Ever since I can remember, I have been a writer of sorts. Currently, I am writing for an advertising agency in the marketing and advertising industry. Going back to when I was four years old, my life as a songwriter began, and I wrote my first song. Of course, it was quite simple. I sang about my best friend and me swinging on the swing set.
As I grew older and into my teens, it was more about teenage angst and first loves. Moving into my twenties, well, let’s just say it got a little more risqué (I am a huge Prince fan, and that was also during the Madonna Erotica years).
Somewhere around twenty-two, I compiled all of the songs I had written to date, put them in a book of songs, and sent them off to Washington, DC, to be officially copyrighted, which I still have today. Once I was married and started having children, my songwriting changed again. It went back to a simpler form, and I wrote many lullabies for my babies, which I sang and rocked them to bed to each night.
Currently, one “baby” is twenty, and the other is sixteen. And if you’re a parent, you know it’s an era when you end up having more time to yourself as they are out of the house most days, being young people and exploring their worlds without mama by their side. So, I have been thinking a lot about writing songs again.
Today, with Google by my side, I can easily search for ways to publish any songs I write. I also found out that there are actually trade shows for artists and songwriters. Here are a few that I found useful to songwriters:
- NAMM(National Association of Music Merchants) – Trade show that includes the Believe in Music event
- WOMEX(Worldwide Music Expo) – An international music convention that features concerts, conferences, and documentary films
- 30a Songwriter’s Festival
- Fernandina Songwriter Festival
- Opelika Songwriters Festival
- Durango Songwriters Expo
- CMA Songwriters Series: A series that features songwriters performing their songs and sharing the stories behind them
- ASCAP Experience: An event hosted by ASCAP that includes workshops and competitions
According to Song Town, they advise the following ways to submit songs for other artists, “The truth of the matter is that there is no one way to “submit” songs to the music business. When you simplify the “song submission” idea, there are basically three categories of song submissions that a songwriter should educate themselves about. I’ll cover each of those here.
- Educational Submissions
- Submitting songs to publishers or PROs- ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC.
- Submitting songs to recording artists,”.
Who is the highest paid songwriter
Based on Rolling Stone magazine stats, Wikipedia notes the below top songwriters, “Top 10 songwriters:
- Bob Dylan
- Paul McCartney
- John Lennon
- Chuck Berry
- Smokey Robinson
- Mick Jagger / Keith Richards
- Carole King / Gerry Goffin
- Paul Simon
- Joni Mitchell
- Stevie Wonder,”.
Guinness Book of World Records states, “In 1979, Guinness World Records recognized McCartney as the “most honored man in music”, and his superlative legacy remains strong today with GWR titles such as the most US No. 1 singles by a songwriter (32) and the longest span of UK No. 1 singles (60 years 198 days),”.
Furthermore, Songwirter.net notes, “Paul McCartney is currently the most successful songwriter of all time; he holds the record of 32 songs that hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. His #1 hits came from his time with the Beatles, Wings, collaboration with Michael Jackson (“Say, Say, Say”) and as a solo artist,”.
Well, that is certainly no surprise to me, the daughter of the number one Beatles fan! My mom played The Beatles so much that I joked and said that I knew all the words of their music by the time I came out of my mother’s womb. And specifically, Paul was her favorite Beatle so naturally, I grew up listening to The Wings and Paul’s solo projects.
When my mom was a young teenager, my grandmother did not allow her to see The Beatles in concert, but my grandfather would secretly buy her their records as they were released. Later, when I was around twenty, I landed tickets to a Paul McCartney concert at The Silverdome in Auburn Hills, Michigan. I think it was the best gift I ever got her. She was so elated and cried during a lot of the concert. They were tears of joy, of course, and we had the best time together. I was honored to have been able to do that for my mom.
What is the most successful song ever written?
I suppose, as with any art form, this, too, might be subjective. I know I have my favorites, but let’s hear what the experts have to say.
Far Out Magazine shares the following top twenty best-selling songs of all time, “Bing Crosby – ‘White Christmas’ – 50million
Elton John – ‘Something About the Way You Look Tonight’ / ‘Candle in the Wind (1997)’ – 33million
Mungo Jerry – ‘In the Summertime’ – 30million
Bill Haley & His Comets – ‘Rock Around the Clock’ – 25million
Whitney Houston – ‘I Will Always Love You’ – 20million
Elvis Presley – ‘It’s Now or Never’ – 20million
USA for Africa – ‘We Are the World’ – 20million
The Ink Spots – ‘If I Didn’t Care’ – 19million
Baccara – ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’ – 18million
Celine Dion – ‘My Heart Will Go On’ – 18million
Mariah Carey – ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ – 16million
Bryan Adams – ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It for You’ – 15million
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John – ‘You’re the One That I Want’ – 15million
The Andrews Sisters – ‘Bei Mir Bist Du Schön’ – 14million
Scorpions – ‘Wind of Change’ – 14million
Prince Nico Mbarga – ‘Sweet Mother’ – 13million
Kyu Sakamoto – ‘Sukiyaki’ – 13million
Gene Autry – ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ – 12.5million
The Beatles – ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ – 12million
Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman – ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ – 12million,”.
Being a huge Christmas song fan, I am not surprised that two of the top twenty are Christmas songs! Now, that’s one type of song I have not been able to write…yet.
How to write songs for other artists
In conclusion, writing songs for other artists requires versatility, an understanding of diverse artistic styles, and a keen sense of collaboration. Engaging with industry events and networking can amplify opportunities.