A songwriter is one who writes the lyrics Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of expression. The lyricist of traditional musical forms or music Music is an art form whose medium is sound. Common elements of music are pitch , rhythm (and its associated concepts tempo, meter, and articulation), dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture. The word derives from Greek μουσική (mousike), "(art) of the Muses." for songs (or both). One who writes only lyrics may be called a lyricist A lyricist is a writer who specializes in song lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-songwriter, who also composes the song's melody in addition to the lyrics , while one who writes only music may be called a composer A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media[clarification needed]. The level of distinction between composers and other musicians varies, which affects issues such as copyright[specify] and the . Although songwriters of the past commonly composed, arranged and played their own songs, more recently the pressure to produce popular hits has tended to distribute responsibility between a number of people. Popular culture songs may be written by group members, but are now often written by staff writers : songwriters directly employed by music publishers.
Some songwriters serve as their own music publishers In the music industry, a music publisher is responsible for ensuring the songwriters and composers receive payment when their compositions are used commercially. Through an agreement called a publishing contract, a songwriter or composer "assigns" the copyright of their composition to a publishing company. In return, the company licenses , while others have outside publishers.
The old-style apprenticeship approach to learning how to write songs is being supplemented by some universities and colleges and rock schools. A knowledge of modern music technology and business skills are seen as necessary to make a songwriting career, and music colleges offer songwriting diplomas and degrees with music business modules.
Since songwriting and publishing royalties Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party (the "licensee") to another (the "licensor") for ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property (IP) right. Royalties are typically a percentage of gross or net sales derived from use of an asset or a fixed price per unit sold of an item. but there are also other can be a substantial source of income, particularly if a song becomes a hit record A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings. Despite the current dominance of a few , legally, in the US, songs written after 1934 may only be copied or performed publicly by permission of the authors. The legal power to grant these permissions may be bought, sold or transferred. This is governed by international copyright law Copyright is the set of exclusive rights granted to the author or creator of an original work, including the right to copy, distribute and adapt the work. These rights can be licensed, transferred and/or assigned. Copyright lasts for a certain time period after which the work is said to enter the public domain. Copyright applies to a wide range of .
Sir Paul McCartney (far left) and
John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE was an English singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, and together with Paul McCartney formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 20th century (far right), with
George Harrison George Harrison, MBE was an English rock guitarist, singer-songwriter and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embraced Indian mysticism, and helped broaden the horizons of the other Beatles, as well as those of their Western audience. Following , another successful songwriter, in the middle.
Sir Paul McCartney is the most successful songwriter, having written/co written 188 charted records, 91 of which reached the Top 10 and 33 made it to number 1, totalling 1,695 weeks on the chart. [1] John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE was an English singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, and together with Paul McCartney formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 20th century having 1424 weeks charted.[2]
References
^ http://www.talktalk.co.uk/community/galleries/view/community/guinness-records/browse/1 ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Singles_Chart_records
Further reading
Rimler, Walter Not Fade Away Pierian Press (1984) ISBN 0-87650-159-5
Waterman, J. Douglas, Ed. Song: The World's Best Songwriters on Creating the Music That Moves Us Writer's Digest (2007) ISBN 1-58297-424-1
Music industry The music industry sells compositions, recordings and performances of music. Among the many individuals and organizations that operate within the industry are the musicians who compose and perform the music; the companies and professionals who create and sell recorded music (e.g., music publishers, producers, studios, engineers, record labels,
Music companies and careers
Musician · Record labels The term "record label" originally referred to the circular label in the center of a vinyl record that prominently displayed the manufacturer's name, along with other information · Management A talent manager, also known as an artist manager or band manager, is an individual or company who guides the professional career of artists in the entertainment industry. The responsibility of the talent manager is to oversee the day-to-day business affairs of an artist; advise and counsel talent concerning professional matters, long-term plans · Publishing In the music industry, a music publisher is responsible for ensuring the songwriters and composers receive payment when their compositions are used commercially. Through an agreement called a publishing contract, a songwriter or composer "assigns" the copyright of their composition to a publishing company. In return, the company licenses · Entertainment law Entertainment law or media law is a term for a mix of more traditional categories of law with a focus on providing legal services to the entertainment industry. The principal areas of Entertainment Law overlap substantially with the well-known and conventional field of intellectual property law. But generally speaking the practice of entertainment · Concert promotion An entertainment/wrestling/boxing promoter is a person or company in the business of marketing and promoting concerts, boxing matches, wrestling events, festivals, raves, nightclubs or other live events (or tour promotion Tour promoters are the individuals or companies responsible for organizing a live concert tour or special event performance. The tour promoter makes an offer of employment to a particular artist, usually through the artist’s agent or music manager. The promoter and agent then negotiate the live performance contract. The majority of live ) · Retail A record shop or record store is an outlet that sells recorded music. Although vinyl records and audio cassettes are no longer sold in the majority of music stores, in favour of compact discs, people in some countries, like the UK, still use the term "record shop", in conjunction with "CD shop" or "music shop" · Radio Radio is the transmission of signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space. Information is carried by systematically changing some property of the radiated waves, such as · Road crew The road crew are the technicians who travel with a band on tour, usually in sleeper buses, and handle every part of the concert productions except actually performing the music with the musicians. This catch-all term covers tour managers, production managers, stage managers, front of house and monitor engineers, guitar techs, bass techs, drum · Music venues A music venue is any location used for a concert or musical performance. Music venues range in size and location, from an outdoor bandshell or bandstand to an indoor sports stadium. Typically, different types of venues host different genres of music. Opera houses, bandshells, and concerts host classical music performances, whereas public houses, · Music education Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on the development of the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity. The incorporation of music training from preschool to postsecondary education is common in most nations because involvement in music is considered a fundamental · Musical instruments A musical instrument is constructed or used for the purpose of making the sounds of music. In principle, anything that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the beginnings of human culture. The academic study of musical instruments is called organology · Music journalism Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of music and its performance. Modern art music
Record labels The term "record label" originally referred to the circular label in the center of a vinyl record that prominently displayed the manufacturer's name, along with other information
Major The term "record label" originally referred to the circular label in the center of a vinyl record that prominently displayed the manufacturer's name, along with other information Universal Music Group Universal Music Group is the largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry. It is the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations. Universal Music Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of international French media conglomerate Vivendi · Sony Music Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America · Warner Music Group Warner Music Group is the third-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies. The current incarnation of the company was formed in 2004 when it was spun off from Time Warner, and as a result, Time Warner no longer retains any ownership. Warner Music Group also has a · EMI The EMI Group is a British music company. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the "big four" record companies and a member of the RIAA. EMI Group also has a major publishing arm - EMI Music Publishing - based in New York City. The company was once a constituent
Independent An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels list of independent UK record labels Categories: Independent record labels | Lists of record labels | British record labels | Electronic music record labels )
Record company divisions
Music executive A music executive or record executive is person within a record label who works in senior management, making executive decisions over the label's artists. Their role varies greatly but in essence, they can oversee one, or many, aspects of a record label, including A&R, contracts, management, publishing, production, manufacture, marketing/ · A&R · Art (cover design) An album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially-released audio recording product, or album. The term can refer to either the printed cardboard covers typically used to package sets of 10" and 12" 78 rpm records, single and sets of 12" LPs, sets of 45 rpm records , or the front-facing panel of a CD package, and, · Manufacturing Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to make things for use or sale. Also it can be used for selling things. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale. Such · Marketing Marketing is the process by which companies create customer interest in products or services. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business development. It is an integrated process through which companies build strong customer relationships and create value for their customers and for themselves · Radio promotion Radio promotion is the division of a record company which is charged with placing songs on the radio. They maintain relationships with program directors at radio stations and attempt to persuade them to play singles to promote the sale of recordings, such as CDs, sold by the record company. They may also pay a fee to a third party, known as an · Distribution The music industry sells compositions, recordings and performances of music. Among the many individuals and organizations that operate within the industry are the musicians who compose and perform the music; the companies and professionals who create and sell recorded music (e.g., music publishers, producers, studios, engineers, record labels,
Production
Recording artist · Record producer A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music. A producer has many roles that may include, but are not limited to, gathering ideas for the project, selecting songs and/or musicians, coaching the artist and musicians in the studio, controlling the · Songwriter · Arrangement The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents the melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic structure& · Sound engineer Audio engineering is a part of audio science dealing with the recording and reproduction of sound through mechanical and electronic means. The field draws on many disciplines, including electrical engineering, acoustics, psychoacoustics, and music. Unlike acoustical engineering, audio engineering does not deal with noise control or acoustical · Session musician Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right. The term is applied not only to those working in contemporary musical styles such as rock,
Music genres A-F · G-M · N-R · S-Z · Cultural and regional
Pop Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented towards a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short and simple love songs and utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes. Pop music has absorbed influences from most other forms of popular music, but as a genre is · R&B Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in the 1980s. Some sources refer to the style as urban contemporary . R&B has also been used to refer to rhythm & bass · Hip hop Hip hop is a musical genre which developed as part of hip hop culture, and is defined by key stylistic elements such as rapping, DJing, sampling, scratching and beatboxing. Hip hop began in the South Bronx of New York City in the 1970s. The term rap is often used synonymously with hip hop, but hip hop denotes the practices of an entire subculture · Drum and bass Drum and bass is a type of electronic dance music which emerged in the mid 1990s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats (typically between 160–190 bpm, occasional variation is noted in older compositions), with heavy bass, sub-bass lines, and occasional infra-bass lines. Drum and bass began as an offshoot of the United Kingdom rave scene · Rock Rock music is a genre of popular music that entered the mainstream in the 1950s. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country music and also drew on folk music, jazz and classical music. The sound of rock often revolves around the electric guitar, a back beat laid down by a rhythm section of electric bass guitar and · Heavy Metal Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and the United States. With roots in blues-rock and psychedelic rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and · Jazz · Folk · Blues · Reggae · Country · Gospel · Soul · Funk · Motown · New age · Dance · Electronica · Easy listening · Latin · Instrumental · Soundtrack · Classical pop · Crossover · World
Release formats
Album · Single · EP
Music awards
Diapason d'Or · Grammy Award · Latin Grammy Awards · World Music Awards · American Music Award · Brit Award · MTV Video Music Award · MuchMusic Video Awards · NRJ Music Awards · MTV Europe Music Awards · Echo Award · Choice Music Prize · Grand Prix du Disque · Juno Award · Meteor Music Awards · MOBO Award · ARIA Music Awards · TEC Awards · Golden Disk Awards ·
Music charts
ARIA Charts · Billboard Hot 100 · Canadian Hot 100 · Irish Singles Chart · UK Singles Chart · (list of worldwide music charts )
Sales
certifications
RIAA Gold · Platinum · Multi-Platinum · Diamond
BPI Silver · Gold · Platinum
CRIA Gold · Platinum · Multi-Platinum · Diamond
ARIA Gold · Platinum
PROMUSICAE Gold · Platinum · Diamond
Music publications
Billboard · Hot Press Rolling Stone · NME · Q · Kerrang! · Mojo · Smash Hits · Top of the Pops
Music retailers
Online music stores (e.g. iTunes Store ) · Best Buy · Wal-Mart · Target · Amazon.com · Trans World Entertainment · Virgin Megastores · HMV
Other
A-side and B-side · hidden track · Christian music industry
Television
MTV · Viva · Much · Fuse · CMT · TMF · B.E.T.
Categories: Songwriters | Occupations in music
Personal tools
New features
Log in / create account
Namespaces
">
Variants
Views
">
Actions
Search"> Search Navigation
Interaction
About Wikipedia
Community portal
Recent changes
Contact Wikipedia
Donate to Wikipedia
Help
Toolbox
What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Cite this page
Print/export
Create a book Download as PDF Printable version Languages
Bahasa Indonesia
Български
فارسی
Suomi
Français
עברית
Hrvatski
日本語
ქართული
Nederlands
ไทย
Deutsch