Hitmakers Exposed

Wonderful music business stories including the day Phil angrily swore at Paul McCartney.Phil is principally known as a songwriter and musician and for co-writing and recording "Karma Chameleon", one of the biggest hits of the 1980s era with Boy George and Culture Club during his tenure as keyboard player and backing vocalist for the group on every live performance throughout the world during the 1980s. Prior to this, Pickett co-founded hit-making pop band Sailor in 1973 which achieved considerable chart-topping success in the mid-1970s glam rock period and with whom he still regularly performs to the present day. Pickett's songs have also been recorded by many other artists including Labi Siffre, Sheena Easton, Georgie Fame, Joe Cocker, Brian Kennedy and Malcolm McLaren, used in countless TV commercials and included in the soundtrack of Hollywood films Electric Dreams, Top Secret!, The Lost Boys and his West End Musical Theatre debut, Casper The Musical.The best advice out there, raw and uncensored, from experts who have walked the walk through the music business 🔥 To find out how we can help you, come and talk to our professionalsGet more from The Songwriting Academy HERE

Martin chats with global hitmaker Shep about his life in music, the hits, the ups and downs and the state of the music today.  Shep has had over 140 of his songs recorded and released worldwide and continues to be one of the most sought after songwriters in the business.Sheppard attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City. Upon graduation, he formed two bands, which were signed to EMI and SIRE respectively. During this time, Sheppard co-wrote material with other songwriters.Upon deciding to focus on songwriting full-time, Sheppard went on to achieve 14 top 3 single positions in the United Kingdom and Europe, including his second UK number-one single, "Don't Stop Movin'" by S Club 7. This single also secured Solomon a BRIT Award for "Song of the Year".After returning to song-writing in the United States Sheppard began co-writing cuts with artists such as Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, and Enrique Iglesias. He then went onto write Ryan Cabrera's “True” which charted at #4 CHR Pop and won Solomon a BMI award for Best Song.Sheppard wrote the song “Shiver” for Natalie Imbruglia which went onto be a #1 Pan European airplay hit and Paris Hilton's first single “Stars Are Blind” which was a worldwide top #5 single. He has been also working with American singer Jessie Malakouti.In 2011 Sheppard's releases include the UK Top 10 radio track Wonderland's 'Not a Love Song,'(Mercury UK) One Direction's 'Tell Me a Lie,' (Syco UK) and J-Lo's 'Everybody's Girl' from the Love Album (Island Def Jam).The best advice out there, raw and uncensored, from experts who have walked the walk through the music business 🔥 To find out how we can help you, come and talk to our professionalsGet more from The Songwriting Academy HERE

Lee Dannay has over twenty five years experience in the music industry, including 15 years at Sony Music, as a senior A&R executive for both Epic and Columbia Records, plus five years at Warner/Chappell Music Publishing. While at Sony, Lee signed, developed and worked with a variety of artists including John Mayer, Shawn Mullins, Five For Fighting, Anna Nalick and General Public.Lee also worked as a senior music producer for America’s Got Talent, involved in casting and artist development for the music talent portion of the show, and as an executive producer for the artists subsequently signed.Through her own creative consulting company, GoodWorks Music, Inc., Lee maintains the role of Creative Director and founding member of a music therapy initiative called Knock Out Noise, which researches and creates music and musical templates for disorders related to sensory processing.Currently, Lee is head of A&R for Nashville based entertainment company Thirty Tigers, responsible for signing artists, providing A&R services for the roster as needed, and assisting with the development of the Thirty Tigers publishing venture.Additionally, Lee is an adjunct professor at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, teaching the Business of Music Publishing and is a voting member of The Recording Academy.The best advice out there, raw and uncensored, from experts who have walked the walk through the music business 🔥 To find out how we can help you, come and talk to our professionalsGet more from The Songwriting Academy HERE

Michelle Escoffery is a powerhouse in the music industry, celebrated as an award-winning singer-songwriter and an inspiration to all who cross her path. With an impressive career spanning over three decades, Michelle has proven herself time and again as a force to be reckoned with. She has been honored with prestigious accolades such as the Ivor Novello Award and Brit Award, which stand as testament to her creative talent and professional contributions. She is currently making history as the first President of PRS for Music Member's Council, where she passionately represents and advocates for her fellow music creators. Additionally, she dedicates her time as a Trustee for the PRS Foundation, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to supporting and uplifting the wider music community. Beyond her musical prowess, Michelle is a champion of wellness. For over two decades, she has empowered creative entrepreneurs as a Life Navigation Consultant and executive mentor. Her transformative guidance helps individuals meet the demands of daily life with creativity and spiritual practice, enabling them to ignite their energy, maintain their flow, and avoid burnout. Above all, Michelle's unique speciality as a Joy facilitator, helps individuals access and embody boundless joy in every aspect of their lives.The best advice out there, raw and uncensored, from experts who have walked the walk through the music business 🔥 To find out how we can help you, come and talk to our professionalsGet more from The Songwriting Academy HERE

From an abusive school  environment as a dyslexic, angry young man to music mogul who worked his way to the top following his passion and gut instinct.A fascinating intimate and honest conversation with one of the hardest working people in the music business, now tech entrepreneur, Guy Holmes.Guy Holmes is a business strategist, venture capitalist, and music industry veteran based between London and Los Angeles. As the founder and CEO of Gut Records and Intermedia promotions, Guy earned his reputation for discovering, developing and launching artists including U2, Right Said Fred, Duran Duran, Tom Jones, Jesse J, and David Guetta, among many others. The label released a diverse range of music from pop through to indie/rock and dance. The first single released, Right Said Fred's song, "I'm Too Sexy", became a massive worldwide hit, reaching Number One in twenty-eight countries, including the United States, where it spent three weeks at Number One. Gaining success at an early age, Guy continued to climb the ranks as a successful entrepreneur year after year and quickly gained a reputation in his industry for being loyal, focused and a true mentor to his business peers. Whether he was turning the infamous “Crazy Frog” ring-tone into a global sensation (pre-YouTube) or managing the comeback of Michael Jackson, Guy has consistently shown his skill for cultivating brands, developing commercially viable products, and successfully stimulating public interest through expertly-conceived media campaigns. Now applying his business instincts to the world of startups, he brings more than 35 years of experience in marketing, sales structure, branding, as well as business and legal set up to companies looking to launch and scale quickly but wisely. Guy is advising and strategizing for several multi-national companies including Sennheiser Electronic GMBH, Magic Leap, Tractor Ted ltd, and Snappt LLC and Pink Floyd, “Their Mortal Remains” exhibition as it travels the world . Guy is driven both by his creativity and his instincts to find the next big thing.The best advice out there, raw and uncensored, from experts who have walked the walk through the music business 🔥 To find out how we can help you, come and talk to our professionalsGet more from The Songwriting Academy HERE

A lifetime in music has led Charlie Dore from being a Billboard Top 20 artist with her hit song Pilot Of The Airwaves to selling tens of millions of records writing songs for Celine Dion, Tina Turner, Lisa Stansfield, Paul Carrack, Ricky Ross and Jimmy Nail, notching up Top 10 hits in Italy, Germany and France, a US No 4 and a UK No 1.Follow her life in this podcast, with stories of being charmed by Robin Williams and how it felt listening to George Harrison sing and play one of her songs as they sit in his back garden.Charlie has also worked as an actress in theatre, film, (the award-winning Ploughman’s Lunch) TV, Radio with Eric Idle and co-founded London Comedy Impro venue, The Hurricane Club, performing alongside many comedy icons including Bill Bailey, Stuart Lee and Robin Williams. She has also composed for three BBC drama series and two films.Charlie continues writing for and with other artists and enjoys mentoring emerging songwriters when she’s not recording, touring or performing online with her own band.https://charliedore.com/The best advice out there, raw and uncensored, from experts who have walked the walk through the music business 🔥 To find out how we can help you, come and talk to our professionalsGet more from The Songwriting Academy HERE

A lifetime in music has led Charlie Dore from being a Billboard Top 20 artist with her hit song Pilot Of The Airwaves to selling tens of millions of records writing songs for Celine Dion, Tina Turner, Lisa Stansfield, Paul Carrack, Ricky Ross and Jimmy Nail, notching up Top 10 hits in Italy, Germany and France, a US No 4 and a UK No 1.Follow her life in this podcast, with stories of being charmed by Robin Williams and how it felt listening to George Harrison sing and play one of her songs as they sit in his back garden.Charlie has also worked as an actress in theatre, film, (the award-winning Ploughman’s Lunch) TV, Radio with Eric Idle and co-founded London Comedy Impro venue, The Hurricane Club, performing alongside many comedy icons including Bill Bailey, Stuart Lee and Robin Williams. She has also composed for three BBC drama series and two films.Charlie continues writing for and with other artists and enjoys mentoring emerging songwriters when she’s not recording, touring or performing online with her own band.https://charliedore.com/The best advice out there, raw and uncensored, from experts who have walked the walk through the music business 🔥 To find out how we can help you, come and talk to our professionalsGet more from The Songwriting Academy HERE

Known affectionately as Mo Pleasure, this renowned multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, began playing acoustic piano at the age of four and by his early teens already mastered several instruments including bass, trumpet, guitar, drums and violin. He has played with Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Christian Aguilera, Mary J. Blige and Earth, Wind & Fire.Upon receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from University of Connecticut, Mo began his professional music career playing bass with Ray Charles. He then began working as a session musician, backing some of the most accomplished talents in Jazz ,R&B and pop including George Duke, Natalie Cole, Dianne Reeves, Christina Aguilera, Jonathan Butler, Rachelle Ferrell, Brian Culbertson, Michael McDonald, Oleta Adams, Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack, Marcus Miller, Mary J. Blige, and Frankie Beverly and Maze, to name a few.From 1989 through 1992, Mo was both keyboardist and musical director with saxophonist Najee, pianist Alex Bugnon, and vocalists Philip Bailey, Patti Austin and Jon Lucien. In 1993, he became a member of the legendary group Earth, Wind & Fire, and ascended to become the band’s musical director from 1994-2001. Mo was featured playing keyboards, trumpet and guitar with Janet Jackson’s 2001 All For You tour and played keyboards and trumpet with Boney James’ 2004 Pure tour. As a principal member of the group Devoted Spirits he was featured playing keyboards for Jimi Hendrix’s 60th Birthday Celebration and the 2004 Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix tour.Mo was a keyboardist in Michael Jackson’s final touring band that was scheduled to perform in the late superstar’s historic 2009, comeback tour at London’s O2 Arena.The best advice out there, raw and uncensored, from experts who have walked the walk through the music business 🔥 To find out how we can help you, come and talk to our professionalsGet more from The Songwriting Academy HERE

Mark Garfield is a drummer, producer, songwriter and music publisher – founder co owner of Pop-Up Music a UK a music publisher and sync agent. He has drummed, produced and written for artists including, Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), Dr Fink (Prince), Eddie Kramer (producer Jimmy Hendrix, Led Zeppelin…), Pete Brown (Cream), Mo Foster (Jeff Beck, Phil Collins), Clem Burke (Blondie), Neal X (Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Marc Almond), Arthur Brown, Micky Moody/Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake) and Hotei (Kill Bill OST). Netflix composer on Insatiable.Mark founded Sync Agency Pop-Up Music and has since placed music with:• 3 tracks in Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood;• Netflix: Stranger Things, Ratched, I Am Not Okay With This, Insatiable, Nasty Cherry, Street Food, Close; Pose, The Serpent• Amazon: The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, I’m Your Woman, The Grand Tour• Apple TV: Long Way Up, Amazing Stories, Pam and Tommy, Welcome To The Chippendales• BBC: Giri Haji; The Little Drummer Girl, I May Destroy You,• CBS: Blood And Treasure; The Twilight Zone• History Channel: Project Blue Book• Far Cry 5, Watch Dogs Legion, Rock Band 4• Poretti, Estee Lauder, Nina Ricci, JeepThe best advice out there, raw and uncensored, from experts who have walked the walk through the music business 🔥 To find out how we can help you, come and talk to our professionalsGet more from The Songwriting Academy HERE

The stories behind the life of global hit songwriter Pam Sheyne.Now based in Los Angeles, New Zealand born Pam Sheyne’s career has resulted in a number of globally recognised hit records, major film end titles, sales of 50+ million records, 100+ platinum, gold and silver sales certifications, 7 BMI Pop airplay citations and a prestigious Ivor Novello award.Whilst best known for the global breakthrough single “Genie In A Bottle” for Christina Aguilera (No.1 USA Hot 100/No.1 UK), she was also responsible for Dream’s debut hit “He Loves U Not” (USA No.2 Hot 100/No.1 Soundscan) as well as Jessica Simpson’s “Irresistible” (No.15 USA Hot 100).Her songs have been covered by a number of international artists including Seal, Corrine Bailey Rae, The Backstreet Boys, O Town, Nick Lachey, Laura Pausini, Hayley Westenra, Lindsay Lohan, Eternal, Play, No Angels, Cece Winans, Point of Grace and The Saturdays.The best advice out there, raw and uncensored, from experts who have walked the walk through the music business 🔥 To find out how we can help you, come and talk to our professionalsGet more from The Songwriting Academy HERE