Songland

Songland is a captivating American songwriting competition series that began airing on NBC in May 2019. It provides a unique opportunity for relatively unknown songwriters to showcase their hidden talents on a national platform, earn industry recognition, and potentially have their song performed by major recording artists. One of the stellar panelists on Songland is the highly decorated songwriter and producer, Ester Dean. Dean, who is known for her work with major artists like Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj, brings her songwriting prowess and industry experience to play as she guides aspiring songwriters in the competition. She helps them fine-tune their songs to create music that would not only appeal to selected recording artists but also have the potential to become chart-topping hits. Each episode in the series opens up a gateway to the inner workings of the music industry as it spotlights the creative process of songwriting. It captures the journey of four budding songwriters as they pitch their original tracks to the guest recording artist and a panel of top music producers. These producers include Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic, and Shane McAnally, a Country Songwriter of the Year. In the first round, after the four contestants perform their original pieces, they receive immediate critique and feedback from the panelists and the guest recording artist. This evaluation covers various aspects, such as the song's lyrics, melody, arrangement, and its overall potential to become a hit tune. The panel then narrows the contestant pool to three songwriters. These selected songwriters each go on to collaborate with one of the producer-panelists. This segment of the show is particularly enlightening as it gives viewers a glimpse into the creative collaboration that happens in a studio, a process that is most often behind closed doors. This round is crucial as each songwriter works with his or her respective producer to make modifications and improvements to their song, based on the initial feedback, making it more appealing to the guest recording artist. In the final round, the refined songs are performed again after undergoing this professional production treatment. The guest recording artist then chooses one song that resonates with them the most. This winning song would be recorded and released as their next single. The results can be immediate and significant; several of the series' winning songs have quickly climbed the charts following their release. Songland serves as a platform to encourage and build upon the talents of amateur songwriters, offering them industry exposure and giving viewers an inside look into the magic behind music creation. Its uniqueness lies in the innovative concept of putting 'song' at the forefront rather than the 'singer' as observed in most other music reality shows. Ester Dean brings her characteristic vivacity and warmth, coupled with her industry knowledge, to her role; encouraging and yet non-compromising in her assessments. She stands out by giving contestants insightful inputs to hone their craft. Songland, as a whole, reshapes the traditional American singing competition format, ushering in a fresh perspective on the creation of a hit song. With two successful seasons completed, it stars not just the aspiring songwriters but platinum-selling artists like John Legend, will.i.am, Charlie Puth, Meghan Trainor, and Jonas Brothers among others. Songland is a treat to watch, offering a unique and engaging experience that music lovers will surely appreciate. The show's focus on fortifying the songwriting profession makes it both intriguing and inspiring, illuminating the magic of music from inception to hit record. Produced by Audrey Morrissey, Dave Stewart, and Adam Levine, Songland appeals to an audience who yearns to understand the nitty-gritty that goes into songwriting, while also rooting for deserving talents to have their dreams come true on a national stage. Ultimately, Songland offers a fresh and interesting take on musical reality television, showcasing the hidden talents behind the hit songs we bop our heads to every day.

Songland is a series categorized as a new series. Spanning 2 seasons with a total of 21 episodes, the show debuted on 2019. The series has earned a mostly positive reviews from both critics and viewers. The IMDb score stands at 8.1.