Television series
Songland
- Musical
- Light-hearted
- Dip in and out
Songland is a competition series where five amateur songwriters pitch original songs to a panel of hit-making producers and a rotating celebrity artist each week. The producers critique and workshop the tracks in real time, offering mentorship and a real shot at placement. It's accessible, encouraging, and genuinely about the craft—not just the drama. For anyone who loves music, songwriting, or watching talented people get honest feedback from experts.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you love hearing how a song gets built, from a lyric line to a hook, and enjoy listening to producers debate kindly over a melody until it fits a singer.
Skip it if you want a narrative with stakes or a plot to follow, since the pull here is the craft of songwriting, with little drama beyond the sessions themselves.
What it asks of you: Each hour-long episode moves through a run of pitches and rewrites, so patience with repetition and close ears on unfinished music go a long way.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
The Voice2011
A singing competition with real mentorship at its heart. Four major artists work with contestants over many weeks, offering genuine feedback and building real relationships. The blind auditions are thrilling and the coaching sessions teach you something about music.
But It's long, sprawling, and relies heavily on emotional backstories. Some seasons feel repetitive, and the voting can feel arbitrary by the end.
Nashville2012
A drama about the music industry that takes songwriting and studio craft seriously. It follows multiple characters navigating competition, collaboration, and the business side of making it. Real musicians and producers consulted heavily on authenticity.
But Melodrama can overwhelm the music. If you're not invested in the soap-opera elements, the songwriting discussions get lost.
Making the Cut2020
A competition series with the same DNA as Songland—real experts mentoring talented people, with emphasis on craft and process. Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum offer encouraging, detailed feedback. Each episode builds genuine momentum.
But It's about fashion design, not music, so if you only want to hear songs, this won't scratch that itch. Pacing can drag in later episodes.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Songland
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
The Defiant Ones2017
Both show mentorship and feedback shaping songs into hits, but this is the unflinching reality version—the one that shows what happens after the workshop.
A six-part documentary following Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine as they build Beats by Dre and a music empire. You watch real mentorship, real disagreements about sound, and real decisions that shape hits. It's Songland but documentary—the actual process with actual stakes.
But It's deeply focused on hip-hop and the business side. If you want to see more variety of genres or pure songwriting craft, this leans commercial and mogul-driven.
More like this (8)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend2015
A musical comedy-drama where every episode features original songs that advance the plot. The writers and composers are brilliant, and you'll see how melody, lyrics, and storytelling weave together. Genuinely funny and surprisingly moving.
But The romantic comedy premise feels thin if you're not engaged by the main character's psychology. Some musical numbers work better than others.
Music of the Heart1999
A true story about a violin teacher bringing music and mentorship to kids in Harlem. It takes the transformative power of music and teaching seriously, and Meryl Streep's performance is quietly powerful. It's about craft mattering.
But It's earnest in a '90s way that can feel schmaltzy. The plot is fairly predictable, and if you're not moved by uplift narratives, this won't work.
Grease1978
A musical where every song is a genuine earworm, and the production design is irresistible. It's fun to watch and proves that great songs and charisma can carry a film. A masterclass in hooks and charm.
But The gender politics are dated and ugly. If you find yourself annoyed by the message underneath the shimmer, that won't go away.
A Star Is Born2018
Bradley Cooper's directorial debut follows a musician through the industry with meticulous attention to how songs are made, recorded, and performed. Lady Gaga is magnetic, and there's real emotion in the creative process.
But The second half veers into territory that some find heavy or predictable. If you're sensitive to addiction and depression narratives, go in prepared.
Halt and Catch Fire2014
A drama about people building something from nothing, with the same emphasis on process and expertise that Songland has. The characters mentor each other, debate ideas, and grow. It's about craft, not just success.
But It's about computers and the internet in the '80s, not music. If that world doesn't interest you, the emotional stakes might feel distant.
The Greatest Showman2017
A spectacle about building a show and assembling talent. The musical numbers are ambitious and involve genuine collaboration. It's glossy, energetic, and celebrates the joy of performance and showmanship.
But It's accused of being hollow and manipulative—prioritizing spectacle over substance. The historical accuracy is non-existent if that matters to you.
Score: A Film Music Documentary2017
The same DNA of showing how music is built from first idea to final product, but in a more serious, artistic context—showing composition as high craft.
A feature about how composers create music for film, featuring John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and others discussing their creative process in detail. It's intimate, technical, and celebrates the craftsmanship of music composition in real time.
But It's entirely about film scores, not commercial songwriting. If orchestral composition doesn't interest you, the specificity might feel narrow.
RuPaul's Drag Race2009
Same format of expert feedback shaping raw talent in real time, but the competition is about performance and design rather than writing—showing how the mentorship model works across different art forms.
A competition where artists get real feedback from industry experts about their craft, their performance, and their vision. The critiques are detailed and encouraging; mentors push people to improve. It's about mastering a complex creative skill under pressure.
But It's about drag performance, not songwriting, and can feel chaotic if you're not familiar with the culture. The humor is not for everyone.
People
Cast
Writing
- Audrey MorrisseyCreator
- Dave StewartCreator
- Ivan DudynskyCreator
Production
- Amanda ZuckerCo-Executive Producer
- May JohnsonCo-Executive Producer
- Adam LevineExecutive Producer
- Audrey MorrisseyExecutive Producer
- Chad HinesExecutive Producer
- Dave StewartExecutive Producer
- Ivan DudynskyExecutive Producer
- Josh GummersallProducer
- Ryan TedderProducer