FAQ

All professional songwriters use professional demonstration recordings, or “demos,” for the songs they plan to market. Essentially, your song is the product, and your demo represents both you and your work. A high-quality recording is essential to showcase your song to music industry professionals effectively. Simply presenting lyrics alone is not sufficient.

The professionals at Royal Master Records specialize in presenting your song lyrics, poem, or song in the best possible light. They produce professional song recordings for both music publishers and self-published writers who have not yet secured a publisher. The fee charged by Royal Master Records covers the costs associated with the actual recording process. This includes the expertise of an experienced producer, singers, professional studio musicians, sound engineer, equipment expenses, and administrative costs such as office and advertising expenses.

While songwriters get paid when their songs are commercially released and become successful, the first step is getting discovered. A professional demo is a crucial tool in this process, ensuring your song stands out to industry professionals.

Over my many years in the music industry, I have never known any legitimate music professional to purchase a song outright. Songwriters earn money when their songs are sold in stores or online. Retailers only pay for the CDs they sell, returning unsold CDs to the record label. When a CD sells, a portion of the revenue goes to the record label, which then pays the songwriter(s) a royalty based on copyright laws. This royalty is typically about twelve cents per copy sold.

Your publisher (or you, if you are self-published) will be required to sign a “mechanical license” when your song is released. This license ensures that the record label will pay the statutory rate for every copy sold. If your song is new, it cannot be sold until you sign this license. Success in the music business benefits everyone involved—songwriters, music publishers, record producers, and recording artists—making collaboration essential.

Songwriters also earn money when their songs are played on the radio, with three cents earned for each play. This applies to jukeboxes, restaurants, nightclubs, malls, health clubs, and other venues. Additionally, songwriters are compensated for live performances. Organizations like BMI and ASCAP, known as performance rights organizations, act as collection agencies. They collect fees for song performances and pay the songwriters, keeping a percentage for themselves as their fee.

It is advisable to wait until you have a song on the market or on “hold” before joining a performance rights organization. A “hold” occurs when a record label asks you not to pitch your song to anyone else because they plan to record it for commercial release. If you join a performance rights organization beforehand, you may be charged a membership fee of several hundred dollars. However, if you have a released song or one on hold, they will often sign you up for free, as they are guaranteed to receive their percentage of the collected fees.

We provide you with a top-notch, professional demo recording of your song. The quality of your recording is crucial because it needs to sell the song to the listener, making them want to record it. A professionally recorded demo is essential for pitching your song to recording artists or their representatives with the goal of getting the song “cut.” Having a song “cut” means it is officially recorded by an artist for commercial release.

The music business, much like any other industry, requires a professional approach. Many newcomers arrive in Nashville with the misconception that they can simply send a song to a singer and achieve instant success. Nashville has seen millions of amateurs come and go. Songwriting is a profession that demands knowledge, hard work, perseverance, and a bit of luck. Many aspiring songwriters step off the bus in Nashville expecting to take the town by storm, only to realize that the music business requires a strategic and business-like approach.

I’ve known writers who have pitched their songs around Nashville for forty years without ever getting a major “cut,” not because their songs were bad, but because they didn’t understand the business. Conversely, I’ve seen writers become multi-platinum award-winning songwriters within three months of arriving in Nashville. As a songwriter, you must learn the business side of songwriting, just like any other business venture.

Are there guarantees? Unfortunately, no. The music business is unpredictable and no one can guarantee that your song will be selected by an industry professional or that it will lead to financial success. There are too many variables involved. Any company that guarantees your song’s release, money, and success is not being honest. Success in the music industry is a combination of talent, hard work, and sometimes, a bit of luck.