You know the award-winning voices. You know the
chart-topping hits. Now discover where the magic behind
the music really happens. Welcome to “Songland.”
Every artist is looking for one thing – their next great
song. NBC’s new groundbreaking series “Songland” serves
as a destination for music’s biggest stars to find their
next hit and represents a new chapter for music in
television. Undiscovered songwriters are put center
stage as they pitch their original creations to top
recording artists and a panel of chart-topping music
producers in the hopes of creating the artists’ next big
hits.
The 11-episode series is an authentic peek
into the creative process of songwriting and provides
one talented winner per episode with the opportunity to
have their song recorded and released worldwide by
chart-topping artists. Featured guest recording artists
include Jonas Brothers, John Legend, Charlie Puth,
Meghan Trainor, will.i.am, OneRepublic, Kelsea
Ballerini, Macklemore, Aloe Blacc, Old Dominion and
Leona Lewis.
Each week one guest recording
artist comes to “Songland” to hear unknown songwriters
pitch their original material. Four songwriters will
perform their original tracks in front of the guest
artist and three of the most successful and sought-after
producers in music – Ryan Tedder (lead singer of
OneRepublic and four-time Grammy Award-winning
songwriter and producer of Adele, Taylor Swift and
Beyonce), Ester Dean (Grammy-nominated songwriter and
producer of Rihanna, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, as well as
an actress, having starred in the “Pitch Perfect” film
franchise) and Shane McAnally (Grammy-winning songwriter
and producer of Kacey Musgraves, Kelly Clarkson and Sam
Hunt with 38 #1 country records and 2019 ACM Songwriter
of the Year). Each song’s lyrics, arrangements, beats,
melody and story will be considered by the panel as the
producers and guest artist engage in a lively discussion
about ways to creatively adapt them to better fit the
style and sensibility of the recording artist of the
week.
After the performances, the mega-recording
artist will choose three songwriters to move forward to
the studio and pair them each with the producer best
suited to perfect their song. In the studio, the songs
will take shape in unexpected ways as the songwriter and
producer duos work together to win over the recording
artist. In the end, a winner will be chosen and their
song will be recorded and released for a global
audience.
“Songland” is executive produced by
Emmy Award-winning producer Audrey Morrissey (“The
Voice”), director Ivan Dudynsky, Eurythmics co-founder
Dave Stewart, Chad Hines, and multi-Grammy-winning
recording artist and Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine.
Josh Gummersall will serve as producer along with Ryan
Tedder. The concept was devised by Stewart, Morrissey
and Dudynsky.
“Songland” is produced by Live
Animals in association with Universal Television
Alternative Studio, Dave Stewart Entertainment and 222
Productions.

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — Oct. 9, 2018 — Long before
a rock star can bring a crowd to its feet or have an
album go platinum, a songwriter infuses their melody
and lyrics with emotion, passion and heart.

Aiming to find the next generation of hit
songwriters, NBC and Universal Television
Alternative Studio are bringing powerhouse producer
Audrey Morrissey of “The Voice,” Eurythmics
co-founder and producer Dave Stewart, Maroon 5’s
Adam Levine and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder together
to produce “Songland.” The series will provide a
one-of-a-kind opportunity for talented up-and-coming
songwriters to be exposed to and mentored by three
music producers per episode who are responsible for
today’s biggest hits.
The 11-episode original competition series
creates a unique platform for new voices to be
heard.
The first edge-of-your-seat episode features
three-time Grammy nominee and Billboard chart topper
and songwriter Charlie Puth as the mega-recording
artist along with a panel of producer-songwriters
that includes Grammy winner Tedder, singer and
Grammy-nominated songwriter Ester Dean and
Grammy-winning country singer-songwriter Shane
McAnally.
“Songwriters shape the anthems and tell the
stories of each generation, and now we’re pulling
back the curtain on the collaborative process and
opening the door for new talent to emerge,” said
Meredith Ahr, President, Universal Television
Alternative Studio. “While filming our first
episode, the excitement was palpable as we witnessed
the creative direction of our panelists transform
and elevate the music right before our eyes. Without
a doubt, ‘Songland’ will inspire music lovers and
give us all a greater appreciation for the songs we
love.”
“Music touches people’s lives daily, but few
understand how the songs they love are made,” said
Morrissey. “Songwriters are the unseen creative
force of the music industry. Their lyrics and
melodies affect us in deep and meaningful ways, and
I’m excited to be part of a show that puts a
spotlight on the creators of songs.”
“Songwriters, whether you are aware of it or
not, compose the theme songs to our lives. A song
can be the pillar on which our dreams are made of or
the shoulder on which we cry,” said Stewart. “I’ve
been writing songs with and for other people for 40
years and it’s always a thrill to hear those songs
interpreted and recorded by all kinds of artists.
I’m excited for the viewers to see and hear that
magic being created between unknown songwriters and
our panel of hit-making mentors.”
“‘Songland’ has been an ongoing passion
project for both myself as well as my team at 222,”
said Levine. “As a songwriter, I am all too familiar
with the challenges that face the music community
today. With this new series, we are excited to
provide opportunities that will not only impact
these songwriters’ careers but also give them a
platform to truly showcase their talent to a global
audience.”
The series takes an inside look at the
creative process and provides one talented winner
per episode the priceless opportunity to have their
song recorded for a global audience by the
chart-topping artists featured in their show.
In each episode five songwriters will perform
their original tracks in front of three top music
producers and a major recording artist on an
intimate soundstage. Each song’s lyrics,
arrangements, beats, melody and story will be
considered by the panel as producers engage in a
lively discussion about ways to creatively adapt
them to better fit the style and sensibility of the
recording artist of the week.
After the performances, the mega-recording
artist will choose three songwriters to move forward
to the studio and pair them each with the producer
best suited to perfect their song. In the studio,
the songs will take shape in unexpected ways as the
songwriter and producer duos work together to win
over the recording artist. In the end, a winner will
be chosen and their song will be recorded and
released as the top artist’s next single.
“Songland” is a show that gives songwriters
the opportunity to showcase their talents regardless
of where they come from or what their day job might
be. The series is looking for submissions from
people of all walks of life from up-and-coming
songwriters and music students, to stay at home
moms, bartenders and school teachers. For those
interested in appearing on “Songland,” please go to
https://www.songlandcasting.com/coming-soon.php.
“Songland” will be executive produced by
Stewart, Morrissey, Levine and director Ivan
Dudynsky. Josh Gummersall will serve as producer
along with Ryan Tedder who is represented by Ron
Laffitte, Dana Salant for Patriot Management. The
concept was devised by Stewart, Morrissey and
Dudynsky.
“Songland” will be produced by Live Animals in
association with Universal Television Alternative
Studio, Dave Stewart Entertainment and 222
Productions. Levine and 222 Productions are
represented by Irving Azoff, Adam Harrison for
management and WME for film and television.
ABOUT UNIVERSAL TELEVISION ALTERNATIVE STUDIO
Launched in 2016, Universal Television
Alternative Studio is a leading supplier of hit
unscripted content and alternative formats, and
creates, develops and produces a diverse slate of
original series domestically and internationally.
The studio’s most recent breakout hit is “Making
It,” from executive producers Amy Poehler and Nick
Offerman, and the #1 new series of 2017, “World of
Dance,” starring and executive produced by Jennifer
Lopez. Additionally, the studio is responsible for
the high-stakes game show “The Wall,” which has been
sold into 27 territories internationally and has
become the highest-rated game show in multiple
territories around the world. The hit series “Better
Late Than Never” ranked as the #1 new summer series
of 2016 and returned this year for season two with
more fun, comedy and adventure. Hosted by Emmy Award
winner Jane Lynch, “Hollywood Game Night” has been
sold internationally in 17 territories and will
begin production on its sixth season in 2018. This
year the studio debuted “In Search Of” with Zachary
Quinto for History. Upcoming series will include
NBC’s athletic competition show “The Titan Games,”
starring and executive produced by Dwayne Johnson.
Universal Television Alternative Studio is a
division of NBCUniversal.