FLIPSIDE
  • Home
  • About
    • Marketing & PR
    • Music >
      • About Productions
      • Talent Development Program
    • Combat Sports
  • Music Store
  • Courses
  • Media & Blog
    • Blog
    • Podcast
  • Contact

THE SONGWRITER’S BUSINESS PLAN

7/19/2022

1 Comment

 
One of the things I discovered when I started mentoring songwriters is that very few of us have a plan for where we want to be in future and how we want to get there. That may be the curse of the creative mind – we get so lost in making stuff up that we lose sight of the business side of things that must be tended to as well. And it’s a big mistake for people who want to make a living in any aspect of creative industries. There is two words in “Music Business”. There is music and there is business and they both are equally important.

​None can work without the other one. In mentoring sessions, we often work on a customized plan for the specific person. But, in general, there are some steps I recommend for every songwriter who is trying to turn their songwriting passion into a business.
Picture
Write a lot of songs. Even though this number is daunting to some people, I recommend waiting until you have 30 songs that you believe are competitive and commercial before you even start playing your songs for people or even to mention to anyone that you do write songs. For most of us, that’s going to mean writing 100 or more songs. For aspiring writers, a ratio of 1 great song out of every 10 written is a pretty high bar and when you have at least 30 songs that you’re confident with, means you potentially have a minimum of 3 songs for people – specially professionals – to like. When you start playing your songs for people before you have a handful catalogue, if they like any of your songs and ask for more, you have nothing to provide and that can bring a very bad image for you. Be prepared, by writing as many great songs as you can.
 
While you are working on your 30 great songs, you can start to lay some groundwork for the business side of things by networking. Getting to know as many people as you can in the business is always a good idea. You don’t need to brag to everybody about your “songwriting” because still might not have a very colorful catalogue of songs to provide if they ask for more, but on the other hand if you are able, co-write, go to shows, hang out with other writers or writing groups in your area. Every person you get to know could be the one that helps you launch your career. When you have a mini catalogue of at least 30 songs, means you have something in hand and guess what? You already have some connections and you can start showing your songs to people and pitch for any opportunities you’d come across.
 
After you have 30 great songs, you can start moving forward and playing your songs for people. Start with your PRO if you have signed up with one. If you haven’t, then meet with all PROs in your country and find out information about which one you want to register with. This is an important step for a songwriter to be signed to the right PRO. They are going to be the ones taking care of your rights and pay your royalty cheques. Finding a supporter at a PRO can be one of the best things you ever do. Be businesslike, kind and respectful when you meet with them. Play them your best 3-4 songs. If they ask for more, you can play some more from your list of 30.
 
Then, start meeting with publishers and song pluggers. Both are going to want you to have around 30 great songs before they are interested anyway. Before your mini catalogue is ready, don’t even bother to chase after them because most probably it will turn to be a waste of time for both of you and the publisher or the song plugger. And if you waste their time, you will be in their “blacklist” of people who have wasted their time, and you basically had killed your potential career even before you start anything! Again, be businesslike, kind and respectful. Thank everyone for giving you their time, even if they pass on you and your songs. Realize that it’s probably going to take a while to build relationships before you are offered some sort of “deal” with a publisher or a plugger. They might hear your songs and reject them. It’s a very normal thing in this business. Just politely ask them for the reason of the rejection and work on what they will tell you. If they see any potential in your songs, they will spend time to explain for you why you got rejected and how you can improve your work before you go back to them again. Never take it personally. These are professionals and all they think about is the business aspects of the music industry.
 
Meanwhile, keep writing. Your goal should be to beat out ten of your 30 songs in the chart of “top ten” songs. Dig hard for great ideas. Challenge yourself. Don’t settle for something that works. Find something that is amazing. While you are doing all the work I mentioned above, don’t stop on writing more. It now is 18 years I am writing songs and at least for the past 10 years I cannot remember a single day that I didn’t write a song. Sometimes they are the worst songs in the history, but I still wrote what I wanted to write for that day. And this fact of constantly writing is what made me feel I am successful at this moment in the business. Because I am always constantly growing my catalogue with a daily attempt of writing better songs. 

Author

Hangi Tavakoli is our in-house established and professional music producer with 20 years of experience in songwriting, music production, mix and mastering. He has written and produced more than 5,000 published songs to-date, including some major hits in international scale.

1 Comment
Gregory Young link
11/5/2022 05:04:05 am

Military thus teacher check another meet.
Person will writer style here number. Benefit door house government during skin another. Young instead statement feeling.

Reply



Leave a Reply.


      SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE WEEKLY UPDATES.
      We have one new FREE article on every Tuesday and Friday about music, music industry and the business aspect of it. Subscribe to our email squad to get notified on the updates.
    Subscribe

    Podcast


    Archives

    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    October 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016

    Categories

    All
    Artist Interviews
    Music Industry
    Others
    Press Releases
    Songwriting


    RSS Feed


ABOUT FLIPSIDE

ABOUT PRODUCTIONS
​
ABOUT MARKETING
​
NEWS
BLOG
PODCAST

MUSIC STORE

FOR ARTISTS

OUR ARTISTS
ARTIST LOGIN
MUSIC RELEASES
TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
MUSIC COURSES

CONTACT

hangi@flipsidepm.com
​+65 8558 9773
​

Mon - Fri 9:00am - 8:00pm

SUBSCRIBE

    Receive news and updates in your inbox.

Subscribe to Newsletter


©2014-2022 Flipside Productions & Marketing Pte Ltd
All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • About
    • Marketing & PR
    • Music >
      • About Productions
      • Talent Development Program
    • Combat Sports
  • Music Store
  • Courses
  • Media & Blog
    • Blog
    • Podcast
  • Contact