Songwriting is not generally looked at as a lucrative venture. The majority of people writing songs are not doing it to make money. So, how do you get paid as a songwriter? Your songs generate royalties. Every time they are played, performed, or otherwise used, your songs will generate a royalty that you can then collect. In fact, today you have more ways to generate royalties than ever before — digital songwriter royalties account for a huge percentage of the royalties being paid. These are still some of the best ways to make money with your songs. Either way, there is money out there for songwriters. But you must write songs that get released. Mechanical royalties are generated every time a physical unit containing your songs is sold or manufactured.