WITCI Career Research Portfolio – Songwriter – Paisley Bartrop
I have decided to research careers in professional songwriting in the music industry. I have chosen this career to talk about as I love songwriting so I figured it would be a beneficial topic to research for this assignment. No formal qualifications are required necessarily, however it is a very tough career to get into as it takes a lot of passion, skill and dedication as well as a lot of networking in order to get clients. Of course a degree in music will help as well as any other kinds of formal education as a good understanding of music theory and the industry are a pretty integral part of the role. (In The Know, The Importance of Music Theory In Composition, Musicians Institute, 2024). Many of the world’s greatest songwriters had former experience in band and performance work before they became primarily writers, for example, Max Martin was in a glam-metal band before becoming the biggest song writer in modern pop. (Frantzeskos, Max Martin’s Songwriting and Production Mastery: A Deep Analysis, The F Rant, 2025). Having experience playing, creating and performing music is key to having a career in songwriting as it is important to build a portfolio of all your work which can be used to show what you can do so it can be used as a reference for when a client is interested in working with you. A portfolio would also be useful for other career paths in the industry as it is likely that if a person pursues songwriting, they may also go down other routes like performing, producing and session work to name a few. Getting your name out there through performing gigs are also beneficial, as you more likely to get noticed more by other fellow musicians who may want to collaborate and work with you. Gaining a following can also help get you work as colleagues might be more likely to get in touch if you have an established fanbase.
This career is a very skill-heavy and ambition-driven job if you want to do it successfully. Some of the most important qualities to have are versatility, creativity and adaptability. Communication and interpersonal skills are also extremely needed in order to network and find the best clients to work with and find connections that could completely change the projection of your career. A good impression also should be made with everyone you work with but also the people you don’t work with because you never know if they will pass your name onto someone else who could be interested. (Independent Society of Musicians, Networking in the Music Sector, 2020). Something that isn’t absolutely necessary but could majorly help is being versatile instrumentally because it could make it much easier to play different genres and styles if you play many instruments, many different ways. This would be really useful for finding work as there will be so many more options out there if you can write for exactly whatever your clients are wanting. It is always good to stretch your musical knowledge in every possible to improve as a writer.
Becoming a successful songwriter can be a long and tiring process but it is not impossible to reach a good outcome, some of the biggest musicians today started from playing pubs and bars to the biggest arenas in the world and writing some the most popular songs in existence. (Cruz, From Homelessness to Stardom: The Ed Sheeran Phenomenon, Williams.edu, 2017). The keys to success in most music industry careers are an undwindling passion and something unique to give to the world. Having a niche I order to stand out can be a game changer. Most musicians are famous for their unique sounds, personalities, concerts, etc. Some examples; Minnie Ripperton for her wide vocal range and whistle register or Queen for their theatrical, genre-bending style.
Even if your goal as a songwriter is to be behind the scenes and not in the public eye, it is vital to market yourself and promote your work in order to get more work opportunities and connections. This can be done through a lot of different ways whether that be reaching out to people you think could be interested in your work, having a website showing all of your work and probably the most important marketing tool, social media. (Wares, Music Marketing: 5 Proven Strategies to Engage and Grow Your Fanbase, Berklee, 2025). It is important to be aware that your success can only really grow on your own accord as most likely your jobs will be found due to you going out hunting for that and promoting it. A songwriter has to make the right connections to work their way up the industry to gain more success in their career.
The average day living as a professional songwriter should consist of practicing your craft such as improving on your instruments as well as new ones, as it is always a good idea to know as many instruments as you can as it makes it easier to write songs if you have more at your disposal, additionally, it will make it easier to work with other musicians as you would know how their instrument works and how it’s played. It is a good plan to always write down or record any song ideas you get during your day so you will always have a selection of pieces you could work on if you have a lack of ideas. It is vital that time is spent on talking to other people in the industry in order to find work and people to hire you. (Murphy, A Day In a Life of a Modern-Day Songwriter, Rolling Stone, 2023)
Due to how the music career works, most songwriters are self-employed so it is their legal duty to work out and sort out their own taxes on any income they get from working as a musician. It is important to know how this works and how to do it or there would be repercussions. (Musicians’ Union, UK Musicians Tax Guide For The Self Employed, 2023) As a songwriter it is also vital to have a good understanding of how the copyright laws work and any other laws to protect your music and performances. It is important to stay out of legal trouble especially if you are self-employed as you won’t have a company you work for that can assist you. Legal trouble could negatively impact your career both financially and through your reputation. (PRS For Music, How Copyright Works, 2019). Royalties and music licensing should also be something to keep on top with to make sure you are claiming every penny you are owed for whenever your music is played.
Financially, this career is a pretty big risk as the amount of money you get for your work is dependent on all kinds of factors such as quality, demand and popularity. It is a career that that needs to be played smart in order to get the best outcome but sometimes luck is also in play as well as talent, so it can be a bit of a gamble. Obviously the better networking you do, the better your chances are at finding success as a songwriter and musician. This is why most people who are songwriters have a portfolio career and likely have lots of different jobs in order to make enough money to live. A lot of people will do session work in studios, teach music and play gigs. (Castrillion, Why It’s Time To Consider a Portfolio Career, Forbes, 2019). Some may also do part-time jobs outside the music industry so there is some kind of steady income to survive on if there’s a dry spell with getting music jobs. It is also a very competitive business with so many sharing the same goal but most people won’t make it to where they want to go whether that be up to chance or they haven’t found a niche to help them stand out amongst the crowd. Finding the right demographic your music also helps a lot when trying to gain popularity as finding loyal fans can go a long way when it comes to spreading your music and causing a upward trajectory in one’s career.
In this current age of AI being so accessible, it is becoming an increasingly larger problem for all musicians and artists to get their music seen and listened to when streaming services are getting flooded with AI content. Not everyone has the ear for whether music is AI or not sometimes, for example, Xania Monet, a billboard-charting AI artist. (Melville, AI Singer Xania Monet Just Charted On Billboard, Signed $3 Million Deal. Is This The Future of Music, Forbes, 2025) It is also easier for labels and artists to create music with AI quicker even if it is morally wrong and goes against what most artists stand for. (Gordon, AI Ethical Risks In the Music Industry Are Accelerating and We Are Not Ready For What is Coming Our Way, Forbes, 2023). AI is just another competitor alongside every other songwriter and corporate industry workers, however AI is one huge threat as it is becoming so widespread and is ever-learning how to make songs sound more “human”. No matter how unethical AI use in the creative industries is, there are no signs of it disappearing any time soon as some people are embracing it despite criticism from fans and fellow musicians and people have very strong feelings and opinions on the topic from both sides. (Pearce, Timbaland’s AI Music Project is a Ghost in a Misguided Machine, NPR, 2025)
In addition to financial and legal troubles, it is important to also take note that other challenges may arise in a career like this such as mental health issues and substance abuse, due to culture surrounding music and the challenging nature of trying to make it as a successful musician. Mental health problems are more common in musicians compared to the general public because of environmental, financial and intense work schedules so it is important to not be too self-critical and to not overwork yourself. Fortunately there are many charities and organisations to help musicians specifically who are struggling but it is always important to still take care of yourself no matter what. (BPS Communications, Mental Health in the Music Industry, BPS, 2025). Writer’s block is also a common major problem when it comes to songwriting so it is important to develop ways around it whether that be as simple as taking a break, finding an older piece of music to expand on for inspiration or any other method that work. (Gaunt, Writer’s Block – From the Perspective of a Composer, The Open College of the Arts, 2022)
Overall, the career of a songwriter can be a very unpredictable and messy job, however when done right it can become something very rewarding and full of many interesting opportunities. There are many challenges that songwriters have to face but like every role in the music industry, it is inevitable that problems will occur, especially when technology plays such a big role in the ever-changing industry, making it both better and worse in varying cases.
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