SINGER SONGWRITERS— the AMP 84

"I was never a singer; I can't play any instruments; I had no training. Plus, I was brought up in a time when all the great rock stars were male. I didn't have any template for what I was doing. I did what I did out of frustration and concern." 
— Patti Smith

In This Issue...  13 pages (about 19ish minutes to read) You'll Get... 

• Recommends— Berklee College of Music: FREE Songwriting Handbook— A Must-Have Resource for Singer Songwriters

• the BIZ— the Devaluation of Music: Fact or Fiction by Gregory Walfish of XposureMusic

• the Greatest Singer Songwriters— Patti Smith: The High Priestess of Punk Poetry

• Guest Article— 10 Songwriting Tips from Josh Ritter 

• PS from PS— Music. Musak. Musick.

Here’s the playlist

• Recommends— Berklee College of Music: FREE Songwriting Handbook— A Must-Have Resource for Singer Songwriters

For any serious Songwriter looking to refine their craft, Berklee College of Music stands as an unparalleled institution— renowned for shaping some of the world's greatest musical minds. But you don't have to enroll in Boston to benefit from Berklee's wisdom. Berklee Online offers an incredible FREE Songwriting Handbook— packed with expert guidance from industry veterans and Berklee's own top-tier faculty.

Inside, you'll find lessons from legendary songwriting educators like Andrea Stolpe, Bonnie Hayes, and Pat Pattison, offering insights into melody, lyrics, arrangement, hooks, and even writing for advertising. Whether you're stuck on a chorus, looking to enhance your storytelling, or perfecting the structure of your songs, this handbook delivers essential strategies to elevate your songwriting game.

Here's a taste of what you'll get:

• Destination Songwriting— A structured approach to crafting compelling lyrics and melodies. (Andrea Stolpe)

• The Art of Setting Your Words to Music— Learn how phrasing can make or break a song. (Pat Pattison)

• Making Your Melody Work— Craft melodies that are both memorable and emotionally impactful. (Jimmy Kachulis)

• 10 Songwriting Tips from Josh Ritter— Get real-world advice from one of the best in the business. (Featured below in this issue.)

If you're looking to sharpen your skills and write songs that truly connect, Berklee's FREE Songwriting Handbook is a must-have. Download it, study it, and let it guide you to your best work yet.

Get the 89-page handbook. Tap here: Berklee Songwriting Handbook.

• the BIZ— The Devaluation of Music: Fact or Fiction by Gregory Walfish of XposureMusic

For as long as music has existed in our lives, it has been both a profound art form and a daily commodity that we sometimes take for granted. However, the question of whether music has been devalued in recent years sparks intense debate among experts and fans alike. 

From the rise of streaming platforms to changes in consumer behavior, the music industry's evolution offers a mix of progress and challenges. But has music truly lost its value? Or is it a quality issue at the core of the problem? The answer is, well, nuanced, but we'll try to take an objective look at the topic and perhaps come up with a new perspective.

The Economic Perspective: Revenue Growth Vs. Artist Compensation
Economically, the music industry has experienced a significant boost over the past decades. The early 2000s saw plummeting revenues as digital piracy surged and physical album sales declined. However, the industry has rebounded remarkably over the following years. In 2022, the global recorded music market grew by 9.0% to $26.2 billion, marking its eighth consecutive year of growth. This resurgence is largely attributed to streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and TIDAL, which have made music more accessible than ever before.

The U.S. recorded music industry generated $17.1 billion in revenue in 2023, a 6.1% increase from the previous year. Streaming now accounts for the lion's share of these earnings, showcasing its dominance as the preferred mode of consumption among music fans. But this model raises questions about how revenue is distributed and whether artists are being fairly compensated.

For many musicians, especially independents, streaming revenue offers little financial security. Platforms like Spotify pay an average of $0.003 to $0.005 per stream, meaning that even millions of streams may not amount to a sustainable income. This economic model, critics argue, prioritizes quantity over quality, forcing artists to compete in an environment where visibility is often dictated by algorithms rather than artistry.

Cultural Shifts: Music As Background Noise
Culturally, the shift from physical albums to digital streaming has transformed how we value music. In the pre-digital era, purchasing an album often represented a deeper commitment to an artist. Today, subscription models provide unlimited access to millions of songs for a flat monthly fee, fostering an environment where music becomes an easily replaceable commodity, you just have to skip to the next song, album, or artist, just like swiping on a dating app. This ease of access, while convenient for listeners, can dilute the perceived worth of individual tracks or albums.

Moreover, the omnipresence of music in daily life, streamed during commutes, work, workouts, and even sleep, has arguably turned it into background noise, however harsh that sounds. The convenience of streaming has made music consumption easier, but it also created a culture of disposability, where listeners might skip tracks after just a few seconds, chasing the next dopamine hit.

There is a counter-narrative, though. The resurgence of vinyl records and the sustained interest in physical formats suggest that many consumers still value tangible, immersive music experiences. In 2024, physical music sales in the U.K., including vinyl, grew by 6% to £330 million. This trend underscores a desire for deeper connections to music, challenging the idea that music's value is universally diminishing.

Technology: a Blessing and a Curse
Technological advancements have revolutionized music production and distribution. Digital audio workstations (DAWs), affordable recording equipment, and online platforms have made music creation so much easier, enabling more artists to produce and share their work. However, this trend comes at a cost. The sheer volume of music released daily has created an oversaturated market, making it harder for individual artists to stand out.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is another game-changer. Tools like Suno and AIVA now compose music, challenging traditional notions of artistry and competing with real, human creativity. While these innovations expand possibilities, they also raise concerns about authenticity.

Streaming platforms, while a technological marvel, have also shifted industry dynamics. The emphasis on metrics like play counts and engagement rates influences artistic decisions, encouraging shorter songs and multiple album versions designed to maximize streams. Critics argue that this data-driven approach reduces music to a numbers game, detracting from its artistic essence.

the Artist's Perspective: Struggles and Adaptations
For artists, the current landscape is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, digital platforms offer unprecedented reach, allowing musicians to connect with global audiences without traditional roadblocks. On the other hand, the gig economy, with its uncertainties and lack of consistent income, often leaves artists financially vulnerable and unable to make a living through music alone.

The decline of traditional revenue streams, such as physical album sales and lucrative touring opportunities, has also forced musicians to diversify their income sources. Many now rely on a mix of streaming revenue, live performances, merchandise sales, crowdfunding, and brand partnerships. While this entrepreneurial approach offers flexibility, it also demands a skill set that extends far beyond music-making, from social media management to influencer marketing.

Some artists have turned to direct-to-fan platforms like Bandcamp and Patreon, which provide more equitable revenue shares. These platforms enable musicians to build closer relationships with their audience, fostering a sense of community and mutual support. However, these solutions often benefit established or niche artists more than newcomers struggling to gain visibility.

So, Is Music Truly Devalued?
The concept of devaluation is obviously subjective. Economically, the industry is thriving, with revenues reaching historic highs. Culturally, music remains an integral part of human life, from personal milestones to social movements. Technologically, innovations continue to expand what's possible in both creation and consumption.

But for many artists, the lived experience tells a different story. The imbalance in revenue distribution, the pressure to adapt to ever-changing industry norms, and the challenges of breaking through in a crowded market all contribute to a sense of diminished value and increased effort. 

Addressing these issues requires a multi-faceted approach. Industry stakeholders, including streaming platforms, record labels, and policymakers, need to collaborate to ensure fairer compensation for artists. Transparent royalty systems, equitable contracts, and alternative revenue models are essential to sustaining a thriving music ecosystem.

Listeners also have a role to play. By actively supporting artists through purchases, attending live shows, and engaging with their work beyond passive streaming or illegal downloads, fans can help reinforce music's value. Similarly, the continued interest in physical formats and direct-to-artist platforms demonstrates that consumer choices can drive positive change.
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About Gregory Walfish and Xposure Music

Gregory Walfish is the co-founder of Xposure Music, a platform dedicated to empowering independent artists by connecting them directly with industry professionals, mentors, and new opportunities. With a deep understanding of the evolving music landscape, Walfish and his team at Xposure Music provide emerging artists with tools to navigate the business side of their careers— offering insights on funding, promotion, and long-term sustainability in an era where streaming dominates.

Xposure Music serves as a bridge between talent and industry decision-makers, fostering direct engagement and actionable career-building opportunities. Through his work, Walfish challenges conventional industry narratives, such as this thought-provoking article The Devaluation of Music: Fact or Fiction, where he dissects the real impact of modern monetization models on artists today.

To learn more about Xposure Music and explore how it helps artists grow their careers, visit xposuremusic.com 

• The Greatest Songwriters— Patti Smith

The High Priestess of Punk Poetry: Patti Smith's Revolution 

"Rock was getting too slick for its own good when Patti Smith burst on the scene and tore it apart. She shrieked and howled literate yet street-savvy lyrics, unflinchingly confronting topics from religion to the Beat movement."
— Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2007)

Few artists have left as indelible a mark on music and culture as Patti Smith. A poet, a punk icon, and a voice of artistic rebellion, Smith carved out a space where poetry met rock, where intellect fused with raw emotion, and where punk's do-it-yourself spirit found a guiding force. She wasn't just another Singer Songwriter; she was a movement unto herself.

"She's the poet laureate of punk, but more than that, she's a truth-teller. Every time she opens her mouth, she makes you believe in the power of words." 
— Bruce Springsteen

The Birth of a Punk Poet
Born in 1946 in Chicago and raised in New Jersey, Patti Smith grew up with an insatiable hunger for literature, art, and music. She moved to New York City in the late 1960s, immersing herself in the vibrant counterculture scene. Her earliest artistic collaborations were with Robert Mapplethorpe, the renowned photographer, with whom she shared an intense creative and personal relationship. Smith's poetry readings in small NYC venues quickly became legendary, setting the stage for what would become one of the most groundbreaking careers in rock history.

"She was the only one who was absolutely, literally breaking down the doors of rock & roll and pushing it into something that had never existed before." 
— Michael Stipe (R.E.M.)

Horses: A Revolution in Sound
Smith's debut album, Horses (1975), didn't just challenge the norms of rock— it obliterated them. Opening with the now-iconic line "Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine," she set the tone for a record that blended spoken word, punk energy, and avant-garde influences. Produced by John Cale of The Velvet Underground, Horses was a raw, visceral experience, combining Smith's love of Rimbaud and Ginsberg with the electricity of rock & roll.

Songs like Gloria and Free Money became instant classics, with Smith's mix of snarling vocals and poetic intensity inspiring a generation of musicians. Horses is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, paving the way for punk rock's explosion in the late '70s.

Success, Struggles, and Reinvention
Smith followed up with albums like Radio Ethiopia (1976) and Easter (1978), the latter giving her one of her biggest commercial successes with Because the Night— a song co-written with Bruce Springsteen. The track showcased a different side of Smith, blending raw passion with anthemic hooks, proving that she could craft both rebellious manifestos and radio-friendly hits.

"She turned the whole idea of what a rock star could be upside down. She wasn't just playing music—she was creating a new language." 
— Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth)

Despite her growing fame, Smith stepped away from the music industry in the late '70s after marrying MC5 guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith. They settled in Detroit, where she focused on raising their children and writing. However, tragedy struck when Fred passed away in 1994, followed shortly by the death of several close friends, including Robert Mapplethorpe and her longtime bandmate Richard Sohl.

Rather than retreat into grief, Smith returned to music with renewed urgency. Her 1996 album Gone Again was a haunting, poetic reflection on loss and resilience, reaffirming her place as a powerful artistic force.

Activism and Influence
Beyond her music, Patti Smith has been a relentless advocate for artistic freedom, political activism, and human rights. She has spoken out against war, environmental destruction, and corporate greed, embodying the punk ethos of challenging authority and standing for what's right. Her work has been deeply informed by her admiration for radical thinkers and literary giants like William Blake, Bob Dylan, and Jean Genet.

"Patti Smith proved that you could be raw, intelligent, poetic, and ferocious all at once. She made it okay for women to take the stage and own it on their own terms." 
— PJ Harvey

Her influence is immeasurable. Artists across generations— from Michael Stipe of R.E.M. to PJ Harvey and Courtney Love— cite her as a formative inspiration. Smith's ability to blend the literary and the primal, the intellectual and the instinctual, has made her a blueprint for countless Singer Songwriters seeking authenticity in their craft.

"Patti is a revolutionary. She showed that rock could be more than just sound— it could be literature, it could be activism, it could be transcendence." 
— Bono (U2)

An Unstoppable Force
Smith's later years have been marked by continued artistic output, including the  critically acclaimed memoirs Just Kids (2010) and M Train (2015). Just Kids, which chronicles her relationship with Mapplethorpe, won the National Book Award and cemented her status not just as a rock legend but as one of America's great literary voices.

"I learned from Patti that you don't have to compromise your art to make an impact. She remains the gold standard for fearless expression." 
— Courtney Love

Even now, up in her seventies, Patti Smith remains a formidable presence— performing, writing, and speaking out. She has never stopped evolving, never stopped creating, and never stopped challenging the status quo.

For Singer Songwriters, Patti Smith serves as a beacon of uncompromising artistry. Her legacy is not just in her music but in her fearlessness, her words, and her belief that art can change the world. She didn't just write songs— she created anthems for the outcasts, the dreamers, and the rebels.

Patti Smith's legacy isn't just about music— it's about defiance, creativity, and the unyielding pursuit of truth. For any Singer Songwriter looking for a guiding light, she stands as proof that music isn't just sound— it's a revolution.
— New Music Lives™

in partnership with the Eleven Music Career Center and Matt Jacoby

• Guest Article— 10 Songwriting Tips from Josh Ritter 

Berklee Online frequently hosts live interviews with respected professionals in the music industry. The following Songwriting suggestions come from a conversation with acclaimed Singer Songwriter Josh Ritter (tap on the name like to visit his Wikipedia page) as part of the Berklee Online Live: Songwriting series.

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What follows are condensed summaries of the 10 Tips. The original in the Berklee Songwriter Handbook contains more of Mr. Ritters thoughts. We highly suggest you read the whole thing.

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1. There are times when you shouldn't work on a song. Acknowledge when the creative energy is absent; sometimes stepping away yields better results than forcing it.

2. Work on songs a little at a time. 
Allow your songs to develop organically over time; forced and hurried compositions often lack depth and authenticity.

3. When a line jumps into your head, try it in a song. 
When inspiration strikes with a line or melody, explore its potential in a song; these spontaneous thoughts can be the seeds of great compositions.

4. The more complicated you make a song, the less powerful it is. 
Simplify your songs; complexity can dilute their power, whereas simplicity can make them timeless and relatable.

5. If you can't fit something into a song, leave it alone … for now. 
If an idea doesn't fit into your current song, set it aside; it might become essential in future compositions, even years later.

6. You are the most important person in your audience. 
Write for yourself; you are the primary audience, and if your song doesn't resonate with you, it likely won't with others.

7. Write about what you obsess over. 
Channel your obsessions into your writing; writing about what matters to you makes your work authentic and impactful.

8. Writing a song is like going to a party. 
Approach Songwriting like attending a party; enter when it's lively and leave before it dwindles, painting a vivid, concise portrait.

9. Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.
Embrace bravery and vulnerability in your writing; these qualities distinguish great art from the rest.

10. Writing bad songs helps you write great songs. Writing bad songs is a stepping stone to creating great ones; they help in chiseling away the excess, revealing the masterpiece within.

For more insights and interviews, explore Berklee Online's YouTube channel and the Music Is My Life podcast, available wherever you like your podcasts.

• PS from PS— Music. Musak. Musick.

Once upon a time… music wasn't just something that appeared on your phone. It was a special event. A pilgrimage. Even a sacred ritual. 

When I think about the decline in music's perceived value that Gregory Walfish details in his article The Devaluation of Music, I know it to be fact. Not fiction. I'm not talking about industry revenues or streaming metrics. It's something deeper: the experiential-emotional weight we once assigned to finding, purchasing, and experiencing new music.

Back when I was young, in the era of Led Zeppelin's debut album, music wasn't a commodity. I worked a Saturday job in the local supermarket, feeling the hours tick by, knowing each minute brought me closer to holding that Good Times, Bad Times vinyl in my  hands. Anticipation was part of the experience. Promotional campaigns for albums like Zeppelin's first masterpiece didn't just announce music... They created cultural moments, building expectations over weeks and months that transformed release day into something approaching religious significance.

The record store wasn't merely a retail space. It was a temple. Walking through  those cathedral doors, fingertips dancing across album spines, pulling out covers to inspect the artwork... Courtship, not consumption. When I finally held that Led Zeppelin album, the exchange of my hard-earned money for this precious artifact wasn't a transaction. It was a covenant.

Ahhh... and then came the listening. Not background noise while scrolling through social media. The wafer and wine of communion. Friends gathered around, album notes in hand, discussing Robert Plant's wail and Jimmy Page's guitar wizardry. Each side of the record marked a chapter, the ritual of flipping vinyl— a natural intermission providing time to discuss what we'd just experienced.

Today? 

Music has become wallpaper. Infinite catalog of songs instantaneously available. Even "ones we don't want," as they put it. The algorithm serves up recommendations before we even feel hungry. The effort required to access new music has evaporated, and with it, much of the reverence. Devaluation indeed.

This isn't just nostalgic pining away for the good old days. Something genuine has been lost in this shift of convenience. Instant this. Instant that. Kills.

When we sacrifice nothing to obtain music, we inadvertently diminished its perceived worth. The albums that shaped our youth weren't just collections of songs— they were milestones, memories, moments captured in time that required investment.

Streaming has democratized access, which is beautiful in many ways. But in gaining everything instantly, we've lost the delicious anticipation, the ceremonial acquisition, and perhaps most importantly, the focused attention that made music a centerpiece rather than an accessory to our lives.

Music has gone from the soundtrack of our lives to the musak in an elevator ride. Better... Musick.

The true tragedy isn't that music has lost its monetary value— it's that we've lost the experience of making music matter. That Saturday job taught me that music was worth working for. The trip to the record store taught me that selection was meaningful. Sharing that first listen with friends taught me that music wasn't just personal— it was communal. Universal.

Perhaps what we miss isn't record store headsets or physical media. What we miss is making music important enough to build our lives around, rather than merely filling the vacuum between text and email notifications.

Until we speak again...

Thanks for reading. Give us your feedback.

And PLEASE, if you've got any Singer Songwriter friends, pass the AMP on, because... It’s Time... for a Change. Big Time. Past Time...