The Craft and Business of Songwriting

by John Braheny and Braheny

Book Overview

The essential guide for success in songwriting In this comprehensively updated 3rd Edition, John Braheny teaches you the craft of songwriting and then goes behind the scenes of the music business to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0898796539
• ISBN13: 9780898796537
• Release Date: April 1995
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books
• Length: 322 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Amazing Resource, Amazing Person (and I'm as jaded as they come!)

I met John Braheny during a songwriting workshop in Los Angeles after reading some terrific blips and blurbs written by him in different online newsletters. His workshop was excellent and I made a note to buy his book afterwards. I've been a singer/songwriter/performer for nearly 15 years and I was BLOWN AWAY with the material in this book. In person, Mr. Braheny has a very honest, matter-of-fact presentation style and writes in the very same way...friendly, encouraging, deductive and without one ounce of pretentiousness. Songwriting is very subjective (and frustrating), but Mr. Braheny has really helped me understand the principles and guidelines that successful songwriters follow to achieve success in the competitive music business. The book is divided into halves (the craft and business sections) and both are amazing. The material is loaded with song examples, excellent material from other authors and straight-ahead logic about what has worked for other creative songwriters and why. Never has this much practical information been explained to me this well before. The chapter on human imagination is the most insightful information I have ever read on ANY topic. I've read this book three times and can't get enough. Each reading reveals new information that I hadn't thought of before. Best of all, Mr. Braheny breaks it down and gives it to me straight. I am 100% convinced now that he enjoys helping songwriters become better at what they want to do. I honestly believe that I can write great songs, and that I can compete with the best, and that the messages I want to deliver can reach other people and change their lives. I'm as jaded as they come, but I am so grateful for this book. My songwriting has improved 300%. I'm excited about my future. I look forward to creating. Thank you, Mr. Braheny, for writing it and helping me.

THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO GET YOUR SONGS RIGHT!

As a Billboard author of "The Musicians's Handbook: A Practical Giude to Understanding the Music Industry," an instructor at UCLA Music Business Extension and Musician's Institute, and a major label/indie recording artist, I highly recommend "The Craft and Business of Songwriting" to anyone that is serious about succeeding in the music industry. Remember: THE SONG COMES FIRST and this author wonderfully lays out the tools you need to get your songs right. Buy this book now!

Reviewing The Craft and Business

"The Craft and Business of Songwriting" has been instrumental in boosting my songwriting career by leaps and bounds. Even though I consider myself an "experienced" songwriter, there are so many things that "The Craft and Business of Songwriting" keeps me reminded and aware of. This book does that and more! It also helps me look at songwriting from a different and somewhat fresh perspective. I truly appreciate the insight on usage of the internet's many resources for marketing and promoting songwriting, which gives songwriters a perspective of the internet and web-based options to explore in helping to grow the songwriter's opportunities in cyberspace. When it comes to songwriting, The Craft and Business of Songwriting is my bible. Ren Ten Music, LLC

The Book Of Choice

As a teacher of songwriting for over 15 years at Austin Community college,I have found John Braheny's book, "The Craft & Business of Song Writing",to be the best work of it's kind on the market today. Students of songwriting in or out of school can find in this text invaluable information on every level of song production both subjective and objective. This book is a gem, both beautiful and practical! Bravo John Braheny! Robert Skiles B.A., M.A. Prof. of Music Austin Community College Austin, Tx.

A must-have for songwriters!

An excellent, comprehensive work, which far exceeds all the other songwriting books I have purchased in both content and relevance. Newly updated to accommodate today's evolving market. An essential reference for all songwriters.