How to Become a Paid Songwriter

Do you have any awesome songs in your back catalogue? And you'd like to start profiting from them? You do, of course!

That's why we asked Rocket Songs for their tips on how to get paid as a songwriter and how to maximize the value of songs you've written (or haven't written) throughout your musical career.

Almost everything in music nowadays is based on a written song. Many people begin their careers as singers or songwriters. Whatever the case may be, it's important to know what you can do with great songs, or what you can do with a great song written by someone else, in today's fragmented landscape.

How to earn money from songwriting

Sync Licensing

The sync licensing industry is booming these days. Syncing your music allows you to use it in TV, film, and advertising projects. You can either seek out these opportunities on your own or join a music library. When they are used, you are compensated. Here's where you can learn more about joining music libraries and getting your music used in TV and film.

Publishing deals

There are numerous routes that lead to this location. Submitting songs to labels and publishing houses, usually through lawyers or managers, or establishing a name for yourself through self-publishing and self-promotion. Once signed, you may be eligible for a monthly advance against future royalties as well as assistance in promoting your songs. You may have to give up a portion of your royalties, but it may be worthwhile.

Mechanical licensing

Well-written songs are in high demand among musicians all over the world. You can upload your songs to a few marketplaces and have them recorded by others. When you license something, you usually see revenue, but keep in mind that many licenses don't allow you to keep ownership. This is possible at Rocket Songs, a digital marketplace that allows songwriters to earn money by exposing their high-quality songs to a global audience of musicians.

Record and distribute

This one is well-known, but we'll just list the various types of royalties you'll be eligible for if you go this route: mechanical, publishing, streaming, performance, and possibly even digital print royalties. Remember that Ditto Music allows you to start releasing music on Spotify, iTunes, and other platforms.

What kind of songs people looking for?

If you have a catalogue of songs that you've written, consider the following before releasing them into the public domain. The following are the most popular genres in the industry right now:

Keep in mind that many artists and singers looking for original songs come from countries with slightly different musical sensibilities. This means that if you have a lot of songs in one of the aforementioned genres, you should put a diverse selection of songs up.

Last but not least, a word about quality. Lyrics, how it was engineered, production values, melody, and/or lyrical quality are all factors in determining a song's quality. Because songs are listened to before licencing, the quality of the recording is especially important when it comes to getting paid for your songs, according to Rocket Songs.

How to record a song you didn’t write?

Recording a song you didn't write may not be for everyone, but many of the world's biggest artists do it all the time. Here are some of the reasons why you should think about it.

To Explore New Genres: Different genres provide a fresh perspective and a chance to stretch your creative muscles. If you've ever considered trying a new genre, your best bet might be to find a "outside song" and experiment with it.

Learning Sessions: Every good songwriter has his or her own set of skills and techniques. You can learn new tricks and trades to improve your own skill by recording or simply studying someone else's high-quality song.

Something Borrowed, Something New: Use new "outside songs" in your live performances to spice up your show. More importantly, new songs provide unique experiences for your fans. New sets are a huge hit with fans.

Record and Release: The reality of the new streaming economy in music is that it is based on hits. The better the chance, the more good, well-written songs there are. You can only write so many hits, and even if you cover someone else's song, you can still make a lot of money from performance, streaming, and distribution royalties.