lyricists
Verse creators, musically
Lyricists are writers who compose the words for songs.
The term distinguishes those who write lyrics from those who compose the music, though some songwriters do both.
A lyricist may work with a composer as a team: Rodgers and Hammerstein, Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
The word also applies to poets whose work has a musical, songlike quality.
Creators of musical compositions
- wordsmithsSkilled manipulators of language
- poetsComposers of verse
- versesLines of poetry
- rhymesMatching word endings
metaphors · storytelling · hooks · choruses · bridges · wordplay · imagery · prosody
Rhythmic spoken-word music
- countrySovereign state or territory
- BroadwayManhattan theatrical district
- musicalsTheatrical works with songs
- popFizzy drink, regionally
R&B · folk · rock · ballads · anthems · standards · showtunes · rancheras
Distributing written works publicly
- royaltiesOngoing payments to creators
- ASCAPMusic royalty organization
- BMIWeight-to-height ratio
- creditsUnits toward graduation
platinum · Billboard · Tin Pan Alley · Nashville · contracts · advances · catalog · copyright
Creators of musical works
- producersThose who create goods
- artistsMakers of creative works
- singersThose who vocalize melodies
- musiciansPeople who create music
arrangers · melody · hooks · sessions · partnerships · duos · ghostwriting · beatmakers
- Oscar Hammerstein
- Lin-Manuel Miranda
- Bob Dylan
- Leonard CohenCanadian singer-songwriter, poet
songwriters
Creators of musical compositions
- wordsmithsSkilled manipulators of language
- poetsComposers of verse
- versesLines of poetry
rhymes · metaphors · storytelling · hooks · choruses · bridges · wordplay · imagery · prosody · meter
hip-hop
Rhythmic spoken-word music
- countrySovereign state or territory
- BroadwayManhattan theatrical district
- musicalsTheatrical works with songs
pop · R&B · folk · rock · ballads · anthems · standards · showtunes · rancheras · Bollywood
publishing
Distributing written works publicly
credits · platinum · Billboard · Tin Pan Alley · Nashville · contracts · advances · catalog · copyright · A&R
composers
Creators of musical works
musicians · arrangers · melody · hooks · sessions · partnerships · duos · ghostwriting · beatmakers · vocalists
Ira Gershwin
- Leonard CohenCanadian singer-songwriter, poet
- Smokey RobinsonMotown singer-songwriter, Miracles leader
Oscar Hammerstein · Lin-Manuel Miranda · Bob Dylan · Missy Elliott · Max Martin · Sia
- writersauthor, novelist, writer, poet, journalist
- songwritersBob Dylan, songwriter, composer, composers, Paul Simon
- Poet-RockersBob Dylan, Patti Smith, Jim Morrison, Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed
- collaboratorscoauthors, partner, cowriters, coworker, co-directors
- spoken wordspoken word, spoken word poetry, slam poetry, slam poets, poetry slam
- German poetryGoethe, Rilke, George, Claudius, Romantic poetry
lyricistscomposers
Creators of musical works
tunesmiths · instrumentalists · arrangers · orchestrators · beatmakers
lyricistsperformers
Those who entertain audiences
singers · interpreters · cover artists · recording artists · session musicians