In all genres of music a majority of the hits are
collaborations. In the Country genre, in fact, ALL of the top songs are
collaborations! If you look at the current issue of Billboard magazine and
check out the radio play list charts closely, you will quickly notice that the
vast majority of the songs you see charted there were co-written by two, three
or more writers.
There are the obvious benefits to co-writing for
songwriters. The most obvious is being able to bounce ideas off of each other.
This process allows you to say dumb things to each other until the profound
ones come out. Collaborating brings you new ideas and cannot only bring in
other ideas; it can also inspire you to new ideas that you would not otherwise
have found on your own. A co-writer benefits from another point of view or
another’s way of saying the same thing differently than ourselves.
Co-writing can help you write more songs and stronger
songs if both writers are focused on the same goals. Writing with more
experienced songwriters teaches you quickly the do's and don'ts that exist in
the world of pro songwriting. Collaborating builds a songwriters catalog
faster. You share the frustration and celebrate the victories with a co-writer.
One of the major benefits, but less obvious, is the shared
connections to get the song heard, pitched, recorded and released. The
royalties are divided, but the marketing efforts are multiplied. This really
comes into play if you are fortunate enough to write with already established
successful songwriters who have publishing deals or just lots more connections
in the business than you do. Also the cost of demoing your song can be half
what it would be if you wrote it alone.
Creative energy is a powerful force and sometimes it is
magnified when two or more writers are batting ideas around and reacting to
each other. You will grow together and find opportunities are multiplied by
your co-writing relationship as you share your resources. Never hesitate to
discuss writer share percentages with a co-writer. But remember, anything too
formal too early can kill the fun and desire to continue working together. Find
someone that is trustworthy because you trust him/her with your ideas and those
are worth money.
Chances are you’re stronger in one area (lyrics or music)
than another; a collaborator can add strength where you’re weak. When you write
with other songwriters you can open up incredible paths for your music that you
would never explore alone. To be a good co-writer, you must be willing to be
completely open. You then can explore any subject without inhibitions. That is
the only way you can write honestly with another person.
Published in October 2013 issue of The Leaf
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