Songwriting Economics 101 – Why Won’t A Signed Staff Writer Write With Me?
We get the question all the time “Why won’t a signed staff songwriter write with me?” Most people are surprised to find out that the answer is economic and not personal in nature. Here are the economics of why staff writer’s are hesitant to write with unsigned writers: 1) Other unsigned writers who have gone…
Read MoreSongwriters: Are You Thinking Like An Artist?
If you are trying to write songs to pitch to artists, then you MUST learn to think like an artist. Here are questions that artists ask when they choose songs. They are also questions I ask myself as I’m writing to make sure I’m writing something an artist would want to say. 1) How does…
Read MoreHow To Pitch Your Songs Wisely or Don’t Be That Guy
One of the biggest mistakes I see rising songwriters make is pitching songs improperly. So, I wanted to give you some guidelines to help YOU pitch songs wisely and to not be that guy/girl that burns bridges by pitching the wrong way. Here are some things to consider when pitching. Follow instructions carefully. If they…
Read MoreSix ways to make your songwriting more commercial instantly.
1) Write a better first line. Interesting first lines grab the listener and make them want to hear more. They can be the difference in an artist or A&R person listening all the way through or passing on your song right away. 2) Make your chorus bigger. A chorus that leaps out of the speakers…
Read MoreReal Vs. Perfect – Do Yourself And Your Songwriting A Favor
When I saw this sign, it immediately struck a chord with me. Sometimes I’m very hard on myself. I expect myself to write a hit song every time out. I expect great blogs that move people every time I sit at the computer. I want to be the perfect husband, father and friend. The older…
Read MoreA Songwriter’s #1 Weapon: Do Something Real
One time, I was playing a songwriter show in Las Vegas and had one of the funniest, yet most profound experiences of my musical life. After the show, the hotel’s entertainment booking person wanted to have an “after party” with all of the writers who played and some of her special guests. So, after the…
Read MoreIs The Music Biz Trying To Keep You Out?
I can’t count the number of times songwriters have complained to me that the music business was trying to keep them out. These writers believe that the people already in the music business spend their time devising ways to prevent newcomers from breaking into the business. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact,…
Read More5 Qualities Of A Bad Songwriting Co-Writer
Bad Cowriters Through the years, I have collected a list of qualities that make someone a bad co-writer. If you want to succeed as a co-writer, don’t be this guy (or girl). Comes to the writing session unprepared. I don’t know how many times I have heard a co-writer say “I’ve been writing a lot and I’ve got nothing…
Read MoreWhat Songwriters Should Know About The Music Business
One of the biggest factors that keeps songwriters from succeeding in the music business is that they overlook the fact that it’s a business. So many times, I hear songwriters say things like “My songs are better than the ones on the radio” or “I just can’t get anyone to listen to my songs.” When…
Read MoreHow Songwriting Changed My Life
I had a few minutes alone in the quiet the other morning and I started thinking about all of the different ways songwriting has changed my life. Some of those changes are the result of being successful as a songwriter, but the biggest, most profound changes are ones that were simply the result of writing…
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