Oscar-nominated, Grammy-winning songwriter/producer Dennis Matkosky (Diana Ross, Flashdance, Al Jarreau, Boz Scaggs, Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes) sits down with host Terrance Sawchuk to drop a masterclass on creative longevity and business ownership. From writing “Maniac” in 15 minutes and tailoring it for Flashdance with Phil Ramone, to the long road behind Keith Urban’s “You’ll Think of Me,” to discovering and championing HARDY, Dennis shares hard-won lessons on belief, persistence, and treating yourself like the CEO of your art. We get into LA vs. Nashville, film/TV cuts, admin vs. ownership, AI and streamlining, and the new “blue ocean” model where artists own code, data, and distribution.

If you’re a songwriter, artist, or producer who’s ready to stop waiting for permission and start running your career like a business, this one’s a gem.

• The real story behind “Maniac” and how lyrics were reshaped for Flashdance

• Why great songs are timeless—but cuts are all about timing

• Admin deals vs. publishing ownership (and when each makes sense)

• How Dennis evaluates and develops talent (and why HARDY bends genres)

• The mindset shift: artists as CEOs—and how to build leverage

• How AI can streamline the boring stuff so you can create more

• Blue-ocean strategies for an artist-owned future (own your portal, data, and distribution)

Dennis Matkosky — Oscar-nominated, Grammy-winning songwriter/producer. Credits include Diana Ross (“Mirror, Mirror”), Michael Sembello (“Maniac”), Al Jarreau, Boz Scaggs (“Heart of Mine”), LeAnn Rimes (“I Need You”), Keith Urban (“You’ll Think of Me”), Chicago, and more. Co-founder at Relative Music Group.

Follow Dennis:

https://www.relativemusicgroup.com/

https://www.facebook.com/dmatkosky

https://www.instagram.com/dennis_matkosky/

Links & Resources

• Relative Music Group: relativemusicgroup.com

• Connect with the host, Terrance Sawchuk: www.terrancesawchuk.com

• “You’re the CEO of your company. Don’t hand away the 2% you can control.” — Dennis

• “Great songs are timeless; getting them cut is all timing.” — Terrance

• “Own the code. Own the data. Own the distribution.” — Terrance

00:00 Opening riff — Artists as CEOs
02:55 Dennis’s early years (Philly roots, Sembello, jazz)
05:50 “Maniac” genesis → Flashdance with Phil Ramone
12:10 Grammy/Oscar season and stiff competition
13:00 Writing/producing for Boz Scaggs, Al Jarreau, Chicago
18:45 LA sessions → film/TV → Nashville move
20:20 “I Need You” (LeAnn Rimes) and pitching strategy
23:40 “You’ll Think of Me” (Keith Urban) — the long game
26:05 Spotting HARDY and bending the genre
30:35 Ownership, leverage, and the artist-as-CEO mindset
37:20 Algorithms, radio, and the new release reality
39:40 Blue-ocean playbook for artist-owned futures
44:20 AI for streamlining creative businesses
45:55 Dennis’s upcoming book & parting wisdom

Songwriting, Music Business, Ownership, Publishing, Sync, Nashville, Flashdance, HARDY, Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, Creativity, AI for Creators, Independent Artists, Relative Music Group, Terrance Sawchuk