Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Tift Merritt joins the Holler to discuss her career as a working musician, the process of writing songs, and how streaming and AI are reshaping the future of music.She breaks down what artists actually earn from streaming, why it can take millions of plays to break even on a record, and how the shift from CDs to digital platforms like Spotify changed the business. She also talks about AI-generated music and what it means for ownership, credit, and compensation.Tift also discusses her work in policy and advocacy, including efforts to give musicians a seat at the table, and why she sees what is happening in music as a warning for other industries.Join the Holler and help us build a better North Carolina, one conversation at a time: https://www.patreon.com/TheHometownHollerBuy us a coffee: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...Substack: https://substack.com/@thehometownhollerWebsite: https://www.thehometownholler.com/