The Art and Business of Songwriting

In this valuable resource guide for both beginners and professionals, veteran songwriter, producer, arranger, vocalist, music director, and educator Larry D. Batiste shares practical advice and tips from his decades of experience in ways that are bound to help all readers improve their songwriting skills. Through this book, readers will learn the craft of professional songwriting, including the ins-and-outs of song structure, lyric and melody writing, and the essential elements of a hit song. From the start, Batiste incorporates exercises to help songwriters strike upon ideas for song titles, concepts, and stories that will appeal to their audience. He also discusses critical business aspects of songwriting, such as copyrighting, publishing, royalties, networking, and digital media. In addition to the fundamentals, the reader will learn how to build their songwriting career, generate income, build an online community and fanbase, release music independently, expertly place their songs, and navigate the world of digital music. Throughout the book are interviews with iconic songwriters and producers such as Peter Asher, Lamont Dozier, and Narada Michael Walden, as well as independent recording artists, including Fantastic Negrito, a winner of multiple Grammy Awards, and Meklit Hadero.

Understanding the artistic and business aspects of songwriting is essential for a successful career in the music industry. The Art and Business of Songwriting can be applied to every genre of popular music and is written to encourage, motivate, and unlock the idiosyncrasies of the business for music professionals as much as for beginners.

Larry D. Batiste is a songwriter, producer, arranger, vocalist, educator, and music director who has written songs for and recorded with Santana, Al Jarreau, Patti Austin, Whitney Houston, Michael Bolton, Bill Summers & Summers Heat, Natalie Cole, The Dazz Band, Huey Lewis & The News, Charlie Wilson, and Jeezy. He formerly taught songwriting, publishing, and career development at San Francisco State University. He is best known as musical director of the Grammy Awards Pre-Telecast and NAMM’s TEC Awards. Batiste has also worked on numerous Grammy winning and nominated recordings, received commissions from the Oakland Symphony, inducted into the Black Music Association of the Arts Hall of Fame in 2020, and nominated for a 2023 Guild of Music Supervisors Award for Best Song Written for Television.