I would break it down as follows:
1. Idea pops into head or happens on instrument -
I came up with an idea for a new song
2. I start fleshing out the details of the song, whether it is musical parts, lyrics, timing, etc. -
I am building a new song
3. I get the song to a point where in my head and/or on paper or other recording medium, it is a full song in some way (but not necessarily in all ways), whether it is lyrics complete (revisions still likely during production), musical parts sussed out (other parts definitely to be added but it has a form) -
I have written a new song
4. I begin working on getting the song completed and recorded -
I am working on production of a new song I have written
5. I have the song in a form where it is a playable and to me, an acceptable form -
I have completed a demo of a new song I have written
6. I fine tune all of the above into what I feel is the final product -
I am ready to release this new song I have written
7. I release the song and make $0.000000215 in the 3 years after release -
I thank the stars that IDGAF about "making" it in the music world and am instead doing this, first and foremost, for myself
This is of course, my view and opinion and others views and opinions will vary, but I don't believe there is any set definition of the term, hence the necessity for your question and the varied responses you will receive ;~)) The most important thing to me is, do it and keep on doing it. And don't get hung up on anything (production level, quality compared to others, your levels of completion, etc.), let it flow and keep on goin'! Good for the mind, body and soul, from young to old ;~))
I spent 3 months in the summer of 2023 trying to get a single song fully "produced", and it never made it to the point that I did not want to do something else with it. Part of it is option paralysis! Sooooo many things you can do with music production these days, and at some point you have to draw the line. Because I was not able to "draw the line" and give it a final approval (stuck in stage 6 above), I decided that I am going to start moving forward with minimal production on my new material largely because it is not what I want to focus on. I want to focus on writing songs and building them, not in producing them to the latest standards or effects or styles or trends. I have released I think 5 or 6 songs since them with pretty minimal production and very soon will be releasing a new album the embodies this minimum production ethos I have committed to. There is even a song on my new album called "Ain't Got Time" which addresses the very topic of "producing to the n'th degree", for which "I ain't got time"! I had read years ago that JJ Cale (NOT John Cale of the VU but instead, writer of "Cocaine", "Call Me The Breeze", "After Midnight", "Motherless Children" and many more that Eric Clapton and others recorded) once said "People tell me I have released 15 demo albums, and I am fine with that"! That is where I am at ;~)) I write far too much material to have the time to fully produce them all or even a very small percentage of them. Matter of fact, in writing this post, a new song has popped into my head and I am already singing it in my mind working out the melodies and lyrics (I am in stage 2 from above). It will be called "First And Foremost For Myself" (inspired by that phrase which I wrote above) ;~))
Best wishes on your creative endeavors! Keep marching forward and be sure to post some of your treasures in the
Studio & Stage section here on the forum when you are ready to share!!
