Ryan Tedder makes an interesting point in this interview. He says that in the past, a great song—one that you, your family friends all thought was great—stood a very good chance of becoming a hit.
But now, a song will only gain traction if it’s part of the “culture”.
In other words:
Song of questionable quality + fits TikTok trends = probable hit.
Great song + doesn’t fit TikTok trends = very unlikely hit.
For me, this is more evidence that there are two kinds of songwriters, and you can’t be both:
- Those who write viral hits for the industry, where popularity matters more than integrity.
- Those who write great songs regardless of trends. Some, like The National (I once watched them play a huge stadium, where a security guard told me he’d never heard of them), very gradually build an audience outside the mainstream. Others, like Ken Yates—an excellent songwriter—struggle to find a wide audience.
So these are two separate skill sets.
Confusing them is often the death of my own songwriting. Which is why I keep repeating this thought (probably as a reminder to myself):
You have to be true to yourself and make art, not products. Art has to touch you and come from within to really matter.
Spotify streaming data, TikTok hits, and award ceremonies only reflect what’s trending in popular culture.
Genuine art isn’t defined by trends—it exists beyond them, transcending and outlasting them.
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