When looking for inspiration for songs, it is common to look inward and write songs about your broken heart or some other personal experience. The day a songwriter realizes that this is not the best approach should be considered a red letter day in his/her songwriting career. Think about it this way. Think about what makes the music industry and songwriting industry tick. Is it the musicians, the songwriters or the producers? Wrong on all accounts. What makes the music business and songwriting business tick is everyone who buys the product. In other words, average American people who go to Wal Mart and buy CDs. These are the most important people in the music business. And if you don't believe this then you are in for a rude awakening someday.
Keeping this in mind, you want to write songs that will make these people go to the store and buy the CD. And the songs they want to hear are songs about things they know. They want to hear songs about love, songs about patriotism, songs about heartache, songs about people that overcome adversity. Are you beginning to understand. Pay attention to successful movies, the news on TV, Internet Sites and on the radio. Listen to the world around you and zero in on what's going on. All of this can give you ideas for songs. Go talk to people you know or even those you don't know. Talk to senior citizens and veterans. Ask them to tell you the stories of their lives. This is where you will find great song ideas. So go on, get going.
