Ep. 217: Rodney Jerkins | How He Turned Belief Into Hits — And Changed Music Forever

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan

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He believed before anyone else did.

Before the Grammys.

Before the 39 billion streams.

Before Say My Name changed the sound of radio forever.

He was just a kid on a New Jersey bus, chasing a dream no one else could see.

In this episode, legendary producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins shares how faith, fire, and pure conviction took him from a basement studio to shaping the sound of a generation. From Michael Jackson to Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Sam Smith, Rodney opens up about the mindset behind the music — and why belief is still the most powerful tool a creator has.

You’ll hear about the reset that saved his career, the changing landscape of songwriting in the AI era, and the stories behind some of the most iconic records of the last 25 years.

And The Writer Is... Rodney Jerkins.

Topics:

The real story behind Say My Name
Working with Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, and Gaga
Why belief matters more than talent
How to stay inspired (even after burnout)
AI, music tech, and what’s missing from today's process
What every songwriter needs to know about their value

Sponsored by:

SONA, DIMA, Amazon Music, and YouTube Songwriters.

Thank you for supporting us and protecting the future of songwriting!

Produced by Ross Golan, Joe London, and Jad Saad

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

258 episodes

#Music Business #Music #Music Industry #Songwriting #Podcasting Education #Writers #Music Creation #Artists #Interviews