what education is needed to become a songwriter

How To Become A Songwriter, From Beginner To Paid Songwriter

Artists around the world are making a go of it either playing and recording their own music or writing music for other artists.

How do you become a songwriter? How do you make money as a songwriter? What makes a songwriter a professional?

In this guide, I’ll try to explain all that and more.

But first, if it's your aim to do music professionally, you'll want to check out our free ebook while it's still available:

Free eBook: Discover how real independent musicians like you are making $4,077 - $22,573+ monthly via Youtube, let me know where to send the details:

If You Write Songs – You’re A Songwriter!

In any craft, it’s easy to develop imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is feeling as though you are not talented or professional enough, or busy enough, or authentic enough to fit in and be a part of the scene.

It’s easy to feel this way about songwriting.

Many people feel that because they are not making money off of their songs, not playing them live, not recording them, or not writing songs for a living, they are not a “real” songwriter.

In my opinion, the only thing you have to do to be a songwriter is write songs.

Short songs, long songs, pop songs, rock songs, songs with words, songs without words… whatever!

Writing songs is a deeply human practice. If you've cultivated the skills necessary to be able to write songs, then you are a songwriter.

Now, if you are serious about songwriting, there are a number of ways to improve your craft and develop your career as a songwriter.

From working on the nuts and bolts of songwriting, to practicing the different skills professional songwriters use daily, I want to show you how to take your songwriting from hobby, to craft, to paid.

Improving Your Craft

For the last couple of years, I’ve been on a quest to improve my songwriting – both quality and quantity.

I want to write a lot of songs, and I want to write good ones. I can only do this by practicing!

Here are a few ways you can work on your writing.

Finish The Songs You Write

One of the most frustrating things about songwriting is having a bunch of half-finished songs that you like.

Unfortunately, nobody wants to hear a half-finished song.

The only thing you can do with a half-finished song is finish it.

If a song isn't done, you can choose to flesh it out, record it, share it or just store it for later.

When I decided to finish every song I was writing, I ended up with a couple of interesting results.

I now have some short songs that I like. Minute and half long songs have a place in the world! They go on albums as in-between songs, and sometimes people love them!

The other, more important thing about finishing songs is that you realize that you are never stuck.

Being stuck is mostly just a state of mind. Force yourself to finish the song, and you’ll come up with more lyrics, melodies, whatever. Don’t overthink it, just do it.

You can always edit later. Finish that song!

Create A Songwriting Group/Network

I have a songwriting friend who started something I’ve talked about before: a song club.

Basically, we get a group of songwriters together in a Dropbox or email thread, and aim to finish and record one song every week .

It can be a short song, an instrumental song, spoken word, whatever. It can be a full demo, or a voice memo.

The point is to force your brain into songwriting mode more often, and finish more songs.

If you miss a week, you are out of the group, and don’t get to hear what everyone else is working on, until that round of song club is over, and it starts fresh.

This club is great for many reasons. It’s great to network and build community with other songwriters. It’s a fun way to push yourself to increase your output. And it’s fun to give and receive encouragement.

Only positive reinforcement is allowed in song club – the point is to write songs every week, not necessarily to write amazing songs every week.

Write In Different Environments

Writing in the same space is nice. Most songwriters have a favorite room or place they are comfortable writing in.

The problem is, this can become a bit of a crutch.

You’re not always going to be in the ideal songwriting space – either physically, mentally, or emotionally.

But you still need to write songs!

Practice writing in different spaces. Try writing when there are people around. Write outside. Write in a hotel room. Write in the car.

The more you think about writing, the more you will write, and the better you will get.

Learn Basic Music Theory

You don’t need to know much theory to write songs. Sometimes I think it helps to have a few gaps in your theory, because you’ll break rules without knowing them.

That said, learning some basics is a good idea. You should know:

• The Nashville number system. Understanding how the chords in a key work is very helpful, and allows you to easily teach your songs to others, and record them faster.
• What keys are, how to transpose, and how to work within a key.
• A little bit about how chords tend to move. For example, why the leading tones make a ii – V – I chord progression so classic and satisfying.
• How to take chances and even steal!

Never be afraid to write something a little out of the ordinary.

Write a song that you wouldn’t sing. Write a poem, write spoken word, write a rap, write some instrumental music.

You never know what will come of these creative experiments, and the worst case scenario is just writing something you’ll never show to anyone – which happens all the time anyway!

Take risks, it’s worth it.

The Professional Songwriter’s Skillset

Co-writing is an important part of a songwriter’s life.

A lot of the time, professional songwriters are helping artists write new songs and/or write better songs.

Often, the artist wants to be in on the writing session.

Learning how to write well with somebody is super important.

How to steer a writing session, how to say “no” in a way that doesn’t offend, how to quickly come up with lyrics and melodies – all of this is awesome. It will make you a better songwriter in every way.

Beyond that, if you start co-writing with people, and they start putting your co-writes on recordings, you can start making passive income from the royalties those songs earn.

When professional songwriters co-write, they (or an engineer/producer in the room) usually make a quick, but professional sounding demo to show off the song.

People like to think that they can hear a good song from just a voice memo – and maybe some can.

But for most, (especially those who are not songwriters) they need a demo.

The demo should have some general production ideas/moves, a beat, and some interesting instrumental ideas that you could see putting on the final recording.

I have been in songwriting rooms where you start the song, demo as you go, and by the end of the day, have a full song and a full demo that sounds great.

Demoing makes you a better instrumentalist, a better engineer, a better producer, and in my opinion, a better writer as well.

Writing For Different Genres & Specific Uses

Professional songwriters need to write for artists in all sorts of genres and scenarios.

If you’re serious about songwriting as a profession, you need to be able to write outside of the genre you sing.

My favorite way to practice writing in different styles is co-writing with songwriters who work outside of my genre.

Collaborating with different artists allows you to expand your idea of how music is made – for example, if you collaborate with an R&B artist, you may end up writing most of the song “in the box” (in the DAW).

Ways To Share Songs

How you're planning to share your music impacts how you structure your career.

If you’re writing music that you want to record , sing, and play out, you’re chasing after a traditional artist career. Using the music you’re writing as a creative outlet, but also as a way to advance your career.

Here are several ways songwriters go about sharing music.

Recording & Releasing

Most songwriters write a song , record it, and release it. Maybe as a single, maybe as part of an EP or an album.

There are too many ways to release music to name – labels, self-release, etc. The point is simply that you are recording and releasing your own music.

Releasing music still earns you money – although it’s not nearly as profitable as it once was.

Streaming services pay per stream, some people are still buying CDs, and if you have enough capital to press vinyl, people still buy that too.

Playing Live

Before recording their music, many artists start by playing their original songs live.

First, for friends and family, then at open mics, then at gigs and festivals.

As your career and notoriety increases, live performance will most likely become your bread and butter. Through touring, you can play for different audiences every night. As you play larger venues to larger crowds, you should see your revenues increase.

Attendance at live shows usually goes hand in hand with money generated from streaming and sales. People at your shows are probably listening to your recorded music as well, and they’ll hopefully buy your CD at the show!

Pitching To Other Artists/Industry

Songwriters with publishing deals (and some self-published producers and songwriters) will spend a lot of their time co-writing with artists for their projects, or writing songs and then pitching them to artists.

If not to artists, then songwriters/producers will pitch their music to TV, movies and commercials.

This is all in an effort to generate income, notoriety and more work.

This way of sharing your songs can be a slow build, but getting a cut on somebody’s record can mean passive royalty income for a long time. It might just pay off!

How To Become A Songwriter; Ways To Make Money With Your Songs

Generating income requires a multi-faceted approach.

You’ve got to have a combination of all of the below:

Live Performance

Live performance is where most artists make their money in 2019.

There are lots of places to play, and the world is more connected now than ever.

Start building an audience locally, showcase nationally, and then start touring. Eventually, you can build a profitable touring career.

These days, sales tend to go hand-in-hand with live performance. Most artists are selling their CDs and vinyl at shows.

You will still sell some copies of your album on Bandcamp and on other online retailers, but digital sales have plummeted since streaming has taken over.

There are many kinds of royalties your music generates.

A mechanical royalty is generated every time your music is sold, manufactured, or reproduced on a streaming site.

A public performance royalty is generated every time your song is played live. This means a set at your local bar, as background music at a coffee shop, or on the radio.

See our royalty breakdown for more info. Royalties are generated in many ways – from ringtones, to streaming, to live performance, to cassette replication.

Placements (Sync Licensing)

One of the hottest ways to earn money with your music is with a sync license.

With companies like Amazon and Netflix producing tons of new shows, there are lots of opportunities to pitch to shows.

Usually, a sync license is a one-time fee that is paid out to license the song to the movie. Another royalty will be payed whenever the movie is bought or reproduced.

Sync licenses can be incredibly profitable, particularly as you pitch to big companies with large ad budgets.

Publishing Deals/Record Deals

If you sign a co-publishing deal with a publishing company, you will probably be paid either an advance or a monthly salary to write songs, co-write songs, create demos and pitch them to both artists and TV/movies.

This is a great way to earn income while working at your craft, but these deals are hard to come by. It’s also not free money – your salary is essentially a debt to the company, and the royalties you generate will pay off that debt before you get paid.

Record deals usually work similarly – they may pay you an advance, but you’ll have to pay it back with sales and/or royalties.

Both of these deals could be great for your career, so they are worth chasing. They are not the be all end all – now more than ever, you can release your own music and start making a career!

How To Become A Paid Songwriter Conclusion

Becoming a songwriter requires patience and practice. Work at your craft, write lots of songs, co-write, expand your horizons, and learn how to create your own recordings, and you’ll be well on your way to a great career.

To me, if you can do all of that in a masterful way, you can be a professional songwriter.

The reason I say this, is because becoming a professional songwriter is difficult. Making all of your money off of music is not easy.

While there are many ways to make money with your music, they all take time, effort, and a good deal of luck.

That said, the right song, at the right time, along with a bunch of hard work can make a career – whether you’re writing for other people or singing your own songs.

Take advantage of all of the ways to generate income, and keep at it!

P.S. Remember though, none of what you've learned will matter if you don't know how to get your music out there and earn from it. Want to learn how to do that? Then get our free ‘5 Steps To Profitable Youtube Music Career' ebook emailed directly to you!

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How to Become a Songwriter: Practical Steps To Get Started

Becoming a songwriter can be a fulfilling and rewarding journey for those with a passion for music and a talent for expressing emotions through lyrics and melody.

Developing your skills and gaining industry knowledge is essential to start your pursuit.

In this article, you’ll discover practical steps on how to become a songwriter, improve techniques, understand the importance of networking, and learn how to navigate the music business.

As you forge your path, your dedication and creativity will be your strongest assets in transforming your dream into a reality.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn song components and differentiate between lyric and melody writing to focus on strengths and collaborate effectively.
• Develop songwriting skills, find inspiration from various sources, and consistently practice writing lyrics and melodies.
• Collaborate with others, network in the music industry, and market your work through social media, contests, and pitching to artists and labels.

Table of Contents

Understanding songwriting.

Songwriting can be a deeply rewarding and fulfilling creative pursuit.

To help you embark on this journey, it’s essential to understand the different components of a song and learn the distinctions between lyric writing and melody writing.

Components of a Song

Every song has several key components, which can be broken down into:

• Lyrics: The words that make up the song, conveying its message and emotions.
• Melody: The tune or music that accompanies the lyrics
• Harmony: The chords and notes played simultaneously in the background, supporting the melody
• Rhythm: The pattern of beats and accents that give a song its tempo and pace

Each component plays a vital role in creating a captivating and memorable song.

Lyric Writing vs. Melody Writing

You can specialize in lyric writing, melody writing, or both as a songwriter. Recognizing the differences between these two areas is crucial to chart your path as a songwriter.

Lyric Writing: Lyricists focus on crafting compelling and evocative words for a song. They use language to create imagery, convey emotions, and tell stories. This aspect of songwriting requires a strong command of language and the ability to express thoughts and feelings effectively.

Melody Writing: On the other hand, Melody writers concentrate on composing the music accompanying the lyrics. They create the tune or the notes by which the lyrics are sung. A memorable and catchy melody can make a song instantly recognizable, so melody writers require a solid understanding of music theory and composition.

Many songwriters work in teams, combining their lyrics and melody writing strengths.

Here’s a table illustrating the differences between lyric writers and melody writers:

Understanding the role of each component and the distinction between lyric writing and melody writing will enable you to focus on your strengths and collaborate effectively with other songwriters. This knowledge forms the foundation for honing your songwriting skills and finding success in the music industry.

How To Become A Songwriter: Developing The Skills

In this section, we will cover the necessary skills and practices you should adopt to become a successful songwriter. We will delve into studying music theory, learning an instrument, practicing writing lyrics, and analyzing popular songs.

Study Music Theory

Understanding music theory is crucial in songwriting. It helps you master the fundamentals of melody, harmony, and rhythm. Take some time to learn the basics and gradually work your way up to more advanced concepts.

Some resources for studying music theory include online courses, textbooks, or participating in workshops. You can also seek guidance from experienced songwriters to enhance your understanding.

Learn an Instrument

Playing an instrument provides a strong foundation for composing your own songs. Start with an instrument that interests you, such as a guitar, piano, or even your voice. Invest time in regular practice to develop proficiency and learn to express your ideas through the instrument.

Practice Writing Lyrics

Writing powerful and engaging lyrics is an essential aspect of songwriting. Keep a notebook or digital document to jot down your ideas, emotions, and experiences, as they can serve as inspiration for your lyrics. Focus on emotional content, storytelling, and abstract imagery to create relatable songs. Additionally, don’t be afraid to experiment with different writing styles to refine your lyrical voice.

Analyze Popular Songs

Dissecting the structure and elements of popular songs can provide valuable insights into successful songwriting. Listen to various genres and note the key components, such as melody, lyrics, and song structure.

Draw inspiration from successful songwriters to improve your craft.

Now that you have a solid understanding of the skills needed for songwriting begin incorporating these practices into your routine.

Remember, consistency and dedication are key to developing your abilities.

Finding Your Inspiration

As an aspiring songwriter, finding inspiration can sometimes be challenging.

Let’s discuss some strategies to help you spark your creativity and improve your songwriting process.

Overcoming Writer’s Block

Writer’s block is a common obstacle that many songwriters face. To overcome it, try following these tips:

• Take breaks and step away from your work when you feel stuck.
• Write in a different environment to stimulate your senses and creativity.
• Experiment with different songwriting tools and techniques.
• Set achievable goals and deadlines for yourself to maintain motivation.

Exploring Personal Experiences

Your own life can be a rich source of inspiration for your songwriting.

Here are some ways you can tap into your personal experiences:

• Reflect on past events and emotions, and write about how they have shaped you.
• Tell a story from your own perspective, or create a fictional narrative inspired by your experiences.
• Write down your dreams or daydreams, and use them as a starting point for your lyrics or melodies.

Observing the World Around You

Another way to find inspiration is by observing the world around you.

This includes paying attention to:

• Current events and news stories that resonate with you.
• Interactions between people and their emotional responses to situations.
• Nature and your surrounding environment.
• Art, movies, books, and other creative works for thematic inspiration.

Now let’s take a look at a table that summarizes different sources of inspiration for your songwriting:

Always remember, as a songwriter, your inspiration can come from unexpected places, so stay open and curious about the world around you.

Collaborating with Others

As a songwriter, one of the most valuable skills you can develop is the ability to collaborate with others. This will expand your musical horizons and increase your networking and career opportunities.

In this section, we’ll explore networking in the music industry, working with producers, and collaborating with fellow musicians.

Networking in the Music Industry

Networking is an essential aspect of your journey to becoming a songwriter. It helps you create connections and relationships within the music industry that may lead to collaboration opportunities or valuable advice. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Attend music events, conferences, and workshops in your area. This will allow you to meet and interact with other musicians, producers, and industry professionals.
• Join online communities and forums related to songwriting or music production, where you can share your work, ask for feedback, and network with other aspiring songwriters.
• Create and maintain an online presence, showcasing your music on platforms like SoundCloud, YouTube, or social media, to make it easier for others in the industry to discover your work.
• Build genuine relationships with people in the industry by being authentic, supportive, and open to giving and receiving feedback.

Working with Producers and Musicians

Collaborating with professional producers and musicians can provide valuable insights into the songwriting process and help take your music to the next level.

Here are some tips on effectively working with them:

• Communicate your ideas and vision for the song clearly, and be open to their suggestions and expertise.
• Be respectful, punctual, and professional in your interactions, as this will help build trust and good working relationships.
• Stay open-minded and be receptive to constructive criticism, which can help you grow as a songwriter.
• Establish mutual expectations and responsibilities beforehand to avoid misunderstandings or conflicts later on.

In addition to following these tips, it’s also essential to understand the various roles and responsibilities in a music project.

Here’s a simple table to help you get familiar with the key players:

By mastering the art of collaboration and networking in the music industry, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful songwriter.

Creating a Portfolio

As you work to become a songwriter, creating a portfolio to showcase your talent and versatility is important.

This section will guide you in building a professional portfolio, including recording your songs and copyrighting your work.

Recording Your Songs

Start by creating a collection of well-crafted, original songs, focusing on quality over quantity.

Your portfolio should include a diverse selection of genres to demonstrate your adaptability.

After composing your songs, record high-quality demos to give potential clients and collaborators a clear sense of your sound. You may want to invest in professional recording equipment or save up to book time at a recording studio.

Share your recorded songs on popular publishing platforms, such as SoundCloud and Bandcamp , to increase visibility and reach a wider audience.

Copyrighting Your Work

Before sharing your songs online, make sure to protect your work by copyrighting it. Register your song with the U.S. Copyright Office to secure the rights to your creation. Doing so will ensure you have legal protection in case someone tries to steal or use your work without your permission.

Keep track of your registered songs in the following table:

As you build your portfolio, be sure to:

• Stay consistent and professional in the presentation of your work.
• Establish connections with fellow artists and professionals in the music industry.
• Remain open to feedback and continue honing your craft.

Marketing Yourself

As an aspiring songwriter, it is essential to market yourself effectively to stand out in the competitive music industry.

Let’s discuss strategies to help you promote your music and build your reputation.

Utilizing Social Media

To expand your audience and showcase your talent, it’s important to utilize social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Follow these tips to boost your online presence:

• Create engaging content: Share behind-the-scenes footage, project updates, and personal stories to connect with your audience.
• Interact with followers: Respond to comments, messages, and tweets to build relationships with your fans and fellow musicians.
• Collaborate with other artists: Network with fellow songwriters and musicians to create new content and reach new audiences.

Submitting Songs to Contests and Festivals

Participating in songwriting contests and music festivals is another effective way to gain exposure and recognition. Here’s how you can make the most of these opportunities:

• Research suitable events: Find contests and festivals that suit your genre and submit your best work for consideration.
• Prepare your submissions: Ensure your songs are well-produced and professionally recorded for a higher chance of success.
• Network at events: Attend music conferences, panels, and networking events to connect with industry professionals and other songwriters.

Pitching Songs to Artists and Labels

Pitching your songs to established artists and labels can lead to lucrative opportunities and collaborations. Follow these steps:

• Create a professional demo: A high-quality demo that showcases your songwriting and production skills is crucial for impressing artists and labels.
• Research your targets: Identify artists and labels that share your musical style and vision to improve your chances of success.
• Build connections: Establish relationships with managers, A&R representatives, and other industry professionals who can introduce you to potential collaborators.

By now, you’ve learned the essential steps to embark on your songwriting journey.

From honing your skills and finding inspiration to collaborating with others and promoting your work, the path is a challenging but rewarding one.

Constant practice is key to developing your songwriting abilities, and experimenting with different genres helps you find your unique voice. Listening to a diverse array of music is also beneficial. Seek new perspectives and find creative ways to express your ideas.

Collaboration is another important aspect of your growth as a songwriter.

Working with other musicians helps you refine your skills and expand your horizons. Seek out songwriting groups, workshops, or online forums to connect with fellow writers and receive valuable feedback.

When it comes to promoting your work, be proactive in sharing your songs through various channels. Utilize social media, streaming platforms, and even consider performing live. Networking within the industry is essential, so attend conferences, workshops, and other music events to build relationships with industry professionals and potential collaborators.

Remember, your songwriting journey is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. So, stay true to your creative vision, take risks, and persevere. Embrace the challenges head-on, learn from your experiences, and, most importantly, keep pouring your passion into every song you write.

Frequently Asked Questions

What skills are essential for a successful songwriter.

A successful songwriter needs a good grasp of musical theory, creativity, and the ability to consistently express emotions and stories through song. It is important to have excellent communication skills, as working with other musicians, producers, and artists is a crucial part of the songwriting process. Patience and perseverance are also essential for navigating the competitive music industry.

What type of training or education is needed?

While formal education in music can be helpful, there is no specific degree or certification required to become a songwriter. Many successful songwriters are self-taught or have learned from mentors, workshops, or online resources. What matters most is the continuous development of your songwriting skills and a deep understanding of the craft.

How can I network with others in the industry?

Networking plays an essential role in building a career in songwriting. Attend music industry events, such as conferences, workshops, or showcases, to meet other songwriters, performers, and industry professionals. You can also join songwriter organizations, collaborate with local musicians, or participate in online communities and forums dedicated to songwriting.

Where should I focus on starting my career?

To start your career as a songwriter, focus on developing a strong portfolio of original songs. Record demos and share them with your network, both online and in person. Consider pitching your songs to music publishers, producers, and artists, or collaborate with local performers to increase your exposure. Building a solid reputation and getting your work heard are essential steps in the early stages of your career.

What are the different songwriter job opportunities?

There are various songwriter job opportunities in the music industry, including writing for other artists, composing for film and television, working as a staff writer for a music publisher, or pursuing a career as a solo artist or a member of a band. Each career path requires different skill sets and levels of commitment. Determining your goals and preferred writing style will help you choose the most suitable path.

How do songwriters typically earn income?

Songwriters typically earn income through royalties, advances, and licensing fees. Royalties are generated when their songs are performed, recorded, or streamed. Advances are lump-sum payments made by music publishers, record labels, or producers in anticipation of future royalties. Licensing fees are collected when songs are used in various media, such as films, commercials, or TV shows. Some songwriters may also earn additional income through teaching or performing their own work.

Morten Nielsen is a seasoned music producer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the CEO of Sound Kickers and has worked with major labels such as SONY/ATV, solidifying his status as a talented producer in the music industry.

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How to become a songwriter: comprehensive guide.

Have you always wanted to learn how to write songs?

You’ve come to the right place – we are here to take you through your first songwriting steps.

Besides the basics of songwriting, our comprehensive guide will introduce you to specific steps on how to become a songwriter.

Whether you want to write songs for fun or you’re ready to start your new career, this guide is a good place to start.

Table of Contents

How to Become a Songwriter 

It’s true – being a songwriter sounds great.

It’s creative and exciting, and if you manage to get noticed, it can be quite profitable too.

But most people get into songwriting because they’re passionate about music.

So what does being a songwriter actually entail?

What Do Songwriters Do? 

A songwriter is often defined as a professional musician who composes, writes, or creates musical compositions. 

And in the world of popular music, songwriters aim to write hit songs.

If they’re successful in writing popular hits, they’re most likely to achieve stardom. 

Although many songwriters remain rather anonymous, some successful songwriters become very popular among musicians, producers, and other relevant people from the music industry.

They are responsible for the success of many artists, after all. 

Now, since songwriting entails writing both words and music for songs, many songwriters have a musical background. 

And generally, many songwriters perform their own songs.

After all, some of the greatest songwriters of all time include Bob Dylan, Prince, and John Lennon. All of them are musicians. 

But there are many people in the music industry (especially in popular music) who are solely responsible for songwriting. 

Songwriters who have a deal with a music publishing company have to deliver a quota of songs each year.

And everything they write during the term of their contract is published by that company.

Regardless of how many songs they write, they will only remain under contract if their songs are earning money.

From that perspective, songwriting is pure business – and someone will hire you only if they believe you’re able to deliver potential hits. 

That being said, songwriters need to be familiar with the process of music production . 

They need to know how to sell their music too.

More importantly, they need to know what works.

And that’s definitely not easy.

In fact, it’s a real challenge to come up with a song that gets stuck in people’s heads.

But this is true only for people who want to write commercial songs and work with artists who are trending right now.

If you’re interested in songwriting for other reasons, you will automatically approach the songwriting process in a different way.

So, what you’re going to do as a songwriter depends on the type of career path you’re interested in – and that largely depends on your goals.

How Long Does It Take To Become a Songwriter? 

If you want to become a successful songwriter who is responsible for top-charting hits, you’ll have to be very patient and persistent.

It will probably take you somewhere between 5 and 10 years to start earning real money.

It takes time to grow your skills – songwriting is not an easy job.

But it also takes time to make the right connections.

You’ll have to meet fellow songwriters, collaborate with them, and keep an eye out for opportunities.

And with a little luck, your song will get noticed and you’ll experience a breakthrough.

On the other hand, if you want to write songs while doing something else to earn a living, this can happen much sooner.

After all, if you’re already writing songs, you can identify yourself as a songwriter.

However, whether you want to become a skilled songwriter or learn how to write songs for your band or yourself, you’ll have to be patient.

Gaining songwriting skills takes time, regardless of your goals.

Most songwriters spend years taking guitar or piano classes and singing lessons.

If you want to become a professional songwriter, there are many things to learn.

And writing a good original song that millions of people resonate with it’s not easy.

Every songwriter would be earning millions otherwise.

But if you’re passionate about music and writing, you’re already on the right track.

And if you’re worried about not being talented enough, we want to point out that songwriting is a skill more than talent.

Even if you have a natural talent for writing songs (which does make things easier), you’ll have to learn a lot before being able to call yourself a skilled songwriter.

So, it all comes down to your motivation and perseverance. 

How Much Do Songwriters Make?

The thing is, even if you’re motivated and persistent, there are no guarantees that you will earn a ton of money from your songs.

It simply doesn’t work that way.

Just like with making other forms of art, there are many other factors that need to align too.

But if you manage to become a successful songwriter, things will go quite well for you financially.

According to Glassdoor, professional songwriters can earn an annual salary of $65,000.

However, it takes time to build a career as a songwriter.

And the biggest challenge is the competition.

That shouldn’t discourage you though – if you want to become a professional songwriter, there are some steps you can take.

But first, let’s take a look at the main ways you can earn money as a songwriter:

• Signing with a music publisher and getting an advance
• Making money off of fees and royalties

And songwriter salaries vary a lot.

The thing is, as a songwriter, you’re not limited to writing songs for albums.

You can create songs for musicals, movies, TV, commercials, and so on.

That said, there are different ways you can earn money; from mechanical royalties (from digital downloads) to sync fees (when a song is licensed for TV shows, commercials, etc) and public performance royalties.

Besides being an employee at a record label, you can be a freelance songwriter working for other artists. 

And many songwriters work out of a home studio, and many of them record the song before sending it to an artist or a publisher.

It’s also hard to predict how much a songwriter will make off of a hit song.

And there’s certainly a lot of money in working with famous artists.

But generally speaking, the greatest earning potential is probably related to syncing licensing. 

But there are other ways to earn money from writing songs too – you just need to find what works best for you. 

Once again, it all depends on your goals and skills.

Songwriting as a Career Path 

Before jumping into specific steps on how to become a songwriter for beginners, we want to point out a couple of things.

Firstly, many people want to know if being a songwriter is hard.

Well, as you might assume, there’s no clear answer.

Some of the advantages of being a songwriter include:

• Working from home (as many songwriters do)
• Flexible hours (also common among songwriters, especially freelancers)
• The freedom to be creative
• The opportunity to collaborate with great musicians

Of course, there are many other highlights of being a songwriter; especially a successful one.

But it can be really challenging in the beginning.

It takes time to hone your skills, but it will also take you a while to learn how to get around in the music industry.

On the other hand, if you want to be a freelancer or perform your own songs, you’ll probably find it hard to get noticed.

Every songwriting career path has its own pros and cons.

But it’s ultimately worth it – if you’re passionate about music, songwriting is very exciting and fulfilling, even if you don’t earn a lot of money. 

So, what does it take to become a songwriter?

What is more important – talent or skills?

And how much do you really need to know about the legal/business side? 

We’ll tackle all of these important questions in a minute. 

A Beginner’s Guide to Songwriting

If you want to become a songwriter, there are several things you can do to get started.

First of all, you should think about acquiring music skills.

1. Learn Basic Music Theory 

If you’ve already been taking guitar or piano lessons , you have a good foundation to build on.

Understanding basic music theory is crucial for songwriters.

And most successful songwriters have a strong musical background.

Now, getting musical training doesn’t mean you have to go to school.

You can choose between taking private lessons or taking online music lessons ; online learning programs and apps are great because they’re affordable, flexible, and effective.

There are many ways to learn fundamental music theory, so don’t be afraid to take advantage of all the learning sources you have at your disposal.

With the knowledge of basic music theory, you will be able to approach the songwriting process in a more serious way.

You’ll be able to understand how music works, and you’ll be able to write melodies and chords.

2. Take Singing Lessons 

Another way to build a strong musical foundation is to take singing lessons .

Now, this is not mandatory – and you don’t have to be a good singer to be a songwriter.

However, familiarizing yourself with singing-related terms and learning about singing techniques will help you write vocal melodies. 

And improving your own voice will allow you to record songs, which is useful even if you don’t plan to perform them. 

If you’re writing a song for a human voice, you need to understand how the human voice works.

And taking up an instrument and working with a vocal coach will ultimately make you a better songwriter.

Plus, it will help you develop your musicality.

3. Study Song Composition 

To be able to write a song, you also need to learn about song structure.

The composition generally refers to how the songs are put together. 

So, studying song composition will introduce you to its structure and main parts, including the bridge, verses, chorus, and so on.

It will also allow you to find the best way to approach a song.

And if you want to be responsible for a well-crafted song, you’ll also need to learn about a hook – a hook can be anything from a chord progression to a catchy beat.

It could also be a short line, phrase, or an idea – anything that can catch the listener’s ear.

Coming up with a good hook in music is not easy, and it does take some practice.

However, there are also some techniques you can utilize to make things easier.

Luckily, there are many ways to learn about song composition and songwriting nowadays; you can take an online composition course, for instance.

Online songwriting lessons are generally a great idea if you want to learn how to write songs by yourself. 

After all, you don’t need to have a special degree to become a professional songwriter – you just need to work on your skills and expand your knowledge.

4. Learn How to Write Lyrics

For instance, you need to learn how to write compelling song lyrics.

This is a less technical part of songwriting, and for many songwriters, it’s the most interesting one.

This is where your creativity and emotion come into play. 

There are even people who write only the words of a song – they are called lyricists.

And there are many ways you can teach yourself how to write lyrics.

But ultimately, writing song lyrics is all about finding the right balance.

Of course, you want to write authentic and memorable lyrics.

But people also like to hear something slightly familiar – something they can relate to, or something that resonates with them on a deeper level.

Either way, the best way to start is by determining what you want to say.

And then just keep writing – over time, you’ll be able to shape the lyrics into a song.

Until then, focus on the emotion, senses, your story, or the world around you; and of course, the message you want to convey. 

The message doesn’t have to be clear or straightforward; you don’t even have to put it into words, but defining that idea or concept will make the lyrics more compelling and thoughtful. 

5. Expand Your Knowledge 

As a songwriter, you should also familiarize yourself with other production phases. 

The thing is, songwriting is just the first phase of the whole song-creation process – other phases include recording, mixing, and mastering.

And then comes the distribution, promotion, and so on.

Many songwriters are indeed familiar with the business aspect as well as the legal aspect of the music industry. 

If you want to start earning money from songwriting, this is inevitable.

Therefore, you should expand your knowledge and learn about technology and music production in general. 

Since there are so many aspiring songwriters out there, this will certainly give you a competitive edge in the business. 

By the way, learning about sound engineering and music production will allow you to record your own demos.

Demoing is an essential part of every songwriter’s business.

By recording quality demos, you’ll be presenting your idea in a professional way. 

And that’s how you’ll grab a publisher’s or artist’s attention.

Additionally, as a professional songwriter, you will also need to have good communication skills.

Songwriters collaborate with artists, publishers, and employers, so having good communication is a game-changer.

So, let’s quickly summarize all the additional skills you should work on as a beginner songwriter:

• Learning about music production
• Learning about technology and engineering
• Studying the legal aspect of the music industry
• Building communication skills

6. Write, Write, Write

The single best thing you can do to become a songwriter is, well, to write.

And you should write a lot.

Even if you write songs nobody will ever hear, you’ll get the necessary practice and experience.

So, writing bad songs is actually useful – as long as it will get you to good songs.

And if you want to make progress, you should always try to be better at songwriting.

However, it’s sometimes hard (and even impossible) to criticize your own music; that’s why you need to seek feedback.

Getting feedback (preferably from someone experienced) will help you become aware of your weak spots.

Every songwriter has their own strengths, whether it’s lyricism, writing compelling melodies, or coming up with an amazing hook.

So, it’s great to emphasize your strengths, but you should also work on improving your weaknesses – that’s the only way to truly make progress. 

And if you keep writing and developing your musicality, you will eventually become better at songwriting in general. 

Besides helping you get better at songwriting, regular practice will help you get new ideas.

More importantly, it will help you filter the ideas and find the right one.

The thing is, it’s hard to define what the right idea for a song actually is.

The best ways of getting an idea for a song are also highly individual.

Some songwriters have a clear vision before they start writing a song, and others find it in the process.

It all depends on what kind of person you are.

Nevertheless, there are several things you can do to find inspiration for a song: 

• Pay attention to the world around you
• Write about a specific moment, thought, or a recent dream
• Visualize a moment you want to capture
• Focus on the rhythm
• Focus on a specific mood

There’s no single way to get more inspiration for writing a song. 

As a songwriter, you’ll have to keep developing your creativity and finding inspiration in the world and people around you, or within yourself.

And if you want to write a hit song, you should think about what’s trending now; but this approach most likely won’t bring the best out of you.

Songwriting should be about being honest and authentic rather than thinking about what’s trendy.

However, the nature of this business often requires a more calculated approach.

It all depends on your ultimate goal.

Nevertheless, you should always add something raw and honest into your song – even if you want it to become a chart-topping hit.

And the more you write, the easier it gets.

Work on your lyrics, melodies, and chord progressions, and think about your ideas and concepts – eventually, you’ll be able to define your own writing style and you’ll know precisely which way you want to go.

7. Gain Exposure 

Once you know what your goals and dreams are, it will be easier to proceed with the next step.

And the next step is deciding what you’re going to do with your music.

There are several things you can do with your song:

• Releasing it yourself
• Pitching it to a music publisher
• Pitching it to an artist
• Send it to a contest

The business side of songwriting can be challenging, especially for beginners.

However, if you have clear goals, everything will be easier.

For instance, if you want to release the song, you should think about the best way to distribute it – you can contact a music distribution company or release it yourself. 

Then you’ll have to think about the promotion of your music , which usually includes:

• Running paid promotions
• Creating a powerful online presence
• Reaching out to bloggers, journalists, and creators
• Getting radio promotion 
• Utilizing offline music marketing strategies 

There are many ways to distribute and promote music on your own, but if you want to get noticed, you’ll have to launch an effective music marketing campaign. 

And if you want to work with a record label or another artist, you’ll have to conduct a little research first.

Make sure that your song fits what the artist is looking for, and choose the record label carefully.

When you’re just starting out, keep your pitches to a minimum. So, don’t burn 50 songs on a CD.

Also, make your presentation business-like, and be very clear and straightforward – your attitude is important here.

And if you don’t get an answer, don’t get discouraged. 

Music publishers and record labels get tons of music on a daily basis.

And that’s why it would be better to work on your exposure first – record labels will want to hear about what you’ve been doing to make things happen so far.

Distributing music and gaining exposure is, of course, easier if you’re a singer and a songwriter.

That way, you can record your songs, polish them, and release them on popular streaming platforms.

Alternatively, you can get in touch with an online music distribution service and they can do it for you (usually for a fee.)

But if you don’t want to perform your songs, you’ll either have to pitch them to a publisher or find an artist who will perform them.

You’ll also have to explore how things work with creative rights and royalties – that’s why you need to gain knowledge about the legal aspect of the music industry.

The songwriter is the initial owner of the song copyright, but things can change depending on the deal.

Publishers always get their share, and that’s usually 50%.

Songwriters and musicians under contract to a studio may have to give up certain rights.

So, it all depends on your goals and marketing plan. 

Tips for Becoming a Songwriter 

As we’ve just mentioned, certain steps on how to become a songwriter depend on your ultimate goal.

If your goal is to work with famous pop artists, you should focus on writing catchy melodies and trendy lyrics.

And if you want to be a singer and songwriter, you should discover your own style.

But regardless of what your goals are, there are some things you can do to become a better songwriter.

1. Avoid plagiarism 

For starters, you should avoid writing songs that are too similar to existing ones. 

Many musicians were sued for plagiarism, so if you want to avoid lawsuits, make sure you’re writing something completely original.

This sounds like common sense, but you’ll be surprised how many people copy other songs.

Accidental plagiarism is also a thing – and that’s why getting feedback (even from your friends and family) is very important. 

It’s possible to write something similar without being aware of it, and some musicians end up giving the credits just to avoid lawsuits.

2. Work on your musicality 

One of the best ways to stay authentic in music is to work on your musicality.

Musicality will help you understand how music works, and it will help you get an idea for a new song.

And that’s why it’s always a good idea to take up a new instrument.

There are many ways to learn how to play an instrument nowadays, so you can find a learning source that fits your goals, budget, and learning style. 

3. Listen 

If you want to become a better lyricist, you should listen to other people’s stories – and this is probably the best advice you can get as a writer in general.

Listen carefully, notice the details, and become aware of your feelings and your senses.

Focus on the details and nuances of the world.

And don’t be afraid to tackle your emotions too.

Furthermore, you should listen to music as much as you can.

Analyze the melodies and lyrics of the song you love.

But you should also listen to a variety of music genres . 

Over time, you’ll realize you’re developing your own songwriting style.

And if you feel like you don’t have any ideas, don’t worry – it’s normal to feel unmotivated at times.

But you should keep writing nevertheless.

4. Don’t wait for inspiration 

The secret of successful songwriters is that they work a lot.

Sometimes, you shouldn’t wait for the inspiration to come – you should just keep working.

Whether you’re writing songs or books, it all comes down to consistency and perseverance.

By the way, don’t expect the first songs you write to be your best.

Even if you think they’re amazing, you should sleep on them and ask for feedback; don’t send your track to a publisher right away.

Acquiring songwriting skills takes time.

Even if you believe you have a talent for music, it will take you a while to learn how songwriting really works, especially if you choose it as a career path.

And if you want to become a professional songwriter and earn a lot of money, you’ll have to work really hard.

And you should listen to other people’s advice, but at the same time, you shouldn’t let anyone discourage you.

5. Stay motivated and focused

There will be many people who will tell you it’s impossible to make it in the music industry. 

But that’s just not true.

Everyone has to start somewhere, right?

So, keep your dreams alive, and work hard to make them come true. 

6. Don’t underestimate networking 

One of the things that can help you in your journey is getting in touch with fellow songwriters, artists, and producers.

Of course, your work, talent, and communication skills are what’s going to get you to places.

However, don’t underestimate the power of networking.

This will also help you get valuable information about how things really work.

And networking can also bring you unexpected opportunities.

Meeting people and collaborating with them is an important part of being a songwriter, so make sure to make connections as you’re finding your spot in the industry.

How to Become a Songwriter – Final Thoughts 

Songwriters are responsible for writing the words and music of a song – and that’s why they need to have a variety of skills.

If you want to become a songwriter, you should learn basic music theory, learn about song composition, and develop your musicality.

But you should also learn about other music production phases as well as the business side of the music industry.

Being skilled and informed will definitely give you a competitive edge in the industry.

And if you stay persistent and passionate, someone will undoubtedly notice your work. 

You may also like: How to Become a Singer

Will Fenton

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Career Overview

A Songwriter crafts songs for another artist in hopes of creating a hit.

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Table of Contents

Career Description

Career outlook, career path, experience & skills, education & training, additional resources.

Make Music Online Free: How To Get Started

How To Sing: The Complete Guide for Beginners

Songwriting 101: a Step-by-Step Guide (and Songwriting Tips)

What Is a DAW? Digital Audio Workstations Explained (Simple Guide)

Learn to Sing: What Is the Best Way to Learn Singing?

Becoming A Vocalist: Follow These Steps

Best Music Schools 2024: Who Has the Best Music Programs?

Best Online Guitar Lessons: Can I Learn Guitar Online?

Music Copyright Laws Explained for Musicians

The Top 15 Highest Paying Music Careers

Music Marketing Strategies for Artists

Music Industry 101: What To Know Before Pursuing a Career In Music

Music Royalties 101: How Artists Make Money from Music

How to Make a Music Video

10 Easy Instruments To Learn for Beginners

The 10 Best Music Books for Songwriters, Artists & Industry Professionals

How To Learn Piano Even If You’ve Never Played

4 Song Structure Types to Know & When to Use Them in Your Songwriting

What Is Music Composition: How To Become a Composer

ASCAP vs BMI: What’s the Difference and What Can They Do for You?

How To Become a Songwriter

People also ask.

What exactly does a songwriter do?

How can I become a Songwriter?

How much does a songwriter get paid for one song?

How much do Songwriters make?

Is it hard to be a Songwriter?

How do Songwriters get paid?

Songwriters compose songs by writing chord progressions, melodies, and lyrics. In today’s music industry , it’s common for Songwriters to work in teams varying in size from two to nine or more individuals. Many Songwriters write songs for other artists to perform, while Singer-Songwriters perform their own songs, whether solo or with a band. Songwriters also work closely with Music Producers , Artist Relations Representative , and A&R professionals to write, record, and perform songs intended to be hits.

There are many examples of successful Singer-Songwriters and songwriting teams who have become popular household names. Everyone knows their music, mostly, and could name (or even sing) some of their best-known songs. Other Songwriters toil away in relative obscurity, although they might still be able to earn a great living writing songs for other artists to record and perform, and for placement in films, TV, or advertising ( jingles ).

Most popular Songwriters try to write hits , using “ hooks ” that stick in the memory of the listener. These hooks combine melody and lyrics in a way specially designed to be memorable to listeners so that they will want to listen to the songs over and over. Listeners can find well-crafted songs with hooks in many genres, such as country, rock, jazz, blues, funk, rap, reggae, soul, R&B, or hip-hop. Many Songwriters specialize in a particular genre or style, while some others cross over between many styles of music.

Successful Songwriters might have their songs placed in movies , video games, or TV shows, and many Songwriters have found success writing for Broadway musicals and even advertising music. Often, Songwriters write both the lyrics and melody for a song.

There are as many kinds of Songwriters as there are people writing songs, and Songwriters have unique opportunities to put their personal stamp on the music and entertainment industries.

To learn how to become a Songwriter, we talked to several Songwriters working in various genres:

• Jason Blume, who wrote hits for Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys
• Emily Warren, Writer for Dua Lipa and The Chainsmokers
• Dann Gallucci, who has worked with Modest Mouse and Cold War Kids
• Jean Baptiste, Songwriter for Rihanna, Lil’ Yachty, and The Black Eyed Peas
• Rick Nowels, who has penned hits for Lana Del Rey, John Legend, and Adele

The sole job duty is to create hit songs that are geared for the commercial market—and do the business required to get those songs to generate income.

I have a few different types of “typical” days. First, it’s important to understand that songwriting is approached differently in Nashville than it is in other music centers, such as Los Angeles, New York City, and London.

In Nashville, where I’m based now, pro Songwriters typically go to an office to write their songs. They sit with guitars in writing rooms and collaborate with other Songwriters. I did that for more than twelve years and wrote hundreds and hundreds of songs that way.

Outside of Nashville, in many instances, pro Writers have recording studios in their homes. Some do nothing but produce musical backing tracks (i.e., the keyboards, bass, drums, guitars) but rely on other Writers to create the ‘top line’ – the melody and lyric – that the Vocalist sings. When I was in Los Angeles I more often went to a collaborator’s home studio to write.

Some of a Songwriter’s time is also spent producing demos—recordings that are used to demonstrate the potential of their songs, and regardless of where or how you write, a portion of your time will likely be spent taking care of business. This includes having meetings to pitch your songs to record label executives, Producers , and Managers .

So, there’s not really a “typical” day. Some days—or parts of days—are spent writing; some are for having meetings; some are for recording demos.

They typically work with Music Publishers , other Writers, and Musicians. While some might write alone, I typically collaborate with other Writers who bring out the best in me—and with Recording Artists and Record Producers who are looking for songs.

Most professional Songwriters are affiliated with Music Publishers, and interact with other music business professionals, such as Recording Engineers , Record Producers, Recording Artists, and Managers.

There are different levels to this. We’ll start where I am now. I’ve been in the industry for quite a while, I’ve been blessed. I’ve had successes, so that allows me to kind of create a schedule that works for me.

So, I’m usually at the house. My studio sessions are somewhere between 1:00 to 7:00pm. I go to the studio either by myself with my Engineer, or I’ll go to collaborate with a circle of a few friends that I love to work with. That’s the creative process of it and then I go home. I try to treat it like a job. I know that my brain is fresh in the morning so I feel like I get my best ideas during the day.

Now, when I was younger, I started off in a band. That whole life is a completely different, slightly chaotic thing. That was number one for me, touring and all that stuff. But when you’re trying to make it, usually you have a side job—whatever that is—that takes precedence. So whenever I got off my job, I would go straight to a studio situation, or I would just write at home and write songs.

We’re lucky in this day and time where you can get an inexpensive laptop and an inexpensive mic and literally create your own music with a program like FruityLoops and just record your vocals yourself.

It’s very difficult to make money with songwriting. You have to write hit songs or have a big fan base.

The potential for earnings is almost limitless. The top Writers—those who consistently write or co-write hit singles for superstar artists—earn tens of millions of dollars. But the cold hard reality is that only the tiniest fraction of a percent ever reaches that level.

In fact, the overwhelming majority never earn any significant income from their work and work “day jobs” to support themselves while they pursue their dream. There are no guarantees of ever earning a penny—but some of those who are exceptionally talented, persistent, and good at promoting themselves do manage to breakthrough.

I had a fantasy that Songwriters lay out by their pool, sipping a drink, and waiting for a brilliant song to strike them. HA! The successful Writers I know work incredibly long hours.

When they’re not busy writing songs, they’re doing demos, having business meetings, and hanging out with people who can advance their careers. While it’s true that you are essentially your own boss—and can set your own hours—the successful ones I know are driven and are almost always either working—or thinking about their work.

Songwriters earn their living in two distinct ways. They can write songs as “work for hire” where they are paid a flat fee to write for an artist who then receives the credit (and royalties ) for the song. This method of earning money has the appeal of guaranteed income, since nobody can know in advance if a song will be successful in the marketplace and earn money. Some Songwriters work for a company and are called “Staff Writers.” Good Writers who can produce many songs quickly (sometimes in teams) can generate a steady salary working this way.

Within those two main ways of making money as a songwriter, there are several streams of income you can earn. These include:

• Fee from sync placements
• Performance royalties
• Mechanical royalties
• Streams and sales (when releasing songs as an artist)
• Royalties from a song recorded/released by another artist
• An advance from a publisher

More commonly, Songwriters prefer to retain ownership of their songs so that they can generate recurring royalty payments through licensing agreements. These payments might broadly be called “residuals” since they result from monetizing the value which resides in the work. There are different types of royalties from licensing which are differentiated based on their source. For example, “synchronization rights” come from licensing agreements allowing the work to be used in visual media (TV, films, advertisements, etc.), while “master rights” pertain to only the recording and not the composition.

Songwriters earn money when their songs are streamed on a platform like Spotify. In theory, a Songwriter should get paid something every time their song is played or listened to. In short, there are many ways Songwriters can earn money with their songs. (Check out our blog on music rights and licensing  for a more in-depth explanation.)

When it comes to total earnings, the sky is the limit for the most successful Songwriters. For example, Songwriter Dan Wilson earned approximately $883,000 in royalties for one song , Adele’s “Someone Like You,” which he co-wrote with the star. Recently there’s been a lot of news stories about famous Songwriters who are selling the rights to their catalogs to investors for hundreds of millions of dollars.

There are plenty of examples of moderately successful Songwriters who have been able to earn enough money from just one of their songs to provide for a decent living. A famous Songwriter once said: “My songs are like my children; they will take care of me when I’m old.” Having a catalog of well-written and protected ( copyrighted ) songs can also give extra credibility to those seeking a career in any facet of the music business, and especially as a Recording Artist and Performer.

When starting out, a Songwriter isn’t likely to make much money right away. They must first write a number of good songs, which may entail writing a bunch of bad songs. As they say, it takes fertilizer to make the grass grow. Most Songwriters start out having another source of income, i.e. a “day job,” and are only able to earn a good living from their songs after having scored several hits, or getting songs placed in prominent places or with artists who then generate a stream of recurring revenues. Of course, it’s also possible to have a hit right off the bat. For the lucky few who do, the challenge then becomes to continue to write songs that will be well-received by the public.

Realistically, below is what you could charge for a “work-for-hire” agreement as a songwriter. This is where an artist pays you to write a song for them, many times they own all or most of the rights.

• $250 for a hook (i.e. a chorus)
• $500 for a whole song
• $50-75 per hour

According to Glassdoor.com, the average annual salary is approximately $65,300.

There are two MAIN ways a Songwriter is paid. First, a Songwriter can get an advance from a publishing deal, but it is recoupable. What this means is that you could sign to a Publisher who gives you an “advance” that goes with your contract. Once you start making money, part of what you make goes towards paying back that advance.

It’s very similar to taking out a loan from a bank, although a Publisher (differently from a bank) also offers you services along with the money (i.e., booking sessions, placing songs, creating opportunities, etc.). The other way Songwriters are paid is by fees and royalties. This works in a couple of different ways.

If, for example, a song you’ve written gets put in a movie, you are generally paid a fee for the use. Royalties accumulate when your song is played. For example, if your song plays on the radio, you will be paid for each play.

Except for the rarest exceptions, 100% of your income comes from royalties earned when people buy digital and tangible recordings of your songs (downloads and CDs) and from streaming , as well as “performance royalties” that are generated when songs are played on the radio, broadcast on television, on the Internet, on airplanes, and in places such as restaurants, nightclubs, and concert halls.

It doesn’t matter how many songs you write or how amazing they are; you only get paid when people buy or stream the songs, and when they are performed or broadcast—such as on TV and the radio.

First of all, you have to sell your song to someone. Your song can get synced in a TV show. It can get synched in a movie. It can get synced in a commercial. That’s one way.

Artists who want to use your song—that’s another way. You’re getting paid off mechanical royalties, you’re getting paid off publishing, which is the actual writing.

So there are physical and mechanical royalties. There are digital downloads, streaming royalties. There are so many ways. Either get your song synced in your favorite show, or in a commercial or try to get your song to an artist and have them buy the song.

You get to participate in your publishing and your royalties. Also, if you sing your own song and put your song on a DSP (digital streaming platform), you get paid per stream. There are so many different ways in which you can maximize your worth.

For the most part, you’re getting paid for your intellectual property. The song is your idea; there are a number of different ways that you can sell your idea. You can license it. Aside from playing live, unless you can gather a ton of interest in the music that you’re making, it’s almost impossible to make money off of a record.

Unfortunately, people don’t get huge advances on publishing anymore. I mean, huge bands do but fewer people do now. Before, if you wanted to get the biggest publishing deal that was available to you so that you could have money in your pocket and just be able to create, then you would give a far bigger percentage of your publishing over.

That’s when my Lawyer started talking to me about admin deals and how I could give away ten percent of my publishing as opposed to a far bigger number, and get an admin deal, where they’re still working for you. If you can get someone who is going to help you, someone that is actually explaining the process to you, and they’re giving you honest answers of what’s possible, seek those people out.

My main advice is to care about what you’re doing. An eighteen to twenty-three-year-old who is being told that they’re so special that someone wants to work with them, and is being told that they’re going to make money, will take basically any advance that you give them, you know?

There are a lot of people who are very comfortable with manipulating kids in that situation, at that age. They’ll step in, and they’ll offer you approval that you maybe have never gotten before, and recognition, and all that. If they tell you that you’re going to get five thousand dollars, which is more money than you’ve ever seen before, but you have to give away fifty percent publishing on the first six songs that you write or whatever, it’s hard at that point to say no.

Even the most hardened eighteen-year-old who believes that they have more integrity than anyone that’s ever walked the Earth will sign away so much for so little. It’s just so hard not to. So many adults, sadly, are just capable and comfortable with manipulating people, especially young people.

It’s really hard to make money. If you can do it on your own, then you have to because there’s no one else that cares about your idea except for you and the people who’ve heard it that really like it. The more that you control it, then the more money you actually stand to make.

It’s not bajillions of dollars, but it could be a steady income. Learn how to market yourself, learn how to make the connections that you need to make, put out really creative and interesting output.

The more you can control how many views you get or how many downloads or listens you get, or how many people are following you—[that] gives you a way to reach more people and your income streams could be coming from anywhere. The more you have, and the more you control it, the better off you’re always gonna be.

Do Songwriters own their songs?

Songwriters own their songs unless you sell a portion to a publisher when your song is released.

Does a Songwriter need a Publisher?

A Songwriter needs an advocate. If you can get a Publisher interested in helping you that is a good thing.

How much a songwriter makes from one song depends on the medium, type of use, and their writer and publisher royalty splits. If the songwriter is also the artist and the publisher, which is the case for most independent artists , they earn all income generated by the song. This includes streaming platforms (payouts vary), mechanical royalties (currently 12 cents per song use), performance royalties (payouts vary), and sync licensing payouts (payouts vary but can be tens of thousands of dollars per use). Now, if a songwriter isn’t the only one who wrote the song and/or doesn’t own the publishing, they would earn a portion of each type of income based on their agreed-upon cut.

The Two Halves of a Song

Because we’re talking about songwriter payouts, let’s briefly cover the two rights involved in the creation of a song. Knowing this will help you understand what you’re owed and if you’re getting paid fairly.

Creating a song involves two primary types of rights: the composition rights and the master rights.

Composition rights pertain to the song’s underlying musical work, which includes the melody, lyrics, and arrangement. These rights are typically held by the songwriter(s) and their music publisher if they have one.

The master rights involve the specific recording of the song, owned by the recording artist and/or their record label, covering the usage and distribution of that recorded version of the song.

This distinction allows for separate control and revenue streams for the creative and recorded aspects of a song. And it’s important you know about them, at least generally.

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Looking to the future, it’s highly likely that Songwriters will continue to have terrific opportunities to license and market their songs to reach global audiences. This means that there will always be room for new and upcoming Songwriters who have something to say. People are always interested in what’s new, so the aspiring Songwriter will have the chance to get their music heard, and if it’s quality work, they can get signed to a major publishing deal, work as a Staff Writer, or pursue an independent career. All are viable options for the well-prepared Songwriter who is determined to make their mark on the music industry.

This is not to say that it’s easy. Probably the biggest obstacle to any individual Songwriter’s success is the staggering amount of competition. According to the top three Performing Rights Organizations (PROs), ASCAP, BMI , and SESAC, there are about two million Songwriters active in the US alone. While the percentage of those Songwriters who’ve achieved stardom might be quite low, there’s a lot of talented folks out there all vying for the limelight and trying their best to write a hit song that will put them on the map.

With so much output, it’s challenging to stand out from all the rest, and you will need to cultivate a unique sound and approach. Another way to say this is that you should not sound like anyone but yourself. Being different from all the rest is what gets Songwriters noticed.

With so many Songwriters and songs, another challenge is to avoid writing a song that’s too similar to an existing one. There’s a steady stream of lawsuits aimed at Songwriters by other Songwriters who claim that their work was copied or stolen outright. There are Entertainment Lawyers earning a lot of money representing artists who sue other artists about theft of their intellectual property. There’s even an entire discipline, called “Forensic Musicology” with experts who testify at trials to explain to courts why a song may or may not have been plagiarized.

The difficulty for Songwriters is that they might have copied something inadvertently. Maybe they heard a song years ago and it stuck in the back of their mind, and they really didn’t know they were copying another song. Unfortunately for these Songwriters, intent doesn’t get them off the hook for sounding too much like another song. There have been cases where the Songwriter just credited the original Writer as a Co-writer on the song, to avoid charges of plagiarism. This would mean they are giving up a portion of their royalties.

While the future looks bright for new Songwriters, it’s important to be as prepared as possible. This means not only knowing how to craft a great song but also how to work with others on writing teams, understanding how music works, and knowing the legal aspects of how to protect their work from infringement by others. Songwriters must also become familiar with copyright laws and music publishing.

Is songwriting a good career?

It’s not a career that I would put the house on. It’s something you have to love. If I didn’t make a penny off music, I’d still be doing music. It’s in my spirit, you know? Some of us are afflicted with that thing where we’re able to receive that. It’s that gift.

Here’s the thing: if you love doing something, there’s not a day of it that’s work to you. But we’re in a business of rejection and there are a lot of people trying to make it. You have to believe. You have to have an insane belief in yourself, and you have to have a good network and a bit of luck.

The BEST! For so many reasons. First of all, you really get to make your own schedule. When I started off I did double (sometimes triple) sessions 7 days a week. I did it because it was so much fun, I was learning so much, and writing was what I wanted to do 1 million percent of the time.

As I’ve gotten a bit older and expanded my interests, my schedule has changed completely — I now factor in time for absorbing other things that interest me or even just experiencing things that ultimately inspire me. It comes in waves and it’s nice to be fortunate enough to be able to choose when to go really hard or to scale it back a bit.

The other amazing thing about songwriting (which I believe is true about any creative career) is that it gives life a lot of meaning. What I mean by that is that no matter what happens, good or bad, the outlet of songwriting, of being able to turn thoughts or experiences into a tangible thing, means that no matter what happens to me, however big or small, it is valuable.

This has helped me look at the world in a totally different way. It has made me a better listener, a more eager learner, and someone who really values daily life because there is something to learn from everything and everyone, and the more open my ears and eyes are, the more ideas I have to work with.

No, it’s not. It’s a terrible, hard career full of constant frustrations and occasional really high highs. If you are doing it because you’re looking for a career, I would recommend a bunch of things before songwriting. But I think most people that really want to be Songwriters are compelled in some form or some way. For those people, you have to do it.

All you can do is work as hard as you can and try to take the opportunities that might be in front of you…no matter how hard it is to find them. It would be hard to say that it’s a good career when there are so few people that can even make a basic living doing it.

The Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Songwriters

A.I. is a hot topic right now, and for good reason. We don’t fully know how it will affect musicians and the music industry in the future. So what does this mean for songwriters?

A.I. both offers exciting opportunities and raises big questions. It can help you brainstorm lyric ideas, create melodies, and even make complete songs (albeit underwhelming songs). So it’s a tool, but it changes so rapidly that we have to ask: should songwriters be worried?

Concerns arise when it comes to originality, copyright issues, and the value placed on human creativity. What models is A.I. pulling from? And should the people who created those models get credit for the songs?

With A.I.-generated music potentially saturating the market, it may become harder for unique human-composed works to stand out, complicating intellectual property rights and disrupting traditional revenue models. We have to balance the benefits of A.I. with the need to protect human creativity.

As A.I. and technology in general rapidly evolve, people may crave human authenticity even more. So as a songwriter, it’s important to stay honest with yourself and others, and bring that into your songwriting.

If you are just starting out writing songs in your bedroom, know that there is a future in the art and business of songwriting. While there isn’t a single path to success, learning all about how others who came before you went about it is a good way to get an understanding of what your future career in songwriting might look like, and the next steps you should take. There are many excellent books available on songwriting, plus biographies and autobiographies of successful Songwriters and original musical artists. You should try to read them all! They will give you much information and inspiration you will need to tackle the long climb ahead of you.

There are musical artists and Songwriters who seem like they just arrived on the scene as a result of some “big break.” In reality, the big breaks are invariably the result of a series of smaller breaks. Without the smaller breaks, one would not be ready to take advantage of the big break. For example, getting accepted to the top music school of your choice might be a small break which then allows you to learn useful techniques, which is another small break that came about because of being admitted. Then, you might meet another student and decide to co-write songs with them or meet your future Producer there.

These are all smaller breaks that have the potential to lead to a bigger break, which then leads to another really big break. Since the public only becomes aware of you as a result of the “big break,” they will never see all those smaller breaks you had that prepared you to capitalize on the big breakthrough to fame.

Now let’s talk about practical steps you can take to build a career as a songwriter. Every songwriter’s career path is going to look different, but below is an outline of what you can do to get started.

• Work on your craft

Write like it’s your job until one day it is. This means you should write every day. Block off a time each day when you know you’ll be able to write. Study the songwriters you love. Write with other songwriters Sometimes, the power of two or more is stronger than one. You can end up with a stronger song when you have someone else to bounce ideas off of and to get feedback from.

If you write with a songwriter who has a publishing deal, that could get the attention of their publisher, which could lead to you working with that publisher.

And if you write with a songwriter/artist, they could end up releasing the song you wrote with them. Then this could lead to you earning royalties.

• Learn basic production or partner with a producer

After you write a song, you’ll need to be able to record it. A voice memo recording is fine, but if you want to increase your chances of succeeding, it’s a good idea to get quality recordings recorded to a click track. This will make it easier for people you share it with to add their own ideas. And if you send it to an artist for them to record, a good demo will make their job way easier.

So you get a DAW, an affordable but decent microphone, a simple audio interface, and learn the basics of recording. At the very least, you’ll want to know how to record your main instrument and your vocals.

Alternatively, you can partner with a producer to help you record your demos. This will cost money, so make sure you have a budget or potentially a way to barter with the producer.

Once you have a decent recording of your best songs, send them to publishers you’d like to partner with. Send them to other songwriters for feedback, and even to see if they’d like to write with you. Send them to artists you think they fit.

• Create an EPK

Send this EPK to people in the music industry: publishers, record labels, press – anyone you’d like to work with.

If the music demands a more technical-oriented approach, that’s fine too; the production and the songwriting often go hand-in-hand. In addition to the songs, it might also be a good idea to create music videos , since most people today are used to listening to music while watching an accompanying video. Having descriptions of the songs (as in “liner notes”) might also be a smart idea. The descriptions could explain the story behind the song, how it was written, or describe the music. This way, listeners can also read something while they listen.

The next step would be to create an EPK (Electronic Promo Kit) for your music. This will include an artist bio , photos , videos, recordings, press clippings, and other promotional materials. You might also include a catalog of all your songs. A well-put-together EPK announces your arrival on the songwriting scene and will be designed to garner interest from labels, artists, Producers, Music Publishers, press, and other Writers you might work with. People want to quickly see and understand you and hear your music, so it’s worthwhile to put in the time and effort to create a really sharp EPK that will reflect favorably and shine a light on you and your songs.

Ultimately there’s no one path to success as a Songwriter, but there will likely be many opportunities for you to take advantage of as you go. Look at each one of these small “breaks” as necessary to reaching the next big break, whether it’s co-writing with another established Songwriter, getting your song placed with a major label artist, in a film, for an advertisement, or securing a publishing/licensing deal for your songs. Persistence is key, as is honing your craft and improving all your skills. Study what the music competition is doing and learn from them where you can. Embrace the journey with all the challenges and know that there will be much excitement and joy along the way as you see your song catalog grow, and your songs succeed on their merits.

Can anyone be a Songwriter?

Yes, I think so. There are two basic ways to go about it. There are people who study songwriting and theory. They may study an instrument very specifically.

My path to songwriting didn’t go that direction; I don’t know how to write music or anything like that. I got a guitar when I was young. I found it very difficult to play other people’s songs, so I just started making up my own, and I had more fun doing that. I realized I could string three notes together and it could be a song as long as the lyrics and the melody were good. You could actually make something really fun and play it. So, that was enough to make me want to pursue that basically for the rest of my life (or close to it).

If you don’t learn how to songwrite, you’re just learning by listening to other people, finding what you like, keeping your ears open. If you don’t go the more traditional composition route, the only thing that I think that people really need is those songs, whether it’s a three-note song or a really complex song that they worked out on their own. I’ve met people that would say that they didn’t know how to play an instrument, could be in a band with three different people, and they all play in a tuning that no one’s ever even heard of before. But they’re making the most interesting music and beautiful music.

From what I’ve seen traveling around the world, there are just a massive amount of extremely talented, not just musicians, but Songwriters, that no one will ever know about. [There are] traditional biases against women and people of color. I’m a white guy, so it’s inherently easier for me, or it has been.

You have to believe in it. I think it can be really hard, depending on where you are, to believe that something can actually come from what’s making you feel the way you do when you write something you’re proud of. It’s not all just in learning composition. It’s hard work in the sense that it kind of has to be your focus. You can’t stop.

I do think so — I think if you put enough time into anything you can do it, right? The first probably 100 songs I wrote were garbage that no one should ever hear, but the more I write the more I am able to identify what works and what doesn’t for me.

I think another really good exercise is studying the music that you love. For me, John Mayer was a huge influence, so once I started to write I started to try and dissect his music and try to understand what about it was so captivating to me. I think something he does really well is that he is able to tell such a good story that evolves and develops over the course of the song.

He does this with imagery, detail, pairing the emotion of a lyric with the emotion of its melody, and giving each section purpose. I often find in his songs that there are no fillers — every line seems intentional and shapes how the ideas are communicated. He is just one example for me, but I think listening actively to the music you love and trying to figure out WHY you love it can be a really great tool in shaping your own writing.

I think that anyone who has the passion for songwriting can be a Songwriter. If you love it, you’re gonna enjoy every bit of the process. As long as you have the passion for the idea of storytelling, you have the passion for music, then yes, you can.

Practice, practice, practice!! Like I said, I have written so many bad songs, many of which I think are great at the time. Not every song should get released or cut, but every song has value because it is practice that leads you towards the one that DOES! I started writing when I was 11 years old and didn’t have a single cut until I was 21 (and I can assure you, it’s a song you’ve never heard of).

That was 10 years of practice, virtually every day, but it was a blast. I learned so much and continue to learn every time I write and collaborate. If you have the love for it, you will put in the hours without noticing.

Another great way to learn is to collaborate. I was resistant to collaboration for such a long time, but once I gave it a fair shot I realized it is just another way to access parts of your brain (and someone else’s) that you can’t necessarily get to on your own. Plus, like I said, you can learn something from everyone. Collaborating is a great way to see how people work firsthand and learn ways of writing that can open doors in your mind.

In almost all instances, one doesn’t really get a ‘job’ as a Songwriter. The extremely rare exceptions are when someone might be hired and paid a salary to create songs for a TV show, an advertising agency, or a theme park. But this would probably be less than 1% of all professional Songwriters.

If you want hit songs on the radio it’s not as if you fill out a job application and someone hires you to write songs. Unless you’re in a band, writing with a successful artist, or you’re an artist writing for your own projects, your goal will probably be to become a Staff Writer.

Although that sounds like a ‘job,’ what it really means is that you’ve signed an exclusive song publishing agreement with a music publishing company. Everything you write during the term of your contract is published by that company. You don’t have any set hours or go to an office.

You just have to deliver a quota of songs each year—and in many instances (especially outside of Nashville) only songs that are commercially released by artists on major labels count toward your quota. But regardless of how many songs you write, you will only remain under contract if your songs are earning money, or the company believes you are delivering potential hits.

When you sign a staff-writing deal you are advanced money—as if they are lending you your own future royalties. In most instances, unless you already have a track record of hits, your advance will be just enough to survive. But it’s not a salary; when you have success, the money you were advanced will be recouped by the Publisher before you see additional royalties.

The big advantage of being a Staff Writer is that your Publisher has a vested interest in promoting you and your songs in ways that few developing Songwriters could ever do on their own. Ideally, your Publisher should have access to the Producers, record labels executives, Managers, and Recording Artists who have the power to say, “Yes.”

They should also be able to set up collaborations for you with Recording Artists and Producers. In many instances, this is how Songwriters get their work recorded.

One typically gets a staff-writing deal by networking , collaborating with Staff Writers, and meeting Publishers at music industry events. It rarely works to send unsolicited material to companies. Publishers are very selective about who they sign—and seek writers who they believe have exceptional material—“HITS” that are geared to the current market.

I wrote my first songs when I was twelve by strumming my father’s mandolin. I performed in coffee houses and nightclubs, mixing my original songs with well-known songs. After college, I moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles to pursue my songwriting dream. I knew there would be more classes, serious collaborators, and opportunities to make business connections in a major music center.

When I wasn’t working my day job I wrote songs, recorded demos, networked at music industry events, and took classes every spare moment. I wrote hundreds of lousy songs—although I didn’t know that at the time! But as I studied my craft and the market, received professional feedback from teachers, and rewrote my songs to make them as strong as possible, my songs improved and became more geared to the commercial market—meaning the songs that were on the radio.

I met with a Music Publisher who suggested I rewrite a country song I played for him. After seven rewrites—and seven new demos—he sent the song to his Nashville office. It was recorded by a new artist and became a single. Although it earned very little money, it opened up doors that led to my collaborating with professionals who were signed to a publishing company. That was seven-and-a-half years after I’d moved to L.A. to become an “overnight sensation!”

While my song was on the charts I went to Nashville to collaborate and make connections. One of the songs I wrote with a Pro Writer was recorded by a superstar group 3-1/2 years after we wrote it. It happened because my Cowriter’s Publisher pitched the song. That changed my life.

Suddenly, every door was open to me and I signed a staff-writing deal. That was more than 11 years after I made the decision to move to L.A. and become a professional Songwriter.

• Identify your weaknesses and address them. For example, are you a strong lyricist, but not such a great melody writer? If so, block out time on your calendar to do melody rewriting exercises—or seek collaborators.
• Study what works. Analyze the melodies and lyrics of the songs you love. Put them under the microscope and study the chord changes; structures; lyric approach; and melodies.
• But, if you are writing for artists other than yourself or your own band, be sure you study songs that artists did not write for themselves. Similarly, study the songs that are currently having success; writing in styles that are no longer in vogue (i.e., the songs you loved in high school) will not get you commercial success.
• Write, write, write. Don’t expect the first songs you write to be your best. It’s like developing a muscle; you need to keep working on your craft to get better at it. Some say, “Your first fifty songs are for practice.”
• Plan to attend an event where you can network with other writers on the same path—a song camp; writing retreat; Taxi’s annual Road Rally; the West Coast Songwriters ’ annual conference; the Hawaii Songwriting Festival ; or one of my BMI Workshops (FYI, they’re free and open to anyone. Registration info is on my website. )
• And of course, read my books, 6 Steps to Songwriting Success and This Business of Songwriting —and listen to all my instructional audio CDs ;-).

I started off by being in a band. I was writing before the band and I was writing a lot of things. I was writing poetry and things of that nature and that segued into me writing songs. I kind of feel like I was always that way—music was always the thing for me.

I would say the best way to start is by doing some research on the artists that you like, on how they started, and then starting on your own. Whether you’ve got a piano, or a keyboard, or a guitar, or you might just wanna do topline, which is writing lyrics and melodies. You might write on some instrumentals that are all free online.

In this world that we live in, that seems so scary, and a lot of people are telling you what you can and can’t do—everything starts with you. As long as you believe in yourself and believe in your talent, just keep doing it.

You have to convince yourself that you’re a Songwriter first, and then eventually, if you stick with it and things line up for you, you’ll convince the world. But it starts with you.

If you want to take the way that people used to think about songwriting, there are high schools that focus on the arts. If you’re somehow lucky enough to get into one of those, that’s helpful. There are community colleges with great composition and theory programs.

If you’re interested in composition for soundtrack work, or commercial work, or that type of thing, I think that can probably be a very helpful path for you—to go the more traditional composition route.

Otherwise, you decide when you’re a songwriter, you know? It’s entirely up to you. If you want other people to recognize you as a Songwriter, or just listen to your music, that will kind of overcome you and there’s nothing else that you’ll want. You just want an instrument, even if you don’t know how to play it, because you can pluck a few notes.

You’re a Songwriter because you decided you’re a Songwriter, and then it’s just a lot of work. You’ve got to get out there and play.

There’s a lot of people who do a hybrid of that. They come from songwriting in a more self-taught way and then work their way through music in a number of different ways and end up working on commercials, soundtracks, those kinds of compositions. I think a lot of the more interesting modern soundtrack music is coming a lot more from people who are self-taught.

I can definitely say it is the most frustrating and difficult thing I’ve ever done in music, and I’ve done quite a few different types of things in music. You have to be willing to basically try to claw your way into an industry whose doors are mostly shut. You have to keep clawing and keep clawing.

You have to meet people, know the right people, be in the right place— luck is a combination of being in the right place and doing something with it. Your eyes have to be wide open every day for anything that you can find. It’s unreal how competitive it is.

It’s a ton of work if you want to write songs because you feel in your heart you’re an artist, that there is art within you, and you don’t have a choice but to get it out. If you want to do that, and the path you want to take is more of the [being in a] band, recording music at your house and just getting it as out there as you can, just do it.

Don’t stop doing it. Find every opportunity to do it and never stop writing. If you have a chance to go play in front of people, you have to do it. Go wherever you get the chance so that you can experience the very limited opportunities that are out there.

You really have to believe that there’s a reason that you do it—not even because you want to have fun and all that kind of stuff, but because it’s really in you. You hear it every day in your head, so you can either try to make it, or it’ll just frustrate you. Then you have to just hustle.

Can one hit song make you rich?

Yes, with all the different ways a songwriter can earn money and the several different types of royalties, one smash hit can mean the songwriter(s) will never have to work again. For example, The Beatles’ “Yesterday” is estimated to have earned $60 million. That’s plenty to set you up for life. However, these types of songs only come around every so often, so it’s better to commit to being a lifelong career artist. Many artists, indie and signed, make a living from music without ever having a hit song.

Stars Who Started Out as Songwriters

One cool thing that can happen is, a songwriter starts out writing songs for other artists and then eventually breaks out on their own solo career. Here are some notable examples:

• Lady Gaga : before becoming an international pop sensation, Lady Gaga (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) wrote songs for other artists, including Britney Spears and The Pussycat Dolls.
• Bruno Mars : Bruno Mars (Peter Gene Hernandez) gained recognition as a songwriter, penning hits for artists like B.o.B and Travie McCoy before achieving solo success.
• Sia : Australian singer-songwriter Sia Furler wrote for numerous artists, including Rihanna, Katy Perry, and Beyoncé, before establishing herself as a solo artist.
• Ed Sheeran : before releasing his own chart-topping albums, Ed Sheeran wrote songs for artists such as One Direction and Taylor Swift.
• Ryan Tedder : the lead singer of OneRepublic, Ryan Tedder, has been a prolific songwriter, contributing to hits for artists like Beyoncé, Adele, and Maroon 5.
• Pharrell William s : Pharrell Williams was a successful songwriter and producer before achieving solo success. 
• Dolly Parton : Dolly Parton is not only a country music icon but also an accomplished songwriter. She wrote several of her own hits and penned classics like “I Will Always Love You,” later covered by Whitney Houston.
• John Legend : before achieving solo success, John Legend worked as a session musician and songwriter. He co-wrote hits for artists like Alicia Keys.

Most successful Songwriters have a strong musical background, with perhaps the only exception being Lyricists (who write only the words for songs). There’s a certain prevalent belief that songwriting is a natural talent that can be polished, but you either “have it” or you don’t. This could be said about anything related to music and brings up the age-old debate about “nature versus nurture.”

While it’s likely true that there is some amount of natural ability or talent required to get very far, it’s also been proven that those with a modicum of talent who work really hard at it will almost always go further than those with great talent who are lazy. Regardless of where anyone falls on the talent spectrum, it’s going to take plenty of hard work to get anywhere, especially considering the stiff competition. Doing the work and getting the experience to succeed should also be fun. If you love music and songwriting, it won’t seem quite as hard, since you are working at something you are passionate about and care about deeply.

• Do you need to be technically trained in music?

While technical training in music and music theory can help you, it’s not a requirement to succeed as a songwriter. Many successful songwriters have relied on their natural talent, creativity, practice, and persistence to get where they are.

Understanding music theory can help you write more sophisticated songs, but sometimes simplicity works better. What’s most important is creating an emotional response in the listener, so focus on emotional expression, storytelling, and personal experience.

• Do you need to know how to sing?

While being a good singer can definitely make it easier to write and present creative melodies, you don’t have to be a singer to succeed as a songwriter.

Understanding melody, rhythm, and structure is more important than being able to sing well, and these skills can be developed without being a singer. You can always collaborate with singers and other musicians to bring your songs to life, allowing you to focus on the craft of songwriting itself.

• Do you need to know how to produce music?

As we discussed in the section above, you don’t have to know how to produce music. It can help to know how to record quality versions of your demos. But you don’t have to learn all the ins and outs of producing, mixing, and mastering. If you can get a clear recording that’s on time with a click, you’ll be fine.

• Do you need to know music business?

While you don’t need an in-depth knowledge of the music business, it can help to have a basic understanding of it.

Knowing how publishing, royalties, contracts, and licensing work can help you protect your rights and make sure you get paid fairly. Understanding the business side can also help you make informed decisions, build valuable connections, and take opportunities that make sense for your goals.

It may make more sense to focus on the craft of songwriting and partner with people who know the ins and outs of the music business (like managers, agents, and lawyers).

What skills do you need to be a Songwriter?

It’s not mandatory that you play an instrument—but it definitely helps. So study guitar or keyboards if you’re so inclined. It’s also helpful to understand the business of songwriting.

Being a Songwriter requires unending perseverance and a willingness to keep pursuing your goal no matter how long it takes. You have to be able to deal with years of rejection, frustration, and disappointment, and still believe in yourself enough to keep writing songs, networking, and working on your craft.

Also, you need to be someone who can handle not having a guaranteed, steady income, and you need to be able to cope with the pressure of needing to consistently produce “hits.”

I think if you want to write songs for other people, you have to be interested in listening and finding empathy in other people’s stories, and I think that regardless if you’re writing for yourself or others, you have to be willing to be vulnerable. In my opinion, good songwriting comes from framing common thoughts in new ways.

How can you say something that has been said a million times in a new way, or how can you articulate a feeling everybody has felt but might not know how to put into words? I think the best way to access these things is to allow yourself to be completely vulnerable and exposed. If you hit that nerve within yourself, you will hit that nerve for your listener as well. Songwriting can be uncomfortable, and painful, but the harder it is to do, the more rewarding the result.

You need some musicality. You don’t need music theory, per se, but you need to understand the notes so that when you’re writing you can make sure you’re using the right notes. You also need the ability to write, to capture an emotion, capture a story.

I think Songwriters are a bit emotional. I find that people who are a bit emotional are able to harness that. You also have to be attentive. You have to be able to pay attention to what’s going on around because sometimes you can write about things that happened to you, or happened to someone in a situation that’s either adjacent to you or not.

You have to love music, obviously, and you have to love listening to it and watching it. One of the most important things to me is to be around other people who do different things than you do, whether it’s the way they play their instrument, or whether it’s that they just have a very unique perspective on the way that they would write a song. You have to experiment.

I think a lot of people disagree with me on this, but I like Songwriters who want to know a little bit about the recording process because it’s so much a part of modern songwriting.

There’s such a more broad array of instruments and ways of creating sound these days than even in the mid-‘90s people were creating those weird sounds and finding a melody by using, you know, a 4-track cassette recorder and creating really insane sounds just from the knobs on that 4-track. Or creating their own reverbs and effects so that they can get the inspiration from a sound that they haven’t heard before.

I would say it’s constantly seeking new ways to become excited about sound. With lyric writing, I think wordplay can be really interesting but if it strays too far from the story you want to tell or who you are then it becomes just wordplay. If you can, create a way of using some abstraction while still throwing enough into a lyrical composition to make people have to figure out a little bit what you’re talking about [and] once they get it, they realize how emotional that is.

People want to hear something, I think people want emotion in music, whether from beautiful melodies or from lyrics that might stop you in your tracks with their honesty.

Do songwriters get Grammys?

Yes, any songwriter who took part in writing a Grammy-winning song also receives a Grammy award. They can win a Grammy for both Song of the Year and Album of the Year if they helped write a song on that album.

How To Improve Your Songwriting Skills

Improving your songwriting skills is a gradual process that takes practice, study, and creativity. Here are some tips to help you continually improve your songwriting skill on your journey toward becoming a full-time songwriter:

• Listen actively , both to great songwriters’ songs and in everyday life 
• Keep a songwriting journal , so you can record your thoughts, ideas, and snippets of lyric ideas
• Study the song structure of your favorite songs , even rewrite them in your own words with your own music
• Read and write regularly : read to fill the well, write to empty it
• Explore different genres , stretching yourself musically
• Collaborate with other songwriters : this is the key to writing a great song and getting a song picked up by an artist
• Attend songwriting workshops and seminars
• Stay persistent and patient because making a living as a songwriter can take months or years to accomplish

Just as there is no single defined career path proscribed for Songwriters, there is also no one way to acquire the education and training that will lead to the likelihood of success as a Songwriter. There are some excellent undergraduate songwriting degrees offered at top schools, such as Berklee College of Music in Boston, New York University, Full Sail, and the University of Southern California.

Usually, offering a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) or of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), these programs allow students to concentrate in songwriting. Each school will have different admissions requirements, but they will typically ask applicants for a portfolio that adequately portrays musical talents and accomplishments in songwriting. This means prospective applicants to songwriting degree programs should already have some music experience and training prior to applying.

Some schools also offer shorter summer programs for aspiring Songwriters (usually not-for-credit). This is a good way to explore your talents along with discovering what it’s like to study full time on the campus. These summer programs serve as recruitment tools for the colleges and are a good way to get some instruction or a crash course in songwriting or performance. Many music industry programs and performance programs also have a songwriting track included as an elective. So, it’s possible to get some short-term intensive training and learn from professionals in the field who also teach. Additionally, there are some excellent online programs that do a good job teaching songwriting techniques and concepts.

Songwriting is an important sub-field of music, and future Songwriters should learn all they can about music. While voice is considered an instrument, it’s advisable for Songwriters-in-training to learn to play a musical instrument as well, usually piano or guitar (or both). Most songwriting programs at the college level will require at least two semesters of basic keyboard classes and will also offer elective courses on how to self-accompany.

Other useful college-required and elective classes include harmony (music theory), ear-training (solfege), arranging, ensembles, music notation, music technology , music production, sequencing, music business, lyric writing, and chart-writing. Students will also take survey courses about the history of songwriting and popular music, music history (pop, jazz, and classical), and liberal arts courses such as poetry, history of art, and maybe a social or hard science. If this all sound interesting and exciting to you, you might feel at home in a college songwriting program.

While it’s certainly possible to study and learn many of these topics on your own, college and university programs are designed to get you there much more quickly and have the added benefit of introducing you to a network of like-minded people, both students and faculty. There are opportunities to interact with professionals from the industry and to make crucial connections for a future fruitful career. You will come to learn about all the different roles available in the music industry, and how they interact with Songwriters. Learning about all aspects of songwriting and the music industry is the best preparation for having a successful career as a Songwriter.

Do you need a degree to be a Songwriter?

Music Publishers don’t care whether or not you have a degree in songwriting, or what else you’ve done. It’s a business, and they care about one thing: whether you can deliver songs that they believe will earn you—and them—lots of money.

I’m not saying that classes and workshops can’t improve your songwriting skills; they can be very helpful, and good ones can provide you with inspiration, tools, and techniques. Education is great.

I teach that there are no “rules” in songwriting—but there are “tools” that are consistently found in successful songs. As a Teacher, I explore what works—then encourage my students to use techniques that have proven successful—while adding their own unique flavor to it.

We’re not born with knowledge such as the popular song forms and structures, how to craft the most effective chords, or where to place rhymes. These are things we can learn in classes and songwriting workshops, as well as from reading books on the topic. The radio stations playing the current hits are our best teachers—but it helps to have a professional give direction and point out what’s working in our songs.

I’m a huge proponent of higher education; let’s never get that twisted. But it’s like saying, “Do I need to go to college to be in a band?”

It’s something that you need to be working on every single day. If you love something, you just work on it a little bit every day. So, I wouldn’t say it’s necessary, but I’ll tell you what, when I went to college, I was able to build a network of individuals that helped me all the way up to my present-day in music.

So for the talent of it you don’t, but you never know who you’ll meet in college. You can find your people in college, and you guys can help each other and be a ladder for each other towards your future.

Blume is a big believer in networking opportunities. He says, “Research your local songwriting organizations; they provide both educational and networking opportunities. Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has chapters in more than 110 cities, and Songsalive meets in multiple cities, as well.

New England to Nashville (NETN) has excellent events for those in New England who are focused on the Nashville music market, and the West Coast Songwriters organization provides opportunities for those in that part of the country. Taxi also provides pitching opportunities for writers who are writing material that is competitive.

An extensive listing of songwriting organizations can be found in my book This Business of Songwriting , Revised 2nd Edition.” For other books that teach valuable business and creative skills, check out our related blog post .

Learn the Different Types of Royalties

Royalties are the main way a songwriter makes money, so it’s important to understand how they work and how you can collect yours.

In the United States, four main types of organizations that collect royalties on your behalf or pay you directly for the use of your music.

1. Digital Distributor

Digital distributors are companies that deliver your music to Digital Service Providers (DSPs) like Spotify and Apple Music. When someone plays your song on a streaming platform, the platform owes you a streaming royalty. Each DSP pays streaming royalties a little bit differently and at different rates, but they all pay your distributor directly. The distributor then pays you, sometimes after taking a cut.

2. Performance Rights Organization (PRO)

A Performance Rights Organization (PRO) represents songwriters and publishers, collecting performance royalties anytime there’s a public performance of your song.

Public performances include live performances, public places streaming your music (like bars, restaurants, coffee shops), TV, and radio airplay. The major PROs in the U.S. are ASCAP and BMI, with SESAC and GMR being invite-only.

(More on what PROs do in the next section).

3. Publisher or Publishing Admin Company

A publisher or publishing admin company collects your performance royalties if you’re not registered with a PRO. They also expedite the collection of foreign performance royalties by registering your songs with PROs in other countries. On top of that, they collect mechanical royalties, which is another royalty generated when someone streams or buys your music.

In the U.S., the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) is responsible for collecting and paying out all mechanical royalties. Your publisher or publishing admin company should be partnered with the MLC as well as with mechanical royalty organizations outside the U.S.

4. SoundExchange

SoundExchange handles the collection and payout of digital performance royalties for non-interactive uses of the recording (platforms that don’t let the listener choose the music, like Pandora, SiriusXM, and Beats1).

SoundExchange is the only place in the U.S. collecting and paying out sound recording performance royalties. They also handle neighboring rights royalties for sound recording performances outside the U.S.

What Does a Performance Rights Organization Do?

Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) play an extremely important role in helping songwriters get paid. They collect and pay performance royalties for a songwriter’s song.

Here are the main things a PRO does:

• Song registration: Songwriters can register their songs with their chosen PRO, which then tells the PRO what songs they should be collecting royalties for.
• Monitoring public performances: They monitor and track where and how often songs are played through different means, like digital fingerprinting and data collection from broadcasters and venues.
• Royalty collection and distribution: PROs collect performance royalties on behalf of songwriters whenever their music is played publicly, like on the radio, on TV, on streaming services, at live venues, and other public places.

What Does a Music Publisher Do for Songwriters?

A music publisher helps a lot of songwriters turn their craft into a career. They handle the aspects of a songwriting career that the songwriter is not usually well-versed in. Here are some of the main ways a music publisher helps songwriters:

• Administration: They manage the registration of songs with performance rights organizations (PROs) and handle all the necessary paperwork, helping songwriters get paid for their work.
• Licensing: They negotiate and secure licenses for the use of songs in visual media, like films, TV shows, commercials, and video games. This helps increase the exposure and revenue of the songwriter’s work.
• Royalty collection: They collect royalties from multiple sources, like performance royalties, mechanical royalties, and sync fees, on behalf of the songwriter.
• Promotion: They actively promote songwriters’ works to artists, record labels, and media producers in an attempt to get the songs recorded and released.
• Creative development: They provide feedback, set up co-writes, and connect songwriters with producers.
• Legal support: They help protect the songwriter’s intellectual property by monitoring and enforcing copyright, dealing with infringement issues, and making sure proper legal agreements are in place.

What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career?

“Get professional feedback — until you are writing songs that are amazing enough to beat out your competition. Note: your mother, spouse or best friend are not qualified to assess your material – unless they are professional Music Publishers ;-).

“If you want to earn a living, push the creative envelope and write songs that separate themselves from the pack. You’ve got to give artists a reason to choose your song over the thousands of others they’ll be considering.

“Create the next big thing—but at the same time, realize that it has to find a place in the current commercial market—or it won’t earn you any income. And … be prepared for a long haul and years and years of rejection.”

What’s the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career?

“It’s a tie. Underestimating the amount of time it will take to break in and over-hyping their songs.”

What is the question people should ask about this career but rarely do?

“How can I improve my songs to make them undeniable? So many people think their songs are amazing; that they have nothing to learn; and that all they need to do is get them heard by the right people. That is rarely the case.

“The reality is that it’s incredibly tough to write songs that millions of people love, and can’t get out of their brains. If it were easy, we’d all be raking in millions of dollars!”

What is one thing I should have asked which I didn’t?

“These were GREAT questions—and that’s another great one. How about: ‘How long should a person continue to write if they’re not earning a living from their songs?’

“There are no guarantees that you will ever earn money from your songs. I’ve been teaching and writing books and producing instructional CDs about songwriting for more than twenty years, and I’ve had thousands of songwriting students. Five of them have had #1 singles; some have had significant successes.

“But the vast majority of them continue to work day jobs. I don’t think it’s realistic to expect success in less than five years—and I think ten is more realistic.

“My suggestion is that if you are passionate about writing, give yourself 100 years to become successful. It’s only natural to feel discouraged at times, but if you lose faith in yourself; are focused solely on the money; and stop enjoying the process … then look for another goal.”

If you could describe in one word what makes you successful, what would it be?

“Perseverance.”

Extra Credit: The Beatles or Rolling Stones?

“I love them both … but based on the extraordinary songwriting it’s got to be the Beatles. They produced an astounding number of classics in such a short period of time and pushed the creative envelope to places most artists would have never dreamed of.

“When I taught at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (founded by Sir Paul McCartney—in the building where he went to high school) I was given a tour of every imaginable Beatles site—including where some of the iconic songs were written. It was like walking on sacred ground!!!”

What does a songwriter do?

Obviously, a songwriter writes songs. A career songwriter writes songs (either solo or with other songwriters) and then tries to get artists to record and release those songs, thereby earning royalties for themselves. Many times, a publishing company or record label will pitch a songwriter’s song to artists and their labels to accomplish this.

How do I start myself as a songwriter?

The best way to start a career as a songwriter is to do a lot of songwriting. Always be writing and trying to improve the songs you’ve written. Re-write other people’s songs. Write with other songwriters. Then record demos of your songs and send them to publishers, record labels, and artists you’d like to collaborate with.

Can songwriters make money?

Yes, songwriters can make money! The main way they earn a living is through royalties. The main types of royalties songwriters can earn are performance royalties, mechanical royalties, and royalties from streaming platforms. Songwriters can also earn upfront payouts if their song is used in a TV show, commercial, movie, or video game.

Jason Blume

Jason Blume  is one of the few songwriters to have hit songs on the R&B, country, and pop charts simultaneously. His songs have been recorded by Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, the Gipsy Kings, Jesse McCartney, the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, and many other artists around the world. His work has appeared in movies and TV shows such as Scrubs, Friday Night Lights, Dangerous Minds and Disney’s Kim Possible . He has served as a judge for many songwriting competitions, including SongDoor .

Blume is the author of the best-sellers  6 Steps to Songwriting Success: The Comprehensive Guide to Writing ,  Inside Songwriting: Getting to the Heart of Creativity,  and  This Business of Songwriting (reviews via Goodreads ). He has been featured in American Songwriter , The Music Row Show , Taxi Independent A&R Radio’s Taxi TV , McSweeney’s , The Irish News , Northamptonshire Telegraph , Belfast Live , The Ringer , and West Hawaii Today .

He also teaches the business and craft of songwriting at industry conferences, colleges, and universities around the globe, including the annual BMI conference and Nashville School of Music . Check out his bibliography via Amazon and his discography via Discogs . His work has been covered by several artists; check out Secondhand Songs to learn more.

For more advice from Blume, check out his articles for Songwriting.net and his BMI songwriting workshop . He can be found online at  jasonblume.com .

Emily Warren

Singer , Songwriter, and Producer Emily Warren can be heard in nearly every corner of modern pop as well as dance, country, alternative, and Latin. Achieving a GRAMMY® Award, countless multiplatinum and gold certifications, millions of digital sales worldwide, and 5.4 billion streams by 2018, she stands out as the rare talent who can nimbly adapt to any genre.

Her discography encompasses eleven anthems for The Chainsmokers. Among those, “Don’t Let Me Down” (6x-platinum) won the 2017 GRAMMY® in the category of “Best Dance Recording.” Other standouts range from Dua Lipa’s “New Rules” (3x-platinum) to Becky G’s “Mad Love” and Sean Paul’s “No Lie” [feat. Dua Lipa] as well as songs for David Guetta, Bebe Rexha, LANY, Galantis, Sigrid, and Noah Cyrus. Meanwhile, her voice can be heard featuring front and center on FRENSHIP’s platinum-selling “Capsize” and the gold-certified “Until You Were Gone” by The Chainsmokers & Tritonal in addition to The Chainsmokers’ rising 2018 single “Side Effects.”

Forbes touted her among its “ 30 Under 30 Class of 2018 ” as further acclaim came from People, Billboard , Time , Entertainment Weekly , Refinery29 , Nylon , i-D Magazine , and US .

Warren has also received nods from American Songwriter , Variety , ( twice ) Rolling Stone ( twice ), Teen Vogue , W Magazine , Paper , Oprah , Huffington Post UK , The Evening Standard , Pitchfork , Idolator , Popsugar , The New York Times , Stereogum , Songwriter Universe , United by Pop , Just Jared , Jezebel , Nasty Galaxy , Thrive Time Show , USA Today , Forbes , Switched On Pop , Master & Dynamic , Meaww , Mic , Pop Crush , Elite Daily , And the Writer Is…with Ross Golan , CULTR , Naga Mag , TooFab , Revelist , Atwood Magazine , Girlboss , Wonderland Magazine , C-Heads , Babe , Variance Magazine , Ladygunn , and The Young Folks .

She has also received coverage via ABC News, EDM.com , AM NY , Baeble Music, Ceek VR , MTV , Yahoo! Sports , iHeart Radio , and Songwriters Hall of Fame .

Warren was a performer at the 2019 ASCAP Pop Music Awards , which you can watch here . You can also see her performing live via TooFab’s YouTube channel . For more of Warren’s thoughts on songwriting and performing, check her out on LIMPI Music , Sweety High , and her Reddit AMA.

Photo Credit: David O’Donohue

Dann Gallucci

Dann Gallucci started playing in bands in High School. After that, he split time between hardcore bands and Modest Mouse. He was a member of the Murder City Devils in the late nineties (and now). When the band broke up he re-joined Modest Mouse during a period of growth for the band.

“Float On” became a pretty decent-sized hit and then he quit for some reason and went to audio engineering school. He came home from school and did monitor and front of house engineering for bands like Miike Snow, MIA, and the XX. Another band he worked with was Cold War Kids, who he would end up joining as a Songwriter, Guitar Player, Producer, and Engineer.

Cold War Kids had a decent-sized hit as well with “First” which, aside from helping to write and playing guitar, he had also produced and mixed. After realizing he no longer wanted to tour (by this time, he had a little munchkin named Maria), he switched gears, became a Radio Producer and started a podcast production business called Little Everywhere with his partner Jane Marie. He lives in LA with his daughter.

His work has received two Grammy nominations . Check out his discography here .

He has been featured in The LA Times , Today , The New York Times , KCRW , Variety , The Guardian , Brooklyn Vegan , NME , American Songwriter , The Boston Globe , Podchaser , Pro Sound News , the I’m Afraid That podcast , the 100 Words or Less podcast , the Tour Stories podcast , The Pitch Kansas City , Vulture , Transverse , New Scientist , The Stranger , OC Weekly , Press of Atlantic City , SF Weekly , Rochester City Newspaper , Star Tribune , Seattle Times , Diffuser , Pittsburgh City Paper , Washingtonian , Seattle Weekly , WVAU , The Annenburg Foundation , The Sydney Morning Herald , Business Insider , Daily Utah Chronicle , Lansing State Journal , Boulder Weekly , Ultimate Guitar , Detroit Metro Times , Phoenix New Times , Glide Magazine , Paste Magazine , Dallas Observer , The Aquarian , The Telegraph , The Young Folks , the Universal Audio blog , and The Hollywood Reporter .

Jean Baptiste

Jean Baptiste stands as one of the music industry’s most prolific and esteemed Producers/Songwriters. He has been the guiding and essential touch on some of pop, rap, and R&B music’s most successful and chart blazing songs and albums. His distinguished talents have earned him credits on numerous platinum-selling records with artists such as Chris Brown ( Fortune, F.A.M.E., X, Graffiti, Royalty ), Nicki Minaj ( Pink Friday, Roman Reloaded: The Re-Up ), Rihanna ( Rated R ), Kid Cudi ( Man on The Moon ), Kelis ( Flesh Tone ), and Madonna ( MDNA ).

Jean Baptiste has established himself as one of the go-to hitmakers for music’s biggest artists. Jean Baptiste collaborated with Chris Brown on F.A.M.E. to create some of his most memorable singles, including “Beautiful People,” “She Ain’t You,” and most famously “Look At Me Now,” which reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and The New York Times called the track the “highlight of the album.” He also produced the hit song “Time For Love” off of Brown’s 6th album X . His work as a Producer on Kid Cudi’s debut studio album Man On The Moon led to the unforgettable tracks “Up Up & Away” and “Heart of A Lion.”

He will forever be recognized for his role in the making of three of The Black Eyed Peas’ most popular albums, Elephunk, Monkey Business , and The E.N.D. , which was certified two-times Platinum in the U.S. Jean Baptiste’s production work helped create some of the most recognizable songs from the album, including “Boom Boom Pow” which spent twelve weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and the single “Meet Me Halfway,” which was the tenth best selling single of 2009 in the U.K.

The lasting collaborative relationships he has formed with the group have also carried over to their solo careers, working with Fergie on The Dutchess and will.i.am. on Songs About Girls and apl.de.ap. He also worked with will.iam. as a co-writer on the charted singles “Feelin’ Myself” and “Scream & Shout” from #willpower .

His songwriting and producing made waves with Chris Brown’s album, Royalty , Rudimental’s album, Home , DJ Mustard’s single, “Whole Lotta Lovin,” Sevyn Streeter’s gold single “It Won’t Stop”, Miley Cyrus’ “Do My Thang”, Dr. Dre’s album, Compton , and “Woo” off of Rihanna’s dynamic album, ANTI .

Jean Baptiste’s writing and producing has continued to make waves with his work on “Bring it Back,” “Made of Glass,” “Surrender,” and “Running With A Ghost” on Lil Yachty’s album, Teenage Emotions , and “Lottery” on Kid Ink’s album, 7 Series . He also co-wrote “F.U.” on Little Mix’s smash album Glory Days , which went triple platinum in the U.K.

This past year, he began a new collaboration with up and coming artist, Tommy Genesis, with a co-producing credit on the song, “It’s OK” featured on her debut, self-titled album, while still maintaining old partnerships, as he co-wrote “Ring the Alarm pt.1 pt.2 pt.3” on the Black Eyed Peas’ seventh studio album, Masters of the Sun Vol. 1 .

His career has received notice via NME ( twice ), Los Angeles Times , Rolling Stone , The Hollywood Reporter , The New York Times , The Quietus , Digital Spy , Madonnarama , Press Party , BMG.com , Pop Crush , and Metro UK .

Partial discography available via Discogs .

Rick Nowels

Rick Nowels is a Grammy-winning Songwriter, Record Producer, Instrumentalist, and Arranger who has worked with artists like Lana Del Rey , Adele, Madonna, John Legend, Dua Lipa, Miguel, The Weeknd, ASAP Rocky, Stevie Nicks, Dido, Jamie xx, FKA Twigs, Lykke Li, Alessia Cara, Sia, Florence Welch, Joan Jett, Tom Odell, Alec Benjamin, New Radicals, Jewel, CeeLo Green, Marina and the Diamonds, Brandon Flowers, Colbie Caillat, *NSYNC, Celine Dion, Belinda Carlisle, André 3000, Santana, and Tupac.

He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. You can check out his discography here or via Discogs . You can see a list of songs he has written here .

He is represented by Sony ATV , Global Music Rights and Spirit Music Group . He has served as a panelist at the ASCAP Expo .

Nowels has been spotlighted by Billboard ( again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again ), Sound on Sound , New York Times , Rolling Stone ( again and again ), The Guardian ( twice ), Pitchfork ( twice ), Complex , The Fader , NBC News , Consequence of Sound ( twice ), Variety ( again and again and again ), Harpers Bazaar , Nylon , Spin , Entertainment Weekly ( twice ), NME ( again and again ), MTV News , Vice , WZZM 13 , Digital Spy , Times Square Chronicles , iHeartRadio , DJ Booth , Music Week , Metro , Out Magazine , Ultimate Classic Rock , Music Row , The Prospector Daily , Far Out Magazine , KUSA 9 News , U Discover Music , Idolator ( twice ), BBC ( twice ), LanaDelReyFan.com , RecordProduction.com , Songwriter Universe , Knox News , and V Magazine .

• 1 . "Songwriter Salaries" . Glassdoor.com. published: Feb 2, 2017. retrieved on: Dec 20, 2019
• 2 Rolling Stone. "How 10 Major Songwriters Make Big Money" . Rolling Stone. published: 19 January 2021. retrieved on: 24 August 2021

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There are no absolute "rules" in songwriting. But there are time-tested tools and techniques that have consistently yielded beloved, memorable music. The Songwriting Professional Certificate Program provides you with these proven approaches for writing lyrics, melodies, and harmonies. Whether you’re a new or experienced songwriter, and regardless of whether your goal is to write a chart-topper or to just pack a more emotionally powerful punch with your songs, this program will bring out your best work as a songwriter.

Need guidance?

Call ,  Text ,  or  Email us

Course Requirements

4 courses to complete this certificate.

Learn how harmony can help convey the essential emotion in your songwriting and the best ways to adapt chords and progressions to suit your songwriting style and ideas.

Create the melodic ideas that convey the emotion of your lyrics, then learn how to develop these melodic ideas into complete sections and songs to suit your songwriting style.

Learn to make the most effective settings for your melodic, harmonic, and lyrical ideas by crafting songs the way hit songwriters do.

Learn to write for commercial success by reproducing the time-tested characteristics of hit songs while maintaining your own unique voice.

Upon Completion of this Certificate Program, You'll Receive:

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• How to Succeed as a Songwriter

Anyone can write a song! But if you want to write great songs and make a living as a songwriter, there are some basic skills to learn that will put you firmly on the road to being a successful songwriter. 

Think about the songs you love – what makes you love them? A melody catches your ear, a lyric moves you to tears or lifts you up, and a funky beat makes you want to dance – great songs touch you in these ways.

Where do you imagine your songs being played? Are you writing for yourself? Pitching to artists, film, TV, and other media? Is writing for Musical Theatre your passion? Though each of these genres have differences in style, writing a great song will always include the same elements: music (melody and chords), lyrics, and something that only you can bring. Keep reading to find out!

Getting Started

You can start with an idea, a title, a lyric line, a melody line, or even a cool chord pattern. Once something comes to you, document it! Record it on your phone, write it down, or save it in some way! These little gems are the start of any great songwriter’s next hit song! Journey’s Jonathan Cain started writing the first four lines of “Faithfully” on a napkin while on his tour bus.

TIPS  

• Keep a journal of titles, ideas, cool chords, etc.
• Set aside a consistent time to write - 15-30 minutes a day will set a habit into motion! 
• Go where you feel most inspired, the beach, a café, etc. Sometimes it is best to leave the house and ditch your regular routines. Also, new surroundings inspire new ideas – you might be at a park and hear a conversation that inspires a lyric. 
• Listen to a lot of music and analyze what works.

Song Form and Music Theory

Most rock and pop songs use the simple verse-hook-verse-hook-bridge-hook method.  Some examples include “Dancin’ in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen and “Heartbreaker” by Geoff Gill and Cliff Wade for Pat Benatar. 

Many songs also have a pre-chorus like “Rolling in The Deep” written by Adele and Paul Epworth and “You Know That I’m No Good” by Amy Winehouse. With these songs (as with many others), there are instrumental breaks instead of a bridge. As a songwriter, you can be creative and follow songs that inspire you.

The 1-4-5 pattern is the basis for most songs though it can be embellished with minor 3rd and 6th chords as well as major or minor 7th chords. You can always start simple and embellish later or you can start with a chord voicing that inspires a cool melody and lyric and go from there.

Lyrics and music have to be congruent: powerful anthem-like music needs an anthem-like lyric. Think “We Will Rock You” written by Queen, Brian May, and Jason Paul Brown, or “Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves” written by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. These songs usually use a simple, 1-4-5 chord progression in a major key.

Working with Others & Working Alone

Imagine Dragon’s hit song “Believer” was written by Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee, Daniel Platzman, Justin Tranter, and Mattias Larsson. Whew – that’s a lot of writers! Songwriting alone can be a challenge and if you find you need some input or if you’re better at music than lyrics, consider collaborating with others.

Pros and Cons of Writing Alone

• Pro – It’s your song idea and you don’t have to negotiate. You get to make all the creative decisions.
• Con – If you get stuck you may stay stuck, and you don’t have the benefit of another perspective.

Pros and Cons of Collaborating

• Pro – You have the benefit of another writer’s ideas and expertise as either a composer or lyricist. 
• Con – You may need to make creative concessions. That said, you will learn to be open to other points of view, successfully negotiate and learn how to communicate respectfully. All good skills to develop!

Additional Tips for Collaborating as a Songwriter

• Make sure you have a good relationship with a collaborator.
• Communicate early on and discuss each other’s expectations.

What Do You  Bring?

Writing a song to express, not impress, is what will make you a successful songwriter. Take time to learn more about the songs you love. How do they impact you? Borrow ideas and take inspiration from those songs and songwriters but don’t imitate. Be distinctly you.

About the Author

Roz Esposito is a singer-songwriter and vocal coach at School of Rock Huntington Beach .

Songwriter - How to become a Songwriter

A Songwriter is a professional who is responsible for creating musical pieces for a variety of uses including advertising, television, film, video games, plays, operas, ballets and recording artists. They also write music for their own personal use and performance.

Songwriters often specialize in writing and composing music for one specific instrument or part of a song. Some of the Songwriters work only for specific artists or companies, while others work freelance and pitch their music compositions to whoever they can find. Some work simply by writing lyrics and depending on someone else to create the music and rhythm behind it, while others create each detail to a song without the help of other artists.

Songwriter Eligibility

Eligibility Conditions Although no formal qualification is required to become a Songwriter. Yet a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Communication or virtually any music related field will be quite helpful to become a successful Songwriter.

Songwriter Required Skills

• Songwriters need to be creative and talented with knowledge of the music business to help them market and sell songs.
• They should be known of playing an instrument can also be helpful in songwriting. Due to the unpredictable nature of the profession, songwriters need to be persistent and patient.
• They should be known that how to write lyrics, creating a melody, writing chords and how to write a song as a lead sheet.
• They should also know how to choose the song to demo as well as how to record a compelling demo.  

How to become a Songwriter?

One has to follow the given steps for becoming a Songwriter

Step 1 After passing their schooling candidates have to go for a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism or Communication or music related courses from a recognised college/university in the country. Candidates have to appear in entrance test in some of the reputed institutions for getting admission.

Degree Courses for Songwriter are:

• B.A. (Musicology)
• B.A. (Music Vocal)
• B.A. (Hons) (Instrumental Music)
• B.A. Hons (Music)

Step 2 Candidates can have a Master’s Degree after their graduation as at some of the places employers prefer it for offering jobs to them. This postgraduate course teaches them about all sounds of music in very details and other related aspects of it.  

Institutes offering Courses for Songwriter

• University of Delhi (DU) , Delhi
• University of Mumbai , Mumbai
• Goa University , Goa
• Visva Bharati University , Birbhum

Songwriter Job Description

• Songwriter job description includes writing and composing music for one specific instrument or a particular part of a song or composition.
• Songwriter work alone or with a team of professionals having a varying talent to compile a piece of work for a music recording company or a producer.
• Besides writing lyrics a songwriter job also included creating music and rhythm behind it.

Songwriter Career Prospects

There are many career options after completing courses in the very subjects. Songwriters usually gain exposure in the music industry by freelance writing for various music companies. They use these writing opportunities to gain contacts and connections in the industry and write music on the side.

Once they have written pieces they pitch it to producers, artists or record labels they have become familiar with to see what they think and if they are willing to purchase the song from them.

Songwriter Salary

The average salary of a Songwriter is ranging from Rs.6,00,000 to Rs.8,00,000 per year . Salaries are extremely variable in this field, as someone who works freelance will often make much less than someone who works exclusively for a record label.

As Freelance they also have the potential to make an excellent income, as they may have several artists they create music for who pay them a substantial amount of money per song. Here their earning depends on popularity and fame in the film industry.

Other Career Options

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Updated On: 16-Nov-2018

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Become A Better Songwriter: 7 Steps From Pro Writers

by Dean Fields March 25, 2024, 6:48 am

Who doesn’t want to write better songs? Whether you’re new to the craft, stuck in a rut of writing the same old stuff, or chasing that feeling that comes after we write a song that is better than anything we’ve ever written before, we’re all looking for ways to improve as songwriters.

Videos by American Songwriter

Here are some seven steps for how to become a better songwriter:

#1. Study Great Songs

Everyone has their “pull over on the side of the road songs.” You know…the songs that stop you in your tracks and require you to give them full attention because, well, they’re great.

If you want to write better songs, then you might want to spend some time thinking about and analyzing the songs that you define as great.

What makes them work? Listen and pay attention to the elements of songwriting that are at work in the song:

• Rhymes and rhyme scheme

Ask yourself what makes this a great song? Take notes.

Maybe the melody feels theatrical like “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk” by Rufus Wainwright .

Maybe the lyrics are a story like in “ Boy Named Sue ” by Johnny Cash , written by Shel Silverstein.

Maybe it is the hooky repetition of the words and melody like in “Bubbly” by Colbie Caillat .

Listen and identify as many of these things as possible and then, try to incorporate them into your own songwriting. All of these things can be tools you can add to your toolbox for the next time you set out to build a song.

#2. Find Inspiration & Song Ideas

Sometimes it can feel like we’re drawing from the same bucket of experiences. We need fresh ideas and new inspiration to get us excited to write.

A. Songwriting prompts

Songwriting Prompts are a great way to push yourself creatively. Use them to challenge yourself. Every week in the Membership Hub we tackle a new prompt. Sometimes we’re writing about our earliest memories. Sometimes we use a random combination of words that we have to work into our songs. We’ve even tried to write a love song without ever saying the word love.

Songwriting prompts are just a way to get the train moving on the tracks. You can always derail and choose another path if you feel your muse is pushing you elsewhere. The goal is to wake up your creativity. And prompts can send you in a surprising direction you may not have considered before.

B. Jot Down Your Ideas

Inspiration can strike anytime and anywhere:

Steve Earle wrote “ Copperhead Road ” after he heard a news story about a police raid on a 76 year old woman’s drug operation in the NC mountains.

The lyrics from “Walk This Way” came from members of Aerosmith watching “Young Frankenstein.”

When you have a song idea, write it down! Or, type it into the notes app of your phone. If it is a melody, hum it into your phone’s voice memo.

These ideas add up. And they can be your own personal treasure chest of ideas to mine when you sit down to write!

C. Look Around

You don’t always have to write from personal experiences.

At our Members-only Q&A Workshop, Sarah Siskind, whose songs have been covered by Alison Krauss and Bon Iver , shared tips on how to find song ideas outside of your own life – even at the grocery store:

Mark Evitts, songwriter and composer for the animated series “Frog and Toad” on Apple+, shared how he got his ideas from watching Frog walk:

3. Collaborate

Collaborating with other songwriters, producers, and musicians can bring new ideas and fresh perspectives. We all have different memories, backgrounds, education, instruments, methods, etc. When we collaborate we allow all of these differences to come out and play together.

Co-writing puts us in unique positions where we can explore new ideas and try new things. So many great songs would never have come to life without co-writing. The most famous songwriting duos being McCartney and Lennon and Bernie Taupin and Elton John . But also, consider these unique collabs:

• Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran on “Love Yourself”
• Public Enemy and Anthrax on “Bring the Noise”
• Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg on “California Gurls”

Sure, sometimes collaborating can feel like you’re making a peanut butter and sardine sandwich. But who knows, that might be delicious!

Co-writing can help you learn and grow as a songwriter. But it can also help create more opportunities for your songs.

Maia Sharp, songwriter with cuts by Bonnie Raitt and Cher , told us how co-writing took her from having “nothing going on” to having a publisher, record label, and a manager:

4. Experiment

Sometimes you can reach levels with your songwriting by simply throwing the rules out the window.

A. Experiment with Chords

Harlan Howard , legendary songwriter of “I Fall to Pieces” and “Busted,” is attributed to coining the phrase “Country music is 3 Chords and the Truth.” But, who says you have to use just 3 chords. Or, just the common C, G, and D chords? Mess around. Put different combinations of chords together and see what moves you.

B. Experiment with Melodies

The “blues note” didn’t make its way into popular music until jazz and blues musicians started employing it. And the Rolling Stones made a career out of using it!

Experiment with lots of notes like “ God Only Knows ” by the Beach Boys .

Or very few notes. The verse in “ Mr. Brightside ” is basically one note throughout!

C. Song Structure

Most pop songs stick with some combination of the song form Verse – Pre-Chorus – Chorus – Verse – Pre-Chorus – Chorus – Bridge – Chorus.

But if Queen had stuck with that form we wouldn’t have “Bohemian Rhapsody” . Or, if FUN hadn’t experimented with form we wouldn’t have “Some Nights.”

5. Edit & Revise

You may be closer than you think to writing better songs. Many great songs were not written in one sitting.

Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin wrote and rewrote “ The House That Built Me ” a couple of times before they landed on the version you hear Miranda Lambert singing.

Leonard Cohen is reported to have written 180 drafts of “ Hallelujah ” with 80 different verses!

If you want to write better songs, you may not have to look further than the songs you’ve already written.

The author George Saunders uses a technique when revising his novels and short stories in which he reads his drafts and takes notes of when his attention increases and decreases.

We can do this with our songs too. Try to listen to your song as a first time listener. Pay attention to the moments when the song loses your attention – even just a tiny bit. Then go back and try to revisit and edit those spots.

The fix could be any number of things:

• You might need more repetition to make it more memorable. 
• It might be a lyrical tweak. 
• It might be that the melody makes too much of a leap between the verse and chorus. 
• Or, you might just need a stronger, more impactful hook. 

All of these things are repairable. Becoming a better editor could be what is holding back your songs.

6. Trust Your Gut

It can be very helpful to consider feedback from others – your friends, family, publisher, etc. But sometimes the critical voices of others can cloud our songwriting process. Trust your intuition and your personal experiences. These are YOUR songs after all. Trust your gut and follow your muse where it wants to go.

One last tip to writing better songs: write songs!

Driver Williams, songwriter and guitarist for Eric Church , wrote songs on two of the biggest albums by Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen . Driver talked about the constant improvement that got him to where he is:

The more you write, the more opportunities you’re giving yourself to write something great. So, put some of these ideas into action and get started writing better songs.

About the Author

Dean Fields is a singer, and songwriter, as well as a mentor at American Songwriter. His songs have been No. 1 on the Texas radio charts, featured in film/tv and commercials, recorded by Lori McKenna, and produced by Garth Brooks. 

He is also director of American Songwriter’s dynamic Membership Hub where members get access to exclusive content, a community of songwriters, and the tools to take their songwriting to the next level.

BECOME A MEMBER!

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5 Fascinating Facts About R&B Giant Stevie Wonder

The Highwaymen Track Waylon Jennings Called “The Best Song I’d Ever Written”

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How to Be a Good Songwriter

Last Updated: June 18, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Tanisha Hall . Tanisha Hall is a Vocal Coach and the Founder and Executive Director of White Hall Arts Academy, Inc. an organization based in Los Angeles, California that offers a multi-level curriculum focused on fundamental skills, technique, composition, theory, artistry, and performance at a conservatory level. Ms. Hall's current and previous students include Galimatias, Sanai Victoria, Ant Clemons, and Paloma Ford. She earned a BA in Music from the Berklee College of Music in 1998 and was a recipient of the Music Business Management Achievement Award. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 16 testimonials and 93% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 141,058 times.

Have you always wanted to write that one beautiful song that never seems to come to you? Being a good songwriter is all about practice. You need to be humble enough to learn from the greats but confident enough in yourself to share your thoughts and melodies with the world. Being a good songwriter like being any other musician, requires practice, experimentation, and some study.

Writing a Song

• Freewrite for 5 minutes. Put the pen to paper and put on a timer, and don't ever stop writing until the timer is done. It doesn't matter what you say, just that you're saying something at all. When you're done, read over it and see if any lines or ideas stick out for a song.
• Improvise on your instrument, humming melodies or even blurting out lines, rhymes, and ideas. If one catches your fancy, follow it and see if it leads to a song.
• Review your old idea notebook and expand on one idea you like. If you have a collection of ideas, lines, and melodies somewhere, pull it up and review it for a few minutes. If you find an idea you like, spend a few minutes writing down every thought you can relate to that idea.

• Tack up different song titles or ideas on your wall. Each time you come up with a line or new part of the song, post it underneath the title, moving it around when necessary. [1] X Research source

• Many songs feature a "bridge," which is a short, new set of lyrics or melody between the chorus and melody.
• Songs off Bob Dylan's seminal album Blood on the Tracks" and Lupe Fiasco's song "Murals" both feature verses with no chorus or bridge, highlighting the wide-ranging ideas and songwriting talents of the artists. You don't need to follow any form if you don't want to.
• If you're an instrumentalist, where would you fit a solo, instrumental break, or change of melody? How, as a listener, are you pulled from section to section? [3] X Research source

• It is rare that the entire, finished idea will come to you at once. So keep improvising until you find something that clicks.

• After re-writing you want a nearly finished song structure. It will change as the song develops, but you want to get to a point where you could play the entire song at once and see how it sounds.

• James Brown developed the genre of funk at live shows when he noticed what songs, parts, and instruments people were dancing the most to. [5] X Research source

• Reverse the chords. If you love the verse melody but have no chorus, reverse the chords. What happens if you reverse half of them, or swap two out?
• Say it differently from your favorite song. Rappers like Jay-Z used to re-write their favorite songs, keeping the same structure but changing the words inside and rhymes, as a songwriting exercise. [6] X Research source
• Create contradictions. If you've got a slow, long chord melody, try using short, staccato phrase when you sing. If you've got a peppy, high-tempo song, try bringing down the energy in the bridge or breakdown. [7] X Research source
• Write with a partner. The most successful songwriting duo in history, Lennon/McCartney, had to be on to something.
• Drop your judgment and break some rules. The best artists know the rules so that they can break them. There is no "wrong" way to break a song, so listen to your own imagination and write what sounds good to you. [8] X Research source

Growing as a Songwriter

• Dedicate a notebook to music. Whenever you're out of inspiration, turn back to it and read a few pages -- what ideas stick out again?
• Famous singer-songwriter Tom Waits carries a tape recorder with him everywhere he goes, recording lines, melodies, and inspiration throughout the day and listening to it at the end of the week.

• Don't purge your ideas because you "don't think they'd make a good song." Just let your ideas flow without judgment -- you can decide if an idea isn't worth it when you're recording your album or writing a set list.
• No idea is too small to become a song. "99 Red Balloons" is about a Rolling Stones concert effect where they released balloons, for example. [11] X Research source
• "I think songwriting is the ultimate form of being able to make anything that happens in your life productive." --Taylor Swift [12] X Research source

• Note how Vampire Weekend's "Step" re-purposes several melody lines from Souls of Mischief's "Step to My Girl."
• Bob Dylan's famous, game-changing lyrics to "Blowin' in the Wind" is set to the old melody of "No More Auction Block."
• Hip-hop is built on sampling, homages, and borrowed clips. Sometimes it's obvious ("50 [Cent] told me go 'head mix the style up"], sometimes it's subtle ("there she goes again / the dopest Ethiopian").

• You don't have to play multiple instruments to be a songwriter, just something musical. Start playing an easy melody instrument like a piano or guitar to learn the guts of your music as you write

• “Life isn't a support-system for art. It's the other way around.” -- Stephen King [14] X Research source

Become a Song Writer with this Expert Series

Expert Q&A

• Write every single day if you want to become a great songwriter. Talent is only 10% of the equation -- hard work fills out the other 90%. Thanks Helpful 44 Not Helpful 3
• Let your emotions drive the song, whether it's happiness, anger, love, sadness or any other emotion. This will make the song more sincere and significant. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 0
• Let the song write itself. Sometimes you want the song to go one way, but it doesn't always go as you planned. Thanks Helpful 8 Not Helpful 0

• "Great artists steal" is a way to express the use of other ideas, structures, and melodies. It is not an excuse to claim an entire song as your own, as this is not only illegal, it will not make you a good songwriter. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 1

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan99/articles/20tips.458.htm
• ↑ http://www.musicradar.com/tuition/tech/how-to-write-a-hit-structure-542126
• ↑ Tanisha Hall. Vocal Coach. Expert Interview. 27 March 2020.
• ↑ http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/07/25-great-songwriters-on-the-art-of-songwriting/259594/#slide11
• ↑ http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/top-10-rules-for-better-songwriting.html
• ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/artsandculture/7949677/The-Beatles-in-Hamburg-50-years-on-from-the-bands-first-concert.html
• ↑ http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2511
• ↑ http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/taylorswif579487.html#R3wvsCgjmCTjqegI.99
• ↑ http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/actors-directors/5-stephen-king-quotes-every-writer-should-heed/

About This Article

To be a good songwriter, get started by freewriting to let your creativity take over. Set a timer for 5 minutes and just write whatever comes to your mind. After you’re done warming up, see if any ideas leap out at you that are worth developing into your song. Take one of these ideas and turn it into lyrics that make sense to you. As you write, don’t get caught up in trying to follow an exact structure because it’s more important to get your lyrics down first, then you can play with the order and style later. For example, if the chorus comes to you before the intro, verses or ending of the song, just go with the flow and write it first, letting the rest of the song come to you as it feels right. For more tips, including how to find inspiration for your songs, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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What can I do to become a better songwriter then I already am?

I’ve been writing since I was 9 years old I’m now 25 & well I’m pretty good at it, I haven’t released as much music as I should, but my first song alone got me noticed by a Major Label, I write a good 20+ songs a week, but here’s the problem…

I excel, extraordinarily (according to other people) at Melody’s, I’m somebody who can come up with the most intricate, memorable Melody’s but my lyrics are kinda generic , I tend to write about the same things, use the same words, despite me believing that there’s nothing more important in a song than the “Melody”

You can have an average beat, average voice, average lyrics but if the melody is amazing it doesn’t matter!

Regardless, I want to become a better writer, I need to become a better writer, what are some techniques? Practices? Lessons? That I can look into to strengthen the weakest side of my music?