Listening: How Pop Songs Get Written for Artists

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B1 | Listening from video | 10 min

Watch the video (1:32 - 4:48). You can watch more than once, then answer the questions.

In the first way songs get placed, who is in the room?

____ Many artists but no producers____ Only one artist, with producers or songwriters____ A label manager and a lawyer

Sometimes the artist does not know what to say. What does the songwriter do then?

____ Helps the artist work out an idea____ Asks the label to stop the session____ Writes the whole song alone

What is a pitch song?

____ A song an artist writes alone at home____ A song made only for radio ads____ A song written by a group, then offered to artists

ONE WORD from the video.

When writing a pitch song, you think about the artist's brand and their ____ .

ONE WORD from the video.

Often the label sends the writers a ____ that lists themes the artist wants to explore.

When writing a pitch song, the writer does not think about the artist's vocal range.

____ True____ False____ Not Given

ONE WORD from the video.

A Billboard Hot 100 hit is one kind of success, and a ____ nomination is another.

What does the songwriter say a song needs to be if the artist wants a very popular hit?

____ Long, slow and full of new chords____ Catchy, relatable and straight to the point____ Weird, loud and very experimental

Most pop songs are written in the key of C.

____ True____ False____ Not Given

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