How do you know when your song is ready for the world?

In my personal experience with song writing, having a goal can be a positive, but if you fine yourself creating having no goal at all - that is fine too. Sounds counter-intuitive for some, but for me, putting "guardrails" on a creation can sometimes block creative flows and avenues that may happen spontaneously....the muse may come and take things in a whole different direction. It's ok if a direction of your song doesn't align to a goal or vision you may have originally set for it. Follow the path it's taking you down, you may never know what is on the other side of that spontaneity.

When I start making a song I always try to envision the final product before I have written the first word. Telling a story is so important, something a lot of people can associate with. Don't overcomplicate the melodies and lyrics, people have short attention spans, think you are writing it for kids who needs to consume it quick and easy. You know your song is ready when you have played it to a few people and they have not looked at their phones, but instead have said that the song has taken them on a journey and has brought a lot of feelings. In my opinion there is nothing more meaningful than people recognising themselves in a song,

Someone here already said the famous "you don't finish a song, you abandon it". On top of that, I'd show to a small group of people that I trust will give me sincere feedback. But don't try too hard to make it "perfect". Keep in mind your best song ever is yet to come.

Try to make the best song you can and maybe ask for feedback from other people (music professionals, fellow musicians and music aficionados). But at the end of the day if if you feel that your song sounds exactly the way you want it to sound like, that's everything you need to know.

It depends on how you write. If you have a fixed goal that may limit the creative process. A lot of songs I write start with me playing guitar, free playing with no goal. Out of that you will hear ideas and they are your inspiration for other ideas. You might hear something that you think is a great chorus, what would the verse be? It might inspire a mood and lyrics. Allow the creative mind to be free.

I would be wary of judging whether or not a song is ready for the world based on feedback. Sometimes people’s feedback may cause confusion and discouragement and dilute the impact of a song- how many hits were initially dismissed as being unsellable or uninteresting or just “not right for the public”? Classic example: Bohemian Rhapsody. My sincere view is that the most important thing is to ask: is this song expressing what I want it to express? The question “is this song ready for the world” may not even be the right question because sometimes the world isn’t ready for the song! But, when it comes it can change things. So, my advice would be make music to express and not to impress.

To ensure your song is ready to share with the world, seek opinions from friends and musicians. Let them listen and observe their reactions. If they express enthusiasm and provide valuable suggestions that enhance your song, it's likely primed for a wider audience. Embracing diverse feedback can be key to perfecting your music! The internet is your playground, you can find a lot of professional opinions.

Feedback can also be a slippery slope. As this article states, not all feedback is useful....in fact, depending on where you may be in your creative process, some feedback may be detrimental. If you are proactively inviting feedback, be in the right state of mind to accept it. It is valuable to get constructive feedback than can strengthen you, but as this article states, I would agree to always trust your own gut and instincts. Remember, you are "creating" something that literally has never existed in the world. Sometimes the best time to get feedback is "after" it releases.

Feedback from friends and family does not count. It must be from an unbiased professional the industry respects. And, yes, it may cost money for a professional to spend their time reviewing your song and making constructive recommendations. Get at least three of these BEFORE you pay for a demo. Then, YOU decide which suggestions you want to implement. If you are adamant about a certain melody/verse issue, but there is unanimous (or near unanimous) agreement that it should be changed, then change it.

If you are getting feedback as you are writing the song then it's being written by you and others. One of the most important things in music is authenticity so it's better to think about expressing yourself and being true to you. When it's done and people hear it they might have an opinion and you might take some of that on board for songs you write in the future.

Also, compare your song with your previous productions. If you believe your song conveys the narrative you intend and stands up well against your past work, it might be ready. Trusting your intuition is crucial. Feeling that your current song represents an evolution or a satisfactory level of quality compared to your previous works can be a strong indicator that it's time to share it with the world. Confidence in your artistic growth and the message of your music are key factors in deciding when to release a song

I agree with Victor: you are competing with yourself. If you're a producer-writer, is the production better than your last release? Have you really pushed yourself? If you're primarily an instrumentalist, have you explored NEW areas, challenged yourself? If not, you're repeating yourself.

This is the only form of "market research" I'll accept. As a DJ, I've slipped in my own tracks and watched audience's reactions. *Never* announce it's your new track or they will be kind - if they hate it, you have to accept it's not popular. That doesn't mean you don't release it but don't be surprised if it isn't a hit.

Leonardo Da Vinci famously said: "Art is never finished, only abandoned." In essence, art, in its purest sense, is never "done." There'll ALWAYS be something you can add or remove. You can tweak / fiddle with knobs over and over again, creating multiple versions, converging them together, etc. etc. But at some point, you got to let it go. If you don't push the bird out the nest, it will never learn to fly, which, for its very existence, is a matter of life and death. So when is the bird ready to fly? When it's good enough. Not when it's "perfect" or "complete", but when you've received enough objective (and subjective) signals to confirm that it is time. Don't cripple under fear or perfectionism. Fam, you can always make another song!

Oh god - this is the MOST important thing here. There will always be another take, another plugin, another tweak. RELEASE IT! Do the best you can and then commit and release it. Move on and make the next track better. I've met too many people obsessing over a single song in the space most artists would have released two albums in. In the words of Gandalf from Star Wars, LET IT GO!

The more you write the more you know when it's right. There are times when you know you have said what you wanted to say. In terms of the music it's now down to the recording. It's about balance, making a track that suits the song, the vocal, the message.

For me, the answer for knowing when to stop has always been a deadline. Both in school and in the professional world, there are deadlines... yes, even for creatives. Don't have a contract that demands work delivered by a certain date? Make your own deadline, and stick to it. This is an absolutely essential skill in the real world, in any industry. And the finality of it will help prevent analysis paralysis, which keeps projects perpetually unfinished.

We need to know that listener's tendency is totally different from other countries. I'm Japanese, so I will mention about Japan. The lyrics of most Japanese songs are written in Japanese. The culture of the melody is also different from English speaking people. We need to think about various aspects of music. The biggest aspect for Japan is anime. Anime tie-up songs are accepted in various countries easily. Video games, manga, sports,,, music can be connected with many kinds of contents. After prepare the aspects, share our contents with appropriate people who understand Japanese culture in foreign countries.

I would add that quite often, songs will continue to evolve even after they are “released”. One good way to test a song is to play it for a live audience. Of course, not all songwriters are also performers. But songs are like children in some ways. Even after they are conceived, raised, nurtured, and then leave home, they occasionally need our love and support to be the best they can be. I’ve revised lyrics of my songs years after they were released.

What seems to not be present here, is your team! Crafting an amazing song is not a solo trip. Especially at high level and consistency. Having a team around you that you trust and feel confident to ask for feedback, share what you're going through and get a fresh perspective on your song is one of the most important keys for success. There are no song in any labels that are made by one person only and get released. There is always team, where everyone specialized on their craft, so they can deliver a great song that will connect the artist with their audience