hosts: producer and songwriter Ester Dean; producer and lead singer of OneRepublic Ryan Tedder; and songwriter Shane McAnally.[3] In 2016, an entertainment lawyer advised prospective songwriters from signing the show's contract as they would be giving it the rights to their work whether chosen or not.[11] The show responded, "We wish to be abundantly clear that by signing the casting application, songwriters do not transfer ownership of any of their original songs. This show is truly a celebration of songwriters and their craft."[11]
International adaptations[edit]
Songland Thailand premiered on TrueID on October 20, 2020. It is produced by GMM Grammy and Online Creator Club.[103]