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In summary:

Write a song that's been heard before but in a way that's never been heard before or create a time machine and write The House That Built Me.

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I only WISH I could write a song that good....maybe in my next life.

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My first experience writing was with a jazz musician that found what the academic approach was with it as being too conformist.
He quit playing music.
Outside of that I leaned some licks to covers from musicians that played metal. I liked synth pop and new wave before that and tried milking the sounds of my musical heroes.

Much of what people are going to be more apt to listen to is what is more familiar. I like pop and mainstream music too that might not be considered all that original.
But I don't base my inspirations on that. Even though I want people to understand me.
I often feel inspired by an influence I try to work out on an instrument not knowing much about that form.
Musicians are going to see the flaws in that, especially traditional ones. But I like going with how the mood hit me and see what might conform with that.
I liked alternative music originally because it didn't go with a scale or book as much, even though I don't favor listening to it over classic rock or traditional music.
Whatever is going to be more individual to offer
or hinder a "song" probably will not be by a book or scale.
It is very individual from what I have seen despite the musicians status.

At least if it goes outside of going through the motions playing to others songs.

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A lot of people have recorded my songs, but no one famous.

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Write songs that CONNECT with artists, emotionally, lyrically, musically, groovewise. How do you do that? You better be working on writing them WITH the artist. Only way to know WHAT motivates them.

And writing something unique, interesting, and yes, that have both lyrics AND music, is always a good idea.

MAB

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WHAT makes an Artist Want to cut YOUR SONG?

1) Co-write a pretty good song with the artist
(or for the artist that deeply resonates with their current or recent life experiences, preferably containing something they recently said)
Find incredible artists early in their careers, believe in them, help them, hire them, place songs with them, and cowrite with them

2) Co-write an excellent song with the producer or production team who is working with the artist,

3) Co-write a wonderful song with someone who can get it heard by the artist,

4) Co-write an awesome song with a well known songwriter with a track record of hits,

5) pitch a totally amazing, smash hit single that is completely undeniable so that it seems like a no brainer to everyone one involved with the artist and they greenlight it,
These people include:
the artist,
the producer,
label A&R,
artist's management,
label radio promoters, &
the artists wives, girlfriends, mistresses, friends and band members. It's gotta be something so incredible that the artist removes her own song from the project or songs written by categories 2, 3 or 4 to put YOUR song on their project.
Make em see $.

6) Get the song on a project or connected to a cause that resonates with the artist.

7) Land a helicopter on the artists property and hand them your demo,

8) know what's going on in the artists life and pitch songs that resonate. a friend of mine got a Neil Diamond cut, because she knew he was going through a divorce, he was considering cowriting with her and wanted to hear samples of her work, and loaded her demo CD with tear jerking heart breaking break up songs.


JPF Mentor Steve Seskin said:
When an artist (who doesn't write) is about to record their next CD and they are searching for songs, there are certain slots available on the project for certain categories of songs
like Tempo:
up tempo
mid tempo &
Ballads

There's also categories of topics:
up tempo party songs,
Love songs,
break up songs,
inspirational songs,
story songs,
granpa songs,
songs about growing up
The more common and typical the topic is the more songs are likely to be available and pitched in that category.

So if you pitch an excellent song that doesn't in a crowded category, like love songs, it might stand a better chance to get cut.
a couple of Steve's:
"Grown Men Don't Cry" Tim McGraw
"Don't Laugh at Me" Mark Wills


Ande Rasmus sen
Ande R a s m u s s e n@aol.com
Ande R a s m u s s e n.com
SongRamp.com/ande
MySpace.com/anders

Texas Grammy Gov 06-08
grammy.com/Texas

Editor Of "Inspirations for Songwriters"
SongWriterBlog.com
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Hold a six-shooter to their head and tell them you are tired of jumping through hoops... LOL!

Its fun to read all these zany stories about how someone got a "star" to perform or record their song... but it does not work that way often. So what's the answer? It is probably floating in the wind... and its called "dumb luck!"

Thanks for sharing, Barry.

Dave

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The reality of life in this day and age, artists are the writers on most songs. So finding and working with new and unsigned artists is really the key. If you figure you are going to write songs anyway, that you need a unique 'voice" on those songs, going to record anyway, then the only natural thing is to write it with them in the first place.

It is why if you dig into almost all hit songs and writers, you will find an early connection between the writers and artist. You will find they knew each other for a while, were together in situations long before they were brought together. Every major hit writer is developing his/her own writers now before they get deals based around their own songs and co-writes.

If you have an artist in the song, AND on your demo, you double your pitch chances, pitching the song AND the artist. all about "upping the level of your odds."

MAB

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Well,
No matter what your Master Plan is, very few new Releases are in the Pipeline. I sent out 21 Flyers in January offering a free License to anyone who would record and release any of my songs. I have heard nothing. The Offer expires on 1 September 2015 so something may still happen but I doubt it. Keep Plugging!


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Ray,

"Liscencing" free or otherwise is really not the issue. It's interest. No one has an interest any more in even listening, much less recording anyone else's songs. It is now like putting words in someone else's mouth. They are just not going to do it. It is actually a natural progression of things. When technology made it possible that EVERYONE with little or no talent, and such an individual art form as music, it took away the interest in recording other people's songs. It is just something that is completely dissapearing. And has been for years.

I always go back to what I have seen develop since really 1998. I was in a panel discussion with industry people, and tech people and some of Nashville's top writers and publishers. At one point the tech people said "In the future, writers will have to forget about royalties becauase they won't be there.
A very successful writer was sitting right beside me and asked "How will writers make a living?"
"You Won't." is what the tech guy said.

And about from that moment you started seeing the hit writers become the developers of the new artists. And the pitching of songs decrease every year. Now it is all about writing with the artists.

It is going even more so for those outside the professional communities and on the Internet. Liscencing is not the issue because they are not going to even get to that point. They are not going to replace their own efforts with someone else's even if you paid them to do it. Which wouldn't surprise me to be happening down the line.

MAB

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Write a good song, go on youtube and see if people with a good enough audience will sing your song. Hell even offer them money! LOL. Who knows who will hear it. They could be the next big thing.

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Um, Marc,
You are showing "New Prospects" around Nashville. Does that mean you are only showing those that are looking for a Record Deal and also have their own songs they will record? Are their still songwriters in Nashville looking for that elusive cut? And will the Labels still dictate to the Artist of what songs they will be allowed to cut? Are outside songs even considered anymore?

For the record folks, the Major Labels and even some lessor ones don't want to pay the full Mechanical Rate on songs. So, it leaves outside writers out, so to speak. The Artist will only get so much mechanical royalties on a release, much less than a songwriter would get.

I understand why the Labels want the Artist to also be the songwriter. Most Artists are not songwriters and it shows.


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Have you heard of the Iceman Bobby Golomboski and what he is doing Marc? I think it's Nice and all but some of the songs in his top 40 countdown including a few that were #1 are just not good. Some sound like band in a box, really early 90's coupled with very cliched lyrics. Songs that have been written a million times before with nothing new in it. And some of these artists will be at CMAfest 2015 playing these songs live. I've seen a few people from The Voice in the countdown and their songs sound usually pretty good. I have only heard a few songs that made me say wow, that's a good song. I'm not trying to be a hater or anything but A lot of people want to be a country artist but they just aren't good. You gotta be frickin amazing to get a career in music. You may not think so but youre considered amazing MAB cause you made a career in music.

Here it is for anyone whos curious

http://bestcountryradio.com

I guess if something good comes out of this then it's worth it.

Last edited by AaronAuthier; 04/19/15 07:04 PM.
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I feel mean and bad for saying that cause the iceman dude seems really nice and his intentions are good and everyone over there is all positive to the point of extremes but I see that as a bad thing if you want to be realistic. The opportunity is all theirs to take though. All he has to do is get them shown off, the rest is up to the artists.

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Ray,

No. I work with people all ages, all desires all kinds of goals.

Over the past month there have been five women,ranging from a 17 year old new artist, that we produced four songs in the studio for her first EP. She would like a deal but that is not the goal at this point. The goal now is to have her material to sell live, to be played on local and regional radio, and for booking purposes to build her experience level. It was her third trip with me.

Another is a 21 year old great artist who makes trips about once a month. She is kind of getting "past what I can do for her now" as she is setting up her own connections, etc. and doesn't need me as much but I still write with her and am producing her next CD. From there she will probably get a record deal and be on her way. She is from Michigan.

There were three other women looking to be writers as opposed to artists. They are the ones over forty. Their goal was to organize and get a level check on their material. Which we did and they understand how far they have to go. All three are very new to this but have dreams going on. I also got them around other artists so they could see the level, types of music and to find potential co-writers for the future. This is the main thing I do, introduce artists to older writers and writers to younger artists.
I also helped them with contacts in their home towns, New York, New Jersey and Boston, respectively. I also helped them find information on local open mics in their home areas. In my past with NSAI groups, I know writers and hosts in almost every state.

There were five men. Two are in a band out of Birmingham that I produce, and help them develop their music. They make trips about once a month and I help them get on shows, one will be tomorrow night. One of them has a pretty high contact with a publisher here in town (actually I have the same contact, but I am trying to get them to reach out on their own.)

One of the men is from the St, Louis, Mo. area who has only been performing for two years. He is in his forties so pretty late to the party. We wrote two songs, one of which he is playing for his parent's anniversery in a couple weeks. He wanted to see if he was 'ready for the the Row.' He wasn't. But he knows what he needs to do now.

Another was a 41 year old attorney from Birmingham, who is doing his first CD. He was here to record the first seven of ten songs. A lot of what I do in his case is editing. I am trying to show him where the bar is but he doesn't really listen to anhyone else, so he is going to have a difficult struggle. We'll see.

In every case, I do much of the same things. Spend most of the time going through their existing material and explaining things about the music industry. All have been victims of scams and schemes, all have won contests that go no where, all have tried to get somewhere, have been told how good they are by their friends and have hit the wall in Nashville either by being unable to get information, coming to town, doing workshops, song camps, and hitting walls.

The last was a repeat guy from Boston who has actually formed his own songwriting facebook songwriters group with artists from Boston, the New England Area as well as Nashville based artists with a New England Connection. I helped him develop his craft here and introduced him to Nashville artists that have enabled him to have his voice out there. He won the NSAI/CMT contest last year and formed his own publishing company. Friday night he had a show in town with about 30 of the artists that he is helping promoting. I helped him organized that group, helped him kick off his workshop series in Martha's Vinyard, and was the headliner on the show here.

I show them why the walls are there and ways to chip away at it.And ways to enjoy the craft of writing, performing, and building relationships. Some have made repeat trips, several are first timers. Most will wash completely out within a couple years but they will spend less money and waste less time. I never tell them to quit but put them into the frying pan. They see where the bar is, and understand where they need to go and what they need to work on.

The first thing is to dispel and explain the "myths' around deals. There are not many and you have to work your way into them. Takes a long time and you are judged more by what you do 'off the field' than what you do on the field. Personality is always first, and if you don't have a good one, good attitude, and willingness to do what you need to, you won't go very far.

I can show them where the lake is, I can't make them drink.

MAB

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Aaron,

The only thing the internet seems to have more of than people trying to be artists and writers are peopel trying to be their own radio stations or podcasting stations. I don't know who or what the Iceman is but he is very similar to hundreds of other people doing some variation of the same thing.

I don't know hardly anyone on his list outside of two friends of mine, Meghan Lindsey, the artist I worked with who is on the VOICE, and LANCE CARPENTER, who I just spent yesterday with at a party his house, with a bunch of other artist wanna be's. Lance is an independent, who is out there on the road mostly doing the same things they are all trying to do.

If you came here in January, went to the COUNTRY RADIO SEMINAR, you see hundreds of these types of people, with booths advertising their radio stations, Internet sites, etc. all trying to do the same thing. Be somebody.

Right now I am watching the ACM awards, from Dallas. Country is pretty huge and I see a lot of the people I have known, worked with, hung out with over the years. My buddy Keith Urban was just on a few minutes ago, and Martina McBride just finished. But ALL of them ARE SINGING FLAT TONIGHT. For the same things people have been giving Taylor Swift hell about, is happening to some of the best singers in the world. Everyone can have a bad night and huge stadiums, with weird PA';s, monitors, television, etc. it can affect the best as well. Hope the "Taylor Haters" are paying attention.

I can't tell you how any of this works. I don't know. I understand some things about audiences, artists, writing, performing, networking, but when it gets to the business I often have no idea. I can report on things I see and know, and try to be as honest as I can. There is a LOT out there I don't care for, but can't do anything about it so I try not to complain. Does no good.

I can work with all of these people I work with and generally show them something they didn't know before. I can look at things in as even a viewpoint as I can, be involved as much as people let me and then stay out of the way if they don't need me.

I have made a living at this for 28 years here and 10 years before that in my hometown, mostly because I always am who I say I am and generally do what I say I will. I don't blow smoke, but I don't crush dreams either. I try to inject reality in them, but people are going to do what they are going to do. The public might embrace them, they might not. I just help explain why.

MAB

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"Are their still songwriters in Nashville looking for that elusive cut? And will the Labels still dictate to the Artist of what songs they will be allowed to cut? Are outside songs even considered anymore?"

Ray, the information I bring to you is from working WITH these new artists, and being around a lot of the industry and seeing what they are doing and have been doing for years.
The outside cut is long gone which is why I try to temper everyone's expectations when dealing with all these pitch services, mail in's and other types of services. They don't work.

I also have beaten the drum on finding, developing your own artists in your hometowns because that is the ONLY thing that works. And when these artists I am watching on television right now like Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Little Big Town, and Keith Urban all got started ten-fifteen years ago, they were doing the exact same thing. Writing their own songs, trying to pitch what they were doing.

When I used to watch these three kids coming out of the studio next door all the time, when I was in the studio myself, I knew they were working on something. I also knew that that studio was owned by hit writer VICTORIA SHAW. She was writing and producing them. That was Lady Antibellum. She was doing the same thing I tell you we all do.

When labels come in, yes they are going to dictate what is going to be recorded. They are trying to maximize their investment. they are going to the top writers, the writers they already pay in their publishing companies, the hit writer's circles.
The artist I am most familiar with at this point is FRANKIE BALLARD, who was told by his label he would have to have FIVE number one records before he can actually be considering what he wants to record and gets to call his own shots.

Last week he celebrated his third.

There is no guarantee working with anyone is going to "take you with them.' You are just trying to up your odds. As artists get in a position to call their own shots, they might go back to where they started, you often hear interviews on songs they had for years but were just being able to record it, because it found "it's time."

By the way Aaron, your buddies, LITTLE BIG TOWN just won DUO OF THE YEAR award, so I guess any controversy has only helped them, eh? Told you about that. Beware of what you might think is a "bunch of rednecks trying to make a statement against gays" or any such nonsense. It is all for publicity.

I remember those guys around the clubs too. I guess I should have written with them when I had the chance. Can't get em all.

That is about it for me tonight. Have a good one.

MAB

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Yep, Marc, sorry, you were right. Sounds like the media blew it all out of proportion and sensationalized the story for clicks. I think it's a good song. Not too crazy on it after multiple listens.

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I wonder what goes on at songu with the song submission ads. Says looking for such and such songs for say Lady Antebellum. If Lady A already has a circle of writers they work with I don't get why they'd be looking at outside songs. So here is my question.

Did Lady A's team ask this publisher to look for songs or are they just on their own hoping to find a good one to pitch? Someone who doesn't know much would assume that's a call directly from the artist.

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Aaron,

Everybody are "ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SONGS." At least that is always the line. The truth is a bit more complicated. Just like Hollywood movies, there are always casting calls, but the chances of getting something just by "showing up" is not that good. The people with the good agents, political connections are in on the ground floor. The rest are pretty much just going through the motions.

The truth is that these artists are writing their own songs, have songs coming in all the time from their co-writers, the hit song pitch teams, the people who have the latest hits, the "legendary writers' they idolized growing up (I just wrote with one recently, Jim Peterek) and a lot of other sources. There are always around 3000 songs that make their way into the pot, but only about 150 get seriously considered.

I have told the story before about being on the tour bus of country artist EDDIE MONTGOMERY of Montgomery Gentry. He was quite drunk but we hung out for a few hours. One of the things he did was play me songs that were being pitched to him, AND that he had written himself. They were all monster sounding demos, all sounding like records and each one of them were really hit sounding songs. Those were things he was having to pitch TO HIMSELF for his own record.

So songs from the outside, of the outside of the outside, are never going to get heard. Many of those "pitch sheets" are often out of date by the time people hear about them. I remember getting Row Fax once and saw Frankie's name on the sheet. He had been finished for months and had just gotten his record into stores. They don't record things that fast.

Many of those sheets are not composed by the record companies. They are composed by magazines who know the recording schedules.

It doesn't mean they are evil or ripping people off. They have the best of intentions and some times do get some pitches in. But if you read the liner notes about who are writers these days. You find the same names over and over. That is because they run in the same social circles. Right now, there are a few hundred in Dallas Texas, going to parties, hobnobbing with the stars after the ACM awards. They are performing in late night private parties, setting up meetings and social plans for back in Nashville.

And right now, the recordings are done. Everyone is about to hit the road for touring season. Songs will be sent to them and they will be back in Nashville, from time to time, but now it is touring season. Recordings will start in the fall or over the Christmas holidays. Some will lose their deals by then. Others will be compiling songs for next year. Some will be trying out new songs on tour.

So the standard line is "we are looking for songs" but in actuality they are only looking for "something they don't have." And that is much harder than people realize.

MAB

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Little Big Town won Group of the Year, not duo of the year. As usual I was doing two things at once, and misspoke. I think I'm turning into Hillary Clinton. LOL!

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Politics are today's SNL, definitely.

There are those that are not out to be in a scene and might do good with what is more obtuse.
What people might be looking for depends on where that person is in that.

Some may be liked more overall for what musicians think of the least.

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Originally Posted by Marc Barnette
I think I'm turning into Hillary Clinton. LOL!

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OH NO!!!! smile

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Well,
Don't give up your wooden nickles just yet! It appears vinyl sales are causing supply issues! An Article appears on the front page of Fox news. People are still buying Records. I still have my turntable.

And, like it or not, Artists, Producers and Labels are still looking for that Hit Song!


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That's true Ray. We have been seeing that for a while. Vinyl sales doubled last year (don't really know how much that means)and the one main existing vinyl record supplier has increased it's space and staff to meet demand.

You are starting to see it among Target, Walmart and Best Buy's, as well as some books stores like BOOKS A MILLION, which are about the last retail sellers of music, and they are all having bins with vinyl in them. Mostly reissues of older records but some artists are starting to include vinyl as well.

Now before you start dragging out your turntable and expecting everyone to go back to vinyl, understand a few things. First of all it is MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE to produce. So where a CD might cost $1.50-$2.50 each to produce, package, shrink wrap, get UPC numbers, register, etc. Vinyl will be about $8.00-$10.00 each to produce. That means they have to be sold at much higher, like $25-$30 (The retail I have seen is $24.95, so it is not going to sell a ton of copies.And to take a lot of vinyl on the road for an artist takes up a lot of space and weight. If it is a flying artist, forget it.

It is mostly for hobbiests and audiophiles, who still collect and play records regularly. But they also have CD's in their collections as well as MP3's. My neighbor two doors down has that and likes to play them loud at parties.

But for artists such as my self who have always wanted our face on vinyl (did a 45 once) it could be really cool. Probably going to be expensive. The shortest runs are probably between 25 and 50 and tying up $300-$500 in inventory that it will take you months or years to sell, is a fairly extravigant expense. But would be cool. I am checking into it.

And yes, Artists, producers and labels ARE still looking for that HIT SONG. That THEY HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH. They are not going outside. That is just not going to happen. I'm sorry to burst bubbles but that is the real deal.

The major companies are PAYING THEIR WRITERS to write the songs. They have people on staff, and have hundreds more who are not on the staff but are in the loop, writing with their artists, bringing in songs from their own catalogues, going to hit writers, and legendary writers. Those are the ones who have shots. All the rest of us have to find ways to "get inside."

Interestingly enough, something I have been doing over the past few weeks fits exactly in that situation AND is about this same subject. I wrote a song called VINYL REVIVAL, which is about this EXACT SUBJECT, about a group of younger people finding an old record player and vinyl records and turning it up LOUD in a party.

This actually happened to me at a party a few weeks ago. The song, the idea of JOIE SCOTT, a hit writer with Colin Raye and Shania Twain cuts, and JIM PETEREK, who wrote EYE OF THE TIGER, HOLD ON LOOSELY, and of course, VEHICLE (Friendly stranger in the black sedan). Everyone loves Jim, and all the people who grew up with his music, including artists, who have performed and still perform them, producers, labels, etc. all treat him like royalty. So they are wanting to listen to what he does.
Our songplugger is SHERRYL BLACKMAN who is the top independent song plugger. We just did the demo two weeks ago and it sounds great.

Now we have to see if the fates intervene. Who knows? But writing a very timely subject matter song, with very current grooves and styles, that many people aer already responding to, with writers with extreme track records, great sounding demo, being pitched by someone most of the industry respects, all mean it will get a few good listens.

For me, that is all nice. But I am more enjoying building a relationship with Jim, who really likes my voice and writing style, so we will probably do much more, and writing with my friend Joie, who has been one of my best friends for 20 years and SHE has really been wanting to write something very cool with Jim.

So that is what makes me happy. Practical application. That is it in a nutshell. And that is what I teach to the people I work with as well. I have to practice what I preach.

MAB

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Yea MAB, but eventually after all the relationships are made, something has to give. SOme money or accolades have to happen, unless making relationships are the only reason you write music.


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Patrick,

There are new relationships made all the time. As a matter of fact, that is what fuels the entire industry and this town. It is ALL IN THE RELATIONSHIP. The songs are a by product of the relationship, not the other way around.

People come in and they go, new people take their place, and they are doing the same thing, building relationships. That is how this business is designed and has been from the beginning. People who only concentrate on the song, miss the entire point.

Songs are only a small part of it. I have told of this before. But the reasons the artists record certain songs is because they make a CONNECTION emotionally with that artist. Most of these songs in today's market are written WITH THE ARTIST involved. It is about THEIR EXPERIENCES, THEIR EMOTIONS, THEIR LIVES. You could bring in songs that are ABOUT the same thing but it is not going to be THEIR STORIES.

And the reason that "outside songs' never pierce through that wall is because they are not written WITH the artist or in close proximaty to the artist, their producers, their friends and lifelong relationships.

If you watched the ACM awards last night you would have heard over and over again one artist talking to another about "My Friend...." because they ARE friends. They have all been together from the beginnings of their careers. They have hung out for years, they have done social things for years. They write songs with and for each other. They all have a backlog of their own catalogue they want to do. They all record for labels that have catalogue and staff writers. They all have pressures to record what those labels dictate AND are trying to get what they want to record as well.

If you were going to set up a hamburger stand, you are not just going to go to the lobby or parking lot of McDonalds and start cooking. Not for long anyway. And as you were sitting in the hospital in traction thinking about what your choices you made, you probably would have to re-think that.

That is the relationship aspect of this business. it has been that way since 1955 when this town got started as the country music capitol and is that way even more so today. With all the lawsuits, overabundance of product, so many people trying to get in, there are very close relationships built.

That never changes. Don't look for it.

MAB

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Patrick,

And YES the main reason I write music IS TO MAKE RELATIONSHIPS. That is what all of this is to me. Building relationships with artists and their vision, building relationships with industry people who will help place that vision, building relationships with the audience and buying public who will want to hear not only a particular song but want to hear MORE songs from that artist or myself.

It is 100% about relationships. To me that is the only reason to write.

MAB

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Aaron,

It is very funny how all this works out. And it ALWAYS makes my point. I JUST GOT AN EMAIL, from a group of people I have worked with over the years, doing workshops, etc. The email was about their new partnership with...wait for it....

THE ICEMAN!!!!

They went on to explain how he is broadcasting at CMA fest week, how he is shaping country music, and how important he and their relationship is with him.

And then DIRECTING ME TO THEIR GO FUND ME account. ASKING FOR MONEY. Of course.

Here is the deal. He will be broadcasting from somewhere in the area during CMA fest, formerly FAN FAIR. It is a three day festival with around 200,000 country music listeners and every major artist performing on a series of stages around the center of town. There are hundreds of booths, and there is a convention center where all the artists sign autographs, take pictures, press the flesh with the fans.
The fans will wait in lines to see their heroes and it is unlike anything else you have ever seen. The fan clubs will meet their heroes and have private parties. The record companies will have private parties and showcases for their potential investors.

Think THE CANN film festival for country music. Everyone is here.

At the same time, all around the town, mostly down town, in the bars, honky tonks, private parties, on the street, etc. are hundreds of OTHER artists, who are playing the little side shows. They are all trying to be heard and press the flesh. But they are not sponsored by the CMA or anything official.

That is who this guy is. He is trying to promote independent artists and lower level artists with his Internet radio show. I don't know what kind of reach he has but the people I work with have been doing that same sort of thing for years, with varying degrees of success.

Just another way eveyrone is out there trying to ply their wares.
Las Vegas with a Twang.

MAB

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You guys would agree with Miranda Lamberts song Automatic. Didn't it win a ACM award last night? I believe so. Song of the year or something.

http://www.metrolyrics.com/automatic-lyrics-miranda-lambert.html

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Well Marc,
In no way shape of form do I expect Vinyl to make any type of comeback. However I could be wrong! And yes, the technical requirements to make a vinyl pressing still exists. Over the years I suscribed to the magazines Hi Fidelity to name one that not only published many articles on all aspects of music but other things as well. I remember when transistors began to replace vaccum tubes. But!, Vaccum tubes are still here. 4 Track and 8 Track are gone. Cassettes are also going. Manual Transmissions in cars are getting scarce but are still here. Some people think CD'S are on their way out. The horse and buggy are still here.

Relationships? Of course. I can't remember. Did the Beatles have a falling out? Write a Hit!


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Yeah. How often is it that some unknown that is performing catches the eye of someone important? Probably not often or ever if there is that much going on. Or I am wrong. You would know more than me. Does it?
I guess it could happen.

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I think it would be a good opportunity for people to pay for co writes with hit writers. Or have a few auctions per year. Money going to charity. I would definitely be interested in that. No guarantees of cuts clearly but if you're good enough maybe you'll have made a new contact that's in the know, eh? And if your song is good enough, maybe it'll be cut by someone.

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It seems like everyone is on this gofundme kick. I've gotten a few in my email.
No I will not fund you so you can live your dream of climbing some big ass mountain on the other side of the world. Money doesn't grow on trees!

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Man, I go do an Internet radio show and you guys go crazy. LOL! Actually I am doing a series of web casts on visiting/moving to Nashville and use some of the things you guys talk about to educate other people. Those questions you ask help me address what I feel people need to do.

Ray, the Vinyl thing is cool because so many people grew up to those and loved reading the covers and inserts. So that makes sense that those people, who are now collectors, would love to 'get back to their roots' and pass it on. that party I went to a few weeks back, had a bunch of under thirty kids who had never seen or heard vinyl, so it was really cool watching them experience something for the first time. I believe there will be a demand for those for a while.
CD's the same. Like Mark Twain said, I think the notices of the demise of the CD are quite a bit overstated. I think they will be around for a while also. The quality is good, cars and houses have CD players, they are even built into most computers, so I don't see them totally dissapearing for a while. There is always something to having PHYSICAL product, especially when leaving a show. Taking the experience home with them.So I see that one as being around for quite a while.

Aaron, actually the people performing on the periphery of CMA fest are probably NOT going to be seen by anyone important. Those people, the artists, their managers, labels, publishers, etc. are all involved in their own networking and are not going to be going to the other bars around town, especially to see people who are not on labels.They have too much schmoozing to do on their own. And the fans are paying a LOT of money to hob knob with the stars, not "Johnny One Note" playing the lunch show at TOOTSIES.

But those people will be able to play for tourists, and others who are here in town and not involved with the shows or in a different part of the town. And being able to say you played Nashville during CMA week is not a bad thing to have on a resmue. Even if you played 10 BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE CMA ACTIVITIES.

Now the "paid co-writes" with pros, are a new things and actually pretty cool. I mean to sit down with a monster hit writer, listen to stories, get insight on the business, and get a cool song, probably better than you already have, is in my opinion a pretty good use of money.

My own example of paying a guy who had lived here before I moved here, gave me all kinds of insights to Nashville and actually led to my getting a cut my first night in town. So I feel it was a great use of money.
Now there are a lot of co-writes going for charity, and many ways to do that with some of the pro writers. Some have businesses doing it, and that is part of what I offer in my songwriting tours. Although no one is paying me to write. They are paying me to learn the process of writing, dealing with the co-write mentality, learning tips and tricks the pro writers use, learning out to build ideas from scratch, melody and lyric processes. All in a very tight time frame, is what my tours are all about.

And many really cool songs have come out of that, most of the songs I currently do and get attention, some that have been cut, some that have gotten people deals, have all come from those processes.

It is one way to learn a lot besides just the song itself.

MAB

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That's what I thought. Everyone is busy getting themselves seen and heard. Have no time for anyone else which makes all the sense in the world. Still, I thought there'd be some scouting going on by some writers or labels looking for the next super duper star.

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Maybe I can pay Hillary Lindsey to co write with me! Haha. Carrie Underwood cut here I come tongue

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Marc,
You reminded me of an experience with my grandaughter who was maybe not even five yet. She wanted to hear some music. I don't think I had a CD Player yet. SO, I decided to put in a cassette in the player. I had records in the cabinet but the doors was closed. She pointed to the records! That's what she wanted to hear! So, I played her a record! You never know! I still have that cabinet and lots of records, LP's and 45's.


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Hey Aaron and Ray,Glad you are keeping this going.

Aaron have you ever been to a business conference? It is those things that have classes, meet and greets, panel discussions, networking events, business related slide shows, a convention hall with a lot of booths, displays, events going on, etc.
You spend pretty much every second from when you wake up in the morning, to all the time late at night, filled with every second with conversations, business schmoozing, trying to get your contacts together. They are fun, but VERY exhausting.

That is what the Country music fest behind the scenes. Artists going from one place to another, meeting with the press, doing interviews, taking pictures, signing autographs, doing meet and greets with investors, labels, managers, etc. smiling all the time. They have barely any time to eat and the day lasts around 16 hours. They do those radio Identification spots. The ones you hear on your local station that intros the music.

The labels, managers, publishers, are all there with their own artists, clients. writers, all trying to get their people around to be seen and heard. If you read things like Country Weekly magazine or any of the major magazines or web sites, they all are taking thousands of pictures there as well as being seen by as many fans as they can. This is where it all comes together and where you get your fans and radio people for the next year.

There is no time or inclination to go 'scout" for anything. They already have so many people and their time is taken just trying to take care of what they already have. And there are people coming to them year round.So they never have to go scout. It all comes to them.

That is why all those 'wanna be's' are in for a dissapointment. Many of them sign up with publicity companies, promising they will be seen by "hundreds of thousands of people.' it is kind like playing in a bar on the "other side of town' during Super Bowl week. Are there going to be HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THERE? Sure are.
Are they coming to see you? Not unless you can figure out how to get a couple hundred thousand into your bar. Not likely.

Ray, the whole 'Vinyl experience is doing pretty well. I hope I can get mine out there as well.

MAB

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A MEMORIAL TO REMEMBER

Another one of those odd things that happen in Nashville happened today to me. I was doing that radio interview thing and got a text from a friend of mine, reminding me that we were performing at a memorial service this afternoon at BMI. So I finished the interview, went home and then headed to BMI.

When I got there it was as if I interuppted a religious service with somone on stage citing a bunch of Bible verses. What struck me interesting is there seemed to be nothing about the life of the deceased. On a huge screen behind the stage, were pictures of this guy, with nearly every celebrity you could imagine for about 40 years. It turns out he was a very famous photographer, ALLEN MAYOR, who had been a staff photog for record labels, magazines, had done many huge layouts, albums for Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson. Rascal Flatts, all the way back to M..m...m..Mel Tillis, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash.This guy was the Annie Liebowitz of Nashville.

I had seen him but never really talked to him. I was there to play guitar for my friend, Jimbeau Hinson and do a song of my own.There were several speakers, a couple of other singers, performing in front of a packed house, several hit writers, publishers, label people. Was a pretty well stocked crowd.

As we got up and I looked over the crowd I saw a very familiar face. Actually two of them. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. They had flown in from Dallas, after last nights ACM awards, and of course were trying NOT to be the centers of attention.

My friend and I did our three songs and I was watching him quite a bit. he and I got here about the same time and had crossed paths a few times. Were even supposed to write together before he got his huge break and went on to stratastardom. They both and the entire crowd were very nice and seem to like my song, THE BEGINNING, very well. And after Garth pulled me over, shook my hand and was very gracious. Both of them stood very patiently for the entire service and hung out a ways after, taking pictues and being very cool.

I always like that guy and still do. Was a neat aspect of Nashville. A lot of people pulling together to pay respects for a friend. The bigger they are, the nicer they are.

I do love this town.
MAB

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That is a really nice story there Marc.'

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You know I wonder if it's easier to try to get major label cuts by Canadian or Australian or other countries country artists. But I think all of those people get their songs from Nashville too, or at least most of them do. I'm gonna look up their billboard charts and wiki some of them, see whos writing their songs.
It's probably not done any differently. Everyone has their own circles they work with.

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Aaron,

Having been heavily involved in Canada over the past four years, I can tell you that most of them come here fairly frequently. There has been a lot of American writers and publishing companies doing dual residences here and there over the past few years. Ole' is the main publishing company here and SOCAN has an actual house where writers and artists stay free in Nashville.

The process is for their artists and writers to come here, write with the hit makers, be around our publishers, then record some of their records here. Then they go back there to finish them in order to stay within Canadian Content laws. Canada is a very protectionist country, so there has to be a certain amount of Canadian content, involvement in everything they do.

There are several writers and artists from Canada who are doing very well here. Victoria Banks, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, and others are hit writers and artists who live here. They bring many artist and writers here to write and perform, and help guide their careers up there.

One I worked with over the past few years is MAKENSIE PORTER. She is a wonderful singer/fiddle player/actress who actually in many major motion pictures. She is based out of Edmonton/Alberta. She comes down about once every two months as her schedule allows.

I've worked with a number of artists from Winnipeg and Toronto. Have been up there a lot of times, six in the past three years.

So yes, it is a little easier to get cuts on those artists, but most of it is writing the songs with them. Just like here.

Australia is much the same, although the distance is more of a prohibiting factor. It takes a lot of work to get here and there. I have worked with quite a few Aussies here and many of them do long holidays each year and come here to write and perform.

So it is roughly the same thing. People come here, work with our writers and artists, and vice versa. And like everything, it is getting harder, for the same reasons. The inablity to monetize anything at all, more and more people trying to do this, an amateurization of the industry.

Same deal.
MAB

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Reminds me of the song about I over looked an orchid while looking for a rose. Many people like to have songs written by Nashville writers so they can boast about it, while there are just as good songwriters living in their own town. The old prestige thing. Makes me a little sick, name dropping in a different way. I know of a local singer that went to Nashville and came back very disillusioned, he met the darker side, where they were more interested in getting him to sign over the publishing to his songs than promoting him as a singer. He is a great singer and has made a living from his music locally and in Europe, but got out of Nashville as fast as he could.

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That does happen. But actually they come here for a much different reason. number one the community aspect of the town. If they are good at what they do, recognize the rules of the town, take their time and be basically a nice person, they are welcomed with open arms and find a LOT of people from their home areas actually already here.

if they have overreaching, unrealistic expectations like everything is going to happen immediately, if they are bulls in china shops, if they are dismissive of the rules and etticates, yeah, they are going to hit some pretty hard walls.

Signing your publishing is a given. That is the incentive for a publishing company working with you. they have established the contacts the careers and often the money to work in this town and in this industry.The songwriter has given up nothing. Publishing is the business side of a song and it is unrealistic to think you are going to keep any of that, to get in the game. That is the cost of doing business and new writers and artists haven't earned anything yet.

As it was put to me once by a very successful writer, "Publishing is something you earn back with success." Renegotiation happens as you prove yourself. you aren't just given the keys to the Kingdom when you haven't earned that. And you have to earn it on the playing field you are going for. They are not going to re-arrange the rules to fit you.
But that is exactly one of the rules people don't realize and it leads them to see "the dark side." It is only the dark side when they go into it with their eyes closed.And dreamers usually have their eyes very closed.

Another aspect of the two cultures is the learning curve. One of the problems the Canadian record companies and publishing companies had for many years was that they were coming to Nashville, New york and Los Angeles with product that worked fine in Canada, but didn't work here because it was behind the times. It was very normal to hear the 'hot Canadian artist' doing songs that sound like 10-15 years ago Nashville and American artists. They had an inabilty to sell product in the states because their product sounded dated.

Coming to Nashville, getting songs from current writers here, working with publishers and label people here, had an updating effect. And you find many of the current Canadian artists are first sent here by their companies to work on their craft here.
That is WHY SOCAN has a house here, and why the head of SOCAN, hit writer Eddie Schwartz, is here instead of in Canada. To help writers and artists get a balance to their knowledge.

And now, more and more of the Canadian product sounds more updated and commercially equal with the marketplace here. And why artists are having more success in this market.

Like every place when it comes to Nashville. Nashville doesn't send for anyone. They all come here. That builds up resentments and I hate that, but it is simply the truth. Now, there are becoming reciprical aggreements with more American writers and artists integrating into the Canadian music scene. It is a market for American product and as Aaron says it is a bit easier to get Canadian cuts, because they are a little more open to listening to outside material. But they are developing the inner cut themselves, which is only right. Everyone wants to be a part of their own product. Just a natural extension of what happens as music, technology and society advances.

MAB

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I guess we made MUSIC ROW magazine. Funny that in order to get press attention, you have to play a funeral. LOL1

http://www.musicrow.com/2015/04/in-pictures-memorial-service-for-photographer-alan-mayor/

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Mackenzie Porter is the sister of Kalan Porter who won Canadian Idol. Their whole family used to have a band. I really like them! She apparently has a cd comin out this year. Her new song Rodeo is #1 currently on the Canadian iTunes chart.
I think she has what it takes to make a minor dent in the US country music scene.
It's rare that any Canadian country artist does well down there so I hope it's her. Seems like a nice girl.

It's cool that you worked with her. Who havent you worked with? Lol

Last edited by AaronAuthier; 04/21/15 03:19 PM.
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She's great. I have four songs with her, one 'Watching Rome Burn' is a really cool fiddle tune. She is a great fiddle player, although she thinks she is a violinist. LOL!

Kalan came down here once and I met pretty much the whole family. The Dad raises buffalo. I showed him the "largest buffalo herd in Nashville" which consist of three of them in this one huge yard about 20 minutes south of Nashville. The Dad said "I see why the heard isn't growing. Their all male." LOL!

Mack is pretty great. I hope she does well. Great to hear she is at number one. Very proud of that girl and of course I take all the credit.... NOT!!!! LOL!

MAB

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