Are you a music-genre code-breaker?
I’m a pretty good country lyricist. I’ve gotten several cuts, and I’ve had a hit or two on the radio. My wall has some cool stuff on it. But how much does that mean when I’m writing for a non-country genre?
Not much.
Why is that? Is it because I’m not “known” or “respected” or “connected” in that other genre? Nope. It has nothing to do with that. Is it because that genre is just much harder, and I’m not a good enough writer? Nope.
So how can a songwriter be really good in one genre, but completely miss the mark in another?
Let’s dive into that today. .
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Each genre has it’s own language – even if they all sing in English.
As a matter of fact, that’s what makes it so tricky to jump from one genre to another. Your song may sound (to you) like a hit for that other genre, but have you cracked the code of that genre?
Each genre each has its own code. And because you’ve cracked the code in your main genre, it’s natural to think things operate the same way across the street. But they don’t.
For example, I’ve started writing with a couple of pros in the gospel, CCM & southern gospel markets- Kenna West and Jason Cox. Together, they’ve had a ton of #1 singles in that world.
Me, well… I love Jesus. And I’m from Arkansas and think I write a pretty good country song. And many southern gospel and gospel songs have a lot of country in them. And it’s a smaller market than my “big boy” country market. Surely, I should be able to write some southern gospel #1s with my eyes closed, right?
Wrong.
This world has its own set of artists, and each of those artists know what they want to say. They also know what they don’t want to say. And they have a different audience than the country market. And that audience knows what it wants to hear from its artists- and that audience knows what it doesn’t want to hear.
Thankfully, I know enough to know that I don’t know enough. So I turn to my co-writers in humility.
“Guys, I’m here to put the lyrical hammer down. But y’all gotta keep me from running us off the road, ok?”
And that’s how it’s gone so far. The general population may know the artists who’ve cut my songs more than most of the artists who’ve cut their songs. But, again, that doesn’t mean anything when we set out to write a song for THEIR market.
Songwriters fail in writing for another genre when they don’t respect that genre and it’s “code.”
Kenna and Jason are the experts- the code-breakers – and I’m the novice. I certainly have skills to apply, value to bring… but it needs to be focused in the right way, in a way that fits the gospel market.
It’s fun to stretch myself by writing for a different genre. But it’s also humbling. And challenging. Will these songs get cut? I don’t know. We’re only a couple songs in, but my co-writers seem to like them, and they keep letting me back in the room. So I hope I’m not wasting their time.
I hope you will approach different genres with respect and humility.
The people who are successful in those genres definitely take it seriously. They’ve put in the work to crack the code, to learn the rules and to write songs that fit those rules.
It’s foolish for a songwriter to assume that skills in one genre will easily translate to another genre.
Are you interested in writing for a different genre? Are you interested in branching out into the gospel, CCM or southern gospel market? Or are you already writing for that market, but you want to connect with one of its most successful songwriters? If so, I have a great opportunity for you.
On Thursday, November 29, 2018, I’m hosting Frettie’s “Know The Row” online event with hit songwriter, Kenna West. She’s written over THIRTY (30!!!!) #1 singles in various Christian / gospel markets. She’s helping me learn those markets, and she can help YOU, too. This is your chance to hang out with Kenna and ask her YOUR questions. And this event is online, so you can join us from anywhere in the world.
CLICK HERE TO GET ALL THE INFO.
God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,
Brent
Brent Baxter is a hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Lady Antebellum, Joe Nichols, Gord Bamford, Ruthie Collins, Ray Stevens and more. He’s written a top 5 hit in the US, a #1 in Canada, and a top 10 in Texas. His songs appear on 5 industry-certified gold & platinum albums & singles… so far. He also hosts a top-rated songwriting and music business podcast called, “The C.L.I.M.B.” which can be found on iTunes or your favorite podcast app.
