Category: PART 6 – OUTRO

If you want to earn your living as a writer, it’s important to remember that song- writing is a business—not a hobby. The experienced songwriters you’ll be competing with are, in effect, running their own businesses … and they’ve learnt the importance of being professional and reliable in everything they do.

That means you have to get your act together and be well-organized and self- disciplined too. Your ‘customers’ (publishers, A&R executives, producers, artists) need to know they can count on you. 

If you promise to do something, do it. 

The same criteria apply if you plan to sell your music direct to fans through your own website or via online music retailers such as iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby. You need to establish a well-organized sales and marketing plan—and stick to it. Make sure the way you interact with everyone is clear and professional—from face- to-face contact or telephone calls, to your letters, emails and text messages. And when communicating in writing, always double check your spelling, punctuation and grammar—otherwise you’ll look like an amateur. 

Stay organized by keeping all of your correspondence and important documents (such as contracts) in separate folders—ideally with a different color code for each folder category so you can find them easily. And make sure you keep your folders and demo masters in an efficient filing system. 

Always be on time for meetings. If you’re late without a very good reason, it suggests you don’t care enough. Letting people down can harm your chances of get- ting a songwriting or recording deal, or placing your song with an important producer or artist. Arriving on time shows you are respectful, keen and reliable. You’re in the music business … so be business-like in all your dealings. 

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“This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning” —Winston Churchill  

Okay, so you’ve finished a bunch of new songs. You’ve checked each one against all of the common songwriting mistakes highlighted in this book, and you’ve re-written and polished the songs so lovingly that they now sparkle like true gems. 

You’ve even recorded demos that you believe do the songs justice. 

Some inexperienced writers make the mistake of thinking that, having got this far, they’ve done the hard part. In reality, though, now is when the real work begins. As the great self-promoter Irving Berlin once said: “Talent is only the starting point…”. 

The next step in your development as a hit songwriter is what often separates talented writers from successful writers. What happens now can make the difference between recognition and success … or failure and anonymity. 

There are two types of talented songwriters. Those who are so self-confident that they feel they deserve success and believe the music industry will eventually beat a path to their door. And those who are prepared to work hard and doggedly go out and market their songs to publishers, record labels, producers and artists. 

Which category are you in? 

In my experience, the only talented writers who have a real chance of achieving success are those who also possess a high level of determination, persistence, optimism and positive thinking (and a thick skin to cope with any rejection letters). 

As Jimmy Webb once said: “You have to have persistence and tenacity to keep knocking on those doors. The people who are successful in songwriting always keep trying.” 

Diane Warren agrees: “You’ve got to believe if you’re going to do this,” she once said. “Believe in yourself, believe in your work.” 

Provided you think big, stay committed to your dream, and keep pushing hard enough, great songs will always find a home. 

Some reports suggest that at least 100,000 new songs are released every week. With so much intense competition out there, you have to be able to stand out from the crowd. 

That’s why, at this stage, it’s all about putting together a comprehensive marketing plan for your music—and sticking to it. There’s no point in having an impressive collection of potential hit songs unless the right people get to hear the songs. 

Good marketing is as important to you and your songs as it is to any brand in your local supermarket. It will get you noticed and encourage publishers and A&R reps to take you seriously. 

For this reason, Rapido Books is planning to publish another ‘101 Tips’ book which will provide expert advice on how to market your songs and get your music noticed by the right people. Look out for it! 

As the great Kenny Gamble of the Gamble & Huff songwriting team once said about achieving success as a songwriter: “It’s a very blessed thing when it happens.”

Best wishes for great success with all your songwriting endeavors! 

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