Scot Bertram

Who are the greatest living songwriters working today? Well, the New York Times recently submitted their list of Americans who made the cut and boy did people have things to say about it. Us, too! This month, for our May 2026 Exclusive Content episode, we dig into the artists we think deserve a place alongside the usual giants. And we don’t limit ourselves to the good ol’ USA. Scot & Jeff each bring their own picks to the table: writers whose catalogs run deep, whose lyrics hit hard, and whose melodies somehow still don’t get enough credit. From the literate wit of Elvis Costello and the emotional precision of John Hiatt to the surreal storytelling of Tom Waits and the sharp observational songwriting of Randy Newman, we’re making the case for artists who have shaped music in ways that charts alone can’t measure.

Along the way, we’ll celebrate writers who built entire worlds through songwriting and shine a light on cult heroes and underappreciated masters. This episode is also a chance to talk about what makes a great songwriter in the first place. Is it lyrical brilliance? Memorable hooks? Longevity? Innovation? We’ll debate the craftsmanship of artists like Billy Joel, Jackson Browne, and John Fogerty, while also appreciating the left-field brilliance of people like ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic, whose songwriting gifts often hide behind (or alongside) the jokes. So settle in for a conversation about melody, words, influence, and the artists we think deserve a permanent place in the songwriting conversation.

Here’s the place to join us and listen.