Song Exploder may have to remove episodes due to music licensing fees

Hrishikesh Hirway cult Song Exploder is about as good as a music podcast gets. The series enlists artists to break down the most granular details of a single song.

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that Song Exploder has enriched the way that I consume music. I can’t listen to Lorde’s ‘Sober’ without anticipating that tigers growl — for which I would have been oblivious to if not for the podcast. It’s a special privilege getting a peek into the magic, often tedious realm of songwriting.

Unfortunately, listener’s may soon lose their favourite episodes from the archive. Hirway took to the Song Exploder Twitter account today to reveal that music licensing fees are making it impossible for him to keep all the near-200 episodes uploaded.

“This is a bummer, but I’m starting to take episodes of Song Exploder down,” Hirway revealed. “I’ve always hoped they’d all be available forever, but the reality of music licensing makes that impossible. As the podcast approaches 200 episodes, it’s just too expensive to keep all of them afloat.”

He continued, “Some labels and publishers have allowed me to feature songs on the show at no cost, which is awesome, and those episodes will be up forever. But with others, as licensing periods start to expire, some episodes are going to go away. (Some already have.)

“Sorry for the very inside baseball / industry update, but I wanted to let people know in case they notice in the future that their favorite episode is no longer in the feed.”

Hirway detailed that although labels and publishers have often attempted to give him good rates, those small costs add up.

He explains, “I should clarify that the labels and publishers that do ask for music licensing fees have generally tried to give me good rates, relatively. But even paying a small amount starts to add up with so many episodes, and it costs even more to *renew* a music license.

“This is important—I’m not trying to blame anyone else or cast aspersions. Making money in music is HARD. This is just the way licensing works. The cost of maintaining renewals for old episodes on an on-going basis, along with new episodes, is just more than I can manage.”

Some labels and publishers have allowed me to feature songs on the show at no cost, which is awesome, and those episodes will be up forever. But with others, as licensing periods start to expire, some episodes are going to go away. (Some already have.) 2/3

— Song Exploder (@SongExploder) September 2, 2020

Sorry for the very inside baseball / industry update, but I wanted to let people know in case they notice in the future that their favorite episode is no longer in the feed. 3/3

— Song Exploder (@SongExploder) September 2, 2020

This is important—I’m not trying to blame anyone else or cast aspersions. Making money in music is HARD. This is just the way licensing works. The cost of maintaining renewals for old episodes on an on-going basis, along with new episodes, is just more than I can manage. 5/3

— Song Exploder (@SongExploder) September 2, 2020

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.