What do you really want to know about the music artists you love most? American Songwriter has the latest news on popular music’s most fascinating figures, of course. But let’s go deeper. Let’s pick through the inner-workings of a smash hit. Or learn about songs you may think you know well, but most certainly do not know the famous artists who wrote them.
Is a rising star you’ve only kinda-sorta heard about playing the Grammys? We’ll have interesting articles with backstory galore on what makes them tick as songwriters and musicians. Perhaps the singer you saw live the other night name-checked a legendary influence you’re not familiar with. American Songwriter will familiarize you with the source of your favorite artist’s inspiration.
The unique angles from which we approach music history are just about endless. Your path to music wisdom just got a whole lot shorter.
1972: (L-R) Patrick Simmons, Tiran Porter, John Hartman, Michael Hossack and Tom Johnston of the rock and roll band "The Doobie Brothers" pose for a portrait in 1972. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Whitney Houston at Madison Square Garden in her first concert appearance here since the fall of 1985. Fans who couldn't get their hands on tickets have been snapping up her current album, "Whitney," which already has logged 3 million sales. (Photo by Richard Corkery/NY Daily News via Getty Images)
La chanteuse américaine Dionne Warwick en concert salle Playel le 25 Avril 1983 à Paris, France. (Photo by Jean-Jacques BERNIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 28: Jamey Johnson performs onstage during the Grand Ole Opry 100th Anniversary Show at The Grand Ole Opry on November 28, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
The Beatles at the press launch for their new album 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', held at Brian Epstein's house at 24 Chapel Street, London, 19th May 1967. Left to right: George Harrison (1943 – 2001), Ringo Starr, John Lennon (1940 – 1980) and Paul McCartney. (Photo by John Downing/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
American musician Stevie Nicks of the group Fleetwood Mac perform onstage at the Los Angeles Forum, Inglewood, California, December 6, 1979. In the foreground is American musician Lindsey Buckingham. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)
