Lyric writing is not a get-rich-quick scheme. The music industry is very competitive so breaking onto the music scene isn’t easy. Still, it is possible to make money from writing song lyrics, so don’t give up on your dream just yet.
You don’t need any qualifications to become a songwriter, but you do need a wide vocabulary and a way with words. Many famous songwriters like Bob Dylan and John Lennon were accomplished poets. Read on to find out how to make money writing song lyrics.
Finding lyrical inspiration
Like most things when it comes to lyrics, practice makes perfect. Look for lyrical inspiration. Keep notes so that you can easily refer back to them. Spend time listening to different types of music to get ideas and immerse yourself in the types of music that you most enjoy.
Choose your genre of music carefully. If you’re not a rapper, it is highly unlikely that you will write an eloquent rap. So, stick to what you know.
The best lyrics convey a world of emotion. You have to feel the emotion, so you must have lived the experience about which you write. This is the only way that the listener will connect with the song because it is believable. The best songs are also simple.
Writing the lyrics
Your lyrics must follow a structure. They must flow coherently, and they must have a cadence. This is the frame upon which the melody will hang. Your lyrics must consist of a chorus and two to three verses, and they must tell a story that grips the audience. Good lyrics have catchy chorus lines that rhyme. The verses should also have alternating rhyming lines.
Learn to edit your work and keep honing it down to its simplest level without losing any of the emotion or meaning. Ask your friends and family for feedback. It’s not always easy to share, but constructive criticism from people who care could help you to hone your skills and create something a little more polished.
Protect your music by registering it for copyright protection with the US Government. To do this, download the form from the Library of Congress and register your music.
How to get paid for writing lyrics
You may think that the only way you’ll make anything out of your lyrics is to write for someone who is already a star in the music industry. There are, however, several ways to make money by writing song lyrics.
Marketing your lyrics
Create a portfolio of lyrics. Choose the best to try to open doors to the recording industry. Work with a musician to put music to your words. It is much easier to sell song lyrics backed by a melody. Make a demo in a studio. You could book one or work with a musician in their private home studio.
If the song isn’t right for your voice, don’t sing it. Get someone else to sing it for you.
Making money from song lyrics starts with a demo. With this in hand, you can start to market your lyrics on social media and with various recording companies. Reach out to music professionals on Instagram and Facebook. These may include artists and publishers.
Send your demos to publishers and record companies. You’ll find plenty of information on the internet about publishing companies. Phone and speak to the publisher and get permission to send your demo. If your demo arrives at the publisher’s office unannounced, chances are he’s never going to listen to it.
If you feel up to it, you could also enter a songwriting competition. If you make it to the finals, you may achieve instant fame.
Write for a recording company
Perhaps not easy to get into, but major record companies do hire permanent employees to write songs for their recording artists. Recording companies offer their staff good salaries. Employees also have all the stability and perks of permanent employment.
If you’re talented enough to get a position with a recording company, you’ll work with other musicians who may make changes to your lyrics. So, you’ll have to accept interference in your work. Some artists find this difficult to accept.
Freelance work
If you choose to go freelance, you will send your lyrics to various companies and try and sell your pitch to them. When you freelance, networking is all-important as you will have to develop your own personal brand.
If you sell your work through a music publisher, you will have to share the proceeds. Proceeds are typically split on a 50/50 basis. When you first start out, you may have to give away a lot more than that just to get published and make a lyrical debut in the music industry.
Royalties
Once you’ve registered copyright on your song and published it, you earn royalties every time your song is streamed, downloaded, or copied. There are several types of royalties that you may earn. These include:
- Digital download royalties paid when songs are downloaded from an online music store
- Physical mechanical royalties earned when a physical unit such as a CD or vinyl is sold
- Public performance royalties every time your music is played in a public place like a restaurant or pub or when it is played on the radio or television
- License royalties paid when a television or production company uses your music in a movie, TV show, or commercial
- Print royalties are paid every time your lyrics are printed. This may be in the form of sheet music, clothing, or any other merchandise.
Selling Music NFTs
Non-Fungible Tokens are new kids on the block. They offer artists of all kinds a path into the world of crypto. NFTs are tokens that reside on the blockchain. They represent digital artwork and they’re often sold as investments.
Mint your lyrics and you could earn royalties for each copy sold. Promote your music on social media to ensure that it gets the attention it deserves.
A word of warning; do your homework before you mint. There are often hidden costs in the world of crypto. Find the network that best suits your needs and understand the terms of engagement before you start.
Selling your lyrics on websites
Apart from social media, there are also several websites that specialize in bringing music professionals together. We discuss a few of them.
Songbay
SongBay is the world’s biggest original lyric library. It has on offer a range of membership plans. You pay a subscription, set the price for your lyrics and you keep all the money you make from your songs. SongBay also allows you to share your music on social media platforms and offers free copyright protection
SoundBetter
Recently acquired by Spotify, SoundBetter connects musicians with one another. It is a leading audio production marketplace that encourages songwriters, singers, and lyricists to upload their work. Musicians then employ the skills that they need from the platform.
If you’re new to the music industry, consider offering your lyrics for free so that you can gather good reviews and accolades.
AirGigs
AirGigs is another platform that brings together artists from the music industry. To take advantage of the service, you sign up as a seller and list the services that you can deliver online. If your services are employed, AirGigs will collect the fee and pay you. They charge a commission of between 8% and 15%.
Nashville Songwriters
The Nashville Songwriters’ Association is a non-profit organization set up to protect the rights of songwriters. They offer a platform upon which songwriters can write and publish their songs.
Nashville Songwriters charges a monthly fee of $20 and a $25 admin fee for signing up. In return members, can access workshops, network with one another, and receive royalties on songs sold.
Ascap
Sign up for a membership with the American Society for Composers, Writers, and Producers. It will cost you $50, but you can register your songs, and Ascap will notify you and pay you every time a copy of your lyrics is sold. Ascap is member-owned. It offers a host of career opportunities in the music industry.
Go out there and sell your lyrics
If your heart is set on the music industry and you have a way with words, you can find a way to make money from lyrics. The music industry isn’t easy to get into, but if you’re determined and talented, you could make it.
