SHR4C007R~001 24103551 – Working in the Creative Industries 1 – Research Portfolio (Songwriter)

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Georgia Howard 24103551

Anybody who writes songs can call themselves a songwriter, however the real challenges come when trying to establish a career within the creative industries. There are many avenues one might take, depending on preference and capability, including writing for others (commercial songwriting), or being an artist in one’s own right. 

Being an artist in one’s own right is a pathway I would like to explore, as an artist has complete control over orchestrating their vision (ICMP, 2022), their brand and their audience, and using this to their advantage in the music industry. Succeeding in this area is one of the most fulfilling roles, as one’s hard work as a songwriter directly impacts the direction their artistry takes. 

Another enticing avenue of the songwriting industry is a career as a commercial songwriter, (for example Max Martin, who has written for several successful and influential artists such as The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, Katy Perry and many others) (ICMP, 2022). This kind of career usually involves writing in mind of specific artists (ICMP, 2022), sometimes in a genre or style that doesn’t align with one’s personal stylistic preferences but can be a way to gain success without being in a spotlight as concentrated as artists themselves. 

While it’s possible to become a successful songwriter through talent and self-teaching alone, many may choose to complete a qualification through a songwriting course at college or university (UK Music, 2025). Even if one does not choose to specifically study songwriting, a basic theory course (such as ABRSM up to Grade 5 or further) is a useful pathway into understanding the fundamentals of musical composition (ABRSM, 2024). 

Experience and openness to working collaboratively with other songwriters and musicians is also crucial for a songwriting career, especially where commercial success (in terms of charts and streaming numbers) is a key focus. A post on MusicWorld in October 2015 stated:

‘At the time this article was written every song in the top-10 on Billboard’s Pop, Country, Christian and R&B/Hip-hop charts was the result of collaboration. Out of forty top-10 hits, zero were created by a solo writer.’ (Blume, 2015)

Having already experienced collaborative work can be a useful head-start before or during one’s entrance into the industry, as one will likely find themselves having to utilise this practice in future endeavours – in writing, performing and many other factors of artistry.

It is important for a songwriter to be aware of the knowledge, skills and personal qualities they might need:

  • Music technology: Music production, mixing and mastering can be considered its own standalone career path. However, a songwriter whose career is centred around their pursuits as a recording artist will need to acquire knowledge and skills surrounding such things to be successful – ‘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, 2017:1).
  • Versatility: An artist will often write music for both live performance and studio recording. Acknowledging these while writing a song can make it easier to adapt to different performance scenarios and environments and will make a song stand equally strong in both situations (Shuker, 2016:45). Additionally, versatility in terms of the situations an artist can work in (collaboratively, in different spaces etc.) will increase the likelihood of success dramatically. 
  • Lyricism: A great song should have great lyrics, so it is crucial for a writer to have a wide vocabulary to enhance elements of the process. For example, Pat Pattinson often uses various exercises, often in a sense of trial and error, to come up with metaphors to use in songs. These exercises can also aid in collaborative scenes, as they give every member of a group the same process and goal. (Pattison, 2009:27-28).
  • Instrumental proficiency: While some songwriters in today’s world write music exclusively for voice, this is increasingly rare – the ability to play at least one instrument can be vital for the creation of a song’s sense of rhythm, harmony and the main melodic elements. An artist who can accompany themselves while singing can stand out, impressing the audience more than a pre-recorded backing track would. (Reifsnyder, 2017)
  • Discipline and motivation: Being aware of the fragility of the creative mindset and actively overcoming poor motivation can take an artist to the next level. Songs are not always easy to write, but continuously generating material can help to decrease writer’s block. Methods of evaluating your own work, coping with other people listening, acknowledging the reward of success, ignoring competition and avoiding personal limits can help to save a songwriter from a lack of motivation or burnout. (Braheny, 2006:16-17)
  • Organisation: Remaining organised and focused as a songwriter is key for numerous reasons, both creatively and financially. As many songwriters are self-employed for a large period of their career, managing expenses, copyrights and royalties requires a systematic mindset and a knack for efficiency. This is also very helpful for keeping on track of communications, ensuring any opportunities for career development are noticed and considered sufficiently (Goldmacher: 2025).

A day’s work as a songwriter can be unpredictable, but scheduling writing sessions and creating a sense of organisation amidst the chaos of the industry is important and rewarding. Successful Nashville staff writer, Lacy Green, stated in an interview, ‘I try to show up prepared (usually with some lyric idea or piece of music), but also with a willingness to go off script if that’s where the magic is that day.’ (Friedman, 2015). A song can almost be written anywhere with an instrument, but when it comes to recording demos, a songwriter may need to book out studios or recording rooms. A lot of recording could be done in an at-home studio setting, but for the best production quality, a writer may seek to record in a commercial studio. A great number of producers are usually happy to work with songwriters in their studios, which comes with opportunity for collaboration and to apply greater production techniques to the track. (Harrison, 2025:15-16). Therefore, a songwriter’s day-to-day life may vary greatly, whether they have scheduled writing sessions (alone or collaboratively), recording sessions, or other commitments required in the craft, for instance, performances and promotional work.

When it comes to the financial and legal issues and impacts of songwriting, copyright law and its implications are a large talking point in the industry. After content is written or recorded, copyright is in effect for the duration of the author’s life and for an additional 70 years after the author passes away (Harrison, 2025:127). This means that during this time, the author – or anyone assigned to the work by the author – has the right to permit or prohibit others from using their work. This applies to both the ‘musical work’ (a recording or notation) and the ‘literary work’ (the lyrics). The title of a song cannot be copyrighted, and so many songs by different artists share the same title (Musician’s Union, 2023). 

In the music industry, it’s common for artists to feel their ideas have been ‘stolen’, so between larger known artists, copyright lawsuits frequently occur. One of the most notable of these is a case in the US regarding Ed Sheeran’s popular song, ‘Thinking Out Loud’, and the claims that the song was a copy of ‘Let’s Get It On’ by Marvin Gaye. Though the song was written in 2014, the trial was only really put to rest in June of 2025, after an appeal was rejected by the US Supreme Court, who ruled that Sheeran’s song used ‘commonplace’ harmonic rhythms and chords, so they could not be legally protected (Savage, 2025). 

When a songwriter reaches a certain level of success (and has the money to pay for one) it can be advisable to hire a lawyer to prevent such disagreements from having huge negative impacts on one’s career. As well as this, lawyers can help with checking over contracts and other professional agreements, to make sure one’s financial standpoint in a deal is optimised. A musician may choose to look for said lawyer in legal directories, such as Legal 500 and Chambers. The editors of such directories form lists of personnel that they observe to be the leading people in the world of music. (Harrison, 2025:20-21) (Chambers, 2025). 

In terms of financial issues that a songwriter might face, the beginning of one’s career can be the hardest. Many musicians these days are self-employed, so they must familiarise themselves with taxation laws, and paying themselves and anybody else working with them fairly. If an artist has a band, working out a financial agreement with their fellow members early on can be instrumental in ensuring nobody gets a bad deal. With the payment rates of streaming services to artists being as low as they are (usually under half a penny per stream) (VIRPP, 2023), album sales can rarely be the sole source of income for an artist (Ficek, 2024). To combat this, registering songs with a Performing Rights Organisation (such as PRS, MCPS and PPL) is a crucial move for any songwriter, to ensure all royalties are being earned where they can, whenever one’s music is being played – including at radio stations, background music in shops, or played live at a show put on by the artist themselves (Murphy, 2024).

Marketing and promotions for an artist are one of the most important parts of one’s musical career. Today, many promotional moves are established through social media platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter). The growth of TikTok in recent years, involving short-form content geared heavily towards a younger audience, helps to boost streams and gain awareness of the artist’s online presence in general. By the end of the first year, the app had over 800 million users, beating Instagrams first-year census of 10 million by far (Owsinski, 2020:199). By researching the algorithm and gaining a full understanding and appreciation of how the platform works, a musician can significantly enhance the exposure of their material globally. Aside from TikTok, Instagram and Facebook (also owned by Meta Platforms) are particularly useful social media platforms to use. This is especially true as of recently, since these apps have added a short-form content section named reels, which allows for TikTok-style videos to be posted in a separate category to regular posts – keeping the attention spans of the current generation interested. 

Alongside social media promotion, using ‘old-fashioned’ methods such as printing posters and displaying them around one’s city is a great way for an artist to gain attraction. The use of QR codes on said posters, linking the audience to a social media profile, can be useful and engaging, especially since the poster will have a visual representation of the artist’s brand and music style. 

The intellectual and personal challenges a songwriter faces can often be the hardest. An artist’s music and sense of self are so closely linked, it can be easy to feel as though negative feedback on creativity is a criticism of one’s personality. A way to combat this is getting used to hearing professional feedback, and seeking it out, rather than listening exclusively to close friends and family members. Professionals’ feedback is unbiased, so listening to them and taking suggestions on board can prevent unrealistic ego positioning (Capalbo, 2022). If an artist’s career isn’t moving as fast as one has hoped, remaining positive and seeking development opportunities, such as inviting industry professionals to gigs, and contacting these people in general, can help the pathway to feel less difficult and more rewarding. 

To conclude, the career pathways accessible to songwriters can be challenging, due to financial, legal and administrative issues, but in my opinion the rewarding and fulfilling nature of the work make these risks worth taking. Having my creative outlet also be a primary source of income one day is exciting to me, and having been able to research the potential opportunities and issues has been very useful.

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