Does Songwriting Have An Expiration Date?

Does Songwriting have an expiration date?

I might just as well ask if songwriters have an expiration date. I coach songwriters all over the world, of all levels and all ages. I’m seeing a surge of writers coming to me for coaching who are coming back to a love of writing they may have put on the shelf for years. Maybe it was the need to focus on work or family. Whatever the reason most put their dream on hold. In some cases Covid provided more time and more focus on being creative and that’s bringing them out.

I love coaching these writers because most are realistic. They know they aren’t about to get a record deal, probably not a major publishing deal either. They just want to do something they connect to and do it well. They are usually smart enough to know they want to learn from someone with experience and there are even those who feel they need to really dig in now because well…there might be less time in front of them than behind them at this juncture.

This is not to suggest that songwriting is for the young. Songwriting is not the music business. Songwriting is the business of being creative. You’re never too old to learn, practice and …dream. There are some attainable goals for this age group. Sync (for example, getting songs in TV, movies and commercials) is something they can aspire to learn more about, even single song deals for something unique enough to interest a publisher. Is a publisher going to make a long term investment in a songwriter of a certain age? Doubtful but again, writing something undeniable and doing everything you can to get it heard can lead to some interesting opportunities. 

I’ll be honest, it’s different for me in a way. I’ve made a career and life in music since I was a teenager but as the years moved along I’ve had to make some realistic changes not only to change with the business side but to acknowledge my own changing passions. In this way I’m not so different from my songwriting clients. I’m looking out for new, realistic attainable goals and new ways to be creative. Am I gonna go in search of an artist deal? Been there but it was in my youth. Seek out a major publishing deal? Nope. Been there too and not where my energy and passion lie at this stage. So I look for new challenges just like the older songwriters I’m working with. I guess the difference is they are returning to a first love while I’m looking for the next one.

In the meantime I can teach, mentor and even write books and these are more recent passions. Wisdom never goes out of style and neither does the act and pure joy of writing a song. Whatever age you are, go for it. As long as you keep it fresh, songwriting has no expiration date, trust me.

Mark Cawley

Nashville, Tennessee

Image: Shutterstock

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I'm currently coaching writers worldwide, online, one on one and taking new clients for the Summer. Visit my website for more info www.idocoach.com or write to me at mark@idocoach.com

Mark Cawley iDoCoach.com

Mark Cawley is a hit songwriter, best-selling author, in demand speaker, songwriting coach, and popular blogger. As a songwriter his songs have been on more than 16 million records to date with cuts ranging from Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross to Wynonna Judd, Taylor Dayne, Paul Carrack, The Spice Girls and many more. Through his coaching service iDoCoach.com, he has coached thousands of songwriters worldwide.

His book, Song Journey, was released in April 2019 and went to #1 in 6 categories on Amazon. Mark is a past 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, InTune Magazine, Songwriter Magazine, a sponsor for the Australian Songwriting Association, and a past mentor for The Songwriting Academy UK. Born in Syracuse, New York, Mark has lived in Boston, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and London. Mark now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. The Daily Song Journal is his second book.

 Here is a link to “ The Daily Song Journal” on Amazon

You can also find Song Journey on Amazon.