With over three decades of experience in publishing, licensing, and songwriter advocacy, Susan Fontaine Godwin has seen the music industry from the inside out. From launching the publishing department at Integrity Music to founding Christian Copyright Solutions, Susan has been at the forefront of protecting songwriters’ rights and ensuring artists get paid fairly.

In this episode of The Hatch Podcast: Music Accelerator, host Chris Estes sits down with Susan to unpack her journey, the evolution of music publishing, and the lessons indie artists need to know about copyright, licensing, and revenue collection.

👉 Apply now for the Hatch Music Accelerator: 119collective.hatchfairhope.com

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How Integrity Music’s Hosanna! tapes sparked a movement in worship publishing
• The founding of Christian Copyright Solutions and the need for simplified blanket licenses
• Why churches and songwriters must understand copyright exemptions—and where they end
• The rise of independent artists and church-based publishing collectives
• International publishing pitfalls: what to know if your songs find an audience overseas
• How fraudulent copyright claims happen—and what policing your catalog really takes
• The importance of having the right administrator to protect your global rights

Key Episode Highlights

• From 70 songs to 4,400: building a catalog from scratch at Integrity Music
• How blanket licensing made it possible for churches to legally perform 20 million songs
• Stories from the “Wild West” of international publishing—like a $10,000 cash payout in Brazil
• Why indie songwriters today have more opportunities than ever—but also more responsibility

We’re proud to support Alabama music and the next generation of artists through the Hatch Music Accelerator — a free 12-week program helping artists grow as performers and professionals. With studio time and industry mentorship, musicians gain the tools they need to share their songs with the world.

Apply here: 119collective.hatchfairhope.com.

With 119,000 songs uploaded every day, how do you write something that cuts through the noise?

In this episode of The Hatch Podcast: Music Accelerator, host Chris Estes and Hatch director Keith Glines dive deep into the art and business of songwriting — the foundation of every music career. From the creative process to the essential business fundamentals, they share how independent artists can refine songs that don’t just get heard, but truly get remembered. You’ll learn why consistency beats chasing one hit, how to use the “two or three sleeps” rule to improve your work, and the business steps that protect your songs and royalties for years to come.

👉 Apply now for the Hatch Music Accelerator: 119collective.hatchfairhope.com

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The Three-Lane System: Development → Curation → Placement
• The “Two or Three Sleeps” Rule for finishing songs
• Business fundamentals: PROs, publishing entities, splits, and monetization
• The Completion Test: How to know when a song is truly finished
• Collaboration strategies: who to co-write with and when to bring in outside voices
• The Live Test: Using audience reaction to refine your songs

Key Episode Highlights:

• [00:00:00] The staggering reality: 119,000 songs uploaded daily
• [00:02:52] Why even great albums usually only have 1–2 standout songs
• [00:03:44] The three lanes every song lives in
• [00:05:27] The 20-year test: writing songs you’ll still love playing decades later
• [00:06:15] Why finished songs often sound nothing like their first drafts
• [00:08:24] Placement lane: what to do with songs that don’t fit your brand
• [00:10:18] Business essentials: PROs, publishing entities, and revenue streams
• [00:13:12] Producer Tim asks: “How do you know when a song is finished?”

The Chris Estes Songwriting Philosophy:

The Three Critical Tests for Song Completion:

1. The Expression Test — Does it clearly convey your intended message?
2. The Live Test — Does it connect with a live audience?
3. The Community Test — Do trusted collaborators and listeners agree it’s complete?

Episode Quotes:

• “Average songs are ignored. Great songs get attention.”
• “Give it two or three sleeps, then come back to the song with fresh ears.”
• “What’s the last song you heard that made you say, *‘I have to share this’? That’s the mark you should be aiming for.”

Resources and Links:

• Apply now: 119collective.hatchfairhope.com
• Hatch website: hatchfairhope.com
• Instagram: @hatchfairhope

We’re proud to support Alabama music and the next generation of artists through the Hatch Music Accelerator — a free 12-week program helping artists grow as performers and professionals. With studio time and industry mentorship, musicians gain the tools they need to share their songs with the world.

Apply here: 119collective.hatchfairhope.com.

Did you know some of the most iconic songs in American music were written by Alabama songwriters? From Hank Williams Sr. in Montgomery to Lionel Richie in Tuskegee, from the Muscle Shoals sound to Jimmy Buffett on the Gulf Coast — Alabama’s storytellers have shaped music across every genre.

In this episode of The Hatch Podcast: Music Accelerator, we feature Alabama-born hit songwriter Jamey Johnson. Jamey opens up about writing his Grammy-winning song “In Color,” the struggles that fueled That Lonesome Song, and the tough decision to include “High Cost of Living” on the record.

Narrated by Tim Scott — Hatch podcast producer, Alabama native, and 25-year music industry veteran — the episode traces Alabama’s deep songwriting tradition and connects Jamey’s story to the larger history of the state’s music.

You’ll hear about:

• WC Handy, the “Father of the Blues,” born in Florence in 1873.
• Hank Williams Sr.’s Montgomery roots and timeless heartbreak ballads.
• Muscle Shoals writers like Dan Penn, Donnie Fritts, and Arthur Alexander.
• Lionel Richie, Brittany Howard, Jason Isbell, Mac McAnally, Jimmy Buffett, and more.
• And how Jamey Johnson carries this legacy forward with songs that are plainspoken, personal, and true.

👉 To learn more about the Hatch Music Accelerator — and how we’re supporting Alabama music and mentoring new artists — visit 119collective.hatchfairhope.com.

We’re proud to support Alabama music and the next generation of artists through the Hatch Music Accelerator — a free 12-week program helping artists grow as performers and professionals. With studio time and industry mentorship, musicians gain the tools they need to share their songs with the world.

Apply here: 119collective.hatchfairhope.com.