We get lots of questions here in “town” that relate to the economics of songwriting. I’m going to try to break down some of the basics and help explain WHY things work the way they do. Let’s start with song splits. In my world, we always split the song equally among every writer in the room with the exception of bands...

I’ve had people come up to me and introduce themselves in a setting where I suspected that they were also songwriters. When I ask if they are writers they say, “Not a real writer – I’ve never had anything recorded”. That always breaks my heart. I believe that commercial success does not make one a writer any more than donating to...

  Even those who have written thousands of songs could benefit from reviewing the basics of what a beginning writer does when writing their first song. Every now and then, someone joins SongTown who is just trying to learn how to write that first song - to turn their own feelings and experiences into music that other people can connect...

Multi #1 songwriter Clay Mills talks about the importance of creating both rhythmic & melodic "hooks" for verses when writing songs.

All part of the weekly lesson series for members at SongTown.

  I believe that it’s never too late to be what you might have been. I was in my mid thirties when I started trying to write professionally. A friend of mine just landed a starring role (Her first) in a movie with some HUGE actors at age 49. I know someone entering medical school at age 52. Age is just...

  Throughout my 20 years as a professional songwriter, I’ve noticed there isn't always a large difference in talent level among creative people. Why, then do some songwriters seem to have an over abundance of fans buying their music while others struggle to sell the first song? The answer is there is not a huge difference in skill most writers pocess, but there is a...