How To Find Co-Writers in the 21st Century

Songwriting - for most of us - is a team sport. Nearly all of the charting songs on Billboard are co-written and have been for decades. Heavy hitters like Adele, Katy Perry, and Drake all invest in the practice. How do you go about finding a set of co-writers that can help take you to the next level.

Well, the old avenues to finding co-writers are still available to those willing to hustle. Open mics can provide spaces for nubile writers to meet up and scope each other out before setting a co-writing date. Songwriter representatives at PROs like BMI and ASCAP still connect writers with each other. Fostering relationships with publishers can also open the door for you to meet with other more established writers if you live in a music industry town. The old ways die hard. 

That said, the new ways that have proliferated are many. Many artists and songwriters are meeting through a DM. After someone’s music online - whether its posted on Soundcloud, Spotify, or TikTok, you can easily slide into someone’s DMs and strike up a conversation. In a virtual world, you can write with anywhere in the world at any time. This type of collaboration has paved the way for new artists, songwriters, and genres to emerge. 

Another great way to find your cohort to join one of my songwriting retreats. There, you’ll be sequestered for a few days with 15-20 likeminded songwriters who are all itching to join a community of talented individuals like yourself. Writing retreats are a great place for for concentrated periods of networking and collaboration. 

Meeting your people is essential to your growth in the industry. Professionals often talk about “classes” graduating through the industry together. Katy Perry and Bonnie McKee achieved their zenith together. Billie Eillish and her brother Finneas have achieved a similar feat. Do your best to establish the songwriting connections that will inform the rest of your career.