Sandrasisk.com

As with any business, finding the specific targeted key is always the adventure when trying to climb to the top. Many fail and fall by the wayside in their attempts to climb the mountain. And many, quite honestly, just stall out without the right talent and management to back up the endeavor. The same holds true in the music business with singers and songwriters. The countless hours that A&R spend trying to find that key song for that new “baby” act is sometimes a relentless task. Oftentimes, the success or ultimate failure of an artist, isn’t the talent or in fact having the unique talent, but the songs that will carry their success down radio airplay lane. Without the right ingredients in the CD mixing bowl, you can almost guarantee failure. What makes for a good song? What songs do up and coming acts look for and how do you obtain these songs that almost create magic in the hearts of the listener when even the intro is played? These are great questions, and many have tried to answer them. I will give you some advice as to what holds true for many of your potential listeners.

If you’ve ever tried to get inside the mindset of a potential fan or one that will purchase your CD, you will notice some distinct differences in their thinking than what is popular or in vogue within the music business culture. To begin with, songs and artists that are currently selling are not the only thing that will sell. You say da, but most get on the current bandwagon with the same old tired sound and song structure and then wonder why they can’t get a record deal or get their songs cut or wonder why people aren’t buying their music. You will have to learn to think outside the box. Think back through the music era as of late and look at all of the styles and how music has progressed from big band, to the Beatles to the many 70′s rock bands to Boston, to the new Chicago (David Foster) albums to the slicker pop artists of the nineties with the barrage of improved keyboard sounds to today. Now I know that we could list hundreds to thousands of bands here, but for the sake of time I think you get the idea.

Are you really thinking about the next layer of the musical cake? What will that sound like? What are you currently doing to write not just off the wall music and productions to sound different, but music that will be the next level of the music era that people will look back at as a turning point in music history? As a singer looking to obtain A side songs for you’re your next CD, you will want to think about how and where you will obtain them. As a former talent booking agent with the William Morris Agency, I know how difficult it can be for artists and writers not only to break into the industry as a whole, but to maintain a credible ongoing writing career writing fresh and new creative lyrics and melodies. Yet the gotta have it today and write it from a fresh perspective is still king. At ReelMusician.com we are always looking at new and fresh production ideas for writers who obtain song production services from our company, and I can tell you that it’s a challenge. We pride ourselves in writing incredible productions and we do, but the art of making it a little different to the point where it stands out, really takes time and effort. Anybody can throw a song production together on the computer with a keyboard and a mic, but to create a unique, yet with musical integrity to the artist’s or writer’s original intent, and within the marketing bounds of today’s music buying crowd, isn’t always easy – It’s an art.

Even within the jingle production side to ReelMusician.com, we are always looking for new and creative ways to really showcase singers trying to break into the jingle singing market. The marketing behind the singer’s jingle demo reel is key. So again, when individuals think they can record their own jingle demo reel with a computer, keyboard and mic, they are most likely mistaken and I would guess most end in failure. Same thing holds for writers and singers trying to obtain top A sided tunes that will be a hit on radio lane. You have got to be writing and recording with individuals who have a proven track record, who think outside the box, utilizing their players ideas even when they overturn your original production idea, because it’s plain a better idea. And seeing that the overall production is the end goal, there is no attitude and hopefully A sided album cuts are produced and recorded.

There are numerous outlets on the web that most everyone is familiar with where up and coming acts can review and contact the writers or artists to obtain permission to record their music. The flood of sites available is astounding. As a writer or singer, comb through these sites and listen for not only valid recording material, but for ideas and ways to steer your next production close enough to mainstream marketable music, but close enough to the edge where your music and production sound fresh and new. See, it’s not that easy. It’s easy to write it here as a valid idea, but significantly harder to put into practice.

As we close, I will offer a few suggestions, and I am well aware that many claim to have the “answers,” but I will just remain confident that you are building your career, making career corrections as needed along the way and are practicing your craft, not merely as an art, but as a way to get a recording contract or plain get your songs cut by a major recording artist. You’ve heard it before, but writers do get significantly better with their writing and productions over time – keep doing it. Don’t be afraid to admit it when either your music or production isn’t working, but keep looking up, because there is hope in your admitting it and moving forward and learning how to better you productions. Don’t have an attitude about your music or the ability to change it, but don’t necessarily change it at every beckoning, because someone else “claims” to always have the superior idea. Lastly, just hang in there, keep at it and don’t be afraid to contact us should you have further questions about song production or jingle singing. Look forward to hearing from you.

Do you secretly harbor ambitions to write Kenny Chesney’s next hit song? Do you want friends to download country songs that you have penned? You may have thought it impossible, but there are ways to go about pitching your country music to the next big country star if you are determined and persistent.

“The best way to pitch is any way you can,” say Pete and Pat Luboff, workshop leaders with the National Academy of Songwriters in Los Angeles. “The closer you can get to the artist, the better the chances of being heard by someone who makes the decisions. Publishers are often easier to get through to, but other good routes are managers, A&R people at the labels, attorneys, producers, publishers of songs previously cut by the artist, band members, other writers who have had cuts with the artist. We also know of an Oscar-winning writer who worked his way into a very lucrative song by getting to know the producer’s barber, lawyer, dentist, etc. and actually becoming a client of those people! “

If you are really ready to lay it all on the line and head to Nashville with a demo in hand, the Luboffs recommends getting a hold of tip sheets which tell you which producers/artists are looking for material and drop your CDs off personally.” Meet with people at the performance rights organizations and get advice and referrals. Perform at songwriter nights. We had a songwriter take one of our songs directly to an artist that he had a hit with because he liked it when he heard us sing it at the Bluebird. That isn’t the only time that’s happened to us.”

If you really want to break into the country music scene, the Luboffs stress that you have schmooze with the major players in Nashville. “You need to promote yourself and your material; otherwise, who will? There are books about how to schmooze. Get over your reticence! How bad do you want to be a professional writer?” they say.

Because most people get free country music off the Internet, the Luboffs say that promoting yourself online is a great way to attract the record industry and fans to your country songs. “You can hear what the artists are doing, find connections and information on artists, see what kinds of messages they’d like to deliver and how appropriate your song would be for them. A country song mp3 is a great promotion tool for new artists.” Playing the songwriters clubs via open mic in Nashville is another great way to network with top country song artists and collaborators.

Of course, the most important way to sell your country music is to keep writing, even past the rejections. Even the great country songwriters all initially met with some degree of resistance when shopping their country songs in Nashville. Just keep in mind that if you persist, your friends will one day be able to download free country songs written by you!

Listen to Country Songs at EZ-tracks for free.

Where does your favorite top country songs rank? Visit EZ-tracks to check out top country music charts.

As writers, it’s often difficult to be objective about writing and any aspect related to writing and creating the demos that are used to shop songs. As a former talent booking agent with the William Morris Agency, I can tell you that with all of the vast array of talent and gifted writers, only a few make it to the inner circle. There are various reasons for this, but none that come close to what we will spend the remaining time in this article talking about. Many a hopeful writer and artist walked through the doors of William Morris only to find that the magic they thought they had come upon, vanished in a moments notice. Why is that? Why do some get the writers and artist deals with virtually no writing innovation, while others, with up in your face talent, not getting the due recognition and artist album cuts so richly deserved? Let’s spend a few minutes together talking through a few basic concepts to hopefully get you moving in the right direction.

As founder of ReelMusician.com, it is and has always been my goal to see rising talent succeed and make it to the top. We strive to always remain approachable, authoritative with music industry resources and information and provide relevant services such as creating master quality song demos for rising song writers, top notch jingle demos for singers trying to break into singing commercials and effective press kit writing for artists trying to establish their careers. We are already in that mode of how to help singers and writers break through, which is the foundation to why we exist and with all of that in mind, I want to share with you some ideas that will help you get your career jump-started.

Always remember that content is king. You can’t very easily take a story without a decent plot and try to pitch it. Same thing holds true for your writing and career. One of the problems today, is that many would be artists and writers clutter the playing field by utilizing technological advances and use their friends computer, keyboard and mic to record music and think they have a chance. And because music equipment and software has become so affordable, many who would not ordinarily approach the idea of writing or becoming an artist now feel that they have to have their chance at stardom and so the A&R, managers, booking agents and all other ancillary music industry offices are flooded by material that is not even close to being a go. It’s a waste of everyone’s time. The thinking is just because so and so made it, I could make it to. Well that might be true, but for the every one of the so and sos that make it, there are thousands to possibly millions that don’t. Think about that. Go for your dream, but make sure that you have a decent plot to back up your artist story line.

Once you have established that you have credible talent, and the fact that you are reading this article is probably a good indication that you have some credible talent, you will want to figure out the best approach to selling your songs, artist deal or break into jingle singing, whatever the case might be. I will tell you, as I’ve stated before, that everyone has their own story to tell in how they broke into the music industry, but I will tell you that there are a few golden concepts that you should employ to increase your odds. Always remember that creativity coupled with authenticity will go along ways in your career. There are so many phony people out there inside the industry and out, that when individuals who are decision makers inside the industry find authentic and truly gifted talent, they are pulled to it. Do you have a record cut or a record deal, maybe, maybe not. But the fact that you now have an ally inside the inner circle creates a much broader platform for your career to take off from. The fact that now someone who holds some influence and who has taken a liking to you is strong – really strong. You develop these types of relationships whether at area writer’s meetings, artist showcases, or other various ins that you can find and think of in your area, and you will be well on your way to getting your demos not only listened to, but listened to with interest and on an inside path. Don’t be users. Figure out ways where you can have conversations totally outside the music industry where an individual truly thinks you care – if your career comes up the conversation great, but if not that’s fine to. And if it does come up in the conversation, don’t make a big deal of it.

Your song demos have got to be the best no questions asked. Your productions better sound better than what’s on the radio. Figure out the key musicians in your area and produce your song demos with no excuses. I’ve said it before and it’s worth repeating, that it’s better to have a slimmed down song demo version with an incredible guitar or piano player and vocals that just melt, than a fully produced song demo that’s pretty good. You hear that. Don’t produce pretty good demos – They’re not good enough. When you get the opportunity from a heavy weight in the industry to listen to your song demo, artist demo or jingle reel, it’s far better to have an incredible demo done with a few musical elements that just wow the listener. Chances are you won’t get another chance, and so your listener better remember that your demos not only sound good, but will make him or her look good when they go to pitch your material. Don’t hesitate to contact us at ReelMusician.com if you have any questions about demos, what you’ll need and your current writing and artist demos.

In closing, and I never feel like I have enough space to cover all of the relevant ideas in a given article, please take these few simple concepts seriously and implement them in your career goals. Don’t get all stirred up about the latest and greatest this or that or your having to be in the “in” musical crowd to get a record deal or to get your songs cut. Just develop authentic relationships and make sure that your song demos, jingle reels and artist demos are simply the best! Please feel free to contact us for any questions you might have!