What does a Top-Line Songwriter do?
A top-line songwriter writes vocal melody and lyrics over an existing instrumental track or production. Top-liners collaborate with producers, artists, and other songwriters, developing hooks, verses, phrasing, and demo vocals that fit the track and the intended performer. Clear documentation of authorship, splits, and versions is an important part of the workflow.
At a Glance
Most top-line songwriters get their introduction to the industry as performing songwriters, staff writers, session vocalists, or even recording artists. The line between artist and writer is often porous, and many continue to advance artist careers alongside their work as a top-line songwriter. Talented and driven top-line songwriters can become major industry players, receiving a steady flow of work and contributing to chart-topping hits. Additionally, many top-line songwriters become successful recording artists in their own right.
Aspiring top-line songwriters should establish themselves in music-industry hubs like New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, or Nashville. Activities include recording vocal demos for other artists, doing live/studio gigs as a backup singer, and participating in group writing sessions. Networking is crucial. Remote collaboration via online platforms or using free online backing tracks to build a demo reel can also help build a résumé.
Vocal performance; melody writing; lyric writing; vocal production; basic audio production and recording, music publishing rights
Perhaps the most important quality for a top-line songwriter is the ability to collaborate. Songs are rarely perfect on the first try, which is why the best top-line songwriters know how to effectively self-critique and incorporate feedback from others. That aside, in order to succeed in this field, one needs an excellent singing voice, the ability to create distinctive and expressive lyrics and melodies, improvisatory skills, good business sense, and an attentive grasp on the current musical landscape.
Generally speaking, there are two kinds of gigs for top-line songwriters: studio gigs, where the top-line songwriters work in person with the tracks' producer(s); and remote gigs, where the top-liner receives a track over email and fires back stems of their own vocal recording, usually created in a home or private studio. In-person studio sessions might last anywhere from a couple of days to a week, during which time the top-liner generally works on a large number of tracks.
