Making Money in Music: How Songwriters Contribute to the Industry

• Music Business
• Special Education

Making Money in Music: How Songwriters Contribute to the Industry

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to explain how songwriters make money and contribute to the music industry.

Introduce the learning objective and set expectations for the lesson.

What do you already know about how songwriters make money and contribute to the music industry?

Introduction to Songwriters

Songwriters are the creative minds behind the lyrics and melodies of songs. Songwriters can be separated into two groups. 

Lyricists - Those who focus on the lyrics in a song.

Composers - Those who focus on the instrumentation and melody of a song.

There are also songwriters who can do both!

Explain the role of songwriters and their importance in the music industry.

How do songwriters make money?

How do songwriters make money?

Royalties

Mechanical royalties

Performance royalties

Sync Licenses

Publishing 

Collection

Societies

Streaming

What are royalties?

Royalties - A payment made to writers, people who have invented things, owners of property, etc. every time their books, devices, music, etc. are bought or used by others.

What is copyright?

Copyright is a legal right, which protects the copyright owner and/or the creator of a work.

Copyright is given to an artist/writer/designer as soon as they have created something. 

Discuss the concept of copyright and royalties, and how they are essential for songwriters to earn income.

Mechanical Royalties

Mechanical royalties are earned when songs are reproduced or distributed, such as through album sales or digital downloads.

Explain the concept of mechanical royalties and give examples of how songwriters earn them.

Performance Royalties

Performance royalties are earned when songs are performed or played publicly, like on the radio, in concerts, or on streaming platforms.

Discuss the importance of performance royalties in generating income for songwriters and provide examples of where they are earned.

Sync Licensing

Songwriters can earn money through sync licensing, which is when their songs are used in movies, TV shows, commercials, or other media.

Explain the concept of sync licensing and showcase how it allows songwriters to reach wider audiences and generate income.

Co-Writing and Publishing Deals

Songwriters often collaborate with other artists and sign publishing deals to maximize their earning potential.

Discuss the benefits of co-writing and publishing deals for songwriters and how they contribute to their financial success.

Performance Rights Organizations

Performance rights organizations (PROs) help songwriters collect royalties and ensure they are fairly compensated for their work.

Introduce the role of PROs and explain how they assist songwriters in managing their royalties and rights.

Streaming and Digital Platforms

With the rise of streaming and digital platforms, songwriters can earn income through streaming royalties and online sales.

Discuss the impact of streaming and digital platforms on the revenue streams of songwriters and highlight their importance.

Conclusion

Songwriters play a vital role in the music industry, both creatively and financially, through the various ways they make money and contribute.

Summarize the key points of the lesson and reinforce the importance of songwriters in the music industry.

Review

Take a moment to reflect on what you have learned about how songwriters make money and contribute to the music industry.

Engage students in a brief discussion to reinforce their understanding of the topic.

Q&A and Discussion

Encourage students to ask questions and participate in a class discussion about songwriters, their income sources, and their impact on the music industry.

Allocate time for questions and facilitate a discussion to consolidate learning and address any remaining doubts.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.