Song Composition Overview (SCT)

Song Composition Creation

Watch this video for a walk-through of each field and the required information.

Video Transcription:

When you write a song, it's called a composition. Many artists can record the same composition. In the future, we'll pay songwriters when their songs are heard by fans, whether it's the main recording, the lyric version, karaoke version, or any other way the fan might hear the song. Our goal is to make sure that if a songwriter should get paid for something, that they do get paid! So even if you're the songwriter and the singer, it's really important that you have a Songwriter Account and compositions separate from your Artist Account and your recordings made for fans.

So, let's take a look at the Song Composition Creation Form. Keep in mind, as you enter this information, when an Artist ties his Song Recording Title (or SRT) back to your composition, many of the items you entered will pull over to their SRT. This prevents double work since much of the info will remain the same. However, the Artist does have the option to make changes on the SRT, but those changes do not affect your composition.

We allow this because, as an example, an Artist can take a country song and record it as a rock song and need to change the genre. Because what you enter ends up in the SRT, fans are going to see what you type. So capitalization and spelling matter! And it's always smart to have someone else review what you write. The best book writers in the world have editors!

The left side of the page has a list of items to be entered, and you'll see a check appear as they're completed. Enter the title of your song, then the date it was written. If you're not sure of the exact date, just get as close as you can. Songs containing explicit material are automatically filtered by our music player and will not be played for kids under the age of 17. If you use the 'd' word or the 'h' word, you're okay. That's no longer considered explicit. If you use the 'f' word, then it's explicit. If you're not sure, do an internet search. When in doubt, mark it explicit, because if a parent reports your song as inappropriate and you did not mark it as explicit, then your song might get pulled. So, use your best judgement. If the fan's parents are okay with them hearing explicit songs, then there's a button on the Fan Profile where the filter can be turned off.

As you enter lyrics, keep in mind that they pull over to the Artist SRT exactly as you enter them, and this is how fans will view them. Create short lines with spaces so it's easily readable for a fan on their phone. Don't label the section with verse, chorus, bridge - and re-enter the chorus each time it's sung. Using asterisks or symbols in your offensive words is a good idea, even if you're marking it as explicit. 

As you go down this form entering the info, keep in mind that artists and publishers will have search tools they can use to find a composition that has the characteristics they're looking for. For example, they might enter into the search tool that they want a composition suitable for a female, with beats per minute between 120 and 130, that sounds like this or that artist, and references a road trip, fun, and party. 

In the past, the only way a songwriter could have his composition considered by a recording artist was to get signed with a publisher. Our software allows a songwriter to be their own publisher and offer their compositions directly to artists. Our search tool is how the artist will find the perfect song! So, take your time, and do a good job filling in all the song characteristics. 

If you co-wrote this song with another writer, click No and the form will reveal the tools to add the co-writers and define their shares. Read the directions to understand the process. If they are already registered as writers, you will see their names. If not, you'll be prompted to invite them to join, and our system will send them an email. Once they acknowledge themselves as a co-writer, the composition will show up on their Songwriter Account. Therefore, only one writer needs to create the composition. And it's a good idea to choose this person when you're writing the song. 

The instant you make a composition available to others, it is considered published. If you're not signed with a music publisher, then you're the music publisher. Our system creates a publishing name for you since it is mandatory, but you can change it by clicking on your Songwriter Account arrow. Select Permissions, and scroll down. If you're a member of a PRO, like BMI or ASCAP, then use the same publisher name you created there. If you are signed with a music publisher, the same process applies to add them, as applies to co-writers. If you own a real music publishing company, then create a Music Publishing Account and enter that company as the publisher. 

Keep in mind, that today we are not making payments to music creators. Right now, we offer tools to help songwriters and artists promote themselves, and we offer this for free. However, in the future, we will generate revenue in many different ways, including fans listening to your music and hearing and seeing ads. We have plans that will allow us to pay amounts higher than other streamers, and we need to know who all the song owners are and their shares. We take no interest in the songs. As with any artist website or promotional tools, you grant us the right to allow fans to hear your song. For exact information on this, read our User Agreement. The faster we sign up songwriters and artists, the sooner we can provide benefits to songwriters and artists. So, invite everyone you know to sign up, and thank you for being part of our Rhythmic Rebellion!