Here is a great video from the guys at SongTown and in this video they go through the must have characteristics that a songwriter must have to make a living from their chosen craft.
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Grit: Successful songwriters persist despite frequent rejection and setbacks, continuously showing up and doing the work, even when discouraged.
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Diversity: Earning a living often involves engaging in various aspects of music, from writing across multiple genres to performing live or working in sync placements, musicals, and other music-related projects.
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Adaptability: Successful songwriters are flexible, constantly developing new skills and adapting to the changing demands of the music industry, whether writing lyrics, melodies, or creating tracks.
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Openness to New Ideas: Embracing unexpected opportunities and challenges—saying “yes” first and figuring things out afterward—is crucial for growth and sustained success.
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Lifelong Learning: Continuously striving to expand one’s skills and knowledge, staying curious and open-minded, helps maintain relevance and creative vitality.
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Positive Attitude: Maintaining optimism and enthusiasm fosters better creative outcomes compared to negativity, complaints, or resistance to change.
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Practical Example (Grit): Successful people don’t necessarily differ from others in talent; they differ in their refusal to quit.
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Practical Example (Diversity): Relying on a single genre or style can severely limit career longevity, whereas diversifying musical styles, approaches, and revenue streams can sustain a songwriter’s career over time.
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Practical Example (Adaptability): Experiencing different music demands, such as writing for sync, taught the importance of flexibility—learning to adapt quickly to artists’ and industry needs.
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Practical Example (Positive Attitude): Successful songwriters focus on creating rather than complaining about industry trends or popular music, staying inspired and productive rather than negative and stagnant.
Click on the video link for the full story…
