David Foster's 10 Tips for Songwriters

David Foster's "10 Tips for Songwriters" from his speech upon accepting the BMI Icon Award at the 2011 BMI Pop Awards.
BMI held its 59th annual Pop Music Awards Tuesday, May 17 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. David Foster was celebrated as a BMI Icon, and an all-star musical tribute featuring Brian McKnight, Keri Hilson, Cody Karey, Courtney Blooding and Chaka Khan celebrated his career. Lady Gaga, Jason Derülo and JR Rotem all became the BMI Pop Songwriters of the Year; Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" garnered Pop Song of the Year honors for co-writers Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley and publishers DWHaywood Music, RADIOBULLETSPUBLISHING and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp; and Sony/ATV Songs LLC claimed the Pop Publisher of the Year crystal. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant, along with Barbara Cane, BMI Vice President/General Manager, Los Angeles, and Phil Graham, BMI Senior Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, the ceremony also saluted the writers and publishers of the past year's 50 most-performed pop songs on U.S. radio and television.
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[@suzyflorida1193]

David is one of the greatest pop songwriters of all time....and producer. He's also a wise man with great advice.

[@peermusic]

Congrats to our writer of over 15 years David Foster!

[@andrewtufano]

This is great. Currently 20 years old and in the middle of the songwriting grind (releasing a new song every day on my channel) and this is refreshing to hear from someone who's made it.

[@pbefilms1458]

Well done Mr. Foster.

[@2029Anthony]

I always liked David Foster,I will take his advice as a songwriter and also as person. Thanks a million David.

[@cosmos1250]

The Man is my Hero - an Icon !!

[@marcfranke4254]

There is only 26 letters and 12 notes - and Shakespeare and Beethoven said it all better than anyone of us ever will. Nothing to add ! A great musician that knows his place in history !

[@englysengly]

as a creative professional (designer) I can certainly relate-especially the bit about not to be too precious about your craft-it's not about NOT caring for your art, but it's about picking your battle.

[@allysehueymusic]

SOLID!!

[@andyjonesmusic]

Some interesting and humorous points. I think the points about playing an instrument and not being too precious about your craft are the most important ones.

[@moresongstowrite]

thanks for the help !

[@paulettehammond-duerson8989]

Thanks for sharing.

[@KennyAnstiger]

Thanks for the great (and humorous) advice

[@bmeproductions5926]

Gold...

[@onedayati]

Good Advice.

[@onedayati]

Thanks.

[@NewhorizonsA]

Great advice! It could take awhile before you have a hit. So, it is important to save your money, and always give 100% of you effort if you name is going to be with a song. And, do you what you love and the money will follow! and Just do it!

[@janjohnny4945]

We say in Polish 'Mądrego warto posłuchać' and I think it's beatiful.

[@AdiFarhanYusof]

you're an inspiration

[@bobbyrocks338]

One should really believe that they can transcend others to a higher spiritual realm through music... use that as your preface and see what you come up with.

[@therenaessance]

thanks for this, mister

[@LensVisuals]

I Needed This !

[@simonsmatthew]

Great stuff

[@WeAskThePeople]

#11 - believe in your self as a miracle of creation.

[@burpo]

I like this guy.

[@bluewitda2ontop]

wise words from a decent man....

[@toolbass24]

Thanks

[@yachtrockcrew1768]

Legend

[@mrmelody55]

David Foster is "Da Man".

[@Parmoss1640]

Great advice. Sage!

[@67Reidy]

David foster is one of the greatest songwriters of our time, google and see.

[@EricsProject]

Great !

[@scottwesleymusic]

great stuff here!

[@johnnyjackpot]

Thanks. #5

[@onedayati]

I Agree

[@Songwriter1234567890]

Cool :) Great advice!!

[@bobitto_andbrw2668]

Those tips are not only for musicians, for people who want to achieve something in their own career.Keep in my mind.

[@ChangeforJonathan]

1.Save your $ 2.Don’t marry unless you really want to 3.Learn an instrument 4.Don’t be too precious about your craft 5.Try to be genuinely happy for others success 6. Phone folks back 7. If you names on it do your total best 8.BE ON TIME‼️ 9.Make every decision as if your rich already 10.Save your $

[@theiammike123]

"If you make a dollar, call it 50 cents because the other half belongs to the government." That actually makes sense, money saving wise. 😆

[@letsbm8s]

Great advice ! -- Can I ask you what do you have to do to get your music noticed ? I think I wrote a great song ? " Allegory 9 " instrumental - but I can't get any reaction with it on Utube . I'm not young maybe that's the problem ? , but I'm sure if people had a good listen to my song it would be a classic . Any sugestions ? Thanks.

[@grimsl]

@bluewitda2ontop yes in deed! I have two songwriter idols, Diane Warren & David Foster!

[@dimitriosvulgaris]

Got it!

[@haginz]

yes it's good

[@sabrinawasham6764]

David..you have to see this guy... his name is Eddie Que....he is a song writer from knoxville tn...his song are awsome...find him at Hardknocksrox ...here on youtube....and get this...his Grandfather is none other than the Great song writer Arthur Q Smith from the 40s 50s....ps love your new video

[@dimitriosvulgaris]

Who is David Foster again?

[@carlos36608]

Sorry the last message had a typo

[@OriginalSongContest]

Calling all Songwriters! drop by and join the largest community of online songwriters.

[@simonsmatthew]

Great list. I am not sure though what he means by "make creative decisions on the assumption you have millions in the bank"

[@xlxfjh]

I think it means "let your creativity take you wherever it will."

[@NickBryant]

Ya know, if you keep saying you'll never be better than Mozart and Beethoven just like people say there will never be better band than the Beatles, then what hope does anyone have? I believe there will be better music made if people allow it. Stop thinking so small and don't pay to guys like this. Use your own brain and intuition.

[@NickBryant]

+Kpop Explain what the point is in your opinion I would love to know.

[@gimmiethejuice]

I don't see Kpop's comment but I kind of agree with Nick. Mind you I think it shouldn't be a competition with Beethoven, it should be more about what you can create today that will resonate best with people here and now, because the world has changed since Beethoven and the Beatles (who sang Roll Over Beethoven, if you want irony). In any case, "it's all been done" is a terrible attitude, and every time someone says it, someone else is doing something new.

[@simonsmatthew]

I think humility can go a long way, and you do need some flexibility. If you get too precious about your craft it can actually be counterproductive. And you don't need to be Mozart to do some great things.

[@MLeonardTyson]

#gostraighttothecopywriteoffice

[@maggmaxxx]

Shakespeare and Beethoven were great but only the best in the views of Europeans. Good advice

[@bobf.5538]

you should be as talented as David Foster who has written and produced more artist than you can.count, with real artist who can sing. the list is long and amazing ,I won't bore those who prefer . autotuned synthizied pre recorded sugar coated manufactured pop drivel that's on the radio today. .David Foster is a class act. knows his craft . How many hit songs have YOU written or produced ? learn your musical history. before making blanket statements of the man

[@djariellewest]

From what David said in a few other videos I've watched. Put it out where ever you can. KZbin is good, but shotgun the internet with it. Something could be embedded into a page someone else goes to. Not everything you find is going to be somewhere obvious, so don't put it in obvious places.

[@merelymaterial]

so what he's learned as a songwriter is to not value your art too much (its all been done already), and that we should save our cash... what an artist..

[@vincetofanicchio7063]

Foster influenced me when I was a kid...search "Vince Tofanicchio" on KZbin

[@djariellewest]

Yep, something younger people seem to know little about because they're trying to impress people with an image.

[@MLeonardTyson]

#bereal

[@vincetofanicchio7063]

Search "Vince Tofanicchio" on KZbin...looking for TV/Movie opportunities...feedback/comments welcome...David Foster inspired me when I was a kid

[@TruthSurge]

1:05 well, in that case, why'd you spend your life writing songs? No one can do anything better than Beethoven or Shakespeare so I think I'll just pawn my guitar and get a job digging ditches!

[@babbinater1997]

Check out my new song I wrote called 'Love Dart' It's well good, no joke!!! :)

[@spinthebottle]

Save Your Money + 2 Ex-Wives = FAIL

[@dimitriosvulgaris]

Save your money........uhhhhm(?????????)

[@PrismaticSpray]

letsbm8s I took the bait and gave your song a listen ... well, frankly, it's atrocious and you're nothing short of delusional if you genuinely think otherwise. I don't normally leave comments if i don't have anything nice to say, but since you asked, my suggestion is to not quit your day job.

[@lukegibson2195]

..This is David Foster , the " COMPOSER" ? - COMPOSER ? COMPOSER ? YA RIGHT HEY PEEPS - IT'S DRIVEL - ELEVATOR MUZAK - DISPOSABLE - FORGETTABLE FLUFF..... IT ISN'T BEETHOVEN - AIN'T BRAHMS - AIN'T RAVEL -AIN'T TCHAIKOVSKY - IT'S CRAP ......... CRAP .....CRAP HE'LL BE FORGOTTEN SOON AFTER HE'S CORPSED .

[@rexoates4484]

+PrismaticSpray I wrote this song about justice for Travis Alexander. I'd appreciate any honest feedback. I'm not a professional songwriter. It's my very first song in fact. I wrote it as a way of saying to his family that life in prison is still justice. "Arizona Wind"Locked up in a cell reading a bookIs a small price to pay for the life that you tookBut the Arizona Wind whispers his name in the airIt won't let you forget the reason why you're there When the judge looked you in the eye and said "life without parole"You never felt so lonesome, deep down in your soulYou danced with the devil, but now the piper must be paidAnd you'll hear that Arizona wind until your dying day. The Arizona wind it reminds you every dayOf the life you could've lived, of the life you threw awayIt reminds you in the evening when the desert sun goes downThat you'll never leave that place till they lay your body down Living life behind bars is no kind of life to liveBut that's the price of your sin, the world cannot forgiveAnd the Arizona wind whispers his name in the airIt won't let you forget the reason why you're there The Arizona wind it reminds you every dayOf the life you could've lived, of the life you threw awayIt reminds you in the evening when the desert sun goes downThat you'll never leave that place till they lay your body down And the sun comes up and the sun goes downAnother day gets written downThe days turn into months, then into yearsDoing life without parole in Perryville

[@OMG_BeCkY]

And yet he seems so full of himself.

[@bobbyrocks338]

LOL... i took out a $12,000 loan and bought a ton of music equipment.. it was a creative decision... not to save a goddamn dime.

[@Ady2803]

He wants to be funny or ?!