7 Secrets Of Successful
Songwriters
What does it take to succeed in the music business today, and why do some songwriters achieve
chart success when some equally good songwriters don’t?
There are millions of songwriters around the world writing songs every day and that’s a LOT of
competition.
So what does it take to be successful in a hugely overcrowded marketplace?
First of all you have to think of it like any other business. And that’s the key word.
Business.
If you treat it like a hobby that’s all it will ever be!
But if you follow these seven simple approaches of hit songwriters, your chances of success will
improve massively.
My name is Martin Sutton and I’m a multi-platinum selling songwriter, producer and the founder of
Songwriting Academy.
I started out as a street busker with no musical training, and I still can’t read music, but I’ve sold
over 9 million records in 50 countries, for artists including The Backstreet Boys, LeAnn Rimes,
Celine Dion and X-Factor, Idol and The Voice winners around the world.
I’ve worked with some of the most successful songwriters in the business and I’m about to show
you 7 secrets they share. I hope this helps you with your songwriting!
7. Attitude
Hit songwriters all approach songwriting with a workplace attitude.
That means scheduling time in your diary for writing sessions even if you are writing by yourself.
Don’t have the TV on in the background and don’t allow yourself to be distracted by anything
whilst you are working. This is YOUR songwriting time.
Remember, any one song you write in a session could be the one that becomes a global hit, so
give your writing time the respect and attention it deserves.
You’re not waiting around for inspiration to strike, you’re looking for it!
The best songwriters in the world know that even when they’re not in the mood to write songs,
just the habit of setting time aside, and trying out new lyrical themes, new ideas for songs, will lead
to chart-topping hits over time.
6. Quality of Product
James Dyson went through 5,127 prototypes before he finally landed on the vacuum cleaner design
that helped him become a super-millionaire.
Thomas Edison experimented over a thousand times before he figured out the right materials for a
practical electric bulb.
“I Can’t Make You Love Me” was rewritten countless times by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin before
it became one of the most iconic love songs of all time.
So why do so many songwriters feel awkward about going back and editing/improving a song they
have written?
How else is it going to be the very best it can be?
If you want the public to be consumers of your product then you need the same level of
determination and courage as James Dyson to revisit your song as many times as necessary to
make it the very best it can be. Just hopefully not 5,127 times!
Be absolutely sure you are offering the public, not just your family and friends, something they will
get excited about and want to spend money on.
Every successful songwriter I’ve worked with has the desire to make each and every song an
undeniable hit, and will do whatever it takes make it one, no matter how many re-writes!
5. Great Demos
With so many high quality home studio set-ups available, the quality of demos has risen
dramatically. As such, your demos need to sound as close to the finished product as possible.
You’ll never have a record company executive react as positively to a low-quality how demo
compared to a proper full production.
If you don’t have your own studio, work with writers who do, or employ a demo producer to give
your song a fighting chance when it’s played to a record label.
While you don’t need to be a Grammy-winning producer, being able to produce a decent home
demo that’s near professional studio quality will help you open many more doors than just having
great songs.
So while writing great songs is what makes someone a successful songwriter, if no one is listening
past 5 seconds because the demo is scratchy, muddy, or just poorly produced - your songs will
never leave your bedroom.
4. Education
Most businesses send their employees on training courses regularly during their employment
because they know they will get a return on their investment.
Why?
Well, learning and development not only provides all the relevant skills for success, but it also
promotes confidence and self-motivation.
And I know many hit songwriters around the world and they all have one thing in common:
They know they don’t know everything!
Successful songwriters have a hunger to constantly learn more about the craft of songwriting, new
and different genres of music and the ever- changing business, even though they’re already
successful! They are always open to new techniques, skills and challenges.
And that’s how they keep getting songs in the charts.
If you think you know everything you need to know as a songwriter, you may as well put
your pen down now!
Learn everything you can about your craft and your business and you will be one step ahead of the
writer who doesn’t.
3. Taking Care Of Business
Elvis named his band the TCB band and had jewellery designed with the TCB logo. This was a
constant reminder that “Taking Care of Business” was important to achieve success and to keep
achieving success.
I have met so many aspiring writers who spend time and money recording a song they truly believe
in, play it to friends and family or at a few gigs, then wonder why it hasn’t sold very well.
Then they get frustrated and cynical about the business, bitter about the songs they hear in the
charts that they feel aren’t anywhere near as good as theirs, and end up feeling like it’s never going
to happen for them.
I was one of those writers.
The moment I started treating my songs like valuable business products was the moment my fortunes
started changing.
Just like any product, once you have passed the “manufacturing” stage, and you’re sure your song is
as good as it can be, you have to do what every other business in the world does.
Sell it!
To sell your song, it’s important to learn who is who in the music business, (and be aware that can
change on a weekly basis).You need to find out what managers, publishers and record labels
actually do, what their process is for choosing songs and/or artists, and how to get a meeting with
them!
You also need to know how and when you get paid and how much to expect from each source of
revenue.
And make sure you find out all the different ways you can make money from your music, and
believe me there are many more than you might imagine.
2. Networking
In a world where there are millions of songwriters, be sure of one thing:
No one is looking for you!
That means you need to let people know who you are.
Knock on doors, go to events, collaborate on projects and get known in the business.You are
selling yourself as well as your songs. There will inevitably be some rejection but that’s just business,
don’t take it personally. Thicken up your skin, smile, move on and try again.
I have a stack of rejection letters from every single label, publisher and manager I approached in
the early days. I could have given up then, but I didn’t.
Hang in there...you have only failed when you quit trying!
1. Think Global
One of the most important things to realise about songwriting is this:
Music is global so the world is your marketplace!
That’s incredibly exciting when you think of the potential. Billions of people who could be listening
to YOUR music. So think beyond the borders of your own country.
And with the internet as your information and communication network, it’s all out there waiting
for you to discover and create connections and start getting your songs in front of an international
audience.
I’ve had songs released in 50 countries in many different languages and it’s an amazing feeling to
know they have reached so many people.
How did I do it?
I researched, emailed, called, followed up over and over again.
In short, I worked until I got results!
Reach out and create connections with music business contacts in as many countries as you can,
just like I did, and suddenly your opportunities multiply. Once again, it all comes down to treating
your songwriting like a business!
In Conclusion:
If you follow the secrets shared inside this short guide, you’ll realise that becoming a successful
songwriter really isn’t as complicated as it’s made out to be.
Yes, it’s hard at times, and it can be hard to get rejected repeatedly, but there is a way to go from
being an amateur songwriter desperately emailing record label executives to having your songs be
picked up by top-selling artists.
Remember: As a songwriter, you have the power to bring closure to people’s emotions. Through
your songs, you can help someone come to terms with a broken heart, or inspire them to
overcome their struggles, and so much more.
Don’t give up. The world wants to hear your music!
Martin Sutton
Founder, Songwriting Academy
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