10 "NEED TO KNOWS" FOR SONGWRITERS
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Song Journey
The following is adapted from my book “ Song Journey”.
Knowledge is power, and it’s easier than ever to get. But for whatever reason, most songwriters (myself included in the early years) put all their energy into the creative process and view the business as a necessary evil or something that will take care of itself
The following ten statements are things I’ve heard from prospective coaching clients that go a long way to illustrating my point of needing to understand the world you’re in to function well.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking the statements or questions I get from writers. I just don’t want them (or you) to be uninformed when the information is out there. I learned so much of what I know about songwriting the hard way; you don’t have to.”
These 10 statements /questions are in bold with my response in italic.
I’m hoping to sell my songs.
You don’t “sell” songs. You hope to get them published and keep the writer’s share at the very least. Fight for your publishing rights.
2 Someone offered to demo my song for $2,500 and get it to some people in the business.
Run—fast.
3 I’m looking for a $75,000–$100,000 job as a staff writer. Will relocate to Nashville if I need to.
Me too! Doesn’t exist these days. Deals are just different.
4 My songs are better than 99 percent of the crap on the radio.
Really? You’re still writing for a listener in the end, the person in the car. Find out how to reach them.
5 I don’t believe in rewriting. Either the muse brings an idea fully developed, or it’s not worth it.
How many songs have you written? How many have been cut? Rewriting is hard, but it’s one thing that can separate the wannabes from the pros.
6 You can’t teach writing, but I’m willing to give you a shot. (I love this one.)
I disagree, but I understand the point. You can give someone tools and expertise. What they do with it is the deal. Information into inspiration.
7 I don’t know why I haven’t received any royalties on the CD that I sell at my shows.
Google ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC and find out how money is made from songwriting. If you aren’t registered with one of those, you won’t be making any money from songwriting. Understand performance and mechanical royalties, self-publishing, Harry Fox, and more.
8 I’m only interested in co-writing if I can “write up.”
Get really good at what you do. Network, play nice, and hope you get the shot to show what
you can do. Pray that “write up” writer needs a boost from what you got.
9 Networking is for nerds; the song should speak for itself.
The song can’t speak for itself if no one hears it.
10 Music, intellectual property, and expertise should be free.
Do you go to your doctor for free? Do you hire plumbers and electricians for free? Get your car repaired for free? Cable? Entertainment? Of course, you don’t. Why on earth should music and something that someone’s created through their hard work and expertise be free?
All of these responses are just my own opinion, some open to a healthy debate. No matter how you view these I hope you always seek out answers in the form of wisdom and experience.
Mark Cawley
Nashville, Tennessee
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Check out this interview in M Music and Musicians Magazine for stories behind a few of my songs!
you can find Song Journey on Amazon.
Mark Cawley idocoach.com
Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter who coaches other writers around the globe through his one-on-one, online service iDocoach.com. His songs have been on more than 16 million records with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker to Wynonna Judd and Paul Carrack to The Spice Girls and many more. His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Nashville Rising Star, Belmont University’s Commercial Music program, and West Coast Songwriter events. He’s also a contributing author to USA Songwriting, In Tune Magazine, and Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
