October 18, 2022
Steve Lacy is a singer, songwriter, record producer, and living proof that you don’t need the most advanced or high-tech studio equipment to create music that listeners will love...
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For the last two years, there has been something missing in the lives of music lovers around the world—live music. The advent of a global pandemic meant the absence of concerts, festivals........
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One of the biggest questions many spaces face today is how blockchain technology may overhaul industry norms, and the music industry is no exception. In particular...
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Snapchat has recently announced Snapchat Sounds Creator Fund, a monthly grant program of up to $100,000 awarded to independent artists distributing music on the platform...
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Over the past few years, TikTok’s popularity has significantly increased resulting in 1 billion global daily users by early 2022. The app has also become extremely influential in the current music....
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Charlie Puth has paired with Studio to create a 30-day online course that outlines the entire songwriting and production process for $279 USD. This hands-on learning experience has been marketed....
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Whether you know Lexie Liu from her performance as Seraphine in K/DA’s “MORE” or her fourth-place finish on The Rap of China 2018, there’s no denying that the Chinese hip hop star is a global ...
Read moreJune 17, 2022
BTS is the most famous K-Pop band in the world now, and recently, they were invited to the white house to speak about anti-Asian hate crimes and inclusivity. Being the first K-Pop band to be...
Read moreJune 6, 2022
SEVENTEEN (세븐틴) is a 13 member Korean boy band under Pledis Entertainment. They are split into 3 teams, the Hip Hop unit (S.coups, Wonwoo, Mingyu, Vernon), the Vocal unit (Jeonghan, Joshua, Woozi...
Read moreJune 3, 2022
On May 20, Harry Styles released his new album Harry’s House, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart. This is his third studio album in which all thirteen songs are in the top 30...
Read moreMay 26, 2022
The Song House is a songwriter house in Nashville, Tennessee where all levels of writers and artists come together to develop music. Every week, 12-15 songwriters are challenged to write a hook in...
Read moreMay 27, 2022
It’s been one year since the young pop-star, Olivia Rodrigo, released her first music album “Sour”. Since her debut, Olivia Rodrigo has won 3 Grammy Awards and named Women of the Year in 2022.
Read moreThe world of music has always been shrouded in a certain level of mystery and allure, but the recent spat between Meek Mill and Drake has brought a longstanding issue back into the spotlight: ghostwriting. The controversy ignites a debate about the importance of authorship and authenticity in music, particularly in genres where personal narrative and credibility are key, like hip-hop.
In 2012, Damien Hirst, a renowned artist, responded to criticism about his minimal personal involvement in the creation of his famous spot paintings by comparing himself to an architect. His defense highlighted a crucial point: in many creative fields, the end product is a collective effort. This idea is widely accepted in some areas, such as speechwriting for politicians or scripts for TV presenters. However, in music, especially rap, there's a significant focus on the authenticity of the artist's voice.
Hip-hop is a genre deeply rooted in personal storytelling and authenticity. As Austin Daboh from 1Xtra points out, the personal nature of rap lyrics means that ghostwriting can be seen as undermining an artist's credibility. When rappers like 50 Cent talk about their life experiences, such as surviving multiple gunshots, the expectation is that these stories are their own, not fabricated or penned by someone else. This personal connection is why Meek Mill's accusation against Drake struck such a nerve; it challenges the very foundation of what many believe rap should represent.
Yet, ghostwriting in music is far from rare. Many iconic tracks have had contributions from writers behind the scenes. Nas helped craft hits for Will Smith, Method Man contributed to ODB's debut album, and Jay-Z wrote for Dr. Dre and even Bugs Bunny. Killer Mike has openly discussed his own ghostwriting experiences, explaining that writing from another artist's perspective can make perfect sense. In pop music, where the focus is often more on the performance than the personal narrative, the use of ghostwriters is widely accepted. Artists like Taylor Swift and Lorde have brought songwriting to the forefront of their identities, showing that pop can value authenticity too. The inclusion of voice memos on Swift’s album "1989" underscores how integral songwriting is to her brand.
However, not everyone in the industry is thrilled about this shift. Some believe that performing and writing are distinct talents, and that good performers need not write their own songs. The reality is that many hits are the result of collaborations among multiple writers and producers. This is particularly true in genres like hip-hop and dance music, where the lines between production and songwriting are increasingly blurred.
The debate over ghostwriting ultimately circles back to the question of what fans expect from their favorite artists. Is it the artist's voice and story that matter most, or simply the quality of the music they produce? For some, the idea of an artist not writing their own lyrics feels like a betrayal, while for others, it's just part of the creative process.
In the end, the issue of ghostwriting in music reflects broader questions about authenticity and authorship. While some fans might feel deceived if they discover their favorite artist didn’t pen their own hits, others might appreciate the collaborative effort that goes into creating great music. Perhaps the only real rule in ghostwriting, as in many aspects of life, is this: if you're going to do it, don’t get caught.