Songwriter To Artist Strategy
The music industry, at its most obtuse, espouses a delineation between songwriters and artists. Put simply: songwriters craft song while artists perform them. Of course, we know that there are many songwriters who also have successful artist projects (Priscilla Renea became Muni Long, Julia Michaels became, well, Julia Michaels) or artists who end up songwriting for other artists (Ariana Grande for Normani, Ed Sheeran for Justin Bieber).
A fairly consistent strategy I’ve seen replicated is a songwriter beginning their career writing for others and then transitioning into an artist career. Billboard charting cuts help songwriters garner industry attention that they then can leverage for deals and good pr.
One of my favorite examples of this strategic positioning is Victoria Monet. This bright star was one of the writers responsible for Ariana Grande’s career defining album, “thank u, next,” as well as heavy involvement in Positions. She then leveraged her friendship with Grande to release a collaboration called “Monopoly.”
Monet’s subsequent albums, Jaguar and Jaguar II, garnered public attention allowing her to tour widely to sold out audiences. Her music is currently licensed to RCA records.
What I like about Monet’s story is that it proves one can transition from the realm of songwriting to others to being a star in their own right. Her story also demonstrates that origins in the songwriting world can propel you to new heights! When we think about artists like Monet, one surmises that, perhaps, many artists would benefit from spending some time writing for others!
