Inspiration Behind the Music
Not everyone in the music industry is looking for fame and fortune. There are thousands of people behind the scenes the public doesn’t see that make the whole industry work. That’s not to say that those people aren’t talented. Stage musicians, or the celebrities we recognize, are only a portion of the talent found in the music industry. These people are on the stage not just because they are talented musicians, but also because they are talented entertainers. To be successful on the stage, they have to be confident in front of people, and able to put forth the energy and liveliness that fans crave in a live show. Some of the people behind the scenes showcase just as much talent, just in a very different setting. There are many cases where those behind the scenes people and those stage people are completely dependent on each other.
Some stage artists write and perform their own music. Whether it’s because they don’t have time, or because songwriting is not their forte, other stage artists need the help of a songwriter. Songwriters write music for a number of applications and genres. Lyricists are songwriters that only write lyrics. Composers are songwriters that only write music. In the music industry, lyricists, composers, and traditional songwriters provide a large portion of the music we hear from popular artists. Songwriters have to have a talent for rhythm and sound, as well as a good idea of what is popular in the industry. They have a good understanding of the emotions that music can invoke, and the creativity to express the appropriate emotions in a way that is appealing. Stage artists and recording artists use songwriters to help expand their musical variety, and to give themselves more time to focus on their stage shows. Songwriters do a lot more than just write for major artists, though. All of the music we hear on commercials is written by some form of songwriter. Songwriters create jingles for all manner of advertisement. Many music producers are also songwriters. When they have a band in the studio that needs more songs, they write songs that will suit the band.
Songwriting is a financially rewarding profession. Songwriters can get paid for their work in a couple of different ways. When an artist chooses to record or perform one of their songs, or a company uses their jingle in a commercial, songwriters get a fee for the rights. Additionally, songwriters are paid royalties for a percentage of the income from their music. In the U.S., anyone wanting to use music written by someone else is required to have permission from the owner of the rights to the music.
Songwriters bring art and emotion into our daily lives in a number of ways. They bring us their heart and soul with every song they write. Their talent and creativity provides entertainment for millions of people. Even though the performing artist usually gets the credit, songwriters are the driving force behind much of the music industry.