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  3. creating songs

How to Create a Song in Songkeeper

Create a song with a required title, optional primary artist, optional project, and an automatically generated Original recording version.

Create a song when you need a composition record for a new track, cue, demo, or work in progress. Songkeeper creates the composition and its first recording version together so the metadata and audio files are organized from the start.

Quick answer

From the Songs page, click New Song, enter the song title, optionally choose an artist or project, then save. The title is the only required field.

Create a Song

  1. Open Songs.
  2. Click New Song.
  3. Enter the Song Title.
  4. Optionally select or create an artist and select or create a project.
  5. Click Create Song.

Song Creation Fields

FieldRequired?What It Does
Song TitleYesNames the composition. You can edit the title later from the song actions menu or Song Information dialog.
ArtistNoAdds a primary artist to the automatically created recording version.
ProjectNoAssociates the automatically created recording version with an album, EP, client job, or other project.

What Songkeeper Creates

When you create a song, Songkeeper automatically creates an "Original" recording version for it. This is because the music industry tracks and recordings separately — you'll add your audio files, credits, and ownership to this recording version.

Recording versions
The first recording version is marked as your primary and titled "Original". You can rename it, mark another version as primary, or create additional versions from the song detail page.

After the Song Is Created

Songkeeper opens the new song on its Files tab with the new recording version selected. From there, add the information that is available now and leave unknown metadata blank until it is confirmed.

  • Upload audio files from the Files tab. See files and audio.
  • Add title details, alternate titles, genre, work type, samples, and composition notes. See song metadata.
  • Add writers, publishing shares, and an ISWC when available.
  • Write or import lyrics from the Lyrics tab. See lyrics.
  • Add recording-specific details such as artists, performers, credits, master owners, BPM, key, label, studio, and dates. See recording metadata.

When to Create Another Recording Version

Keep file revisions inside the same recording version when they are alternate files for the same performance or master. Create a new recording version when the arrangement, performance, artist setup, ownership, or release use needs to be tracked separately.

See managing recording versions and song vs recording versions for examples.