‘Just write the hook’: Unsigned artists let fans decide future of half-written songs
In three years’ time, Song House has amassed several million followers across platforms.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - For decades, record labels have been the gate-keepers for a career in music, but in recent years social media has begun to change the way independent artists connect with fans, leading to new innovations in the way they earn money.
“What social media has done has been the bridge between the independent artist and having a platform to really get your art out,” says Tyler Ward, a singer/songwriter.
In 2021, in an effort to foster more collaboration with fellow independent artists, Ward created a challenge to songwriters: write the hook of a song in 30-minutes and whoever writes the best hook, wins!
“We started posting these [challenges] online and people started falling in love with it,” recalls Ward. “We thought ‘WOW we could do something with this!’”
Ward serves as co-founder and co-owner of the enterprise that came from the challenge, Song House. They partner with unsigned artists to create catchy hooks for songs, then post them for fan feedback.
“I love not finishing the song because a lot of people get in their head, they’re like ‘If I have to finish this whole thing I’m never gonna finish it,’” explains Ward. “For us it’s like ‘why don’t we just write the hook? Its the most catchy part of the song, put it online, and if the response is good, then we’ll put in the money to finish it and put it out into the world because they want it!”
A partnership with Song House is a boon to independent artists, mainly because of the size of its audience. In three years’ time, Song House has amassed several million followers across platforms - TikTok serving as its largest connection to fans.
The songs that are written with Song House members are posted on social platforms, allowing followers to decide which ones eventually get finished, recorded and released.
“We do one-off deals with artists so they can own their entire career and we just partner on one song together,” says Ward.
To widen the pool of artist collaborations, Song House recently began hosting “Camp,” a five-day stay at a rural Goodlettsville farm, equipped with 7 recording studios and sleeping arrangements for 36 people. Hundreds of people apply to audition to be one of the 12 independent artists who travel to Sumner County to write music.
“I didn’t know what to expect, and I think that’s the cool part about it because I was so open to whatever,” says 26-year old Leroy Booker, an R&B artist from Kenosha, Wisconsin.
During “Camp,” Song House members worked with Booker to put notes and lyrics to a moment in time he described as “the hardest time” in his life. On the final day of camp, they recorded the video version of the song - which will be posted for the millions of Song House followers to weigh in.
“Its a rare thing for [independent artists] to communicate their story with such a large audience,” says Ward.
In the event a song goes viral among fans, Song House agrees to finish it with the independent artist. They detail the process on their website, including costs which can be up to $3,500.
“Broadcasting and socials is huge now,” says Ward. “If you can connect in that space, you can have a legit career!”
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