Music Business·3:00 read
How Do You Get Your Songs to Artists?
The short answer
Most songwriters get their songs to artists through relationships, not cold emails. Someone introduces you as a songwriter, you play them songs you've already finished, and if they like what they hear, you end up writing together. Every artist I've written for came to me through a personal introduction or a conversation.
In this article
People picture pitching songs as a cold email to a big artist, a demo attached, fingers crossed.
That’s not how it happened for me. Not once.
Every artist I’ve written with, I met through an introduction or a conversation. And the chain of how it happened is worth walking through, because you can copy it.
Brian & Tony Gold: a friend’s introduction
It started with a mutual friend who introduced me to Brian & Tony Gold. The important part is how he introduced me. As a songwriter.
I played them some songs I’d written. They liked them. It turned out they write as well, so we ended up writing together.
That was the first link in the chain.
Shaggy: one introduction leads to the next
Brian & Tony Gold then introduced me to Shaggy’s manager. Again, as a songwriter.
His manager paired Shaggy and me together to write. That collaboration is where some of my biggest songs came from, including “It Wasn’t Me.”
Notice the pattern. I didn’t pitch Shaggy. Someone who’d already heard my songs vouched for me to someone on Shaggy’s team.
Maxi Priest: a ride home
This one still makes me smile.
At that same meeting with Shaggy’s manager, he asked me to drop Maxi Priest home. On the drive, we got talking. He found out I was a songwriter, and it turned out he was looking for people to write with.
We exchanged numbers. That’s how I ended up writing with Maxi Priest.
A ride home. That was the pitch.
What you can copy
You see, none of this was luck in the way people usually mean it. Three things were true every single time.
People knew I was a songwriter. I was introduced that way, and I said it out loud. If the people around you don’t know you write songs, they can’t connect you with anyone.
I had finished songs ready. The first thing anyone wants after “I’m a songwriter” is to hear something. Half-written ideas don’t open doors. (Writing the chorus first is how I finish more of them.)
Each relationship led to the next one. Friend to Brian & Tony Gold. Brian & Tony Gold to Shaggy’s manager. Shaggy’s manager to Maxi Priest. I didn’t need to know the big names. I needed to know one person who knew the next person.
The music business is a relationship business. The stronger your relationships, the greater your success.
Where to start
- Tell people you write songs. Producers, musicians, studio owners, other writers. All of them.
- Have three finished songs you can play on the spot. On your phone, ready to go.
- Be useful and easy to work with. People introduce writers they’d be happy to be associated with.
- Say yes to small things. Sometimes the opportunity is a ride home.
And before you start playing your songs for lots of people, make sure you know how to protect them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send my songs directly to famous artists?
You can try, but cold submissions to well-known artists rarely get heard. Introductions through people the artist or their team already trusts work far better.
What should I have ready before I meet an artist?
Finished songs you're proud of, ready to play on the spot. When someone hears you're a songwriter, the next thing they'll want is to hear your work.
How do I get introduced to artists if I don't know anyone in the industry?
Start with the people around you: local producers, musicians, studio owners and other writers. Make sure they know you write songs. Introductions usually come one step at a time, from people who already know your work.
Should I pitch songs or ask to co-write?
Both can work. Many artists write too, so the relationship often turns into co-writing sessions rather than a one-off song pitch. That's how it happened for me.