We all know that ice cream comes in different flavors—Chocolate, Vanilla, Rocky Road, etc.—and someone who loves Double Fudge Chocolate (like me!) might not be wild about Cherry Macaroon. Songwriting also comes in different flavors—Pop, Country, Rock, and R/B, among many others—and a listener who loves one flavor might not like another at all. Each flavor, or song genre, appeals to a different audience.
Music publishers and record labels look very closely at genres. They know they have the best chance of reaching listeners and having a successful record if the songs they release fit into a popular radio genre, also known as a radio format.
As a songwriter, if you’re thinking about pitching your songs to the music industry, it’s important to be aware of contemporary genres and the songs that are currently successful in that genre. Once you know that, you’ll know what record labels, music publishers, and listeners are looking for. It will be much easier to get a record deal or publishing contract if you do.
Choose a genre and get familiar with it
Spend some time listening to current hits in the genre you want to write in. If you like Country music, listen to the top 20 current Country hits and study the chords, melodies, and lyrics to see what they have in common. This is what Country audiences are excited about right now, so it’s the type of song that music publishers in Nashville need right now.
If you’re interested in Rock, Pop, R&B/Soul, Country, or Hip-Hop, check out current hit songs. These are the songs that listeners are eating up! Use the playlists of current hit songs on streaming sites like Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music Unlimited. Check out the current list of Top 100 songs available for free on Billboard.com. The Spotify charts are available here.
When you find a couple of songs you like, listen to them carefully. Explore the general songwriting characteristics of the genre by asking the following questions as you listen.
LYRICS:
What is the theme of the lyric?
What kind of language is used? Poetic? Conversational? Both?
What sorts of characters turn up in these songs?
MELODY:
Are the melodies complicated or simple? Can you sing along?
How much repetition is used, how much variation in the melody line?
CHORDS:
Do you hear basic three-note chords primarily?
What other kinds of chords are being played?
How frequently are the chords changing?
These are just a few of the questions that will help you study a song genre. No one wants to sound exactly like everyone else, but it’s important to incorporate enough of a genre’s characteristic sound to fit into a radio format. Blend it with your own style to make sure YOU still sound like YOU, but give it an extra push toward radio.
How to study a song genre
Listen to songs in a range of genres to hear the differences and identify a genre you might want to write in. You can see lists of songs by genre in the big stream-on-demand websites. On Spotify, click in the SEARCH box and scroll down to see a list of genres. On Amazon Prime Music click in the SEARCH box for a list of genres. On Apple Music click on GENRES and select a genre you’re interested in
Check out this video for more information on music genres & reference artists