74% of Songwriters Make Less Than $10k A Year:

[Old Joad]

I know I'm broke😎

 

Edited August 12, 2024 by Old Joad

[Notes_Norton]

Like everyone else in the music biz, a few will make lots of money (Taylor Swift, Carole King, Paul Simon, Barry Mann, McCartney, etc.) some will make decent money, and the majority will make either not enough to live on, or barely enough to live on.

It's what happens when you are an artist. The same goes for painters, novelists, dancers, and so on.

It's supply and demand plus marketing. 

There are zillions of songwriters out there. Some of the songs we've never heard are stunningly excellent. 

Others could be mediocre (or great) but were in the right place, at the right time and with the right connections. 

Making a living in the arts has always been tough for the majority of artists. But it's a good life, because if you can eke out a living doing what you would do for free, you are truly lucky and blessed.

 

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

[Salvatore Sorice]

If you write music that puts a smile on your face, you've accomplished something good.

If you write music that puts a smile on your face - and makes others smile too - you've accomplished something great.

Edited August 13, 2024 by Sal Sorice
typo

[Notes_Norton]

Great attitude, Sal.

[craigb]

17 hours ago, Old Joad said:

74% of Songwriters Make Less Than $10k A Year:

I read this as having a better than 1 in 4 chance of making more than $10k a year! 😁

[Salvatore Sorice]

14 minutes ago, craigb said:

I read this as having a better than 1 in 4 chance of making more than $10k a year! 😁

Now there's a positive attitude!

[paulo]

They clearly haven't heard of the benefits of subscribing to bandlab.

[PhonoBrainer]

[Old Joad]

3 hours ago, paulo said:

They clearly haven't heard of the benefits of subscribing to bandlab.

Not gonna touch that one😄

[Notes_Norton]

I've never written a song that I liked. Mostly due to lyrics. Everything I write just sounds hackneyed. Probably because I seldom listen to the lyrics, it's mostly melody, harmony, rhythm, counterpoint, development and other musical factors that grab my ear. So I'll bring that average way down.

Although I never got rich, or even upper middle class, I've made a living playing songs written by others. Mostly in places that pay royalties to ASCAP or whoever else collects, so somebody is getting money from me (you're welcome). 

Thanks to those songwriters, I'm having a happy life, making a modest living by doing what I would do for free if I didn't need the money.

 

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

[craigb]

But Bob!  If you HAD decided to write lyrics, you could have been in the 74% majority!!! 😂

[PhonoBrainer]

"Love, love me do!

You know, I love you!

I'll always be true!

So pleeee eeee eeeee eeeee eeeeeeeease, love me do"

 

Those guys got PAID.

[paulo]

3 hours ago, PhonoBrainer said:

Those guys got PAID.

And this lot didn't do too badly either....

De do do do, de da da da
Is all I want to say to you
De do do do, de da da da
They're meaningless and all that's true

[craigb]

7 minutes ago, paulo said:

And this lot didn't do too badly either....

De do do do, de da da da
Is all I want to say to you
De do do do, de da da da
They're meaningless and all that's true

Careful Paulo!  You don't want the Police knocking on your door! 😜

[paulo]

9 minutes ago, craigb said:

Careful Paulo!  You don't want the Police knocking on your door! 😜

Many asterisks!

[Salvatore Sorice]

2 hours ago, paulo said:

And this lot didn't do too badly either....

De do do do, de da da da
Is all I want to say to you
De do do do, de da da da
They're meaningless and all that's true

But if you read the lyrics closely it is, IMO, a brilliant song (and the music is top notch as well).

The "de do do do, de da da da" references a baby's nonsensical, but totally innocent and beautiful utterings:
"They're meaningless and all that's true"

But
"Their innocence will pull me through"

As opposed to the priests, politicians, etc. that the song talks about - unlike a child, they're not trustworthy and have no innocence:
"'Cause when their eloquence escapes you
Their logic ties you up and rapes you"

Just my 2 cents...  de do da da 😁

[Old Joad]

Or when your boss sings it...

"Do do do what I tell you to

is all I want to say to you😎

[paulo]

11 hours ago, Sal Sorice said:

Just my 2 cents...  de do da da 😁

Interesting. Now let's hear your take on...

Da diddley, qua qua, da diddley, qua qua
Da diddley, qua qua, da diddley, qua qua
Da diddley, qua qua, da diddley, qua qua
Da diddley, qua qua, da diddley, qua qua

😀

 

[paulo]

5 hours ago, Old Joad said:

Or when your boss sings it...

"Do do do what I tell you to

is all I want to say to you😎

I'd sing more or less the same thing back to the boss.😀

[Salvatore Sorice]

4 hours ago, paulo said:

Interesting. Now let's hear your take on...

Da diddley, qua qua, da diddley, qua qua
Da diddley, qua qua, da diddley, qua qua
Da diddley, qua qua, da diddley, qua qua
Da diddley, qua qua, da diddley, qua qua

😀

 

I think that’s one of Bo’s hits 🙃