| Being on the inside of the Nashville songwriting | | | | famous music row, is one of the better sheets. You |
| community since 1991, I've learned a great deal about | | | | can also pitch (play) your song in person. Song |
| how the business works and what kind of songs are | | | | publishers will sometimes accept appointments with |
| likely to excite a publisher enough to call a songwriter | | | | unpublished writers and publishers aren't usually quite |
| and offer them a contract. It's not easy. | | | | so specific in their needs, they just need great songs. |
| The basic steps are: | | | | Most outside hit songs are first discovered by song |
| 1. Your song can't earn royalties sitting in a drawer. | | | | publishers. BMI also regularly listens to and evaluates |
| Many writers assume they'll "cash in" one day but fear | | | | unpublished BMI member's original material, creating |
| of having their songs stolen causes what I call "terminal | | | | appointments with publishers if they feel a songwriter |
| procrastination" which has aborted many a career. | | | | has potential. |
| Professional writers may steal your idea but they | | | | In general publishers want songs two to four minutes |
| won't steal your song and ideas can't be protected | | | | long with short introductions, They want you to get to |
| anyway-pull the song out of the drawer already! | | | | the chorus quickly, usually one verse and in, not two |
| 2. Polish it up. This is also known as rewriting and it's | | | | verses. They want songs about some aspect of love |
| the time you spend going over each lyric line to verify | | | | and relationships and the more unique the idea is, the |
| you used proper grammar, replace worn out phrases | | | | better. Another phrase for "the idea" is "the song's |
| with fresh ideas and hone the melody. If you only have | | | | concept". A unique or clever concept, usually embodied |
| lyrics you'll need to write a melody or have one written. | | | | in the title, gives you a huge edge in getting a contract. |
| Legitimate, professional song publishers do not review | | | | Don't assume that the only way to make a living or |
| lyrics, only complete songs. | | | | substantial income from your songs is the traditional |
| 3. Copyright protection exists at creation, automatically, | | | | method described above: submit your songs to |
| under current copyright law; however, registering it | | | | publishers, a major label artist records them and |
| through the Copyright Office at The Library of | | | | royalties flow from BMI or ASCAP. |
| Congress in Washington D.C. is recommended as step | | | | The independent business model has been evolving |
| three. To do that you'll need to request a Form PA or | | | | and it's increasingly viable to successfully function as |
| download one from their website. Once mailed it's safe | | | | an independent record company yourself: Create |
| to have a demo made. | | | | great music, sell product (online sales & live |
| 4. You can either make your own demonstration | | | | performances) and collect revenue from downloads, |
| recording or hire someone to do it. I'd highly | | | | CD sales, live performance fees and also from |
| recommend going with a Nashville based service. The | | | | ancillary products such as T-shirts and other items. |
| world class Nashville musicians and producers are | | | | Should you pursue this route I highly recommend that |
| experts at making your song sound like a hit. My | | | | live performance of your material be part of the plan. |
| service, isn't the only one, just the best :) | | | | You can perform yourself or find a local artist or group |
| 5. Once you have a professional demo, song | | | | with higher aspirations to write for. Live performance |
| publishers will listen. Step five is the process of getting | | | | can pay substantial sums of money and help build a |
| your song to professionals for evaluation, also known | | | | fan base that will buy products, visit your website, help |
| as "pitching" a song. There are numerous tip sheets | | | | you build a mailing list, etc. |
| you can subscribe to that list which major label artists | | | | So now you know the basic steps it's time |
| are recording, who is screening the songs, the exact | | | | to...procrastinate some more! But only until tomorrow. |
| type of songs they are seeking and the address to | | | | Tomorrow morning I expect you to start the process |
| submit to. RowFax, published here on Nashville's | | | | getting your songs contracted in earnest! |