Risk/Reward

This week I'm reminded about how much art and creativity, especially when paired with business, is based on opinion.

What is a good song?


What is a great song?


What is a bad song?

To be a creator in such an environment takes courage and resilience. The songwriter must, must, must pour their entire heart and soul into each and every song they write. Nothing can be held back in fear. The easiest way to hold back creativity is to rely on a tried and true form (or formula) of creating. This is where originality is abandoned in hopes of safer ground. Be bold and don't be afraid. There is treasure to be found.

Keep writing (and exploring),
Ben

Quote of the Day - Emerson

"Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art." 

- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!

What's Your Opinion?

The business of songwriting is based on opinions. The life of a song can end as soon as one of these people deems the music not good enough to listen to:


Songwriter
Publisher
Song plugger
Artist's manager
Artist
Artist's label head
Label promotional team
Radio DJ
Distributor
Retailer
Listener

The most significant decisions happen in the creative stage. As a songwriter, if I want to get my music all the way through the process to the listener, I should probably take into account the opinions of everyone along the way. Sounds logical, right? But the more people you try to appease, the less focused and pure the song becomes. You can write a song that plays by all the rules, but lacks uniqueness. When you create art, it is impossible to please everyone.

In the end, we are all better off staying true to our own understanding of what a great song is. If we do that, in the end we can at least believe in the art we create.

Keep writing,

Ben

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Would you or someone you know like to go on a songwriting retreat with industry professionals? Visit SongbirdCamp.com for more details!