The Art and Business of Songwriting

Larry D. Batiste is a songwriter, producer, arranger, vocalist, educator, and music director who has written songs for and recorded with Santana, Al Jarreau, Patti Austin, Whitney Houston, Michael Bolton, Bill Summers & Summers Heat, Natalie Cole, The Dazz Band, Huey Lewis & The News, Charlie Wilson, and Jeezy. He formerly taught songwriting, publishing, and career development at San Francisco State University. He is best known as musical director of the Grammy Awards Pre-Telecast and NAMM's TEC Awards. Batiste has also worked on numerous Grammy winning and nominated recordings, received commissions from the Oakland Symphony, inducted into the Black Music Association of the Arts Hall of Fame in 2020, and nominated for a 2023 Guild of Music Supervisors Award for Best Song Written for Television.

A Note from the Author
Acknowledgements
Introduction

PART ONE: THE ART

CHAPTER 1: Ready, Start, Go!

Songwriter Spotlight: Salaam Remi

CHAPTER 2: Writing Songs That Connect

Songwriter Spotlight: Ivan Barias

CHAPTER 3: Building a Song

Songwriter Spotlight: Lamont Dozier

CHAPTER 4: Let the Music Play

Songwriter Spotlight: Donald Lawrence

CHAPTER 5: Writing Unique and Memorable Melodies

Songwriter Spotlight: Narada Michael Walden

CHAPTER 6: Finding the Right Words to Say

Songwriter Spotlight: DJ Toomp

CHAPTER 7: Rewriting

Songwriter Spotlight: Bonnie Hayes

PART TWO: THE BUSINESS

CHAPTER 8: Building a Songwriting Career

Songwriter Spotlight: Andre Pessis

CHAPTER 9: The Business of Digital Music

Songwriter Spotlight: Peter Asher

CHAPTER 10: Building a Fanbase

Songwriter Spotlight: James McKinney

CHAPTER 11: Internet Radio

Songwriter Spotlight: Preston Glass

CHAPTER 12: D.I.Y. Masters-Finding Success Without a Major Label

Index