With 119,000 songs uploaded every day, how do you write something that cuts through the noise?

In this episode of The Hatch Podcast: Music Accelerator, host Chris Estes and Hatch director Keith Glines dive deep into the art and business of songwriting — the foundation of every music career. From the creative process to the essential business fundamentals, they share how independent artists can refine songs that don’t just get heard, but truly get remembered. You’ll learn why consistency beats chasing one hit, how to use the “two or three sleeps” rule to improve your work, and the business steps that protect your songs and royalties for years to come.

👉 Apply now for the Hatch Music Accelerator: 119collective.hatchfairhope.com

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The Three-Lane System: Development → Curation → Placement
• The “Two or Three Sleeps” Rule for finishing songs
• Business fundamentals: PROs, publishing entities, splits, and monetization
• The Completion Test: How to know when a song is truly finished
• Collaboration strategies: who to co-write with and when to bring in outside voices
• The Live Test: Using audience reaction to refine your songs

Key Episode Highlights:

• [00:00:00] The staggering reality: 119,000 songs uploaded daily
• [00:02:52] Why even great albums usually only have 1–2 standout songs
• [00:03:44] The three lanes every song lives in
• [00:05:27] The 20-year test: writing songs you’ll still love playing decades later
• [00:06:15] Why finished songs often sound nothing like their first drafts
• [00:08:24] Placement lane: what to do with songs that don’t fit your brand
• [00:10:18] Business essentials: PROs, publishing entities, and revenue streams
• [00:13:12] Producer Tim asks: “How do you know when a song is finished?”

The Chris Estes Songwriting Philosophy:

“There’s no bad songs — they’re just not finished.”
The magic happens in that last 10–20% of development, where good songs become great songs.

The Three Critical Tests for Song Completion:

1. The Expression Test — Does it clearly convey your intended message?
2. The Live Test — Does it connect with a live audience?
3. The Community Test — Do trusted collaborators and listeners agree it’s complete?

Episode Quotes:

• “Average songs are ignored. Great songs get attention.”
• “Give it two or three sleeps, then come back to the song with fresh ears.”
• “What’s the last song you heard that made you say, *‘I have to share this’? That’s the mark you should be aiming for.”

Resources and Links:

• Apply now: 119collective.hatchfairhope.com
• Hatch website: hatchfairhope.com
• Instagram: @hatchfairhope