--- title: "How We Score Your Song | Song Refiners" description: "See exactly how Song Refiners scores a song: seven weighted craft categories, the 100-point scale, and a real scored example review start to finish." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Song Refiners", "alternateName": "SongRefiners", "url": "https://songrefiners.com", "logo": "https://songrefiners.com/images/song-refiners-og.png", "description": "Song Refiners blends cutting-edge tech with human expertise to help songwriters strengthen craft, melody, and emotional impact. It ALL Starts With Your Song!", "founder": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Keith Mohr", "description": "30+ year music industry veteran, founder of Nashville Rising Song and AI Rising Song" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/songrefiners", "https://www.instagram.com/songrefiners", "https://x.com/SongRefiners", "https://www.youtube.com/@songrefiners", "https://www.tiktok.com/@songrefiners", "https://www.airisingsong.com", "https://www.nashvillesongpitcher.com" ], "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "contactType": "customer service", "email": "info@songrefiners.com" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "Song Refiners", "url": "https://songrefiners.com" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://songrefiners.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "How We Score", "item": "https://songrefiners.com/how-we-score" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What scoring categories does Song Refiners use?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Song Refiners scores songs across 7 categories: Overall Score, Title, First Line / Hook (melody/vocal), Lyrics, Arrangement, Production/Creative Direction, and Commercial Potential. Each is scored on a 1–99 scale." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Why is the maximum score 99 and not 100?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No song is perfect. The ceiling is 99 to reflect that every song — even the greatest ever written — has room for interpretation and growth." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Why didn't my overall score go up when one category improved?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The Overall Score is a holistic assessment, not a simple average. A +6 in one category may only move the overall by +1 or +2, because the score reflects how all elements work together." } } ] } ] --- [![Song Refiners](/assets/song-refiners-logo-DfwlKl9n.png)](/)[![Song Refiners](/splash-logo-mobile.png)](/) [Features](/features)[Pricing](/pricing)More [About](/about)[FAQ](/faq)[How We Score](/how-we-score)[Charts](/charts)[Contest](/contest)[Showcase](/showcase)[Updraft](/updraft)[Members](/members)[Radio](/radio)[Blog](/noteworthy)[Contact](/contact)[Song Critique Service](/song-critique-service) [Sign In](/auth)[Get Started](/signup)[Sign In](/auth) ![Song Refiners logo](/assets/song-refiners-splash-Bplmj8vo.png) Transparent. Honest. Built for Songwriters. # Find Out Exactly What Your Song Is Worth 7 scored categories. Timestamped feedback. Coaching questions designed to spark your next breakthrough — not hand you someone else's answers. [Submit Your Song Free](/auth?signup=true&quicktaste=true) [See How It Works](#how-we-score) No credit card required First song review is free Results in minutes ## Your Score Card, Explained This is what you get — a full breakdown across 7 independent categories, each scored so you know exactly where to focus. ### Burnin' Midnight Oil Country · Deep Dive · Craft Lens 82 /100 Overall Score Song Title 80 First Line / Hook 85 Lyrics 81 Arrangement 84 Production 85 "Burnin' Midnight Oil" is a classic country trope, and it fits the working-man vibe you're going for here. Since you told me this is about your personal experience staying up all night working on songs, the title definitely captures that exhaustion and drive. The phrase itself is a familiar idiom, which makes it instantly recognizable — but it doesn't give away the twist that you're working on songwriting rather than a factory shift. That's a cool bait-and-switch. [See Full Example Review](/example-review) How the Review Actually Gets Made ## It's Not a Robot. It's Experience, Delivered. We get the skepticism. You've heard "AI music review" and you're already bracing for a cold, generic robot that tells you your song is "great" and sends you on your way — or worse, rips it apart without a shred of understanding for what you were trying to say. Song Refiners is neither of those. Every review is built on 90% Human Experience and 10% AI . Here's what that actually means. 90% Human Experience Three decades in the music business — running a recording studio, launching songwriter contests that discovered major-label artists, sitting in rooms with publishers, producers, and A&R reps. The standards, the instinct for what makes a hook land, the honesty to tell you a bridge isn't earning its place — all human, trained, and customized. We didn't teach a machine to have opinions. We encoded decades of real opinions into a system that applies them to _your_ song, on its own terms. 10% AI — Delivery, Not Judgment The AI's job is delivery, not judgment. It listens to your actual audio, reads your lyrics, and calls on that stored human experience to deliver feedback tailored to this song — not the last one, not a template. Think of it as a seasoned mentor's brain, with the speed and patience to give every single song a full, undivided read. It is not ChatGPT telling you your song is great. It's the opposite: it's the truth, delivered. WHY IT MATTERS The Hard Part, Said Straight The songs we love are the hardest ones to evaluate honestly. You poured something real into yours, and when a review lands hard, it can feel personal — like someone called your kid ugly. Most feedback falls apart there: the reviewer goes soft to spare your feelings, or goes cold and crushes you. We chose a third path — the truth, with the context of someone who's been there. Every critique comes with the _why_ and a specific next step. Not here to break your heart. Here to help you build a better song. Your song is yours. Always. We don't ghostwrite it, we don't hand you someone else's vision, and we don't inflate scores to keep you happy. We give you the honest read your song deserves — delivered with the care of a human who's spent 30 years helping songs find their best version. 30 Years of Experience Trained, Not Generic Truth With Care Your Song, Your Vision ## What Songwriters Are Saying Real feedback from real songwriters who've been through the process. " "This is really the best teaching experience I've ever had. The motivation I receive has been incredible!" Landers B. Songwriter " "A clear breakdown analysis with structured categories. Easy to follow lingo with pinpoint accuracy." Dee D. Songwriter " "I love Song Refiners, and I love to learn! This app is definitely helping me to learn in the very best way!" Robin G. Songwriter [Read all reviews from our songwriters](/user-reviews) ## 7 Scored Categories Each category is evaluated independently so you see exactly where your song shines and where it needs work. 01 Overall Score The holistic assessment — not an average. How does everything come together as a listening experience? 02 Song Title Hook value, memorability, and searchability. Does the title make someone want to press play? 03 First Line / Hook Does your opening lyrics set the stage for the rest of the song, and compel the listener to keep listening? 04 Lyrics Imagery, structure, emotional resonance. Are the words doing real work, or filling space? 05 Arrangement Song structure, flow, dynamics, and transitions. Does the song build? Does the bridge earn its place? 06 Production Mix quality, sonic choices, and production polish. For demos, this becomes your production roadmap. 07 Commercial Potential Market readiness, playlist fit, and industry appeal — or artistic impact, depending on your chosen lens. ## What the Scores Mean Scores range from 1–99. There is no 100 — no song is perfect, and even great songs have room for interpretation. ### 90–99 Exceptional Industry-grade craft. Eligible for Showcase and Radio Airplay. ### 80–89 Very Strong ### 70–79 Solid ### 60–69 Promising ### <60 Needs Rethinking ## The Refiner's Fire We coach, we don't prescribe. Song Refiners identifies what isn't working, explains why, and asks coaching questions designed to spark your own breakthrough — not hand you someone else's creative vision. Your song is yours. No Inflated Scores No Ghostwriting No Generic Feedback 100% Honest ## Your Free Review, Plus More When You're Ready Every new songwriter receives a free Red Carpet Review automatically when they sign up. No credit card, no decisions — just submit your song. 🎉 You get this free on signup Red Carpet Review Automatically included — no credit card, no decision needed. Headline, overall score, and 1–2 sentences per section. Your first review is automatically included when you sign up — just submit your song. After your free review, deeper feedback is available when you're ready Standard Review · 1 Credit All 7 scored categories, timestamped feedback, coaching questions, and actionable next steps. 💡 Earn your first one free by rating & commenting on your Red Carpet Review. Deep Dive · 3 Credits 50% more depth — 8–10 section insights, enhanced coaching, and priority processing. ## Ready to Hear the Truth About Your Song? Submit your song today and get detailed, honest feedback across all 7 categories. Your first review is completely free. 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