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 look… 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 Media… 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 another… 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 am… 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 Answered 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 writing… Read more...
As I waited backstage for my name to be called, I was surprised at how calm I felt. I was about to step in front of a live audience of thousands while TV cameras broadcast my performance to millions of viewers who would watch me compete for more than $10,000. I… Read more...
In this issue: Jason Blume Shares How to Stretch Yourself Melodically Dave Simons Explains the Benefits of Using a Condenser Mic BMI Honors Toby Keith at the 2022 BMI Country Awards BMI Presents “El Camp: Los Compositoras Edition” with Amazon and Erika Vidrio… Read more...
When I critique songs in my BMI Songwriting Workshops, I often hear melodies with a range (the interval between its lowest and the highest notes) limited to one octave or less. When I ask the writers to share their intentions for these songs, they sometimes respond, “My goal is to have… Read more...
