My father: “How long are you going to give this songwriting? You can’t go on struggling forever.” Me: “You’re right, Dad. I can’t do this forever. If I’m not successful in the next hundred years, I’m going to give up and go back to school!” We’ve all heard… Read more...
In this issue: Jason Blume Breaks Down the Process of Getting Your Songs on Playlists Cliff Goldmacher on the Pros and Cons of Using Clichés in Your Music BMI Celebrates its Latin Awards and Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards BMI Returns to… Read more...
When I started teaching workshops for aspiring recording artists and songwriters more than 30 years ago, signing with a major record label was the only way for artists to reach a wide audience. Without a major label to provide distribution to record stores, radio promotion, and financing for videos, most… Read more...
Story songs are essentially short stories set to music. Like short stories, effective story songs are tasked with conveying a great deal of information with a relatively small number of words. While many songs include elements of a story, the following components are almost always included in strong story songs:… Read more...
I’m often asked which point of view is the strongest for songs. Point of view, which is sometimes referred to as the narrative perspective, determines whether the singer is sharing his or her own story and feelings; telling someone else’s story and feelings; or acting as an impartial narrator. Let’s… Read more...
In this issue: Jason Blume on How to Make Sure Your Songs Are Hitting the Right Target BMI Presents “Music & Film: The Creative Process” Composer Roundtable at the 2023 Sundance Film Fest BMI Names Tracy McKnight Vice President, Creative, Film, TV & Visual… Read more...
When I critique songs at my workshops, I always begin by asking the writers to share their intention for their song. For example, a song might be intended solely for self-expression or catharsis. Another song might be written by a performing songwriter to include on their own recording project, while… Read more...
Every new song I finish is the best one I’ve ever written and is destined to become a life-changing #1 hit—at least that’s the way it feels while the proverbial ink is still wet. In many instances my excitement has led me to rush to record a demo because I… Read more...
At the BMI Songwriter Workshops that I’ve been teaching for thirty years, I hear some amazing songs written by exceptionally talented writers. But there are five lyric problems I frequently identify. Let’s examine these pitfalls—and the easy prescriptions that can fix them. Avoid Lyrics That Ask Questions That Don’t Get… Read more...
As we begin a new year, it’s a good time to revisit some of the advice shared in the year that has passed. I hope these tips will help you achieve your songwriting goals! Excerpt from “How to Stretch Yourself Melodically” A common pitfall for non-performing songwriters is… Read more...
