How To Get An Agent For Songwriting
Posted by Mike Schumacher
As mentioned before, being able to write your own songs is a great way to get into songwriting. Plus, most people can’t sing their asses off, so it makes sense that writing lyrics is important!
However, while having a talent for poetry is helpful, it’s not enough to be a good lyricist. You have to know how to put what you want to say in appropriate context and use correct grammar and style.
Furthermore, music writers are professionals who require even more of skill than just knowing how to write lyrics. They go through formal training and must pass certification tests to prove they know what they’re doing.
It may sound like hard work, but there are many ways to learn this skill. In fact, anyone can do it if they put in the effort.
Connect with a producer or record label
As we mentioned before, being able to write your own songs is a great way to get into songwriting. But writing lyrics alone will not get you many hits!
If you’re looking to take your music career to the next level, then getting some help in the form of a lyricist or writer is essential.
A good way to find someone like this is by connecting with a producer or record company that has openings. A lot of artists and companies need assistance from time to time, so this is definitely a viable option.
By reaching out to them directly, you can make use of their connections and expertise to gain access to this valuable resource.
But what if they don’t have any openings at the moment? That’s when it becomes more difficult.
Luckily, there are other ways to connect with a professional musician. One of these is through online forums and communities. By joining groups related to music, reading posts, and responding – you’ll be sure to meet some people.
Some might even offer their services as a writer at times, which could prove helpful.
Find an agent
Finding an agent is not easy, but it is possible! There are many ways to find one, so there’s no need to feel like you have to start from scratch. Depending on your budget, you can even search online to see if any music business professionals are already working with individuals or companies in their area that may be looking for new talent.
If you do happen to run into trouble when trying to get signed as a songwriter, having an agent will help mitigate this. An agency head or member should be able to guide you through the process and keep you focused on what needs to be done instead of getting distracted by things that don’t matter.
There are some agencies that require their writers to be under contract, which isn’t a bad thing unless you want to work for nothing. As we mentioned before, agents aren’t necessarily obligated to take on anyone they represent, so make sure you’re clear about both situations.
Make a list of agents to contact
Finding an agent is not as difficult as many may think, but it does take some work! While most music industry professionals are well connected with other musicians, agents are not necessarily as accessible. This can be tricky if you are looking to get serious about song writing as a career.
Agents play a very important role in helping artists find success so trying to connect with one directly is your best bet. Many major record labels have their own agency that they use to represent their artist’s careers, so look up those for tips or how to approach an agent at a large company.
Thinking outside the box when searching for an agent is key, as is being persistent. There are several ways to search for an agent including through friends, social media, online forums, and via referrals.
Call and make an appointment
Now, let’s talk about how to get an agent for songwriting. The first thing you need to do is call and make an appointment. This will probably be difficult at first due to all of the agents out there who are trying to grow their own team.
But it’s important to remember that not every artist needs or wants an agent. And definitely don’t worry about being “lazy” – this is a very expensive lesson!
If you’re looking to break into the music industry as a writer, singer, guitarist, producer, or anything else, then you should know that most people (even A-list artists) without agents still succeed.
Dress professionally
After publishing your song, you will need to find someone that can help promote it! This is where having an agent becomes very important. An artist’s agent works with other artists to bring them business by representing them to media outlets and producers. He or she does this through introductions and contacts they have built up over time — via social gatherings, meetings, and conversations.
Agents typically get paid per introduction done (which are sometimes called “cold calls”), so their success depends on getting lots of opportunities to do that work. As such, being well-connected and fashionable is considered integral to being an effective music agent.
Dressing fashionably sets you apart from others who may not be as invested in the music industry. Plus, people who dress stylishly are more likely to get successful jobs than those who don’t. You want to look like you put some effort into yourself, but at the same time, you don’t want to make it too expensive – you want to seem professional without looking overly polished.
You should also know what types of songs different media professionals might be interested in hearing. For example, if you write heartfelt love songs, then try to connect with writers and publishers who work on romantic comedies or stories set in romantic settings. If you focus more on upbeat songs, try to meet with musicians or record producers who work in that style.
Tell the agent about your music
As mentioned before, being able to write lyrics is just one of many things that can make up the songwriter’s toolbox. Becoming a successful writer doesn’t happen overnight, but you can start by getting some help with the second part of the songwriting process – finding an artist or producer partner.
An aspiring singer/songwriter should definitely consider looking into having an agency represent them as they look into professional level service providers. Agents get paid per client they have, so it makes sense to be represented by someone who will pay their bills!
Agents typically charge around 6-8% of revenue generated from songs written and performed by their clients, with additional fees depending on the type of contract needed. This article will go more in depth on what agents are and how they benefit writers.
Bring your demo(s)
Now that you have done some research, gathered inspiration, and practiced your writing skills, it is time to bring all of these things together in creating your songwriter identity!
The first thing people usually do when they want to get into music as a writer is to start playing songs and trying to write my own lyrics or melodies.
But this can be tricky if you don’t have any songs yet!
Luckily, there are many ways to get yourself a track record as a singer-songwriter artist! One of the most popular routes is to get professional help with singing and/or writing your songs.
You can find lots of online resources and blogs talking about getting started as a songwriter by hiring a collaborator or agent for creative work like writing or recording your songs. This can include helping you pick your genre, finding artists and their material, and then helping you adapt those materials for your style (and adding your own touches).
Be confident
As mentioned earlier, being able to write a good song is only half of getting your writing career off the ground as a singer-songwriter. The other important part is having someone outsource that song to you!
That’s why it is so crucial to have an agent who represents artists in the music business. An artist representation professional will help you get access to songs by paying the writer or composer for them, then negotiating with the publisher on their behalf about how to market and monetize those pieces.
They also handle all aspects of recording contracts, which can include publishing agreements, engagement rings, etc. – everything but the actual performance itself. This way, they make sure everything is covered for you as an aspiring musician.
Agents are not free, however. They take fees from both clients and publishers, and these fees add up quickly when you’re investing in your artistic growth. It’s best to be spending money on agents while you’re still in budget balance otherwise you could be throwing away money.
But there are ways to manage your agent costs effectively, such as staying within agency budgets and asking questions to determine if the agent is worth the investment. Read on to learn more about what it takes to get an agent job posting, and some tips for acing your phone interview.


The Jam Addict team is a revolving door of writers who care about music, its effects on culture, and giving aspiring artists tools and knowledge to be inspired and keep on creating.
If you have any questions or concerns or just want to drop us a line, don’t hesitate to contact us! We always appreciate the feedback.