Survey: Songwriting Grew As A Profession in 2024

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Songwriters are central to the creation of new music, even if they’re not always immediately recognized for the lyrics they come up with. In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the music industry simply wouldn’t exist without them. Without Amy Allen, for example, Sabrina Carpenter wouldn’t have released “Espresso.” More prolific songwriters are responsible for penning hits across multiple artists. That includes Louis Bell, who’s credited on both Camila Cabello’s “Havana” and Post Malone’s “Sunflower.”

That makes songwriting a form of self-expression that can also be a lucrative career, which is why it’s no surprise that it grew as a profession last year. According to recent survey figures, the PRS for Music—-which represents the rights of more than 175,000 songwriters—experienced a 20% growth in membership and a whopping 74% increase in the number of musical works it represents between 2019 and 2024. That includes 10,000 new songwriters and 4.5 million new songs last year alone.

These numbers point to the fact that songwriting is becoming an increasingly sought-after profession. But why is that the case? Here’s more on what’s currently driving songwriting forward, as well as where the industry can drive further growth. 

What’s pushing the songwriting profession forward

Today’s music landscape is proving to be especially favorable toward creatives looking to kickstart a songwriting career. For one, it’s supportive. Current songwriters have been instrumental in forming communities, like SongTown, that draw more people into the profession. Countless organizations also hold songwriting competitions that, aside from being designed to bring attention to a particular cause, benefit participants looking to gain more recognition, exposure, and feedback from members of the music industry. 

That’s made especially clear in the case of Bacon James. In 2023, the Florida-based singer-songwriter penned a nostalgic song about the Santa Fe River for a songwriting competition aimed to promote its preservation. He subsequently won the recognition and authority that came with nabbing first place. Today, he mentors others in songwriting and pays it forward by actively participating in community-based songwriting events like The Box Circle Songwriter’s Round. 

The importance of local community support can’t be emphasized enough, as it can bolster further songwriting career growth. That rings especially true for the likes of Chappell Roan, who recently swept the Best New Artist awards from Billboard, the BRIT Awards, the Grammys, and the VMAs. Raised in the Midwestern American state of Missouri, she kickstarted her songwriting career by selling CDs of her first EP at her town’s local records store. These quickly sold out, and the resulting local support bolstered her success in promoting her works, especially on social media. 

That leads us to how vital the digital age has been in giving songwriters more exposure. Social media, and the concept of virality, similarly offers more opportunities for lyricists to gain recognition on a larger scale. Songwriter Suzanne Sheer, for example, made headlines after she posted a video of herself playing one of her unreleased songs on a discarded piano, she found in the street. Even platforms like TikTok are aware of how social media can further songwriter exposure—which is why, in November 2024, it held the very first TikTok for Songwriters event. Attended by globally renowned songwriters like Kamille and Little Mix’s Jade, it involved a number of masterclasses and panels aimed at discussing how the social media platform could be used to expand a songwriter’s reach and further their career. 

Where the music industry can fuel further growth

Of course, the music industry can do much more to further encourage creatives to flourish as songwriters. One of the first steps it takes can involve how it plans to manage modern digital tools. Key among them is AI, with generative programs like ChatGPT stirring controversy for its potential songwriting applications.

According to the results of the AI and Music Report, which surveyed music industry professionals—including songwriters—across Australia and New Zealand, 82% of respondents were worried that AI would render it impossible to make a living from music creation. However, other artists pointed out that it can be beneficial for the creative process. “AI can be enormously beneficial for the larger music industry—in helping navigate algorithmic streaming platforms, with the end goal of having an artist’s music heard by the most people,” Australian singer-songwriter Gordi explained. Ultimately, however, all parties called for clearer regulation in the industry, especially with regard to the use of copyrighted music to train AI models. Setting boundaries here would make it easier for new songwriters to use AI as an aid, as they can rest assured that the works, they create will remain protected. 

However, Gordi does hit on another sore point the industry can more concretely work on in the short term: streaming. According to Variety, songs earn around USD 0.004 (AUD 0.0063) per stream. The publisher of a song, which includes its songwriters, is only entitled to around 14% of that amount. The resulting pay gets split even further the more songwriters are credited to a song. Putting more pressure on streaming services to increase their rates can encourage even more creatives to pursue songwriting as a living, especially now that many songs are bought and listened to digitally. 

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Article written by Ressie Johns

Exclusively for Music Injection