Working in the Creative Industries 1

Research Portfolio (Songwriter)

Songwriting can be one of the most challenging and yet rewarding pathways in the creative industries as it reliant on many different pathways and skill sets to drive your career. This can look like writing for yourself as an artist or for other artists (commercial songwriting) which is dependent on your capabilities as a writer and your own personal preferences.

I would like to explore becoming a songwriter and artist in your own right as this pathway allows you to have full control over your vision for your musical career including full orchestration of your brand and audience which can give you an advantage in your musical career (ICMP, 2022). This pathway is the most fulfilling as your hard work and creativity as a songwriter directly impacts your musical career and the music you make.

Another pathway is commercial songwriting which is where you write in mind of specific artists (ICMP, 2022). This often does not align with a songwriter’s preference in musical style or genre but can be rewarding as success is gained through your ability as a songwriter portrayed through somebody else. One notable example of this is Max Martin, a Swedish producer and songwriter, who has written for notable artists such as Taylor Swift, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga, (ICMP 2022).

Qualifications and Experience

Success as a songwriter is possible through raw talent and self-teaching however, many songwriters often formerly learn an instrument or complete a basic theory course such as ABRSM, Grades 1-5 or further. This is useful for understanding the fundamentals of composition in order to write successful songs with a chord progression and structure, (ABRSM, 2024). Some songwriters may even take their education further and pursue a songwriting course at college and/or university to deepen their understanding of songwriting and its components, (UK Music, 2025).

Experience can be gained through collaborative projects as this is crucial for success in a musical career, especially within commercial songwriting where streaming and chart numbers become an important factor. In 2015, Blume stated that, at the time, every top 10 on Billboard’s Pop, Country, Christian and R&B/Hip-hop charts were the result of collaboration.

Having collaborative experiences, such as working in a band or with friends and students for projects, can be vital to a successful entry into a music career as this is common practice within the industry throughout all different professions.

Knowledge, Skills and Personal Qualities

Organisation

As many songwriters are self-employed, remaining organised and focused while working is an essential skill both financially and creatively. Managing copyright, expenses and royalties requires focus and a systematic approach to keep on top of the workload. Organisation is also essential for keeping track of communications to ensure that opportunities are not missed and are evaluated sufficiently, (Goldmacher, 2025)

Versatility

Being adaptable to working with different musicians is one of the most important skills that a songwriter needs to have as this increases the chances of success greatly. Additionally, songwriters also need to be mindful when writing songs of the strength of the sound both as a studio recording and a live performance. Acknowledging this while writing a song can make it easier to adapt to different performance scenarios and environments and the song will stand equally strong in both situations, (Shuker, 2016)

Discipline and Motivation

Having a creative mindset can be both a blessing and a curse as on one hand, it allows you to create however on the other, it can be difficult to overcome poor motivation. One method to combat this is continuously generating material. This can help to decrease writers block however it is always inevitable at times. Evaluating your own work, acknowledging the feeling of success, ignoring competition, having others listen to your work and avoiding personal limitations help to increase motivation and save songwriters from burnout. (Braheny, 2006)

Lyricism

Songwriters should always have a wide vocabulary and skills they can use to enhance the songwriting process. This is crucial for the process because all great songs have great lyrics and something for audiences to enjoy and connect to. One example of this is Pat Pattinson who often uses a trial and error approach to write metaphors to use in song lyrics as well as many other various exercises which can aid in collaborative settings as every member of the group has the same process and goal. (Pattison, 2009)

Music Technology

Mixing and Mastering, (Music production techniques) can be considered their own career path however, songwriters should always have some knowledge of these skills in order to be successful, especially if they are planning a career as an artist as most songwriters will need to produce their own tracks to begin with. – ‘Almost every singer-songwriter who aspires to make a living from their craft will be involved in a music recording and production process at some point in their career. […] For professional artists, record production is a gateway to income and success that immediately adds the possibility of new revenue streams.’ (Burgess and Toulson, 2017)

Instrumental Proficiency

For some songwriters in today’s musical climate, it is possible to write music using their voice however, it is rare. The ability to play an instrument can not only be vital for creating a song for example, guitar and piano are popular choices with most songwriters as they are important for a songs rhythm, harmony and melodic elements. In the context of live music, an artist who can accompany themselves while singing is also more impressive to an audience compared to a recorded back track. (Reifsnyder, 2017)

Duties and Responsibilities

Work as a songwriters can typically be quite unpredictable as work is not always promised due to its freelance nature. Ways to combat this could be scheduling regular writing sessions to create a sense of organisation which can be very important and rewarding when done regularly. Nashville Staff Writer, Lacy Green, stated ‘I try to show up prepared, usually with some lyrics or piece of music, but also a willingness to go off script if that’s where the magic is that day.’ (Friendman, 2015). With an instrument, songs can be written nearly anywhere but demos need the necessary equipment, therefore a songwriter may need to book out a studio. Most recording sessions can be completed at home with the right recording equipment, such as Logic Pro and necessary microphones, or even in a home-studio which most professional songwriters build for themselves in order to increase workflow and reduce future costs. For the best production quality it is advised that songwriters book out a professional studio with a recording and mixing engineer however, a great number of producers are usually happy to work with songwriters in their studios as this increase the opportunity for collaboration and the ability to apply greater production technique to the track, (Harrison, 2025). Overall, a songwriters day-to-day life may vary depending on what is scheduled for the day such as songwriting sessions, recording sessions and other commitments such as paid work for commercial projects or other work unrelated to a songwriting pathway such as promotional work and performances.

Financial and Legal Issues and Impacts

Copyright laws surrounding songwriting are an important and recurring talking point within the industry. After music is written and recorded copyright is in effect for the authors lifetime and 70 years after they pass away, (Harrison, 2025). This means that the writer and anyone that worked on a project with them has the authority to permit or prohibit others from using their work. This applies to both the recording or notation and the lyrics. Song titles can’t be copyrighted as many songs share the same title, (Musicians Union, 2023)

It is common for many artists to feel as though their work has been ‘stolen’ which is cause for many copyright lawsuits to occur between larger artists. One notable case of this was in the US regarding Ed Sheeran’s song ‘Thinking Out Loud’ over claims that the song was a copy of the Marvin Gaye song ‘Let’s Get It On’. The song was written on 2014 but the trial was not put to rest until June 2025 after an appeal was rejected by the US Supreme Court who had ruled that Ed Sheeran’s song used ‘commonplace’ harmonic rhythms and chords which could not be legally protected, (Savage, 2025).

Marketing and Promotional Aspects

Marketing and promotion as a songwriter are the most important factor for releasing music as there are many factors to consider such as audience and accessibility. Some websites such as CD Baby can distribute music both physically and digitally without the artist having to sign up to each individual streaming service, (Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music etc.) and offer fair pay. It is also recommended that artists have their own website to act as a ‘storefront’ with clips and links of your song, (Simply Music, 2023). This can increase accessibility as your audience doesn’t need to search far to find your music.

Social media such as Instagram and TikTok has also become a highly effective yet competitive part of marketing music. One important function of these apps to make the most of marketing is the analytics tool which allows artists to gain insight to their audience demographics, engagement and reach. This helps to understand how the algorithm works on different social media platforms and can become the most powerful tool for a songwriter, (Rolling Stone Culture Council, 2020).

Intellectual and Personal Changes

As a songwriter it is important to connect with people and create music that can cater to different moods however, most songwriters often fall into a trap of creating darker music as the most inspiring time to write can be after an upsetting event. Most great songs are drawn from a personal story as both the lyrics, melody and instrumentation work in tandem to draw a connection between the artist and the audience. Songwriters who work for themselves will often rely on storytelling from their own life to write art that feels true to them, (Jack Harness, 2023).

Joy is likely the second strongest emotion that can be expressed in music. Harnessing this feeling can help a songwriter appeal to many different audiences. As an artist grows as a person this may be more successful but the best way to achieve this through collaboration however, personal experiences have an irreplaceable spot in the world of songwriting and as a songwriter creates more music, that music is highly likely to change with them in both quality and the emotion conveyed, (Medium, 2023).

Career Progression and Development Opportunities

Songwriting is a difficult career path, but it is possible to be successful through utilising the qualities previously discussed throughout this essay. The main avenues for a successful career are:

Getting a publishing deal- This is where you are contracted by a publishing company to write songs. Payment is usually in advance and royalties are paid when the songs are played. (BBC Maestro, 2023)

Writing songs as a ‘work for hire songwriter’- This is where songwriters are paid a flat fee for another artist. The songwriter and the artist receive credit and receive royalties for the song every time it is played both digitally and live. (BBC Maestro, 2023)

Retaining ownership of your songs- This means the songwriter gets the credit and royalty payments when the songs are played live and digitally. (BBC Maestro, 2023)

Album and song sales for both digital and physical copies. (BBC Maestro, 2023)

Performance royalties- every time the song is played in public such as cafes and restaurants. (BBC Maestro, 2023)

Sync licensing- Where a fee is agreed for your song to be used in TV shows, films and adverts. (BBC Maestro, 2023)

Overall, it is possible to develop your career as a songwriter, but choices will have to be made over whether the songwriters keep ownership of their own songs. For many songwriters the path to success isn’t always linear and involves exploring many different avenues for both making money and creative involvement.