Collaborative Songwriting Strategies
Musical Excellence through Teamwork
Songwriters need to recognize that much modern music ( including the Beetles sound ) is the result of a committee-style creative process. The guys from the band would come up with the brilliant stuff and their producer George Martin would structure it into a coherent musical statement. Neither could exist without the other.
Often I hear people who obviously have a great concept that came right from their soul experience of life. In some cases I totally related to the theme of their song, cause I have been in those same shoes.
This is really where great music begins. However: their piece turned out to be unmusical in many ways.
These writers need to consider taking their concepts and hooking up with a composing partner who is very talented musically but lacks the verbal expressiveness.
This strategy is a key to Elton John's success, his lyrical themes were actually developed by his writing partner. Elton took that VERBAL soul-inspiration and then ran with it musically.
Finding Better Writing Partners
I've heard several submissions from folks who have very nice recordings and compositions backing them up. But I can tell that the "producer" – although very qualified musically has ZERO appreciation for what the singer/writer is all about!
This includes:
- Writing music that doesn't at all match up with the real emotion behind the piece.
- Styles of music that don't tonally complement the sound of the singer's voice.
- Great sounding recordings that totally feature the producer's strong points to the point that they overshadow the vocalist.
For example: a great rock-guitarist that ALWAYS has to be featured through-out every song. Even though his female vocalist partner has a soulful voice that is better suited to something much more mello.
Singer/songwriters end up spending thousands of dollars with these types of people before they realize what they've gotten into.
Learn how to cut your losses before you get in to deep.
Taking Control of the Creative Process
By learning some basic recording skills – such as how to operate a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) you can eliminate concerns about the high-cost of studio time – especially while you are in the songwriting stage.
Check out our recommendations to get a strategy on setting up your own basic recording studio for as little as $200.
Chances are, that you can figure this out on your own in a very short time. But if you prefer, you can hire someone for a couple of sessions to help you set it up and learn to use it.
Once you are empowered you are free to really get creative with your music. This gives you the advantage of being able to try out a whole variety of different writers and see if any of them has something that really speaks to your soul and fits with your unique sound! See if there is a creative chemistry that brings out your best!
If you follow our whole songwriting strategy – you will see that we recommend solidly laying out the song and Performance Testing it for sales-power – BEFORE you go and invest a ton of money on studio time, session-musicians, or shrink-wrapped CD product (See Your Own CD Factory.)
Paying Your Collaborators
Make that first session more of an audition. If you aren't impressed after 3-4 hours there should be no payment involved.
If you come up with something you like, offer a work for hire agreement. For "good-and-suitable payment" of say $25-$80 – they agree that the content belongs to exclusively to you, to use however you may want. The writer releases to you any future claim to income or copyright credit on the piece.
Get a separate signed receipt for the payment – and write a check – to keep an official record of the transaction.
If you feel real chemistry and want a long-term relationship – you can both put your names on the copyright registration and share income and songwriting credit.
Sell Your Music Now!
