Justin Gray: Breaking Into the Songwriting Industry

In this episode of the Master Your Mix Podcast, host Mike Indovina sits down with seasoned songwriter and music producer Justin Gray, who has amassed over 8 billion streams and worked with major artists like Mariah Carey, John Legend, and Avril Lavigne. Gray shares his journey from Toronto-based musician to a globally active songwriter and tech entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of persistence, adaptability, and community-building in breaking into the songwriting industry. He stresses that success comes not from perfection, but from writing consistently—Gray himself has already written 45 songs by mid-March—and being willing to get in the room with others, even with just one skill like guitar or drumming. He advocates for a 'say yes' mentality, leveraging AI tools, and building a network of collaborators. Gray also discusses modern songwriting trends, such as modular structures and rapid changes every few seconds to capture attention in the age of TikTok and short attention spans. He reveals that his song usage rate has risen from 2% early in his career to 70% today, proving that volume and consistency pay off. The episode closes with practical advice on how to start: write often, collaborate widely, and focus on being an asset in the creative process rather than waiting to be perfect.