14 Singer-Songwriter
What is it Like Being a Singer-Songwriter
On this episode of the Unboxing Careers Podcast, Greg Zakowicz unboxes a career in music with singer-songwriter Paige King Johnson.
Guest: Paige King Johnson is a singer-songwriter and five-time Carolina Country Music Award winner. Her debut single “Water Down The Whiskey” climbed to the #29 spot on Music Row charts. Paige has appeared on Country Music Television (CMT), RFD-TV, Heartland TV & Newsmax, and even made her Grand Ole Opry debut alongside country music legend Pam Tillis. She has shared the stage with artists such as Kane Brown, Randy Houser, Clint Black, Oliver Anthony, Joe Nichols, Kylie Morgan, Tracy Byrd, Ian Munsick, Gabby Barrett, Diamond Rio, and Scotty McCreery.
Connect with & Listen to Paige:
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What Does a Country Singer-Songwriter Career Actually Look Like?
When people imagine becoming a singer-songwriter, they often picture writing songs, performing on stage, and recording albums. In reality, most of the job happens away from the stage.
A modern independent artist operates much like a small business owner. You are not only writing songs and performing shows. You are also booking venues, negotiating contracts, planning travel, managing social media, promoting your music, and maintaining relationships across the industry.
For many artists, the career becomes a constant cycle of weekend performances and weekday preparation. It involves long travel days, missed personal events, and a steady flow of administrative work behind the scenes. If you choose this career path, your days will include creative work, but they will also require persistence, business awareness, and emotional resilience.
The lifestyle can be incredibly rewarding, especially when fans connect deeply with your music. But it also requires years of effort before many artists see meaningful success.
What Does a Singer-Songwriter Actually Do Each Week?
The weekly rhythm of a singer-songwriter career often revolves around weekend performances and weekday preparation.
Many independent artists perform three nights a week between Thursday and Sunday. These days involve travel, loading equipment, sound checks, and performing live shows. Touring schedules can add up to more than 150 shows per year, which means constantly moving between venues and cities.
When the weekend ends, the work does not stop. Early in the week, artists often recover from the physical demands of performing while also preparing for upcoming shows. Because the artist is often managing their own career, much of the weekday work happens on a computer.
Typical weekday tasks include reviewing contracts, answering emails, coordinating travel, scheduling social media content, and preparing promotional graphics. Artists also spend time interacting with fans online and filming content that helps promote upcoming releases or performances.
A typical week may include:
Three nights of live performances
Several hours of travel between cities
Administrative work like contracts and booking
Social media content creation and fan interaction
Planning logistics for future shows
The performance is the most visible part of the career, but much of the work happens behind the scenes.
How Much Time Do Singer-Songwriters Spend Writing Music?
Songwriting remains central to the career, but professional writing rarely happens alone.
In Nashville, songwriting is often collaborative through a process called co-writing. Artists frequently schedule sessions with other writers where they spend several hours building lyrics and melodies together. Over time, many artists develop a network of collaborators they trust.
Instead of writing with hundreds of different people, experienced artists often rotate through a smaller group of around twenty writers who understand their musical voice and creative style.
Not every songwriting session has the same goal. Some days focus on writing songs designed for radio or commercial success. Other sessions focus on emotional storytelling or personal experiences.
During a writing session, artists may discuss:
The story the song is trying to tell
Whether the song fits commercial country radio
How the melody supports the emotion of the lyrics
Whether the song fits the artist’s brand and voice
Over time, writers learn to balance creative expression with the realities of the music marketplace.
How Do Singer-Songwriters Get Their First Shows?
Most artists begin performing long before they consider music as a full career.
Early performances often happen anywhere people will listen. Many musicians start by playing at churches, family gatherings, backyard events, or community festivals. These experiences help young performers learn how to read audiences and build confidence on stage.
As artists become more serious about performing, they begin contacting local venues to book shows. Restaurants, bars, and small music venues frequently host live music and are often open to booking new performers.
Booking early gigs usually involves direct outreach. Artists often search online for local venues and contact them through email, phone calls, or social media messages.
Early booking strategies often include:
Searching online for live music venues in your area
Sending performance videos to venue managers
Calling restaurants to ask who books music
Messaging venues on social media
Venues want performers who can bring customers through the door, so artists often start by performing near home where friends and family can attend shows.
Should You Go to College for a Music Career?
There is no single path into the music industry.
Some artists choose to attend college programs focused on music business or songwriting. These programs may teach topics like marketing, contract law, publishing rights, and music production.
For artists who manage their own careers, understanding contracts and business relationships can be extremely valuable. Knowledge of the industry helps musicians recognize unfair deals and protect their work.
However, college is not required for everyone. Many artists learn through hands-on experience, mentorship, and independent research. Online resources, industry connections, and real-world practice can also provide valuable education.
The most important factor is not the degree itself but the ability to understand the business side of music.
Artists who succeed long-term usually develop knowledge about:
Music contracts and legal agreements
Publishing rights and songwriting royalties
Marketing and promotion strategies
Revenue streams in the industry
Without this knowledge, artists may struggle to sustain their careers financially.
Why Do Many Singer-Songwriters Move to Music Cities?
Many artists eventually relocate to cities known for strong music industries.
Places like Nashville, Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, and New York concentrate producers, songwriters, managers, and industry professionals in one place. These environments create opportunities for collaboration and networking that are harder to find elsewhere.
Moving to a music hub can be intimidating because the level of talent is extremely high. However, that environment can accelerate growth as musicians push each other to improve.
It also removes the safety of performing only for people who already know you. In a new city, audiences respond only if the music genuinely connects with them.
Artists who relocate often begin asking difficult questions about their identity:
What makes my music different?
Why should audiences pay to hear my songs?
What story am I trying to tell as an artist?
Those questions shape how an artist builds their career and brand.
What Are the Biggest Misconceptions About Becoming a Singer-Songwriter?
One of the most common misconceptions is that success happens quickly.
Artists who appear to become famous overnight often spent many years working behind the scenes before gaining recognition. Some musicians spend more than a decade writing songs, performing live, and building industry relationships before their careers gain traction.
Another misconception is that the lifestyle is glamorous.
In reality, touring musicians often miss family events because weekends are when most shows take place. Birthdays, weddings, and holidays frequently conflict with performance schedules.
Even though artists perform in front of crowds, the lifestyle can feel surprisingly isolating. Long travel days, constant pressure to perform, and time away from home can make the career emotionally challenging.
Understanding these realities helps aspiring artists prepare for the long-term demands of the job.
How Do Singer-Songwriters Actually Make Money?
Music careers usually rely on several different income streams.
Many people assume artists earn most of their income from album sales or radio play. In reality, independent musicians combine multiple revenue sources to sustain their careers.
Common income streams include:
Live performances and touring
Merchandise sales at concerts
Streaming royalties
Brand partnerships and sponsorships
Licensing songs for film, television, or commercials
Song placement in movies or advertisements, known as sync licensing, can sometimes generate significant income. However, accessing those opportunities usually requires industry relationships and specialized songwriting approaches.
Because the industry continues to change, many artists constantly experiment with new ways to generate revenue while reinvesting money into recording, touring, and promotion.
Career Snapshot: Who Thrives as a Singer-Songwriter and Who Struggles?
People Who Often Thrive
Musicians who enjoy both creativity and business management
Artists comfortable traveling frequently
People who enjoy collaborating with other writers
Individuals who can handle rejection and uncertainty
Performers who enjoy interacting with fans
People Who May Struggle
Musicians who dislike self-promotion
Individuals who prefer predictable income and schedules
People uncomfortable with competition or criticism
Artists who want to focus only on writing and avoid business tasks
Core Tradeoffs of the Career
This career offers creative freedom and the opportunity to connect deeply with audiences. In exchange, it requires travel, financial uncertainty, long hours, and emotional resilience.
Singer-Songwriter Career FAQs
How do singer-songwriters usually start their careers?
Most musicians begin by performing in small local settings such as churches, family events, or community gatherings. These early performances help them gain stage experience and confidence before pursuing larger venues or professional opportunities.
Do singer-songwriters need to move to cities like Nashville?
Not always, but many artists choose to move to major music hubs because those cities provide access to producers, songwriters, managers, and industry professionals. Being surrounded by experienced musicians can accelerate growth and open networking opportunities.
Is a college degree required for a music career?
A degree is not required, but education about the music business can be valuable. Many artists study topics like marketing, contracts, and publishing rights to protect themselves and manage their careers more effectively.
How do singer-songwriters earn money?
Independent artists typically combine several revenue sources including live shows, merchandise sales, streaming royalties, brand partnerships, and licensing music for television or film.
What is the hardest part of being a touring musician?
Touring often involves long travel days, irregular schedules, and time away from family events. Even though artists perform in front of crowds, the lifestyle can sometimes feel isolating.
Other Creative & Performing Arts Careers
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