How Writers Like Tay Keith & Sasha Sloan Really Get Paid - The $100K Lyrics Game

When Tay Keith wrote ‘Look, I ain’t goin’ back to broke’ for Drake’s ‘Sicko Mode,’ he wasn’t just flexing—he was exposing the $100K+ blueprint most lyricists never share. Forget ‘exposure.’ Here’s how today’s writers (even unknowns) actually earn, with proof from industry insiders and paystubs.

1. Royalties: The Slow Drip That Pays Forever

How It Works:

• Mechanical Royalties: Earned when lyrics are reproduced (CDs, streams)
•  Example: Sasha Sloan earns $200K/year from her 2018 hit ‘Older’ (via Spotify’s Loud & Clear).
• Performance Royalties: When songs play on radio/TV (collected by ASCAP/BMI).
• Pro Tip: Register with a PRO (Performance Rights Organization) ASAP—even for unreleased work.

Mythbuster: 1 million streams doesn't equal 1 million in earnings. It's more like $3,000-$5,000, split among writers, artists, and labels.

Like we covered in How Jay-Z Built His $2.5B Empire, ownership is everything—lyricists lose millions by skipping this step.

2. Ghostwriting: The Industry’s Worst-Kept Secret The Numbers:

• Pop/Hip-Hop: 5 K − 5K−50K per song (via The Guardian’s exposé).
• Anonymous Hooks: Writers for stars like Beyoncé often sign NDAs but keep publishing rights

Case Study:

• Tay Keith’s Comeback: After ‘Sicko Mode,’ he charged $20K per verse (revealed in Complex interview).

3. Sync Licensing: TV’s Cash Cow

How to Break In:

• Music Libraries: Sites like Epidemic Sound pay 250 − 250−5K per placement.
• Lyric-Only Deals: Brands sometimes buy unrecorded lyrics for ads (e.g., Apple’s ‘Share Your Gifts’ campaign).

Earnings Example:
"An unknown writer earned $8K for one line in a Target commercial." (Source: TuneCore Blog)

Remember how 50 Cent’s Bankruptcy was a reset? Sync deals are his secret rebound income.

4. YouTube & Lyric Sites (Passive Income)

Surprising Stats:

• Genius.com pays $0.01-$0.05 per lyric view (via their contributor terms).
• Top Channels: Lyrics videos with ads earn $3K/month (per Social Blade).

Your Shortcut:
"Start a ‘Lyrics Explained’ TikTok. @SongFacts grew to 1M followers in 6 months."

5. Selling ‘Unused’ Lyrics

Where to Sell:

$Splice: 100−100−500 per lyric pack (artist payouts)$

• Splice: 100 − 100−500 per lyric pack (artist payouts)
• BeatStars: Writers auction lines to producers ($200-$2K per sale).

Pro Move:
"Repurpose old notebooks—one writer sold 2015 lyrics as ‘vintage’ for $1.2K."

6. Teaching & Courses (The $1K/Hour Side Hustle)

Real Examples:

• Pat Pattison (Berklee): Charges $997 for his 4-week lyric course.
• Fiverr Pros: Top sellers make $200/hour editing lyrics.

Free Start:
"Run a ‘Write Like SZA’ webinar using free Canva slides—upsell 1:1 coaching."

7. Publishing Deals (The Big Leagues)

Key Players:

$Sony/ATV: Advances 50K−50K−500K for signing catalogs.$

• Sony/ATV: Advances 50 K − 50K−500K for signing catalogs. $$
• Independent Route: TuneCore Publishing takes 15% vs. labels’ 50%.

Caution:
"Many writers lose rights forever—always hire an entertainment lawyer (not LegalZoom)."

💰 Income Calculator: “What’s Your Lyrics Worth?”

Income Stream	Earnings Range
Ghostwriting	$5K-$50K/song
Sync Licensing	$250-$10K/use
YouTube Lyrics	$500-$5K/month

(Source: Digital Music News)

🎤 Key Takeaways

1. Royalties are long-term—register EVERYWHERE (ASCAP, BMI, SoundExchange).

2. Ghostwriting = fast cash but negotiate publishing splits.

3. Sync licensing is the hidden gem for unknowns.

Which income stream fits YOUR skills? Comment below—we’ll help you start!

📌 Bonus: 3 Tools to Start Today

1. WhoSampled (Find artists looking for writers)
2. TuneCore Publishing (Keep 85% of royalties)
3. SoundBetter (Land ghostwriting gigs)

For more tools, see our Hip-Hop Finance Toolkit.