MUC 109 LEC4. Business Of Songwriting

Music Business Essentials

The Business
of P f
f Professional
i l
Songwriting

© 2006 musicbizclasses.com

The Song
• A Musical Work- aka “Song” is
an original composition, generally
including lyrics and music
• The professional songwriting p
p g g process begins
g
with original compositions/songs that
will be performed in public and/or
recorded & distributed to the public
• When a song is p
g purchased, licensed,
performed or recorded, it enters the
marketplace, and is considered,
“published”
“ bli h d”

Professional Songwriting

• Songwriting, Copyright, and
Music Publishing go hand in hand
• Music Publishing is the sector of
the music business dedicated to
“exploiting” or optimizing the
placement and revenue-generating
ability of songs
• Songwriters, Publishers, Recording
g , , g
Artists and Record Labels are, generally,
in the major music cities:
LA, NY, Nashville.

Professional Songwriting
Types of professional songwriters:
• Singer/Songwriter
performs/records own compositions
f / d iti
• Non-performing Songwriter
gives compositions to
Recording/Performing Artists
to record and perform
• Commercial Composers
will write original material f specific
for f
commercial projects- TV, Film, etc.
• Song Doctors
will edit and arrange others’ songs © 2006 musicbizclasses.com

Who uses Songwriters?
• Popular commercial music genres have
typical songwriting arrangements
• Certain genres use more non-performing
songwriters than others…
• Rock, Rap artists typically
write their own material
• Country, Pop performers often seek
material from outside songwriters
or they collaborate with other
songwriters


Collaboration in Songwriting
• Professional songwriting is often done
in collaboration… with other songwriters;
or with established recording artists
• Benefits are networking, discipline, support,
increased chances for success
• Co-writer agreements
(legal contract) should be in place
before the writing process begins;
keep detailed notes
• Co-writers generally share ownership
g y p
(copyright) of joint finished piece;
unless otherwise stated in co-writer
agreement


Songwriting Deals
Different business
arrangements in
professional songwriting:
•Publishing Deals
•Work for Hire
•Staff position with a publisher
•Self-Publishing


Song Revenues
Publishing Deals:
• Advances and/or Royalties

Work For Hire Fees:
• When a Songwriter/Composer is hired,
for a one-time payment, to create
a specific composition Or hired as a full-time
employee

Staff Salary- writer, editor
• Often,
Often treated as an advance
against future royalties

Song Revenues
How much does a Song make?
• A writer gets paid every ti
it t id time a song
or a sample of a song is:
• Sold as Sheet Music
• Used in a Recording
• Played in Public
• Played in Synchronization with timed images
y y g


Song Revenues
How much d
H h does a Song make?
S k ?
• For Recordings –
• Example 1: Physical and Digital- Gold
• Rate= between 7.5 cents & 9.1 cents for each
song (500,000 units sold) $45,000
• Split with Publisher & Co-Writers

• Example 2: Ringtones
p g
• Rate= between 10-12 cents or 10% of retail
(500,000 units sold) $45,000-$145,000
• Split with Publisher & Co-Writers

Song Revenues
How much does a Song make?
• For Synchronization –
between 0 cents & several million dollars
pe so g su s are ego a ed
per song- sums a e negotiated

• For Performance Royalties –
between 0 cents & several
million dollars per year
year-
sums are calculated via formulas created
with logs, cue sheets airplay tracking
logs sheets,


Resources for Songwriters
•Songwriters Guild of America
Songwriters
•American Songwriter Magazine
•Performing Rights O
P f i Ri ht Organizations (PRO )
i ti (PROs)-
ASCAP, BMI, SESAC

•Tip sheets/pitch sheets-
•Rowfax (M i R
R f (MusicRow.com) )
• SongQuarters
• Songlink International
•News on the Charts
•My Hit Factory

Songwriting Conferences —ASCAP,
ASCAP
BMI ,SESAC Workshops, Durango
Songwriters Conference,
West Coast Songwriters Conference

Songwriting Workshops MCC Songwriting
Workshops-
Classes, Berklee Music School, SongU.com,
Jeffrey Steele Bootcamp, summersongs.com

Songwriting Critiques-
Nashville Songwriter’s Association,
Nash ille Song riter’s Association
Jason Blume, West Coast Songwriters

Local Songwriting Organizations —
Arizona Songwriters, AZOpenMic.com © 2006 musicbizclasses.com


•Music Publishing Companies:
–Cherry Lane
Cherry
–Bug Music
–Song Publishing
Song P blishing
–Warner/Chappell
–BMG Music Publishing (E
BMG M i P bli hi (Europe) )
–Dreamworks SKG Music Publishing
–EMI Music Publishing
–Universal Music Publishing Group


APPENDIX:
Tips for Starting
A Songwriting Career


Become a Pro Songwriter

• Begin by creating your own original songs
- PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE your craft
• Determine whether you will work alone
or in partnership(s)
• B sure to have a signed co-writer contract
Be t h i d it t t
in place BEFORE you start collaborating
• To find co writers join local songwriting
co-writers,
groups post in classifieds like Craigslist.org,
take songwriting classes, go to conferences and
workshops
• Apply for copyright registration
at copyright.gov to enforce protection
t i ht t f t ti
for your work

Become a Pro Songwriter
4.
4 Consider setting up a separate,
separate
formal business entity for your
songwriting pursuits
5. Determine whether you will perform
your own songs or ask another artist
to
t perform them for you
f th f
6. Find performing artists via songwriting
workshops,
workshops open mics, good demo studios etc.
mics etc
7. Create a demo recording to share
with industry executives
8. Publish your songs- alone or with a publisher
9. R i t
9 Register your song(s) with a PRO
( ) ith
10. Collect your revenue

For Educational Use Only
DO NOT COPY OR
DISTRIBUTE
This slide presentation is part
of the Music Business Essentials series

Contact
info@musicbizclasses.com
i f @ i bi l
for more information


MUC 109 LEC4. Business Of Songwriting

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