3 answers
Tom
Student
New Rochelle, New York
1
Question
Asked
340 views
How to be a professional song writer?
It takes a long journey to be a professional song writer and they are a lot of song writer in the world like Drake and others
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3 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1746
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Tom !
Do you want a career as a song writer ? Most song writers have several other income producing work and do not obtain their income solely by writing songs. I see by your tags that you have other career interests in the general field of writing.
All you need to do to be a songwriter and get paid for it is to write songs and submit them for production. It looks like you are close enough to interact with New York City. Do you want to write songs that you sing or do you want to write songs for others to sing ? This career is very specific and cannot be generalized because too many conditions come into play.
You will have to learn about all genres of music if you want to make a living selling songs that you write for other people. You will then have to make a demo of you singing the songs so that you can pitch singers, producers, bands, and record labels. It's a lot of work but well worth it if your heart is in it. I have left some places that you can submit your demos to when you are ready. There may be a lot more than the ones I've referred you to so you can do further research online and discover more. Also do a search for recording companies and labels in Westchester County.
The road to success for this career is versatility, education, networking and having a great full time job that you love. Best wishes to you in all you do !
RECORD LABEL COMPANIES IN NEW YORK CITY https://www.musicindustryhowto.com/record-labels-nyc/
INDEPENDENT RECORD LABEL IN NEW YORK - TRIBECA RECORDS https://sohojohnny.com/tribeca-records
Do you want a career as a song writer ? Most song writers have several other income producing work and do not obtain their income solely by writing songs. I see by your tags that you have other career interests in the general field of writing.
All you need to do to be a songwriter and get paid for it is to write songs and submit them for production. It looks like you are close enough to interact with New York City. Do you want to write songs that you sing or do you want to write songs for others to sing ? This career is very specific and cannot be generalized because too many conditions come into play.
You will have to learn about all genres of music if you want to make a living selling songs that you write for other people. You will then have to make a demo of you singing the songs so that you can pitch singers, producers, bands, and record labels. It's a lot of work but well worth it if your heart is in it. I have left some places that you can submit your demos to when you are ready. There may be a lot more than the ones I've referred you to so you can do further research online and discover more. Also do a search for recording companies and labels in Westchester County.
The road to success for this career is versatility, education, networking and having a great full time job that you love. Best wishes to you in all you do !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
388
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Tom,
Good question! Becoming a professional songwriter is a journey that involves honing your craft, building connections, and understanding the music industry. Here’s a roadmap to get started:
1. Develop Your Songwriting Skills
- Practice writing regularly: Like any creative skill, songwriting improves with consistent practice. Write lyrics, melodies, and experiment with different styles.
- Learn music theory: Understanding how music works can improve your ability to craft more compelling songs. This includes chords, melodies, rhythms, and structure.
- Study great songwriters: Analyze the work of famous songwriters like Drake, Taylor Swift, and Bob Dylan. Pay attention to their lyrics, themes, and how they connect with listeners.
2. Find Your Unique Voice
- Experiment with different genres: Don’t be afraid to write across genres like pop, hip-hop, rock, or country to discover your strengths.
- Be authentic: Audiences connect to honesty, so focus on writing from your own experiences or emotions.
- Create hooks: Great songs often have catchy hooks that stick with listeners. Practice writing memorable lines and melodies.
3. Collaborate with Other Musicians
- Co-write songs: Many successful songwriters collaborate with others. This helps develop new ideas and improve your craft.
- Network: Attend songwriting workshops, open mics, or local music events to connect with other musicians, producers, and industry professionals.
4. Understand the Music Business
- Learn about music publishing: As a songwriter, it’s crucial to understand how royalties work. This includes performance, mechanical, and synchronization royalties.
- Sign up with a performing rights organization (PRO): Organizations like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC collect royalties for songwriters. Registering your songs ensures you get paid when your work is used.
- Pitch your songs: Submit your music to publishers, record labels, or artists looking for new material.
5. Build a Portfolio and Brand
- Record demos: Create high-quality recordings of your songs to showcase your talent. You can use these demos to pitch your work to potential clients.
- Create a strong online presence: Share your music on platforms like SoundCloud, YouTube, and social media. This can help build your audience and attract collaborators.
- Promote your work: Use platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok to connect with industry professionals and fans.
6. Be Persistent
- Face rejection: The music industry is competitive, so expect setbacks. Learn from feedback, and keep improving.
- Stay consistent: Songwriting is a long-term career. Many successful songwriters, like Drake, spent years refining their craft and building industry connections before gaining widespread recognition.
Remember: Becoming a professional songwriter is a journey, not a destination. Stay dedicated, continue learning, and enjoy the process.
Best wishes!
Good question! Becoming a professional songwriter is a journey that involves honing your craft, building connections, and understanding the music industry. Here’s a roadmap to get started:
1. Develop Your Songwriting Skills
- Practice writing regularly: Like any creative skill, songwriting improves with consistent practice. Write lyrics, melodies, and experiment with different styles.
- Learn music theory: Understanding how music works can improve your ability to craft more compelling songs. This includes chords, melodies, rhythms, and structure.
- Study great songwriters: Analyze the work of famous songwriters like Drake, Taylor Swift, and Bob Dylan. Pay attention to their lyrics, themes, and how they connect with listeners.
2. Find Your Unique Voice
- Experiment with different genres: Don’t be afraid to write across genres like pop, hip-hop, rock, or country to discover your strengths.
- Be authentic: Audiences connect to honesty, so focus on writing from your own experiences or emotions.
- Create hooks: Great songs often have catchy hooks that stick with listeners. Practice writing memorable lines and melodies.
3. Collaborate with Other Musicians
- Co-write songs: Many successful songwriters collaborate with others. This helps develop new ideas and improve your craft.
- Network: Attend songwriting workshops, open mics, or local music events to connect with other musicians, producers, and industry professionals.
4. Understand the Music Business
- Learn about music publishing: As a songwriter, it’s crucial to understand how royalties work. This includes performance, mechanical, and synchronization royalties.
- Sign up with a performing rights organization (PRO): Organizations like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC collect royalties for songwriters. Registering your songs ensures you get paid when your work is used.
- Pitch your songs: Submit your music to publishers, record labels, or artists looking for new material.
5. Build a Portfolio and Brand
- Record demos: Create high-quality recordings of your songs to showcase your talent. You can use these demos to pitch your work to potential clients.
- Create a strong online presence: Share your music on platforms like SoundCloud, YouTube, and social media. This can help build your audience and attract collaborators.
- Promote your work: Use platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok to connect with industry professionals and fans.
6. Be Persistent
- Face rejection: The music industry is competitive, so expect setbacks. Learn from feedback, and keep improving.
- Stay consistent: Songwriting is a long-term career. Many successful songwriters, like Drake, spent years refining their craft and building industry connections before gaining widespread recognition.
Remember: Becoming a professional songwriter is a journey, not a destination. Stay dedicated, continue learning, and enjoy the process.
Best wishes!
Hakeem Ola Saka
Freelancer
40
Answers
Maryland Heights, Missouri
Updated
Hakeem Ola’s Answer
1. Develop Your Songwriting Skills
Study Music Theory: Understand chord progressions, scales, and melody structures to create appealing music.
Write Regularly: The more you practice, the better you become. Write every day, even if it’s just short phrases or melodies.
Analyze Popular Songs: Listen to successful songs across genres to understand their structure, lyrics, and hooks.
Focus on Lyrics and Melody: Lyrics should connect emotionally, while the melody should be memorable. Experiment with different lyrical themes and melodic patterns.
2. Learn Different Genres
Be versatile by exploring various musical styles (pop, rock, country, R&B, etc.). This expands your potential audience and collaboration opportunities.
3. Master Song Structure
Familiarize yourself with common song structures like verse-chorus-bridge, and how to craft catchy hooks. Most hit songs follow a structured format, and knowing these patterns will improve your marketability.
4. Collaborate with Other Musicians
Networking is key. Work with other songwriters, producers, and artists. Co-writing can teach you new techniques and get you noticed.
Attend local music events, songwriting workshops, or join online songwriting communities to meet collaborators.
5. Build a Portfolio
Create a catalog of your best songs. Record demo versions, even if it's just a simple acoustic guitar or piano version. You need a collection of songs that showcase your range and abilities.
Consider posting your work on platforms like SoundCloud, YouTube, or social media to gain exposure.
6. Learn Music Production Basics
Knowing how to use DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) like Logic Pro, Ableton, or GarageBand can help you record and produce demos at home. This makes your music sound professional, which can impress industry professionals.
7. Understand the Music Business
Research how royalties work (mechanical, performance, sync licensing). Join a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC to collect royalties on your songs.
Learn about contracts and publishing deals. Many songwriters work with music publishers who help pitch songs to artists and labels in exchange for a share of royalties.
8. Pitch Your Songs
Reach out to music publishers, labels, and artists. Many successful songwriters regularly pitch their songs to labels or managers to get them recorded by well-known artists.
Submit songs for licensing opportunities in TV, film, or commercials, as these can be great sources of income and exposure.
9. Be Persistent and Open to Feedback
The music industry is competitive, so rejections are common. Keep refining your craft, take feedback seriously, and continue to improve.
Build resilience, and don’t be afraid to rewrite or rework songs based on feedback.
10. Network in the Industry
Attend industry events like songwriting workshops, music festivals, and conferences (e.g., ASCAP Expo). Building relationships with industry professionals can lead to opportunities.
Use social media to connect with other songwriters, producers, and musicians in the industry.
11. Consider Representation
As you gain traction, a music manager, publisher, or agent can help you navigate the business side and secure songwriting gigs or placements for your songs.
12. Stay Creative and Inspired
Keep exploring new sources of inspiration. Travel, read, or immerse yourself in new experiences to fuel your creativity.
By focusing on honing your songwriting craft, understanding the music business, and building a network, you’ll increase your chances of becoming a successful professional songwriter.
Study Music Theory: Understand chord progressions, scales, and melody structures to create appealing music.
Write Regularly: The more you practice, the better you become. Write every day, even if it’s just short phrases or melodies.
Analyze Popular Songs: Listen to successful songs across genres to understand their structure, lyrics, and hooks.
Focus on Lyrics and Melody: Lyrics should connect emotionally, while the melody should be memorable. Experiment with different lyrical themes and melodic patterns.
2. Learn Different Genres
Be versatile by exploring various musical styles (pop, rock, country, R&B, etc.). This expands your potential audience and collaboration opportunities.
3. Master Song Structure
Familiarize yourself with common song structures like verse-chorus-bridge, and how to craft catchy hooks. Most hit songs follow a structured format, and knowing these patterns will improve your marketability.
4. Collaborate with Other Musicians
Networking is key. Work with other songwriters, producers, and artists. Co-writing can teach you new techniques and get you noticed.
Attend local music events, songwriting workshops, or join online songwriting communities to meet collaborators.
5. Build a Portfolio
Create a catalog of your best songs. Record demo versions, even if it's just a simple acoustic guitar or piano version. You need a collection of songs that showcase your range and abilities.
Consider posting your work on platforms like SoundCloud, YouTube, or social media to gain exposure.
6. Learn Music Production Basics
Knowing how to use DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) like Logic Pro, Ableton, or GarageBand can help you record and produce demos at home. This makes your music sound professional, which can impress industry professionals.
7. Understand the Music Business
Research how royalties work (mechanical, performance, sync licensing). Join a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC to collect royalties on your songs.
Learn about contracts and publishing deals. Many songwriters work with music publishers who help pitch songs to artists and labels in exchange for a share of royalties.
8. Pitch Your Songs
Reach out to music publishers, labels, and artists. Many successful songwriters regularly pitch their songs to labels or managers to get them recorded by well-known artists.
Submit songs for licensing opportunities in TV, film, or commercials, as these can be great sources of income and exposure.
9. Be Persistent and Open to Feedback
The music industry is competitive, so rejections are common. Keep refining your craft, take feedback seriously, and continue to improve.
Build resilience, and don’t be afraid to rewrite or rework songs based on feedback.
10. Network in the Industry
Attend industry events like songwriting workshops, music festivals, and conferences (e.g., ASCAP Expo). Building relationships with industry professionals can lead to opportunities.
Use social media to connect with other songwriters, producers, and musicians in the industry.
11. Consider Representation
As you gain traction, a music manager, publisher, or agent can help you navigate the business side and secure songwriting gigs or placements for your songs.
12. Stay Creative and Inspired
Keep exploring new sources of inspiration. Travel, read, or immerse yourself in new experiences to fuel your creativity.
By focusing on honing your songwriting craft, understanding the music business, and building a network, you’ll increase your chances of becoming a successful professional songwriter.