How to Become a Freelance Songwriter and Make Money Writing Songs
Imagine waking up every morning, excited to write songs that inspire and move people. This dream can come true by becoming a freelance songwriter. Not only can you shape the narrative of our culture, but you can also make a sustainable income doing what you love. However, it can be intimidating to start from scratch. Here are six practical steps to help you become a successful freelance songwriter:
Develop and Hone Skills
Start by studying the craft of songwriting. Read books, take online courses, listen to podcasts, or attend workshops. This will give you a comprehensive understanding of the key elements of songwriting, such as melody, lyrics, structure, and style. Moreover, you should practice consistently, even if it's just a few minutes per day. Remember, practice leads to progress.
Establish Brand and Image
Your personal brand is how you showcase yourself as a freelance songwriter. This includes your online presence, such as your website, social media profiles, and online portfolio. You want to make sure your website is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and highlights your strengths as a songwriter. Additionally, craft a captivating pitch that highlights what makes you unique and memorable among other songwriters.
Discover Your Niche
To stand out among other songwriters in the market, you must identify what makes your music unique. Your niche could be a genre, style, or theme that you specialize in. For instance, writing music for video games or movies could be your niche. This will help you attract the right clients and ultimately, create the best music.
Look for Opportunities
You can find music industry opportunities in many places. Collaborate with other songwriters or musicians, network at events and concerts, and pitch to music supervisors and publishers. You can also pitch to music libraries, which are databases of songs that libraries license for use in productions. Other opportunities are songwriting contests, music blogs, art competitions, and magazines.
Be Professional, Persistant and Do Outbound Marketing
When you pitch your music, you need to be professional, polished, and persistent. Set realistic goals, such as pitching your songs to at least one client per day. Additionally, follow up with every pitch in a culturally sensitive manner. Doing this will help you establish long-lasting relationships with potential clients.
3 Platforms for Freelancing
Lastly, there are three reputable platforms where you can find freelance songwriting gigs: Soundbetter, HitRecord, and Fiverr. Each of these platforms has its unique characteristics that could help you get more clients.
Conclusion
Becoming a freelance songwriter is a dream career for many songwriters. While it's not easy to accomplish, it's not an impossible feat. Be ready to invest time, effort and creative energy to develop your skills, establish your brand, discover your niche, look for opportunities, and conduct outbound marketing. And remember, there are reputable platforms where you can start your freelance songwriting journey. Put these six practical steps into action, and soon you will be enjoying the freedom and creativity of writing songs as a freelance writer.
