Thanks Lady Zana for your advice and the others. I think it is too late for the not talking about his music angle. Unfornately, the guy won a contest last year to sing his song at a festival and his song played on the radio. However, it was because the song was about a radio show "character" that was popular at the time. The radio station sponsored the festival. It was free advertising for them. This year he didn't win because he submitted an "original" piece of music.
I feel his producer friend is partly at fault. His friend provides all the music and back up vocals. He is a good musician and knows what needs to be done. However, what he's given the songwriter is cookie-cutter crap. Basically, using music 101 melodies and putting the words to them. So you can imagine what that must sound like!
However, I am unable to talk to his producer friend. I know he would understand my point and maybe make some changes. Unfornately, I had a one night stand with the producer. It ended badly. So he intentionally avoids me as I do him. He's also convinced I am using the songwriter as a way to get to him. I met the songwriter AFTER the producer and later learned their connection. I admitted the past relationship to the songwriter. He's okay with it. The producer isn't.
My gut feeling is to walk away from the whole situation. However, I really like the bar we all go to. I've lost my job recently and many people I could network with are there. I still want to be able to friends with the songwriter. But I also feel to be a friend, I need to give him some correct guidance. So do you think I can dump him but still be friends? And can I convince the producer guy that I only want to be friends and not boil his rabbit?