How HookSmith Scoring Works

How scores are calculated

HookSmith scores represent how a lyric would perform in a professional screening environment. They are based on industry-aligned criteria such as hook clarity, structure, originality, emotional payoff, and pitch readiness.

Why scores don't change every time

Not every improvement changes a song's competitive position. HookSmith does not reward effort or incremental polish. It reflects whether a revision meaningfully changes how the song would be judged by publishers, A&R, or music supervisors.

What score stability means

A stable score means the song remains at the same professional level. This is common in real-world evaluation. Songs often improve internally before crossing a threshold that affects readiness or competitiveness.

How to use HookSmith effectively

Use HookSmith to:

• • Identify true weaknesses before pitching
• • Avoid over-revising songs that are already ready
• • Track meaningful progress across drafts (Workshop Mode)
• • Confirm readiness before submission