It’s the #1 question on every aspiring songwriter’s mind… how can I get my songs heard? Hey, no shame, right? God gave you the desire and the gift to write, so wanting to be heard is just the natural next step. In fact, I believe that God designed you to be heard because He’s passionate about reaching people all over the world who need to hear what He wants to say through you.
But how does that happen beyond your living room?
God gave you the desire and the gift to write, so wanting to be heard is just the natural next step.
First, it starts with realizing that there are many levels of songwriting.
All songs aren’t created equally, though we value the beauty of every song inspired by the love and grace of God, from the childlike song of a five-year old singing Jesus Loves Me to the latest hits by Lauren Daigle. Every song of praise has a place in God’s heart. In our world, songs have places, too, and those places are clearly marked by the level of one’s songwriting abilities.
Secondly, you get to choose where you target on the spectrum of songs and songwriting.
Do you want to sit at your piano and write love songs to Jesus, not caring much about style, form, lyric, consistency, context, a current and powerful “hook,” or what
anyone else may think about it? That’s perfectly fine, but just be aware that all of those elements are demanded if you want to hear your songs played on the radio or sung by artists. There are very clear rules for radio songs that don’t apply to a lot of other types of songs. Deciding who you want to write for is a powerful key in actually being heard by them.
There are very clear rules for radio songs that don’t apply in a lot of other types of songs.
Third, writers often fail to realize that successful songwriting requires a strategy to be heard by the audience you desire.
While hope is central to our faith, just hoping someone’s going to put your song on their record isn’t a good strategy. You have to target where your songs will go, who will use them, who will sing them and why your songs could outweigh a million others vying for just a few spots. This field is as competitive as any other, so you must be armed and ready to bring your best game every time.
Use These Three Things to Be Heard
Songwriters often fail to keep these three things in mind and settle for where they are without bothering to really develop their craft, failing to target an audience clearly, and fail to devise an actual strategy for being heard by the audience they hope to win.
Many songwriters I know spend more time wanting to be heard than writing songs worth hearing. Don’t be one of them. Decide where you want to be on the spectrum and bravely pursue your passion. Then start piecing together the strategy that will expose your songs after they’re fully developed with the right audiences and watch as God blesses others, and you, through this effort well spent.
This Post Has 12 Comments
This is very good advice John. If we don’t take the time to map out our coarse of where we want to end up than we shouldn’t be surprised if we end up somewhere else. God bless you!
Jordan C.
Great information–quite informative. Thanks
-Loretta G.
Nice, I’ve been writing for 40 yrs, Never thought much of it because it came so easy. Now people are telling me, “get your songs heard…..people need them.” So, can you HELP ME?!
Im in the same boat. God really want a few of my songs copyrighted and shared and I am praying God leads me in His Divine Direction. Im praying that for you also!!!
The lord has given me several songs and I am still waiting for him to lead my way to make them heard. Please pray for me to listen and take God’s lead.
Hi!
Dear God, please direct Julie in just the right ways so she knows its Your Voice leading her. I pray this in Jesus Name, the Name above all Names. Amen
My name is kathrene Ward I am singer and a song writer for God! He has strongly inspired me that this is his purpose and plan for my life!! The strong desire he has placed in my heart it will never leave until his will be done please help me to do Gods will. These songs belong to him. He has given me so many. I just need the door to open for me to succeed. I ask and I pray that God would put in your heart strongly that he is the one who lead and guided me to you. Thank you for your time. May God bless you for Being apart of his plan for my life and your as well!!
Hi my names Jenevie Martinez I’ve always had a calling to God ever since I was a child. I have put a song together in minutes like it was meant for me to put out. I need the world to hear it. Its called the Lords Calling…
Thank you for your advice and encouragement. When my daughter was in kindergarten, I was inspired to write a song for her entitled True Beauty (Chloe’s Song). This song was written from my heart to bless my daughter, but I feel called to share this message with others. The song is on ITunes, Amazon, Spotify, etc feat. Rose Rodriquez. I hope you will have an opportunity to listen to this song..”What really counts, is from the inside not the out” True Beauty
TELL ME WHY?
Throat parched and dry, Blood streaming in his eyes
Condemned on a cross to die, mocked, spat vilified
Tell me why? He was crucified
Wasn’t he the one?
The ancients throughout time had prophesied and
Tell me why? Jesus he had to die?
Dying not for me
Must somehow save myself and find a place to hide.
I just don’t understand
he was more than a man
Five thousand all were fed, raised Lazarus from the dead
Hands pierced by nails, lungs forcing to inhale
Compelled I am to see, I look still can’t perceive
Please tell me why? {Echo} tell me why?
Why he had to die? {Echo} tell me why?
Murderer, liars and thieves, deserved to die upon that cross but not himmm! ohh.
Should have rein in glorious splendor, conquered enemy would all surrendered,
To the lion king of Israel
But he’s dead and all is lost!
A dream that ended at the cross, and a storm of fear teacher cannot dispel
Song Interlude
Tell me why? echo Tell me why?
Jesus had to die, tell my why?
Martyrdom cannot impart salvation, love or hope to anyone, no one
Tell me why? {echo} tell me why?
Jesus had to die?
Rise messiah will {chorus} From the midst of Israel
Jehovah would not lie
Written by
Ashmed Crespo
While I agree with learning your craft I find a lot of Christian / Worship songs to be the same or very similar. Like paint by numbers stuff. For some reason this seems to work in an evangelical setting but man I find it extremely difficult to digest. If I were to play one of my songs in an evangelical setting I’d likely be stoned ( 🙂 just kidding ) but I’m pretty sure my audience would not be happy nor would I be asked to return . Funny thing is , I believe the songs I write to be far more “ Christian” if you will than the mainstream stuff on the charts. I would not compromise for top chart hit if I had to reduce a song to a damn formula. Just my honest opinion.
Cheers ,
John Gavin
I don’t need coaching in songwriting- to be humble and honest, I could prob teach you a few things lol- I’ve written over 2,000 songs, have over 300,000 followers on my Facebook page, 7 albums out- 3 which are Christian. I just need to know how to get my songs heard at the next level, to get more paying-followers etc. I don’t need any song-writing coaching at all. My songs are amazing. 🤩