Songwriters: Each Part Of A Song Lyric Has A Job
The Basics Of Lyric Writing… For those who are new to songwriting or for those who just want to remind themselves of the fundamentals, here are some of the basics of songwriting. Intro The instrumental piece that starts the song and sets the musical tone for the song. This piece establishes the groove or feel…
Read More5 Music Business Mistakes To Avoid
Over the years, I have made a lot of mistakes that hurt my career chances in the music business. And, I’ve observed a lot of people crashing and burning because of miscalculations in their own music efforts. So, I thought I’d write about 5 of the big ones as a cautionary tale for those of…
Read MoreSongwriting Success: What Does It Really Take?
8 Things I Learned About Life From Legendary Songwriter Kim Williams
Last week, I posted ten things I learned from my mentor and friend, songwriter Kim Williams, who passed away. Most of that list was about songwriting. I was thinking about all of the LIFE lessons I learned from him as well. Some of them overlap, but I thought I’d share some of those life lessons…
Read More3 Questions To Ask An Artist In A Co-Write: Don’t Blow Your Songwriting Chance!
If you get a chance to co-write with an artist, there are some key questions you can ask that will give you a better shot at getting a cut on their record. Those opportunities are valuable, so be sure to ask these questions before you start writing! What’s been going on with you? I always…
Read MoreHow To Break Out Of Your Songwriting Rut And Feel Inspired Again
Do you feel like your melodies are dated? Are you in a creative rut? It happens to us all. We start rolling and write a bunch of songs we really love, and then one day we wake up and everything starts sounding the same. Every new idea we create seems familiar. And worse, those ideas…
Read MoreThis Ain’t Your Grandma’s Songwriting Scam – Writers Beware!
This past weekend, I was going through some old files. I found the document pictured here in a folder of papers that I took from my dad’s house after he passed away. My grandmother “Irene” was the first person to ever really encourage me to pursue writing. She would send me blank notebooks that I…
Read MoreThe (Reality) Check Is In The Mail
Money-the big green elephant in the music business living room. There are many reasons we don’t like to talk about it. Some of us feel that putting a price on our art cheapens its value, or implies that we’re in this for the wrong reasons. Some of us attend the school of Faking It Til…
Read MoreMaking The Most of Your Songwriting Trip To Nashville (Or LA Or New York)
People ask me all the time how they can get the most “bang for their buck” when they visit a music center. So, I thought I would write a post about what I recommend when people are planning a trip to Nashville. The principles apply if you are visiting any other music center. Here is…
Read MoreSongwriters: How To Find Better Co-Writers
Finding the perfect co-writer can turn Elton John into a superstar. It can turn Burt Bacharach into Bacharach/David. But, how do you find the perfect person to collaborate with and make musical magic. For most of us, it involves kissing a lot of frogs before we find the prince. But, that’s not a bad thing.…
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