Consider Adele's Songwriting Success

Over the past couple of months I have posted a few thoughts for the songwriters to consider when creating songs that matter to people who listen. I mentioned that we should probably study what makes the top in our industry successful and duplicate it in our own uniqueness. You can read that post here: What Can We Learn From Music Business Top Earners Lists?

When considering a top artist in our industry today that we all can learn from, Adele cannot be overlooked.

Songwriter Success

One thing that I have noticed is that there are a lot of artist out there from all genres of music, however, only few are making a real impact on with their audience. Of course we understand that every one is not going to get the spot light, but there are so many out there that have a tremendous amount of talent, and their only problem is not knowing or understanding the right things to do to take their music to the next level.

I regularly review BMI’s songwriter 101 career advice articles to be informed of the strategies, techniques and wisdom involved with becoming a songwriting success. A recent article posted April 27, 2012 called, Seeking Songwriting Success: Three ways Follow-Through Pays Off by Cliff Goldmacher, gives 3 steps to help songwriters become more efficient.

How Do You Tell A Story?

Recently I reviewed a video called How to spot a liar, on the TED Ideas worth spreading website.  The speaker was Pamela Meyer.  The video was a very interesting study that gives the viewer information on the mannerisms of liars. In her almost 20 minute speech she goes over how to spot a liar through speech patterns and facial expressions. Furthermore Meyer talks about who lies, why they lie and how it comes so naturally.

What can we learn from RIAA

For those of us who really are interested in perusing careers in the music industry, we have to pay attention to the associations that are working on our behalf. RIAA is one of those associations.  RIAA stands for Recording Industry Association of America. The members are the record labels that produce, create, manufacture and distribute most of the music produced in the US. The RIAA supplies lots of information about the music industry to professionals, fans and parents as well However for this post we will focus on the area of statistics and what that means to the music industry professional.

What Can We Learn From Music Business Top Earners Lists?

On March 9, 2012 Billboard posted what they called Music’s Top 40 Money Makers 2012.  Apparently for at least the last three years they have posted top earners in the industry with a description of how their money was made.  The data that was used to configure the possible incomes of these artists were basically airplay, record sales and tours.  What was not so simple is the general math that was used to estimate how much money was made. However it is very interesting to see, according to Billboard, who are the moneymakers and what that could mean towards trends and popularity among music fans.

BMI Songwriter Workshop Review

Recently BMI posted a series of videos onto their newsfeed, of a songwriter workshop held in Atlanta, GA, moderated by BMI executive Byron Wright. Hit making songwriters India Shawn of Full Circle, Shama “Sak Pase” Joseph of the Jugganauts, Reo of the Sound Killers and Kief Brown of The Building, were the panelist educating their listeners on various topics of songwriting. Some of the topics discussed were:

·      Working With Limited Means

·      Taking Less Credit Than You Deserve

·      Pitching A Song

The workshop was great for not only the beginning songwriter, but for any songwriters in the industry to serve as a reminder of the mental and psychological state you need to be in as we take our crafts to the next level.

Getting Your Songs Played Nationwide on iHeartRadio Not Such A Long Stretch

Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio added new stations to its selection.  Here is what’s so big about this addition; the stations that they added are all college campus stations. 

14 of some of the countries well known universities will take their local radio appeal to the entire nation. Clear Channel’s CEO John Hogan told Billboard that those 14 universities are just the first selection and that they will be looking for more colleges to participate in the near future

For those who may not know, iHeartRadio is an Internet radio company that gives access to stations around the nation, including a variety of genres to its subscribers for free.

What does this mean for the unknown artist or the little guy trying to make it to the big leagues?