In the year 2000 a life changing opportunity landed in my lap…
…I sang the hook on arguably one of the most iconic Pop Reggae songs ever - “It Wasn’t Me”
As you can imagine my life was never the same afterwards. I was finally making money from the music I was making and I was getting recognized wherever I went. It was really cool.
Every now and again though, I’d get stopped (usually in the supermarket) by someone who wanted to make a career out of their own music just like I did. They just had no idea where to start and were desperate for any advice I could offer.
I still see it all the time…
…regular folks with an amazing ability to transform everyday situations into songs… complete with lyrics and melody. It is definitely a gift.
For the few of you that are brave enough to let friends and family hear these songs, the reaction is usually somewhere between
“You wrote that? Really?!”
and
“Ok, enough fooling around, you have important things to do”.
Oh and if you're bold enough to declare that you’ll be pursuing a career as a full time songwriter, don't expect an outpouring of support.
“Hey! You with the bubble. Let me show you this shiny new needle I found”
It gets worse...
Then there are the really brave ones who decide to invest their own money buying equipment, or renting time in a commercial recording studio. The stakes become very real very quickly. Your self esteem takes a beating but then so does your bank balance. Ouch!
Aspiring songwriters are never quite taken seriously by “normal” people. i.e until one of our songs finally becomes a hit. It’s one of the most infuriating things we have to deal with when we’re just starting out.
The problem of course is that “normal” people don’t understand songwriters. To them it’s almost like we’re a different species.
Tracy Chapman
Songwriting is a very mysterious process. It feels like creating something from nothing. It's something I don't feel like I really control
A Reality Check
Pursuing songwriting as a profession is not for the faint of heart. The switch from hobbyist to pro brings with it a shocking list of rude awakenings.
Whereas before you were only writing songs when you felt like, as a pro you’re now expected to come up with songs by a certain deadline. You can’t wait for inspiration, you have to be able to create it on demand.
Make no mistake - this is work!
The worst part? If you’re like me or any of the songwriters I’ve worked with, you’ll do a ton of this work for absolutely no pay.
(Not as unfair as it sounds considering as beginners we have no idea what we’re doing)
Many would-be songwriters give up on the idea of making a career out of their music quite often because…
1. The frustration of failure and
2. The misguided advice of well-meaning loved ones…
…leads them to the soul-crushing conclusion that it was never gonna happen anyway.
I almost gave up too
While I was still in college my only musician friend took me to a studio and introduced me to a music producer he knew. In my mind this was it - my big break. So I excitedly sang a few of my songs for him… and he was actually impressed!
Here’s the thing…
Although he liked the songs I’d written, he didn’t love them. He was more impressed with my songwriting ability than the actual songs themselves. What he saw was potential.
So no, it wasn’t the news I wanted to hear. But it was confirmation that pursuing music full time was still a real possibility. So I proceeded to write, day after day, year after year hoping this next song would be the one.
I didn’t know it at the time but I was making a fundamental mistake with my songwriting. I was preventing myself from having any kind of success by... writing for myself. More on that in a minute.
This is where it all changed
Thankfully a chance meeting at the perfect time got me an introduction with Shaggy’s manager and then with Shaggy himself.
Note: For those who don’t know, Shaggy is a multi-platinum selling Reggae superstar
We started writing together and ended up creating some of his biggest hit songs to date. It was a pivotal moment in my music career that has generated a passive income for the last 2 decades.
And to think I almost gave up on the idea of making a career out of my music 
Songwriting started out as a hobby for me. It was something I did because I enjoyed it and also because I had an ongoing need to let this creativity out. I can’t explain why but I still get an almost euphoric feeling every time I write a song.
Dolly Parton
Country Music Legend
Songwriting is my way of channeling my feelings and my thoughts. Not just mine, but the things I see, the people I care about. My head would explode if I didn't get some of that stuff out
So Why Is It So Hard To Make A Career Out Of Your Music?
When I decided to pursue songwriting full time it took me about a decade to finally make some real money from it. The process was very slow. I probably made every mistake imaginable. But along the way I was lucky enough to work with some very talented songwriters. People I now consider mentors.
This was when I started to have breakthroughs.
I learned some surprising things about the art and science of songwriting. Things I doubt I would have ever noticed on my own.
Scooter Braun
(Manager - Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande)
As a music industry, if we remain in competition, then we die. We have to understand that we're all in this together. Collaboration and synergy, it's one of the most important things out there.
You're Doing It Wrong
There are a ton of possible reasons someone would fail as a budding singer and/or songwriter. I won't try to list them all here. Instead let me share three BIG shifts you can make right now to give yourself a huge advantage:
1. You’re not writing for yourself anymore
When songwriting is a hobby, you’re writing for your own entertainment. It’s simply a way for you to release your pent up creative energy. I literally feel a sense of relief when I write. A professional songwriter, on the other hand, is writing to entertain an audience. It’s a very different dynamic and your approach, while still creative, has to take this into account
2. Stop focusing all of your energy on marketing.
Everyone is telling you to be everywhere. And use all the hot social media platforms to guarantee you'll make it big in the music industry. Here’s the thing, you’ll only get a positive return on your marketing and promotional efforts if you have something amazing to market and promote. This leads me to the most important sentence you’ll read on this page…
3. Without a Great Song You Have No Career In Music
If you pull up your favorite radio station right now you won’t hear a bunch of “ok” songs playing. You’ll only hear songs that have resonated with large groups of people at some point in time. This is all a hit song is. The key takeaway here is simply this... marketing is a waste of resources if you don't have an amazing song.
It breaks my heart to see so many talented music hopefuls completely miss this point. Without mastering this crucial first step, you simply won’t get to the next step. It’s that important.
Eric Beall
“No artist, Manager, or A&R person searches for just any song. None searches for even a good song. Everyone is looking for a hit song.”
But How Do You Consistently Create Amazing Songs?
When I was a kid I got a chance to intern at a large mining plant. The rules were very clear from day one. I wouldn’t be allowed to enter through the first gate if I wasn’t wearing a hard hat. This was non-negotiable.
(BTW there were multiple gates to pass through before I could get to section I was working in)
What’s my point?..
Essential Point #1
You need to understand that the music business is like every other industry. It has standard practices. Ignore them and you won’t get past the first gate. No exceptions.
You can’t rely on inspiration to hit you the moment you enter your writing session. It’s much smarter do prep work ahead of time. This way you ensure you have a ton of song ideas ready when the session starts. And now you’re never starting from scratch.
Alanis Morissette
With songwriting I spend a lot of time living life, accruing all these experiences, journaling, and then by the time I get to the studio I'm teeming with the drive to write
Essential Point #2
Modern commercial songs follow a very specific format. There are a couple of areas where it's ok to make tweaks but for the most part you’ll want to stick with this format. Deviate too far and decision makers won’t “get” your song. This makes it very difficult to convince them to help you market it.
The strange thing about this is that it isn’t even just an industry requirement anymore. Audiences have now come to expect songwriters to follow this format. Most of them don’t even know what it is but they’ll simply tune out if they don’t hear it.
Essential Point #3
Although the previous 2 points seem to imply that creativity is bad, it's actually more important than ever. While you are confined to a strict format, you also need to find ways to make your songs stand out.
This is where your creativity comes in. Remember there is a sea of competitors vying for a spot on the various music charts in your preferred genre. Only those who find a way to stand out will survive.
Essential Point #4
Finally your focus now needs to be on the audience you’re trying to win over. Serving their need for great music is priority one. Your musical talent and personality are the tools you use to serve this need in a way that only you can.. ie with authenticity.
There is definitely an art and a science to crafting successful songs. I’m not totally convinced “everyone” can do it, but the process isn’t as complicated to achieve as you might think.
For most of us the process of crafting songs designed to succeed is a total mystery when we’re starting out. I couldn't find a resource that makes this crucial first step both quick and easy to understand so I decided to create one.
This is why I’m proud to present…
“Systematic Songwriting:
Creativity Hacks Pros Use To Write Songs Designed To Succeed”
$
9.99
This 92 page downloadable ebook is organized into 11 easily digestible chapters. It's designed with one purpose in mind: to teach you how to write pro level songs using the same blueprint that professional songwriters use today to consistently write hit songs.
Grab your copy today and you’ll be well on your way to leveling up your music career and taking a real crack at going full time with it.
So why learn from RikRok?
Ricky “RikRok” Ducent is most known as the guy who sang the hook on the Billboard #1 smash hit “It Wasn’t Me” with Reggae superstar Shaggy.
As a result of this tremendous opportunity he's had the pleasure of performing on some of the world’s most prestigious stages and TV shows including:
My Dirty Little Secret
What I’m not quite as well known for is songwriting. I cowrote some of Shaggy’s biggest hits to date. And these songs have been earning me a decent income for more than 2 decades. Titles include:
I don’t share this to brag (I’m so not a bragger). I just wanted to make it clear that “Systematic Songwriting” is written by someone who’s primary source of income is songwriting.
I haven’t toured in years and when I recently decided to start touring again the world got hit with a global pandemicIn spite of this I’ve still been able to live a pretty comfortable life. This is due entirely to residual income from the hit songs I’ve cowritten.
MusicAlly.com
The global recorded music industry grew by 18.5% to $25.9bn in 2021
Here’s the thing…
We had no idea we were using a proven formula to write these monster hit songs at the time. Now that I finally understand what we were actually doing, I’m really excited to share what I’ve learned with aspiring songwriters like you. This can potentially shave years off the learning curve that I had to endure.
You may be wondering...
...if songwriting has been so great for me why would I want to share my secrets with anyone? Well there are a couple of reasons for this.
Competition is a non-issue 
Goldman Sachs
Comparing revenue from music in 2017...
“We forecast music revenue to more than double to about $131 billion by 2030”
Here's What You Get
I went out of my way to make “Systematic Songwriting” a quick, action-oriented read. I want you to get through the material quickly so you can start writing songs. Here’s a taste of what you’re about to learn:
- 1We’ll go through a simple Audience Drill Down technique to ensure you're writing for the right audience. This way you don’t waste time pitching songs that were never going to work.
- 2I’ll show you how to become a Gap Detective to find easy-to-miss opportunities. This can do wonders to help your songs stand out and still be competitive
- 3Your songs won’t see the light of day if you don’t impress a long list of gatekeepers. That’s why you’ll learn how to master the Gatekeeper Gallup. You'll learn how to know what they want, why they want it and how to give it to them without compromising on song quality
- 4Struggling with writer’s block? Then you’re really going to enjoy learning how to deploy a Creativity Cannon. I'll teach you how to tap into an endless supply of song ideas and say goodbye writers’ block forever
- 5Pro Songwriter’s Toolkit. I’ll share a small but very specific group of free (or cheap) tools that make it a breeze to write, organize and retrieve topic ideas and completed songs. This is essential when your song database starts to get large.
- 6The downloadable book comes in both PDF and MOBI format. With the PDF format you'll be able to read it on any Mac or PC. With the MOBI format you can read the book on any Kindle enabled device.
...And Just To Make It Even Better
The whole point of writing Systematic Songwriting was to give you a resource that can actually help you with your career. This is why it also includes...
Key Takeaways
Each chapter ends with a summary of the Key Takeaways. You don’t always need to re-read the entire book or even the entire chapter.
When you just want a simple refresh on a particular concept go straight to the Key Takeaways.
Secrets
A handy resource list at the back of the book lists all of the tools mentioned throughout Systematic Songwriting.
This way you don’t have to go leafing through every page just to find that one app I recommended to help organize your songs.
Why THIS Book?
You’ve no doubt bought other books on the subject of songwriting and, to be fair, there are a ton of great ones out there. Once you start reading Systematic Songwriting however, you’ll quickly see that this book is intentionally different.
Quick read
No 400 page college text here. Systematic Songwriting is a quick read. Take an afternoon to read the 11 short chapters covered in only 92 pages. No unnecessary fluff. Just a step by step guide to starting from scratch and writing great songs designed to sell.
Designed For Implementation
Is your life is super busy? You’ll learn a simple technique to use “stolen moments” to systematically work on songs even if you’re on a train going to work or standing in line at the grocery store.
always be ready
Enter writing sessions with confidence knowing you already have a ton of great song ideas waiting to be transformed into amazing songs.
build A success habit
You’ll finally be able to add songwriting to your daily routine. Instead of working haphazardly, you’ll be working from a fill-in-the-blanks blueprint
write songs with purpose
Everyone tells you what to do but no-one tells you why. Learn how your new commercial songwriting skill fits into the music industry machine. This way you’re never writing in a vacuum.
from the horse's mouth
Learn from an award-winning, professional songwriter who’s songs have dominated music charts all over the world including Billboard, Top Of The Pops and many more.
automatic marketing
Stop spending all your time marketing your songs on social media with nothing to show for your effort. Instead learn how to craft songs with marketing already baked in.
tired of theory?
This book isn’t just filled with theoretical ideas. I’ll be sharing the same songwriting formula and secrets that have provided me with a full time income for over 2 decades
"Systematic Songwriting" is
NOT For Everyone
Reaons NOT To Buy...
Learn the simple tweaks you need to go from "starving" to sought after songwriter.
Click the button below to secure your copy of Systematic Songwriting right now.
$
9.99
If you’ve been struggling to consistently write songs that get audiences, record company execs and radio DJs excited then this is the book you’ve been looking for.
Grab your copy today and you’ll be well on your way to leveling up your music career and taking a real crack at going full time with it.
Fully Backed by our 100% Risk Free Guarantee
If you’re not satisfied with Systematic Songwriting for any reason, you can get a 100% refund within 365 days of your purchase. No questions asked!
365 days is PLENTY of time for songwriters of all skill levels to go though the method laid out in the book and get some real momentum building up their song catalog.
However, if you decide it’s not for you just send an email to support and we’ll get your refund processed as quickly as possible.
Why such an insane guarantee?
I know the method I teach in the book works. It’s literally what I do to make a full time income from songwriting. However, I want you to feel comfortable knowing you can go through the material at your own pace. Practice what you learn and start to build up your song catalog without the pressure of a looming 7, 14 or 30 day refund deadline.
3.11%
annual growth rate
According to estimates, the live music industry will see a compound annual growth rate of 3.11% by 2023.
(Statista)
FAQ
Absolutely. You’ll learn a system that will turn you into a song idea machine
Maybe. This is book is really designed for songwriters who have no problem crafting a song for their own entertainment but need help learning to craft songs that sell
As long as you know how to stay in key you'll be fine. BTW I don’t play an instrument or write music and this method works great for me
Kinda but not really. There’s no age limit for songwriters - the songs you write just need to be great. Younger acts tend to dominate the Billboard charts. Just remember there have been many exceptions over the years - again the song must be great.
You can use the method outlined in the book whether you have tracks/instrumentals/beats to write to or not. The choice is yours
That will depend on a lot of factors. Experience level, industry contacts, genre, geographical location, budget etc. can all play a part. To be perfectly honest no-one can guarantee you’ll make any money at all. Being able to write great, marketable songs will give you an enormous advantage. Systematic Songwriting is designed to be a powerful shortcut to help you do that
Learn the simple tweaks you need to go from starving to sought after songwriter.
Click the button below to secure your copy of Systematic Songwriting right now.
$
9.99
Now You Know
When it comes to learning how to write the kinds of songs that get the right kind of attention and propel your music career forward, there is no shortage of so-called “experts” to advise you. I struggled for years to figure it out on my own. It wasn’t until I had the opportunity to be mentored by experienced pros that I finally found success as a singer and songwriter.
Systematic Songwriting is designed to be the shortcut I wish I had back when I started all those years ago. As I mentioned before, songwriting is the first and most crucial step you simply must master if you ever hope to have a successful career in music.
If you’re ready to learn how to master songwriting by leveraging the mentorship I’ve received over the years then be sure to click the buy button above and grab your own copy of Systematic Songwriting right now!