S2 E12: Creating Noise with Tiffany Red

Platinum-selling Grammy-nominated songwriter Tiffany Red is major spokesperson for songwriters rights. From writing poems at age 12 in her New Jersey home to landing major credits with artists like Zendaya and Jason Derulo, contributing to a Grammy-winning Jennifer Hudson project, and earning another Grammy nomination with Fantasia, Tiffany’s story makes one thing clear: talent is real, but the system determines whether talent gets paid properly and it often doesn’t. 

We talk about the exact moment the music business math changed, from CDs and iTunes downloads to the streaming era where massive numbers can still mean shockingly small checks. Tiffany breaks down how standard publishing contracts miss modern reality, why format shifts like EPs can quietly reduce what “counts,” and how fear keeps creators silent when they should be advocating for themselves. She also connects the dots between power, education, and enforcement, including what she has learned through her advocacy work with the 100 Percenters.

Then, we get practical. Tiffany shares negotiation tactics from her book “How to Negotiate with A$$holes in the Music Business”, including how to spot manipulation early, what stonewalling looks like once you’re in a deal, and why building a paper trail can protect your rights. We also zoom out to women in music: sisterhood, women-led community, safer studio spaces, and advice for younger artists who want longevity without losing themselves. 

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