Editor’s note: this article was written by Jason Davis, currently the president of Awaken Records, Care For Kids, and the Co-President of booking agency Higher Level Agency and founder of One One 7. His songwriting credentials include an ASCAP award-winning song for the most airplayed song of the year, and he’s worked with stars like Boyz II Men, Sugar Ray, P. Diddy, Lonestar, Dolly Parton, Alabama and more.
Here’s his take on how to best write a hit song.
With the days of social media, we scroll through our news-feeds watching countless videos of incredible singers catching attention with their amazing voices. They post cover songs or originals and achieve the appearance of success through a lot of views and likes, so people think they will make it “big”.
Regardless of talent, in reality it is seldom that they will make it in this difficult industry. The question is, what differentiates these gifted artists with the singers who make it big?
Is it their “look”? There are plenty of people with a great unique look who can sing, but is it enough? Is it money? Money is needed to start any successful business; nonetheless, it goes beyond the “look”, showmanship, or money.
The one consistent that stands out above all else is the song.
We learn to love an artist from their lyrics that we can personally relate to. While listening to their songs, a personal relationship of sorts begins with these artists. So, how does a songwriter write the songs that will turn views into fans and their hobbies into a lifelong career?
Irrespective of time, genre or talent, the song is king, and it has always separated those who hit the billboard charts or have a sustainable independent career from others. Writing the right song is the hardest part of the industry. With the goal being to write a song others can’t wait to download, you have to consider structure and meaning, but most of all emotion. An artist may have the best showmanship, but without the right song, the success will still be limited.
The best advice is to constantly work on your craft.
Write every day. Most of all, don’t be discouraged. It doesn’t matter if others initially don’t see your talent. If you are writing daily, you naturally improve. Success is the result of hard work and what you learn from the failures and achievements along the way. Therefore, challenge yourself and make sure you finish and write at least one song every week. Dare to be crazy creative.
Study the current Top 20 to 50 songs. Study the song titles and song content to see what those who have been successful used as their tactic. If you’re writing for a specific genre, concentrate on the genre you’re trying to succeed in as a writer. Taking the time to study all genres can be beneficial as well. If it’s a song that has impacted people – either by it’s catchy tune or emotional lyrics – it is worth the review.
The emotion of the song is what draws the audience in. The song needs to work towards building a relationship with the listeners. Understand how your song is relatable. People want to be moved. They want to laugh, cry and relate. You need your song to be different, yet universal all at the same time.
Social media has made people impatient. Capturing the attention of fans within the first minute is more critical than ever before; consequently, it is advised to start with a short intro, have a couple sections of verse /chorus, have a bridge, climax with the highest amount of energy with a chorus, and then end with an outro.
The melody and lyrics do not need to be complex. They do need to be memorable and relatable.
Attention to detail is critical. Understand that song writing is like athletics. In basketball, you have a hoop and a backboard. If the ball is not making it into the hoop, you know you need more work. If your song isn’t good enough, it’s not going to make it into the hoop. The problem is that many songwriters don’t recognize that their song is bouncing off the backboard.
Don’t be afraid to continue to work to change or perfect your song. Companies rise and fall on the smallest of details. If one pinhole can sink a ship, then know that digging into the key elements of your song can make all the difference. The more you do this, the more you will improve. Don’t be afraid to ask for honest opinions and grow from the comments.
One of the best ways I know to identify the components of a “hit song” is simply to dig in and tear it apart. While studying other songs that have hit the billboard charts, listen from a new perspective to understand how that song achieved that level. Listen to the melody and lyrics, and think about what separated this composition from others.
I started as a song writer. My first ASCAP award winning hit was one of the most radio air-played song 20 years ago and the idea that practice makes perfect has never changed. By starting to write daily at 13 years old, by 23 I was making breakthroughs that changed the course of my career. That success sent me down a path that would even include an award in Latin music.
Currently, I have a broad range of titles including co-founder of cutting-edge entertainment companies such as Radar Label Group, President of One One 7, President of Awaken Records, and Care For Kids. I am also co-president and partner of Higher Level Agency and an artist manager with First Company Management. These diverse titles have given me the ability to build a reputation working with the top songwriters, producers, and recording artists in the entertainment industry on a global level. Over the span of my career, I have been able to pioneer new approaches to the signing and development of some of the world’s most successful recording artists and songwriters.
Regardless of the title I hold, artists I am working with, or genre, to this day, I hold to the statement that song is king.
Knowing the artist’s potential for success will be defined by this product, I still spend a significant amount of time torturing the details of songs that are sent to me. It’s been my experience that with the right song, you can knock on doors that will actually open and change your life forever.
So, how do you write a “hit” song?
There is never a guarantee, but you can certainly increase your chances by analyzing the songs on the charts of today. Work to connect in every way possible with your listeners and lead with your strengths. As you work on your craft, you will begin to understand what is necessary to achieve your goal as a song writer and begin to recognize what has the potential to be a hit, and what does not.
