Skip to content
Home ยป How to Make Sure You’re Not Copywriting Music

How to Make Sure You’re Not Copywriting Music

If you’re reading this, I assume you’ve either written a commercial song or you’re about to. Maybe you’re even headed to a conference to pitch your music to agents and publishers. You want to make sure you’re not going to end up with “traditional” lyrics in your song, written by someone else. You want to make sure you’re going to write your own lyrics.

Here’s a pretty common scenario: You’re in a band, and you’ve been writing and practicing your songs for months. You finally decide to record a demo, and before heading into the studio, you send it to some friends and colleagues to get their opinion. One of them immediately responds with, “Oh wow, this is definitely not what I want to hear. This song will never make it onto the radio.” And you’re off to the races. You frantically search for a lyricist that is both skilled and available. Luckily, you manage to find someone who is both, and together, you finally finish the song. But by then, it’s too late. The deadline for the radio station has passed, and your song will never be played on the airwaves because it wasn’t what they were looking for.

Now is the time to be thinking about how to avoid this situation. To make sure you’re not going to be roped into writing something that you don’t want to, here are some things you can do:

Find Your Own Lyrics

Most music these days is pretty upbeat, so it can be difficult to find lyrics that are both humorous and appropriate. You don’t want to come off sounding like a drunken sailor on shore leave on Christmas Day, do you? Especially if you want your song to be taken seriously by others. There are plenty of websites and apps that can help you come up with some good lyrics, so don’t feel like you have to resort to terrible jokey lines just to make something funny.

Have Pitch Wars

Pitch Wars is a platform where songwriters can pitch their original material to professional artists and record labels, seeking capital for their projects. You can use the platform to find a collaborator whose voice and lyrics you love, and who also has a reputation for being a great collaborator. Having a collaborator will take a weight off your back, since you’ll have someone to help you bring your vision to life, but it won’t be entirely up to you. This is a good place to find a lyricist, since you can filter the results based on your preferences, as well as those of the company you’re pitching to. Find a collaborator who has both the skills and the availability to work with you on your song. Pitch Wars is a good place to find a lyricist who is both skilled and available.

Avoid Music Software

There are plenty of music software tools out there that can help with the process of writing music. Some people prefer using a piece of software to get inspiration for their lyrics. Others use it to take notes while they write. Still others use it to track instruments and song structure. You don’t have to avoid the software completely, but you should be aware of how it can influence your creative process. If you’re heading into the studio, don’t use the software to write your songs. It can certainly help, but only if you’ve got a notebook and a pen ready to go. Otherwise, you might find yourself using outdated material when you go into the studio. Avoid using software for writing songs, if you’re serious about wanting to write your own lyrics.

Don’t Rely On Google

Did you know that Google offers a service where you can find lyrics and song meanings? Google has curated a database of song meanings and lyrics, which means they have access to a huge amount of data. While this is certainly a helpful tool, it’s not exactly what you should be relying on, if you’re looking for a reliable source of lyrics. Instead, look at websites like LyricWikia or SongMeanings.com, which offer information about songs and their meanings, along with allowing you to sing along with the lyrics. Google is an awesome tool, but it’s not exactly what you need to be looking for if you want to write your own lyrics.

Read Lyrics Before You Write

Did you know that it’s actually against the law to write a song with unoriginal lyrics? It’s considered plagiarism, and it’s definitely an ugly thing. Even if you hate the original singer or band, you should still try to avoid using their songs if you want to write your own. One way to do this is to simply read the lyrics before you start writing. This will give you an idea of whether or not what you’re writing will be appropriate for the song. It’s not a bad idea to ask other people to read your song and give you feedback, as well. This will help you find the right tone and approach for the song. You don’t want to sound like a total knockoff, do you? Even if the artist is well-known and you agree with their message, you still don’t want to put yourself in the position of being a copycat. Before you put a finished product out there, make sure you’ve done everything possible to make it original.

If you’re worried about whether or not your lyrics will be appropriate for a general audience, ask yourself, “Is this material I would want to hear/see myself?” Most importantly, be yourself. Make sure you’re honest with your opinions and feelings, and don’t be afraid to express yourself in the way you find most comfortable. That’s what makes you unique, and that’s what will make your lyrics special. You don’t have to be the best damn lyricist ever, but you should be the one who speaks to the most people, about the most things, in the best way possible. This is what will make your song stand out amongst the rest.