by Scott Ashley         Diane Warren's hits are an envy of all songwriters, as she craft hit after hit after hit.... Her hits are an art form that transcends time, and behind every timeless melody lies within the genius of prolific songwriters. Diane has won several Grammy Awards, Emmys, and Golden Globes and has 14 Oscar nominations (at press time). 9 of her songs have hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. An interesting fact: She wrote legendary rock band Aerosmith’s most successful song “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”. Diane Warren, a nam ..read more

      by Scott Ashley         Paul McCartney is currently the most successful songwriter of all time; he holds the record of 32 songs that hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. His #1 hits came from his time with the Beatles, Wings, collaboration with Michael Jackson (“Say, Say, Say”) and as a solo artist.  In the vast realm of Pop music, few names shine as brightly as Paul McCartney. As a founding member of The Beatles, Wings, prolific solo artist and Classical composer, McCartney's influence on the world of songwriting is immeasurable. In ..read more

      by Scott Ashley        Max Martin is a highly successful Swedish songwriter and producer mega hit machine of today known for creating numerous hit songs for some of the biggest pop artists in the world in the past few years. Max Martin recently broke the record for producing most #1 songs when Ariana Grande’s “Yes, And?” recently debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The previous record holder was the late George Martin, the famous producer of the Beatles. Furthermore, Max Martin is the songwriter with the second-most number-one singles o ..read more

      by Scott Ashley       Here is an essential guide to Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) and why every songwriter or composer should join one sooner than later (if you haven’t). For songwriters, if their songs are being played on radio, department stores, venues, etc. Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) help you collect royalties from any business, entity, or establishment that plays their music publicly. By joining a PRO group like BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC, you give them the right to track and retrieve this money on your behalf. If you have any ..read more

 by Scott Ashley Avoiding clichés in writing Christmas songs can be a challenge, as many of the traditional themes and imagery associated with the holiday have been used countless times before. However, with some effort and creativity, it is possible to create a fresh and original Christmas song that avoids the most common clichés. Here are some tips: Look for unique perspectives: Instead of writing about the same old themes and ideas, try to find a unique perspective on the holiday season. Think about your own experiences and memories, or consider how different cultures or religions ce ..read more

  by Scott Ashley       It’s always nice to get credit for your work — and maybe even a paycheck! When you’re ready to officially claim your musical creations in the eyes of the law, it’s time to think about copyrighting your songs. A copyright signifies the ownership of intellectual property by an individual or group of people. This property can be anything from a piece of artwork or written story to poems and songs. Once you copyright a song, it’s officially your property, and nobody else can use it without your permission, or at least paying you royalties for ..read more

  by Scott Ashley         Can ChatGPT really improve your songwriting, or will it replace you as a songwriter? It’s 2023, and artificial intelligence is just about everywhere. It’s in your cell phone, on your computer, and running algorithms all around you. According to trends, the AI adoption rate has been increasing by 35% steadily for the past few years, and it doesn’t show any signs of stopping. It was only a matter of time before AI made its way to music. Should songwriters be worried about being replaced by AI, or can it be used as an aid to make even bett ..read more

  by Karen Randle       Wouter Kellerman, a South African flautist, producer and composer, has won a Grammy  for Best Global Music Performance "Bayethe" at the 65th annual Grammy Awards, held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Wouter Kellerman collaborated with South African singers Zakes Bantwini and Nomcebo Zikode. Wouter Kellerman started the Grammy Week with a bang by performing at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles a few days ago.  Wouter Kellerman jubilantly said in his Grammy acceptance speech: "Thank you so much, this is such a b ..read more

 by Molly-Ann Leikin    No matter how sophisticated our technology, a melody is still a series of single notes with rhythm. Nobody ever sings chords or tracks. They sing individual notes and rhythm. Period. While creating music, some of us might hear melodic and/or rhythmic ideas in our heads, then high hurdle the sofa en route to the keyboard to play and record them right away. Others may not hear anything specific but will feel that lightning urge to create and hope they'll find some magic hidden between the black and white keys. But no matter where we find our music, or wher ..read more

How to Get Your Music Streamed Online - A Musician's Guide to Spotify, Amazon and Apple Music   by Georgia Carter In terms of music promotion, using a digital streaming platform is one of the easiest ways to ensure your fans listen to your music. It is even easier now to download songs on your device and listen to them for free or pay for a monthly subscription which doesn't break the bank. So as a musician, you need to make sure your music is on one of these sites, and I will be taking you through the more recognizable platforms today. I believe most people would have heard of Spotify ..read more