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There's a level of trust that exists between artists and their fans. When you listen to the lyrics of your favorite singer, rapper, or band, a personal connection is created and the storytelling aspects of the music are ideally fueled by authenticity. The subject matter of certain songs may be more believable than others, but the last emotion you want to feel as a music fan is cheated. And while this topic is usually swept under the rug, the reality remains that many artists are not responsible for the catchy chorus stuck in your head all day at work, or the moving words which ensure double-digit likes on your Facebook status.
However, ghostwriting is at the forefront of people's minds after the highly publicized "beef" between Drake and Meek Mill. The hip-hop world exploded when Meek Mill tweeted that Drake didn't write his own lyrics on several well-known songs, claiming that relatively unknown rapper Quentin Miller is the artist behind a few recent Drizzy hits. While anybody who took the time to read the liner notes can see that Miller was given credit for his songwriting contributions (however extensive they were/weren't), there is a portion of the hip-hop populus who now have less respect for Drake's craft (even after the scathing response record Back to Back). The mainstream will continue to focus on this controversy because of its gossip implications, but a question that indie artists may be thinking to themselves is, "Would I ever ghostwrite for a more well-known artist?"
There are many songwriters who make a living off penning verses/bridges/hooks for high-profile artists, (especially within the pop and R&B genres), and most fans who sing along will never know their names. Since success in the indie market usually takes a slow and steady grind, maneuvering your way into a ghostwriting role can certainly be a tempting opportunity. With the right connections, taking a behind-the-scenes role in the creative process can be profitable and less stressful than constantly being in the spotlight. So if you're ever presented with this option, the most important measure to take is to be honest with yourself when evaluating both your personality and what your true aspirations are as an artist.
The distinction between songwriting collaboration and ghostwriting must be fully understood when tackling this issue. As a ghostwriter, you must accept the fact that you will not receive any recorded credit for your work besides a nice check. If you're someone who doesn't excel at being the center of attention and never got over stage fright, then this could be an ideal position to be in. There are plenty of average performers who are great songwriters, and there is no shame in admitting that's where you fall on the spectrum. But for most artists, this is a level of sacrifice that is too much to bear. Working tirelessly for years and years at perfecting your craft to ultimately not receive credit for your music defeats the whole purpose of creating art in the minds of many. Ghostwriting in the early stages of your career has the chance of helping you become known amongst label big shots, but the question to ask yourself is, at what cost?
Ultimately, the issue of ghostwriting will be forever debated among the inner circle of musicians, critics, and attentive fans. For indie artists who are intrigued at the potential of making it a career choice, it's important to carefully evaluate all of the factors involved. Being trusted to be an industry secret can be just as stressful as the lack of privacy that all artists deal with in this social-media-driven age. If songwriting is your true passion and you're confident you can use your lyrical skills to put yourself in a position to succeed, learning the ins and outs of ghostwriting may be worth the risk. But in most cases, as an indie artist, you're better off developing your craft and earning the credit you deserve from putting time into creating timeless material. In the end, it's difficult to make a long-lasting name for yourself if your name is stripped away from the music.
What do you think of ghostwriting? Would you do it? Let us know in the comments!
Eric Bernsen is a marketing/public relations professional and music journalist who specializes in the genre of hip-hop. You can find more of his work at HITPmusic.com (where he is an editor/writer) as well as HipHop-N-More.com, where he contributes album reviews. Follow Eric on Twitter @ebernsen.
