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How much do songwriters make?

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The salary of a songwriter can vary. It all depends on who your clientsare and how many hits you write.

Photo by Rose Butler on Unsplash Photo by Rose Butler on Unsplash

The average salary of a songwriter in Canada: $57,127 per year

1

Photo by Gene Gallin on Unsplash Photo by Gene Gallin on Unsplash

The average salary of a songwriter in the United States: $50,962 per year

2

The Pros and Cons of becoming a songwriter

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1

Pros:

  • express your creativity

  • work with like-minded people

  • ability to be your own boss and chose your own clients

  • pays well if you find the right gig

  • always learning new things to keep up with new music

Cons:

  • extremely competitive

  • you'll get rejected a lot

  • finding work can be a challenge

  • inconsistent paychecks

  • keeping up to stay relevant can be exhausting

  • writers block and imposter syndrome

Meme of man having fresh song ideas - and skeleton having multiple unfinished songs

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Rhianna saying, "You Ready?"

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Do you have a passion for writing captivating lyrics?

Are you someone who often thinks of great song ideas?

Maybe you wish to express yourself through writing songs for yourself or even other artists?

"I wrote a song about it" GIF with man playing guitar

If you answered YES to these questions, then becoming a songwriter might be right for you!

What do songwriters do?

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Songwriters don't always perform the songs they write.

  • Songwriters often write songs for other artists to perform, ad jingles, theatre, or other productions.

  • They write the lyrics and the musical elements of the song.

  • Songwriters can be music composers or producers.

  • Obtaining copyright is also important when writing songs.

Did you know?

Did you know that the great Sir Elton John didn't write his own song lyrics? While he composed his own music, his good friend Bernie Taupin wrote the words. (biography.com, "Meet Bernie Taupin, the Writer Behind Elton John's Biggest Hits", July 14, 2020).

What skills do I need to become a songwriter?

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You may be asking yourself, "Do I need to be able to sing or play an instrument to become a songwriter?"

While these things are helpful, they aren't necessary. All you need is to have a basic understanding of song structure and a good ear.

Basic song structures have verses and a catchy chorus that is often repeated and brings the song together.

Having a good ear involves a good understanding of pitchand melody.

Person wearing headphones and writing a song Photo by Soundtrap on Unsplash

What tools does a songwriter use?

man creating a voice memo on his phone Photo by Soundtrap on Unsplash

You probably have one of the most useful tools for songwriting in your hand right now: your phone!

Using your phone to record voice memos of song ideas is one of the best things you can do. If you wait too long to record your idea, you might risk losing it later.

Here are more tools you can use for recording your song ideas.

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How to improve your songwriting skills

Musician saying, "Learn from the best."

  • Listen to lots of different music for inspiration.

  • Take courses to improve your writing in school

  • Connect with other songwriters on social media

  • Enrolling in a music or writing class can also help you build your network

  • Practice your writing — journaling is a great way to do this!

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Quiz

To be a good songwriter you should:

How much do songwriters make?

Flaticon Icon

The salary of a songwriter can vary. It all depends on who your clientsare and how many hits you write.

Photo by Rose Butler on Unsplash Photo by Rose Butler on Unsplash

The average salary of a songwriter in Canada: $57,127 per year

Photo by Gene Gallin on Unsplash Photo by Gene Gallin on Unsplash

The average salary of a songwriter in the United States: $50,962 per year

The Pros and Cons of becoming a songwriter

Flaticon Icon

Pros:

  • express your creativity

  • work with like-minded people

  • ability to be your own boss and chose your own clients

  • pays well if you find the right gig

  • always learning new things to keep up with new music

Cons:

  • extremely competitive

  • you'll get rejected a lot

  • finding work can be a challenge

  • inconsistent paychecks

  • keeping up to stay relevant can be exhausting

  • writers block and imposter syndrome

Meme of man having fresh song ideas - and skeleton having multiple unfinished songs

Take Action

Rhianna saying, "You Ready?"

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How much do songwriters make?

Flaticon Icon

The salary of a songwriter can vary. It all depends on who your clientsare and how many hits you write.

Photo by Rose Butler on Unsplash Photo by Rose Butler on Unsplash

The average salary of a songwriter in Canada: $57,127 per year

1

Photo by Gene Gallin on Unsplash Photo by Gene Gallin on Unsplash

The average salary of a songwriter in the United States: $50,962 per year

2

The Pros and Cons of becoming a songwriter

Flaticon Icon

1

Pros:

  • express your creativity

  • work with like-minded people

  • ability to be your own boss and chose your own clients

  • pays well if you find the right gig

  • always learning new things to keep up with new music

Cons:

  • extremely competitive

  • you'll get rejected a lot

  • finding work can be a challenge

  • inconsistent paychecks

  • keeping up to stay relevant can be exhausting

  • writers block and imposter syndrome

Meme of man having fresh song ideas - and skeleton having multiple unfinished songs

Take Action

Rhianna saying, "You Ready?"

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