Search Smarter: How to Use ArrangeMe's Song Search Like a Pro
You've found the perfect song to arrange. You fire up the ArrangeMe Song Search, type in the title, and… dozens, maybe even hundreds of results stare back at you. Which one is the right one? Or maybe no results come up at all, and you're left wondering whether the song is even available.
Sound familiar? You're not alone. The Song Search is one of the most powerful tools on the ArrangeMe platform. The secret to getting it right comes down to one simple upgrade to your approach: always search by song title + songwriter, not just song title.
Here's how to search smarter, verify your results, and set your arrangement up for success before you write a single note.
Why Song Title Alone Isn't Enough
ArrangeMe's Song Search catalog contains over 10,000,000 legally arrangeable songs; an enormous library that spans virtually every genre, era, and style. With a catalog that large, popular song titles can (and do) appear hundreds of times. Think about how many songs share the title "Hello," "Forever," "Home," or "Angel." A title-only search can return an overwhelming list of results, and there's no guarantee the one you're looking for is at the top.
More importantly, Artist information in a catalog isn't always accurate or consistent. The "Artist" associated with a song listing might refer to a cover artist, a later recording, or a different version entirely, not necessarily the original songwriter. Songs are owned by their writers and publishers, not necessarily the performers. This distinction matters a lot when it comes to licensing, copyright credits, and making sure the correct rights holders are paid.
The bottom line: a song’s Title search alone is unreliable. A song’s Title + Writer search is the gold standard.
The #1 Best Practice: Search Title + Writer
ArrangeMe's Song Search uses a single search field that searches both song title and writer/composer information together. This means you can, and should, combine both in one search.
Here's how it works:
Instead of searching:
Hello
Search:
Hello Adele Adkins
or
Hello Lionel Richie
The difference is dramatic. Searching "Hello" alone will return hundreds of results. Searching "Hello Adele Adkins" or "Hello Lionel Richie" narrows those results down to exactly the song you're looking for, assuming of course that the song is approved in the catalog.
Even just a last name makes a difference. You don't need the full legal name of every songwriter/composer to see better results.
Try:
Hello Adkins
or
Blackbird Lennon McCartney
When a song has multiple writers (which is common), including the last names of all writers will further refine your results and reduce guesswork. The more songwriter/composer information you include alongside the title, the more precise and reliable your results will be.
Pro Tip: If you can't verify the writer name(s) of the song you're searching for, that's actually a signal to do more research before proceeding. ArrangeMe requires that you match your arrangement to the correct title and writer credits. Selecting the wrong match, even accidentally, is a violation of ArrangeMe's Terms of Use and will result in your title being taken down. It is essential that your arrangement is uploaded to the correct song entry from the Search!
Why Writer/Composer Accuracy Matters So Much
When you click on a song in the Song Search and select it for your arrangement, you're doing more than choosing a title, you're establishing the licensing relationship between your arrangement and the song's copyright holder. This is how publishers, writers, and rights holders get paid through the ArrangeMe platform.
Getting the writer credits right isn't just a technicality. It's the core of how ArrangeMe's legal licensing system works. When you upload your arrangement and link it to the correct Song Search entry, ArrangeMe handles all of the copyright logistics behind the scenes on your behalf, but only if you've matched it to the right song.
This is why verifying songwriter information before you search is such an important habit to build.
Step 1: Confirm the Song Title and Songwriter Before You Search
Before you even open the Song Search, take a few minutes to verify two things:
The exact, original title of the song; not just what you know it as colloquially
The name(s) of the writer(s); the people who wrote the song, not just the artist who recorded it
These are often different! For example, a famous recording by a well-known artist may have been written by someone you've never heard of. Or the song you know by a nickname might have a slightly different official title.
Here's how to confirm both quickly and reliably.
Step 2: Use Google for a Quick First Check
A simple Google search is often the fastest first step.
Try:
"[Song Title]" songwriter
or
who wrote "[Song Title]" by “[Artist]”
Song credits are frequently listed on lyric sites, Wikipedia, Spotify's desktop app, Apple Music, and music databases like AllMusic.com. This is where including Artist information actually can be helpful. While these sources are a great starting point, they aren't always authoritative, which is why a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) search is the gold standard for confirmation.
Step 3: Verify with a Performing Rights Organization (BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC)
The most reliable way to confirm songwriter information is to search the official repertory databases of the three major U.S. Performing Rights Organizations (PROs): BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC. These organizations maintain the authoritative, official records of who wrote what, because songwriters and composers register their works with PROs in order to collect performance royalties.
Here's where to search:
BMI and ASCAP jointly developed Songview, a unified, searchable platform that draws from both organizations' databases. It contains copyright ownership information on over 38 million works and is updated continuously as new works are registered.
You can search Songview by:
Song Title
Performer
Writer / Composer
Publisher
BMI Work ID or ISWC
This is the single most comprehensive PRO search tool available, since it covers both BMI and ASCAP repertories in one place. Start here first.
Direct link: www.songview.com
ASCAP's ACE Repertory database allows you to search by title, publisher, writer, or performer. It's a reliable, authoritative source for confirming songwriter credits on any ASCAP-affiliated work. It incorporates the Songview search functionality in addition to ASCAP-specific search options. Typically, the Songview search is sufficient for confirming song + songwriter credits.
Direct link: ascap.com/repertory
SESAC is the third major U.S. PRO and maintains its own public repertory database. While SESAC's catalog is smaller than BMI or ASCAP, it includes many well-known songwriters and artists across a wide range of genres. If the song you’re looking for does not appear on the Songview search, SESAC is the best place to look next.
Direct link: sesac.com/repertory
Which PRO Should You Search?
A song is registered with only one PRO at a time. If you're not sure which one, start with Songview, since it covers both BMI and ASCAP in a single search. If your song isn't there, try the SESAC repertory next!
Once you find the song, note the official title and the full names of all writers listed. These are the details you'll bring back into the ArrangeMe Song Search.
Putting It All Together: Your Pre-Search Checklist
Before searching on arrangeme.com/search, run the title you wish to arrange through this quick checklist:
Confirm the official title: Use Google, Spotify, or a PRO search to verify the exact title as it appears in official records
Find the writer(s): Use Songview (BMI + ASCAP), ASCAP ACE, or SESAC to confirm who wrote the song
Note the last names: You don't need full legal names to search effectively; last names work well
Combine title + writer(s) in your search: Enter them together in the ArrangeMe Song Search field
Match carefully: If multiple results appear, compare the writer credits shown in the Song Search to what you verified with your PRO search.
A Quick Example: Searching the Right Way
Let's say you want to arrange the beloved jazz standard, "Misty".
❌ Don't search: Misty (This will return many results across multiple genres and eras.)
✅ Do this first:
Google "Misty songwriter" → You'll find it was composed as an instrumental in 1954 by Erroll Garner, with lyrics later written by Johnny Burke
Confirm at Songview → Search "Misty Garner Burke" and verify both writer credits appear
Return to the ArrangeMe Song Search and enter: Misty Garner Burke
This example also illustrates a key nuance: a song can have both a composer and a lyricist as separate credited writers, and both names count. Garner wrote the melody; Burke wrote the words. Searching “Misty Garner Burke” is far more precise than searching “Misty” by itself, and it's exactly the kind of detail that ensures you're licensing the right song from the correct rights holders.
What If the Song Doesn't Appear?
If you've followed all the steps above and the song still doesn't appear in the Song Search, it likely means the title has not been approved for the ArrangeMe program. Remember, not every song is available to arrange, and certain titles and catalogs are restricted for various reasons.
Here's what to do:
Try alternate search terms: Occasionally, a song may be listed under a slightly different title or with a variant spelling. Try a few variations before concluding it's unavailable.
Try a PRO search from another territory: Many songs are written and registered in countries outside the US. PRO organizations such as PRS (United Kingdom), SOCAN (Canada), and other territory-based PROs offer websites to search their repertoire, similar to BMI and ASCAP.
Check if the song is in the Public Domain: Some older works may be in the Public Domain and available to arrange without going through the Song Search. Visit our Guide to Public Domain Works article for more information on this important distinction.
Email ArrangeMe support at support@arrangeme.com: ArrangeMe tracks unavailable titles and adds them to a request list for future consideration. Your request could help make that title available for everyone.
One More Reminder: Artist ≠ Songwriter
It bears repeating because it's easy to forget: the Artist who recorded a song is not always the song’s Writer. When you're searching ArrangeMe's Song Search, you're looking for the writer of the song: the person (or people) who composed it and are a link to the publisher who owns the copyright. Hal Leonard is a publisher, not a recording label, so Artist information in the catalog may not always be accurate or can be missing entirely. Always verify songwriter credits through a PRO search rather than relying solely on the performing artist's name.
Conclusion
Searching with a song’s accurate writer information takes just a few extra minutes, and it really does make all the difference. It protects your arrangement, ensures the correct rights holders are credited and paid, and helps you find what you're looking for with confidence. Happy arranging and composing!
Have questions about the Song Search or anything else on ArrangeMe? Reach out to our support team at support@arrangeme.com.
