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Building a Music Catalog: Jonathan Steele on Songwriting, Ownership & Discipline (Ep. 276)
Description
In tonight’s episode, I sit down with songwriter and music catalog creator Jonathan Steele—an Air Force veteran who’s written more than 100 compositions and released over 90 tracks across rock, pop, country, inspirational, and Christian genres. We dig into the craft behind building a long-term songwriting catalog: how ideas spark, when lyrics lead versus when rhythm drives, working with professional demo companies, and why he’s chosen to focus on publishing and ownership over touring.
Jonathan shares candidly about perseverance through health challenges, the discipline he carried from the military into music, and how his Christian faith fuels both his life and his art. We also talk drummers, classic rock influences, and the practical steps indie creators can take to protect and release their work without getting lost in the industry noise.
Jonathan highlights standout songs like In a Soldier’s Stance, Crossing Paths, Lost in the Rain, Hope, and Good Life Elsewhere, plus some of his comedic tracks—and he opens up about his goal to pursue publishing deals, placements, and eventually live performance.
If you’re building something real—song catalog, business, or brand—this conversation is a masterclass in consistency, ownership, and sticking with it until the world catches up.
Guest: Jonathan Steele
https://jonsteelemusic.com
https://JonathanSteelemusic.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4n8ouVy7Mjbf5OEDG9yS6o (https://open.spotify.com/artist/4n8ouVy7Mjbf5OEDG9yS6o)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLgLHwyDkRvE2j76SQd142A
https://soundcloud.com/jonsteelemusic
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Special thanks to:
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