Meet the MusicWorks Panelists: Heather Longstaffe, Josiah Rosen
It is no secret that royalties and revenue from songwriting can become a lucrative source of income and that there is a possibility of having a thriving career as a writer. How can songwriters find writing opportunities and publishing deals that will launch them into the next steps of this exciting pursuit? Join us on June 8 for our DIY Series: The Business of Songwriting session with expat Heather Longstaffe and Augustana’s Josiah Rosen as they talk about their journey of how they developed into career writers and equipping participants with a strategic plan to pursue a sustainable career in songwriting. We will also review how to properly register your songs for royalty collections in Canada and in other countries around the world.
Heather Longstaffe, known professionally as MONROE, is a Winnipeg-born singer/songwriter currently located in Los Angeles. In 2011, Longstaffe won the Radio Star National Songwriting Competition and relocated to Nashville. Over the next three years, Heather toured with Grammy-nominated band Emerson Drive, inked a publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing, and released her debut EP, Slingshot. Heather has written country songs released by Madeline Merlo, Jojo Mason, and Jordan Mcintosh. In recent years, her songwriting focus has moved to pop, developing and collaborating with artists like Stanaj, Baby Ariel, and L.A. Reids newest signing, Brianna Mazzola. 2019 releases include Brianna's breakout single "How Much", Great Good Fine Okay's "The Radio", and Erika Costells "Thots Not Feelings". Currently signed to Sony/ATV Publishing, Longstaffe's songs have been heard on Canadian Top 50, Radio Disney, KIIS FM, Rolling Stone, Sirius XM and Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
Josiah Rosen is an Los Angeles-based songwriter and producer signed to BMG publishing. In 2002, he co-founded the band Augustana, releasing their debut album under Epic Records. Their RIAA Platinum certified single, “Boston” reached #1 on Billboard AC, #34 on Billboard top 100, and has sold nearly 2,000,000 units. During this time, Augustana toured alongside One Republic, Paramore, Panic At The Disco, The Fray, and Our Lady Peace. Following his years in Augustana, Rosen shifted his focus to songwriting and artist development. He created an impressive catalog of songs, which includes cuts with Andy Grammar, Ryan Kinder, and K-pop sensation Got 7, as well as the development and signing of Rachel Crow to S curve records. With 250+ film and television placements, his songs have been heard on The Big Bang Theory, Scrubs, One Tree Hill, and Reality High. In 2017, Rosen landed a global campaign for Skechers with his song “Something About You”. In the last two years he has dedicated his time to developing new acts as well as collaborated with established artists such as Julia Michaels, Rachel Platten, and Sabrina Carpenter.
Get to know them better with our little Q+A...
If you could spend a day with anyone in music, who would it be, and what would you do?
Heather: Right now I'm dying to attend Kanye's Sunday Service.
Josiah: Hang with Rick Rubin at his studio in Malibu - ask all the questions about all of the records he’s made that I love and work with an artist (Coldplay) at the end of the day together from scratch.
What is the best advice you have ever been given relating to your career in music?
Heather: Your work is as good as the night you thought the most of it.
Josiah: It’s a marathon not a sprint - the most boring answer, but it was the first bit advice and it did at the time and will always ring true.
When you were 6, what did you say you wanted to be when you grow up?
Heather: Tiger Lily.
Josiah: Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
What is your favourite restaurant in your home city and the best thing to order there?
Heather: I used to love the smoking jack and shakin' mocha from The Fyxx. Also, anything from Earls.
Josiah: Gumbo from my mamma.
What is one aspect of your work that you wish more people understood?
Heather: The lust for fame is the decline of greatness.
Josiah: The beauty in the imperfections.