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For years, having a Grammy category exclusively for songwriters felt like a pipe dream.
He was proven right a few months later, when the Grammysannounced an award for Songwriter of the Year.
And the Recording Academy has been a late, but eventual, conduit for that progress.
I hope people are happy about it, saysLori McKenna, a longtime country songwriter.
The intent is to recognize craft songwriters, and, like, whats wrong with that?
1sSubmitted for Songwriter of the Year:Yes
You cant have a beat without a song.
Music is a collaboration, and they need to shed light on everybody who helps with that.
Creating Songwriter of the Year, its a big step.
Labels have budgets and they dont want to give it to songwriters, even just a small fee.
Theyre so ready to cut the check for one half of the creators but not the other half.
Songwriters have less leverage, too, because producers own the master.
I definitely submitted, so fingers crossed.
But now it creates even more motivation.
Its really amazing that the Academy is shining a light on that.
Especially now, with streaming and all the talk about, How do we get paid?
How do we make a living?, with album sales not being what they were.
Us songwriters have buckled down together a little bit.
And what I know more than anything about songwriters is we work together so well.
Its really cool to have somebody pay a little extra attention.
It seems like a little part, but its the damn song.
The ACM Award, I was sort of shocked by that.
That was a fairly new award.
Its such a blessing when those things happen.
I was on the outside of it, just recently paying attention to it.
I think they were really careful about making the qualifications.
Theyre songwriting hearts off.
1sSubmitted for Songwriter of the Year:Yes
Id always hoped for it.
Naturally, songwriters fall under the radar theyre in the background, so they miss the spotlight.
So this is, in a way, a response to that.
The recognition definitely feels long overdue, but I feel very fortunate to be a songwriter during this time.
The industry is starting to take us seriously.
When I started in the industry, I had no idea this was a career path to take.
I was an aspiring artist.
That was about 12 years ago when I started on this journey.
The more we can encourage young songwriters, the better.
Right now, there isnt really a set path for how to break in this industry.
Look at Andrew Watt, for example, when hewon Producer of the Year.
Hes somebody I collaborate with on a regular basis.
The options were completely open.
He was getting calls from his idols, and I think hell say the same.
The Academy is very powerful.
I think its going to make waves for our community.
And its just fun to have something to strive for.
It gives you a little bit more incentive to want to do your best work.
I think the competitiveness is really healthy.
Weve had to support each other, because there has been a lack of that throughout the industry.
Now I feel like were on the cusp of something really awesome.
These interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.
