Key Moment: Ryan Tedder | How to Be Irreplaceable

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan

And The Writer Is

Unknown, Music Interviews, Songwriting, Music, Songwriters, Education, Interviews, Music Creation, Artists

4.9 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 28 July 2025

⏱️ 7 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What does it really take to become irreplaceable in music?

This is more than a lesson in music. It’s a masterclass in how to make yourself essential in any room you enter.

In this episode, Ryan Tedder shares a raw, unfiltered blueprint for building a career that stands the test of time.

From mastering guitar, piano, and production to writing two songs a day, Ryan unpacks why versatility, humility, and relentless work ethic are the hidden currencies of longevity. He breaks down the mindset shifts that separate fleeting success from lasting impact, and why assuming everyone is more talented than you might just be your greatest advantage.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm saying this to everyone.
0:01.4	When I say get better, what I mean is this.
0:04.1	If you genuinely do not have the top line bone in your body, lyric and melody is not happening
0:08.7	for you.
0:09.2	That's fine.
0:11.9	Become better at production outside of just doing drums.
0:16.2	The only way you can sustain a career become like irreplaceable, right?
0:20.2	Absolutely irreplaceable. absolutely irreplaceable if you
0:21.7	are a topliner learn guitar learn piano if you're just lyric and melody and you hang out
0:26.7	learn guitar learn piano you'll that added value you get thrown out of the room in Nashville
0:31.3	if you just walk in you're like yeah i just do lyrics you better be burning motherfucking top in
0:35.8	if you just do lyrics. It's like,
0:38.0	oh, you're Bernie Toppin, you can hang. Like, otherwise get out of the room. When I spent the two
0:43.2	years I spent with Timberland, I realized quickly, and the reason I started a band is in that same time
0:49.7	I was with Timberlake hanging out and John Mayer was blowing up. He had already blown up. And I realized
0:56.1	and Tim and I talked about it. I was like, I think I might start a band. And he's like, I signed
1:01.0	you as a solo artist. Why are you thinking of band? And I said, okay, I'm never going to, I will not be
1:06.9	more famous than Timberlake any ever. I cannot out out dance him and I'm not going to out pop him.
1:13.5	I cannot outplay guitar. I cannot outplay John Mayer. If you're an artist, find the one or two
1:19.2	things that you can do better than anybody and lean into that. For Tate, it was dancing and
1:24.2	honestly, work ethic. You know, for Ed Sharon, it's the good fact that the guitar is so
1:30.0	indelible with him, he plays it everywhere, and it's always with him. You can picture it. But not only
	...

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