Careers in Songwriting
Below are some of the many careers a songwriting major can pursue.
Visit Berklee's Career Communities site to explore more roles by community, industry, program, or location.
Television Composer, Film and TV Composer
Television composers write the themes, background score, and source music used in television shows.
Music Library Composer, Custom Music Composer, Advertising Music Composer, Production Music Writer, General Business Composer
Writing for a wide variety of clients—including businesses, event production companies, software and hardware developers, nonprofits, films and TV shows, and music libraries—freelance composers create music not for the stage but for use in the world around them.
Lyric Writer
Lyricists write the words to pop songs, show tunes, commercial jingles, and other musical compositions.
Artist Songwriter, Singer-Songwriter
Working alone or in collaboration with others, performing songwriters create, record, release, and perform original songs.
Beat Maker, Producer
Possessing excellent songwriting ability and developed track production skills, songwriter-producers are involved every step of the way in the songs they choose to take on—from the writing process to the studio and in between.
Staff Songwriter
Working alone or in collaboration with others, staff writers are content providers who create hit songs for other artists to record and perform.
Top-liner, Vocal Producer
A unique hybrid of singer and songwriter, top-line songwriters work in popular music genres, where they create the vocal melodies, harmonies, and lyrics to accompany producers’ "beats"—digitally constructed instrumental tracks.