GSC members,
We have been diligently gathering information about what publishers are looking for when it comes to songs. At GSC, we want to provide you with information that helps you to write songs with intention, direction and purpose. We trust the information below with help you in your efforts.
Song Types – Song publishers are telling us that they want beat driven “track drive” tempo songs but with meaningful, meaty lyrics.
Titles – Publishers want and need FRESH UNIQUE TITLES that are almost like a slogan on a t-shirt or a slogan that you would read on a coffee mug. Songs are released as singles and on digital sites like Spotify and need to STAND OUT.
Subject Matters – In addition to fresh titles, they are tired of the clubbing, trucking, and drinking songs about relationships that start with ‘I just met you in a bar’. You may continue to hear some of these on the radio but they are on their way out.
Below are some subject matters that have been suggested and samples of song titles that fit into these categories.
Social Consciousness – please be sure that these songs are written in general and are not critical of a specific and identified group of people as they do not want to isolate a part of their audience. For instance, in the song ‘Automatic’ by Miranda Lambert, the writers use the comparison with how “things used to be” vs. “how things are today” instead of saying “Millennials are an entitled generation who want everything now.”
- “Automatic” by Miranda Lambert
- “Mayberry” by Rascal Flatts
- “Where is the Love” – Black Eyed Peas
- “Man in the Mirror” – Michael Jackson
Songs of World Harmony or songs that pull people together
- “Ebony and Ivory” – Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
- “What the World Needs Now is Love” – Dionne Warwick
- “Imagine” – John Lennon
- “Drift Away” – Dobie Gray
- “Reach out and touch somebody’s hand make this world a better place if you can.”
Dream Songs/Inspirational Songs that encourage overcoming OBSTACLES
- “Chasing that Neon Rainbow”– Alan Jackson
- “I’m Gonna Be Somebody” – Travis Tritt
- “How Do You Like Me Now?” – Toby Keith
- “The Climb” – Miley Cyrus
*NOTE: most “dream songs” are written by the artists like the examples above. However, if you can write the song in the inspirational format like the song “The Climb” then any artist can sing your song. In addition, many artists influenced by the pop world are moving into town at this time and are not experienced writers and therefore looking for outside songs from others to record. This is good news for songwriters.
Female Empowerment Songs
- Broken Wing – Martina McBride
- Independence Day – Martina McBride
- Girl in a Country Song – Maddie and Tae
Friend Songs and Goodbye Songs
- “Angel” – Sarah McLachlan
- ” See You Again” – Carrie Underwood
- “Go Rest High On That Mountain” – Vince gill
- “You’ve Got a Friend” – James Taylor
Other subject matters that are DIFFERENT…
- “He Didn’t Have to Be” by Brad Paisley, about a step dad relationship with a son and the positive influence that he had on the son.
- Songs about single and loving it from a positive point of view
- Songs about long-term relationships from a positive point of view – when publishers were looking for Faith and Tim they had little to pick from in that direction.
- Songs about compromise like the song “Meet in the Middle” by Diamond Rio
- Songs about harmony
- Songs about leaving a legacy or leaving something behind that is positive.
