Professional songwriters write songs for other artists, for themselves, and for sync. It is a craft and a business, with its own working methods, etiquette and economics. The Songwriting module covers the craft; this chapter covers the profession.
How the industry works
- Artists need songs - many do not write all of their own material, and most co-write.
- Labels and A&R look for songs that suit their artists' next releases.
- Publishers sign writers, arrange sessions, pitch songs and collect royalties.
- Writers make income mainly from publishing: performance and mechanical royalties, and sync fees.
Sessions and co-writing
Most commercial songs are written in sessions, often with two to four writers: a producer making the track, a topliner writing melody and lyrics, and sometimes the artist.
- Prepare - titles, concepts, lyric ideas, voice memos.
- Be generous - say yes to ideas, then refine. Shooting down ideas kills sessions.
- Serve the artist - if writing with or for an artist, the song must suit their voice, story and brand.
- Finish the song in the session if possible, with at least a demo vocal.
Writing camps
Publishers and labels run writing camps: several days with many writers and producers rotating through sessions, usually aimed at a specific artist or project. Intense, productive, and a great way to build relationships.
Splits etiquette
Agree splits at the end of every session, in writing. A common convention is to split equally among everyone in the room who contributed, regardless of who wrote which line - it avoids arguments and keeps sessions creative. Whatever you agree, write it down with each writer's PRO and publisher details.
Pitching
- Publishers and managers pitch songs to A&R, artists and producers.
- A hold - an artist or label asks to hold a song while they consider it. Holds do not guarantee anything.
- A cut - the artist records and releases the song. The goal.
Pitching is a numbers game; most songs never get cut. Writing many songs, and building relationships with the people who choose them, is how professional writers succeed.
Demos
Demos for pitching usually need to sound close to finished records, with a strong vocal. A great song with a poor demo is easily overlooked.
Writing for sync
Songs written for sync are often:
- Lyrically universal - themes that fit many scenes.
- Structured for editing - clear sections, strong endings.
- Available with instrumental and stem versions.
- Easy to clear - ideally with one or two writers and a single master owner.
Building a career
- Write constantly and finish songs.
- Build relationships with producers, artists, A&R and publishers.
- Register everything with your PRO.
- Track your songs, holds, cuts and income.
- Keep improving: study hits, get feedback, and co-write with people better than you.
Do this now
- Write a session prep sheet: five titles, three concepts and two lyric ideas.
- Create a split sheet template with writer names, shares, PROs and publishers.
- Pick an artist and write a song specifically for their voice and audience.