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The Business Of Songwriting

Here is an explanation of the songwriting process, from songwriter to release of the recording:
  • It starts with a complete song, meaning both words and music. If you write just lyrics, you will need to find a co-writer to compose the music for you.
  • Next, you must have a demonstration recording, or "demo", so music executives can hear how your song sounds. If you are a musician, you may be able to make the recording yourself. If not, you will have to hire musicians.
  • After the song is completed, you should register the copyright with the Library Of Congress in Washington, DC.
  • Now you are ready to market your song to music publishers.
  • The music publisher will attempt to secure a record deal. Once the CD is released by the record company, you will hopefully start to make some money.

    Let’s now take each step in detail:

    CO-WRITING

    We hear from many lyricists, and many do not write music. I am often asked if I know of anyone who will buy just the lyrics. The answer is no. A song has to be complete, meaning having both words and music.

    Empire Music Co. works with lyric writers. Many have gotten published by using our co-writing service. There are many other companies that do the same thing we do. I suggest you make them show you the names of songs and writers that have gotten published by using their service. See our Songwriter News section on the Home page. We are proud of the writers we work with! But many companies can’t show you a single success. If they don’t give you the facts, like names of writers, use another service.

    DEMOS

    Many writers we work with are of professional quality and do a fine job making their own demonstration recordings, or "demos". But if for any reason you do not think you can do it well, this is another service provided by Empire. We can turn your rough idea into a professional recording. Many of our recordings have resulted in writers getting publishing and record deals. Our demos have even gotten played on radio stations worldwide.

    Other companies also provide demo services. It is normal and legitimate to pay a fee for demo recordings.

    But again, always ask to see a company's track record. You want to see the names of writers and songs that have gotten publishing and recording deals by using their service. Not just testimonials of " I love your work", but real results. Don’t settle for hype.

    COPYRIGHT

    After the song is complete, and before you market it, you should register the copyright with the Library of Congress. There is some misinformation going around about copyrights. Some say you can protect your material by putting it in an envelope and mailing it to yourself by registered mail. This is false. I question the integrity and knowledge of anyone who passes this myth around. Do it right, or you may lose all rights to your own song. Call the Copyright Office 24 hour hotline and leave a message: (202)707-9100. Ask for Form PA and Form PA instructions. Or, go to the website: http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright

    MUSIC PUBLISHING AND RECORD DEALS

    After your song is written, recorded and copyrighted, you are ready to market it to music publishers. This is very tricky because there are a lot of fakes around, especially in Nashville and Hollywood. They prey on beginning songwriters. Empire provides our writers with a list of publishers we believe are legitimate. We will even do all the marketing, if the writer desires. See our Song Marketing Service page.

    Here are a few ways to spot the fake publishers and record companies:
  • Legitimate music publishers do not ask you to pay them. The publisher gets paid by taking a percentage of the royalties the song earns. The usual split is 50/50 between writer and publisher. You should never receive less. Writers with a track record of writing hit songs, can negotiate a higher percentage.
  • Beware of music publishers or record companies that ask for payment in advance. They won’t promote your song, because they already have made their profit from the hundreds of dollars you paid them. Sure, they will mail a copy to a few places. But that’s not how to market a song! The only copies sold will be the ones they sell to you.

    BMI, ASCAP, SESAC and SOCAN are performing rights organizations. They distribute the royalties your song earns to the publisher. The publisher in turn, pays the royalty due to the songwriter. If the publisher does not belong to one of those organizations, they can not collect the royalties and pay them to you. And a publisher that can not collect and pay royalties is worthless! So, always make sure any USA publisher is affiliated with either BMI, ASCAP or SESAC before you sign. In Canada, SOCAN.

    But belonging to BMI, ASCAP, SESAC or SOCAN does not mean that a publisher is legitimate. I have noticed that some companies affiliated with BMI and ASCAP have been trying to rip off songwriters. This is not condoned by BMI or ASCAP, but they don't seem to be aware of what is going on:
  • A Florida demo company that has a ASCAP publishing subsidiary that directs the demo customers to their subsidiary record company, which charges a lot of money for a phony record deal.
  • A Nashville demo company that also says it is a BMI publisher. They take 25% of the writer's royalty PLUS 25% of the publishing on every demo they make! (Never give up any portion of the publishing of your song to a co-writer or demo company. All music publishers will reject a song from a new writer if 100% of the publishing is not available.)
  • A BMI publisher and record company in Muscle Shoals, AL that charges writers hundreds of dollars to put their song on a compilation CD. Compilation CD's never make money for the songwriter, but lots of money for the record company.

    Never pay a company for publishing or a record deal. It is a rip off.

    LET’S REVIEW

    1. It starts with a complete song, both words and music. Write the complete song yourself, or get a co-writer to help. Find one with a good track record of success.

    2. You need a high quality demo recording to pitch your song to music publishers. If you can’t do it yourself, again use a demo company with a good track record of getting real results.

    3. Register the Copyright to your song.

    4. Market your song to music publishers. And remember, if they claim to be a music publisher or record company, or if their name says "music publisher" or "record company", they should NOT ask you to pay money, or you can bet some trickery is going on. The only costs a songwriter should pay is for the demo and the copyright registration.

    For more information about the music business, I suggest you go to your public library. You will find many books written by people who have experience in songwriting, music publishing and recording.

    Unfortunately, the Internet is not a good source of accurate information about songwriting and the music business. There are many songwriting chat rooms, online clubs and forum sites such as Songwriter 101.com on the Internet, but they dominated by amateurs who don't know what they are talking about.

    Questions? email: jstone3216@yahoo.com

    © 2006 Empire Music Company