Hey Sal...We Need Help
Well, I got my new Songwriter's Market 2010 today and anxiously opened it
up to find...
Almost nothing.
Things have changed DRASTICALLY since the early days of the Songwriter's
Market, some 30 years ago.
For starters, the number of publishers in it has decreased DRASTICALLY.
It took me maybe 30 minutes to go through the whole thing.
In addition to that, most of the publishers in it now only accept submissions
from songwriters who have previously had songs published and recorded.
I can only speculate as to why the decrease in listings. Possibly because
many publishers have gone out of business since home production is now
so affordable and many artists simply record their own material.
As I suspected, very few listings of publishers looking for alternative music.
This doesn't surprise me as most alternative bands write their own material.
What I found was what I expected to find, publishers looking for country,
bluegrass, pop, R&B, rap, soul and essentially the kind of music that would
fit an artist who most likely wouldn't be a songwriter.
In addition to that, the Songwriter's Market has essentially become a
book about tips on how to record and submit demos, what to watch out
for as far as scams, and so on.
For somebody who has been in the business for a long time, the book is
pretty much worthless as there are NO new listings. I found this to be
almost unbelievable.
Ultimately, I found just 2 publishers that we might have a shot with.
I will put together a CD for each and send it out. We should know in
6 to 8 weeks, which is pretty standard in the industry.
If anybody has contacts in this business, preferably with alternative
music, yeah, I'm publicly coming to you guys for help. My own smarts
aren't going to be enough. I have limited options and all my past
connections are either deceased or I've lost a way to contact them.
My mom had some heavy connections (including the guy who wrote for
the 4 Seasons and the guy who discovered Levine and Brown, who wrote
for Tony Orlando and Dawn.) But she's gone now...and with her a whole
musical contact sheet.
Am I a little discouraged?
After 25 plus years beating my brains out in this business...yeah, a little.
It seems like it's getting harder and harder instead of easier and easier.
Anyway, I'm swallowing my pride and asking ANYBODY who has any
connections in this business to help us out. We're not performers and
we're not looking to record this ourselves. We're looking to have an
established act cover the song.
A publisher would have been the best shot (and I'm still going to submit
to those 2) but I know from experience that you're lucky to get one
acceptance from 100 submissions.
Oh well...at least I got my health...sorta.
up to find...
Almost nothing.
Things have changed DRASTICALLY since the early days of the Songwriter's
Market, some 30 years ago.
For starters, the number of publishers in it has decreased DRASTICALLY.
It took me maybe 30 minutes to go through the whole thing.
In addition to that, most of the publishers in it now only accept submissions
from songwriters who have previously had songs published and recorded.
I can only speculate as to why the decrease in listings. Possibly because
many publishers have gone out of business since home production is now
so affordable and many artists simply record their own material.
As I suspected, very few listings of publishers looking for alternative music.
This doesn't surprise me as most alternative bands write their own material.
What I found was what I expected to find, publishers looking for country,
bluegrass, pop, R&B, rap, soul and essentially the kind of music that would
fit an artist who most likely wouldn't be a songwriter.
In addition to that, the Songwriter's Market has essentially become a
book about tips on how to record and submit demos, what to watch out
for as far as scams, and so on.
For somebody who has been in the business for a long time, the book is
pretty much worthless as there are NO new listings. I found this to be
almost unbelievable.
Ultimately, I found just 2 publishers that we might have a shot with.
I will put together a CD for each and send it out. We should know in
6 to 8 weeks, which is pretty standard in the industry.
If anybody has contacts in this business, preferably with alternative
music, yeah, I'm publicly coming to you guys for help. My own smarts
aren't going to be enough. I have limited options and all my past
connections are either deceased or I've lost a way to contact them.
My mom had some heavy connections (including the guy who wrote for
the 4 Seasons and the guy who discovered Levine and Brown, who wrote
for Tony Orlando and Dawn.) But she's gone now...and with her a whole
musical contact sheet.
Am I a little discouraged?
After 25 plus years beating my brains out in this business...yeah, a little.
It seems like it's getting harder and harder instead of easier and easier.
Anyway, I'm swallowing my pride and asking ANYBODY who has any
connections in this business to help us out. We're not performers and
we're not looking to record this ourselves. We're looking to have an
established act cover the song.
A publisher would have been the best shot (and I'm still going to submit
to those 2) but I know from experience that you're lucky to get one
acceptance from 100 submissions.
Oh well...at least I got my health...sorta.
Sal
When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
Beyond the Path
Sal
When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
Beyond the Path
Sal
When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
Beyond the Path
Sal
When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
Beyond the Path
Sal
When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
Beyond the Path