5 Things Hit Songwriters Never Say

Based on my experience, here are things hit songwriters never say. If you find yourself saying them, you might ponder on that for a moment.

“My songs are better than the ones on the radio”.

We know that if our songs really ARE better than the ones on the radio, then they WILL be on the radio soon.

“People just don’t GET my music”.

If people don’t get my music, then I’m not writing commercial songs, by the very definition of the term. Commercial songs connect to large groups of people. If people don’t get my music, I’m probably not writing very good songs either.

“The system is stacked against me”.

EVERY system is stacked against you if you are new and trying to break in. I’ve known friends with a law degree that took more than two years to land a job as a lawyer. It’s hard to break into ANY new business. The key is networking and learning the business. If you behave professionally and are talented, you will eventually find your way in.

“I have writer’s block”.

Pros can’t afford writers block. We have to learn to be “on” every day, or nearly every day at the least. We learn to make the “muse” work for us, not the other way around.

 “I’m just so NOT Nashville (or LA or NYC)”.

If you are making excuses like this, you probably need to move. It’s not about what you’re NOT. It’s about what you are. Find a place where what you ARE fits in instead of talking about what you are not. If you can’t find that place, then you aren’t writing commercially.

Write On! ~MD