Why Does Ryan Tedder Say TikTok Is What MTV Was 20 Years Ago?

TL;DR

Ryan Tedder and Gary Vaynerchuk discuss how TikTok is affecting the music industry while exploring songwriting, entrepreneurship, happiness, and career decisions. Tedder explains that he discovered professional songwriting at age 14 in 1994–95, then developed his voice while learning guitar, piano, drums, and bass. Read on for his insights into creative ambition, audience engagement, timing, fear, and avoiding regret.

Transcript

one of the most flattering things ever to me was prob ever because i have so much admiration for you in my career was you got your perspective i just want to be happy don't you want to be happy hey everybody it's gary vaynerchuk and i continue playing around with an interview format of just interesting people who are doing interesting things and to... Read More

Key Insights

• 😨 Timing and fear play significant roles in decision-making, particularly in the music industry where opportunities may come and go.
• 💁 The ability to gauge interest and engagement when answering questions about oneself is essential in determining how much information to share with others.
• 💄 The impact of religion and cultural background can influence one's choices and decision-making process.
• 🧑‍🎨 Underrated artists like Sway Lee and Taylor Swift have immense talent and potential, while established artists like Taylor Swift and Paul McCartney continue to surprise and inspire with their skills.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why does Ryan Tedder compare TikTok to MTV 20 years ago?

The discussion presents TikTok as having a major impact on the music industry, comparable to MTV's earlier role. The provided excerpt does not elaborate on the specific mechanisms behind that comparison.

Q: How does Ryan Tedder describe his work when talking to strangers?

Tedder initially says that he is in music and, if the person remains interested, explains that he is a songwriter. He may then mention that he is also a recording artist, depending on how much he wants to continue the conversation.

Q: When did Ryan Tedder decide that he wanted to become a songwriter?

Tedder says he knew in 1994–95, when he was 14. He had discovered that professional songwriters such as Babyface and Diane Warren wrote records performed by other artists.

Q: Why did professional songwriting appeal to Ryan Tedder?

Tedder was fascinated by the idea of writing songs that other people would perform. He also liked that songwriters could gain access to the music industry without necessarily being front-facing.

Q: Did Ryan Tedder always want to perform his own songs too?

Yes. While diving into songwriting, Tedder concurrently worked toward becoming an artist who could sing his own material.

Q: Which instruments did Ryan Tedder learn while developing as an artist?

Tedder says he developed his voice while playing guitar, piano, drums, and bass. As an only child, he says he had plenty of time to devote to those skills.

Q: How did Ryan Tedder's father influence his music career?

Tedder's father was a gospel songwriter who toured during much of the 1970s, opened for major artists with his group, and wrote several gospel records. His father ultimately did not pursue music fully and regretted that decision, an experience that stayed with Tedder.

Q: How does Ryan Tedder connect songwriting with entrepreneurship?

Tedder views both as involving an understanding of human emotions and desires. Each requires creating something from nothing that resonates with people, while listening closely and paying attention to cultural trends.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ryan Tedder talks about how he answers the question of what he does when he meets new people on a plane, often focusing on his songwriting skills rather than mentioning that he is also a recording artist.

• Ryan shares how he knew he wanted to be a songwriter after discovering that many of his favorite records were written by other people, and how he also had aspirations of being an artist.

• Gary and Ryan discuss the importance of timing in the music industry, as well as the role of fear and religion in decision-making, particularly when it comes to pursuing a career in music.