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#1112926 08/12/16 12:56 AM
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If you can write a catchy one with a unique twist you might have a chance at getting it cut.

True or false?

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Much harder than you would think. New Christmas "Hit" songs are added to playlists about one every five years. Those are the ones that actually "catch on." Most are played sparingly and then dissapear.

Christmas songs have a five week pay period and most artists would rather record songs they grew up with or in public domain where there are little in the way of royalties to pay out. Many are also featured in "special packaging." So the dreams of getting a song that pays off forever are not really that accurate.

They are pitched, thousands upon thousands all the time. And the artists themselves like usual, write their own. The Christmas pitch season, pretty much has just ended. Most all of those are pitched in May and June and are recorded in July in between road trips for artists.

It sounds real easy, write a Christmas song from a different angle. Tremendously much harder to actually do. And the fact that EVERYBODY has tons of them, doesn't make it any easier. But there are more channels and even some year round pod casting or Internet radio channels.

So you can never tell. Like everything in the music business, there are no guarantees, and it is always easier to try and locate your own artists in your area and get songs to them, than try to dive into an already over crowded pool.

MAB

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Oh I didn't think about any of that. Yeah I guess that they'd rather sing old school songs that everyone knows.

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Well,there are a lot of things involved. The idea of Christmas music is usually about home and family and re-connecting with things there are familiar, passing on traditions to younger people.

Artists, who always have a sense of "where I came from" will be inclined to sing songs they are familiar with and will continue their family memories.

From an industry perspective, it is simple economics. It costs a lot to promote a new song. And the pay period is short. And remember, most Christmas music is the ultimate of background music. It plays in the background while decorating, shopping, etc. There is very little "Listen to this new Christmas song."
So it makes sense to give people what they want.

It does happen about every five years (why that is I have no idea) where some artist, usually the "next big thing" will put out a more original song and it takes off. Although again, they DO release them. Most artists want to put out new music and of course THEY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HAVE SONGS PLAYED EVERY YEAR LIKE BING CROSBY, JOHNNY MATHIS, ANDY WILLIAMS, THE CARPENTERS and all those favorites we hear now.

The honest answer is just that all the music business is more expensive now with less return. And the final arbiter of success is the public. If they get swept up in something, it will do well, and if it doesn't, well there are bargain bins all the time.

The point of your question, "If you write a catchy one with a unique twist, you'll get it cut" Is a "YES" and a "NO." Like everything musical, it is buying a lottery ticket. Kind of a crap shoot. If you write one interesting enough, you have a better chance, but it is really hard to get a cut no matter what.

Like pretty much everything, I have a personal story with it. I am not a fan of writing Christmas songs for the reasons I mention. It is incredibly hard to come up with a different angle because basically we are writing about the same things. Family, friends, Turkey, presents, Santa, Jesus, Mangers, hustle and bustle, blah blah blah, it is all pretty much the same thing.

When I work with people on writing, I am SHOWING BY DOING. I write with them to show the process of how to adapt ideas, look at different sides of an issue and "finding the twist." I can't tell them WHAT TO WRITE, I can try to show them how to look at it differently. The key to "NASHVILLE" style writing is finding an angle that most people don't think of all the time.

I had a client from Wisconsin who was dying to write a Christmas song. She would make repeated trips to work with me, and actually had me to her area, Green Bay, to teach her NSAI group, about songwriting and the business. She lives in this BEAUTIFUL log house about an hour outside of Green Bay surrounded by incredibly beautiful forests. It's an idyllic place.

Well I was up there one winter, (who ELSE goes to Wisconsin in the WINTER?)and she was hitting me with the "Let's write a Christmas song" stuff. I had done all the explaining I just did to you, and told her about some of my friends who had written them and a few big hits, but how rare they were. That it was mostly a fun exercise but most likely a waste of time. But she was unrelenting. And there was about thee feet of snow out there, it was all white so I said "Okay, what the Hell." Here we go.

I noticed her dog out in the yard rooting through her garbage cans, and that gave me my "twist":

"There's a dog, going through the garbage in my front yard
He's got my wreath in his teeth along with my Hallmark Cards
My Neighbor's got a chain saw, he;s going for my car
IT'S A NOT SO MERRY CHRISTMAS HERE IN THE TRAILER PARK!"

Well, after falling in the floor laughing for about ten minutes, I thought she would say "Never Mind." and I would have killed two birds with one stone, she would NEVER want to write another Christmas song, and I WOULD NEVER HAVE TO WRITE ANOTHER ONE!

But she LOVED IT! And begged me to go on. That's when I came up with this jewel of a line:

"HO, HO, HO'S, ARE WALKING UP AND DOWN MY STREET!"

Oh My God, we were about to wet our pants. Somehow we finished the song, she would throw in some things and I would run with them. It was hysterical. But I thought this was something I would never hear of again. A few days later we recorded a guitar vocal of it, I made all kinds of silly sound effects and figured, "I'm Done! Thank you GOODNIGHT GREEN BAY!!!!"

About a year later, unbenownst to me, SHE ends up being on a bus with country singer TRACY LAWRENCE. (She became a staff writer for Taylor Swift's publishing company, and got access to a lot of things). And she PLAYS THE SONG FOR TRACY.

AND TRACY LOVED IT!!!!!!

So this thing gets even crazier. Tracy starts playing it for private audiences, on the bus, etc. I start hearing about it from people I know who know him. It is always the party panty wetter that everybody brings out from time to time. So I START PLAYING THE IDIOTIC THING! It is a funny song, I do have to admit. And it IS DIFFERENT!!!! I love to do it in the summer. They never see that one coming.

Anyway, cooler heads prevailed and convinced him that "Ho ho ho and the entire song was a little too politically correct for him, so he didn't record it. But it is my understanding he still does it from time to time for "special friends."

So it is possible to get attention with an interesting song. Might not be cut but I guess everyone has to write one.

The funniest part of the story is that it introduced me to a new friend of mine, who I am doing some shows with this upcoming Frank Brown Festival. His name is RANDY BROOKS. He wrote "GRANDMAW GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER." We are doing a benefit show this year in November to raise money for some underprivlidged kids, in the Pensacola Fla. Area. It is going to be "REALLY BAD CHRISTMAS SONGS BY HIT SONGWRITERS." Gonna be a hoot.

So, I guess there is a reason for everything. Just glad I didn't have to explain that one to my Mother.

MAB

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Hearing that a major singer like Tracy Lawrence likes your song and performs it to people is like getting a silver medal. That's still cool. A few major label artists have said they liked one of my songs that a band who opened for them recorded.
It's a cool thing to hear... It just doesn't make me any money.

Yeah I prefer novelty songs to ballads. Brad Paisleys Ode DeToilet, have you heard that one?

Last edited by Aaron Authier; 08/12/16 02:33 PM.
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Aaron, that is pretty much true with any song. If it is not a single that breaks the top 20 on mainstream radio, gets hundreds of millions of streams, or a commercial or movie track, you probably won't make enough to pay for the cost of the initial demo recording.

Yeah, it is a pretty funny thing to have people that do your songs even if you don't get paid. I have that with a few songs. One, a guy named Thom Bresh, who is a world famous finger picker and the son of Merle Travis, does one of mine called THE GRAND OPENING, which is a comedic song. He did it on his CD, and I did one of his Dad's songs, 16 TONS. We sort of traded out. LOL!

The Brad song, Ode De Toilet, I do believe I heard on a benefit show we did together a few years ago. Those things are always kind of weird because there is a lot of people going on, you are often backstage with a lot of conversation and never get to hear everything. But seems I do remember that. It is too bad there are not comedy channels like the old days of Ray Stevens. There are some on Sirrius radio, and they do feature comedic songs, but I really don't know much about getting them on.

But comedic Christmas songs are a pretty big relief from all the other holiday stuff.

MAB

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I would love a cd of just paisley with a guitar. Bare demo. Of all his hits. I think it would do well. Future of music might be cutting the production cost of songs and just simple productions. I read that people on the pop industry say that might be the future of music as they make less and less money,

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"Stripped down" versions of songs over the years have been a pretty long standing tradition. Usually that will happen when an artist has "peaked" and the career shifts into another gear. I tend to feel that probably won't happen for a while with Brad. He is no where NEAR peaking.

MAB

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I usually end up writing a Christmas song every Christmas, I guess it is the feeling we get that time of year. I have several novelty Christmas songs, those are the ones that seem to get listened to the most on Soundclick.

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Little Big Town has talked about a Christmas album for some time. I was fired up about taking this song to Jay Joyce's studio but have gotten lazy again. LBT is famous now, and I'm sure the competition would be stiff.

http://jimcolyer.com/sitebuilder/flash/player?f=/music/flash/playlist.xml%3Ft%3D128


MERRY CHRISTMAS

We got so many presents under the Christmas tree
Santa Claus has been good to you and me
As you steal a kiss under the mistletoe
Merry Christmas to you

We got turkey and dressing smothered in cranberry sauce
We got honeybaked ham and a bottle of wine of course
In the candlelight, I propose this toast
Merry Christmas to you

Snow is falling, friends are calling
The neighborhood's dressed in white
Bells are ringing, the choir is singing
Their version of "Silent Night"

We won't forget the real meaning of this day
The day on which our Savior was born
It's Jesus Christ on my Christmas card
Merry Christmas to you
Oh yeah!

guitar

Snow is falling, friends are calling
The neighborhood's dressed in white
Bells are ringing, the choir is singing
Their version of "Silent Night"

We won't forget the real meaning of this day
The day on which our Savior was born
It's Jesus Christ on my Christmas card
Merry Christmas to you
Merry Christmas to you

Jim Colyer ascap

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Hey Jim,

Yeah, I'll be LBT would be pretty out of reach for most of us mortals now. And they are all good writers too, so I wouldn't hold my breath for that. If you are in Nashville, you should be able to get out and meet all these new people coming into town. They are everywhere. Maybe you can find the NEXT LITTLE BIG TOWN. That is where most writers are falling down. They don't realize they have to get out of the living room and go meet people before they get famous. Once they are signed, they are just gone. Got to find the next ones.

Your song looks very nice, but it is pretty much what I was saying, has all the usual bells and whistles, same sentiment, visuals, wishes, etc. that all the Christmas songs have. Which is what makes them so hard to get even listened to. If you can't find a new premise, they are pretty much the things you yourself play for your family around the tree. Not a bad thing, but not really going to gather much for cuts.

The entire problem with songs are that everyone is writing the same stuff. And when you go to something like CHRISTMAS, what else ARE you going to say?

Hope to meet you some time. I am all over town. Every Wed. at Bobby's Idle Hour. Would be nice to meet you.

MAB

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Bobby's Idle Hour - Nashville
http://bobbysidlehour.com/

Marc, I've known about you for a long time. I live at the Village at Vanderbilt, which is virtually next door to Bobby's. What time are you generally there? Do you perform?

Jim Colyer

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I wrote a song once about a grinch and the hook was "Don't [naughty word removed] on my Christmas I'm out of toilet paper" but that's not very radio friendly so I abandoned it.

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Aaron, yes that might not be radio ready. Although it is a different slant.

Jim, every Wed, from 12:00-8:00, there is a show called "SAM'S JAMS' at Bobby's Idle Hour. I am usually there around 2:00, and I usually perform right around 4:00. It is the only real writers night going on during the day in town and has a lot of new people coming in. So I try to support it as much as I can. It is usually ten or twelve regulars during the day, sometimes including "Lizard", who is the owner of Bobby's. He had a number one bluegrass hit last year.

There are also dozens, of new and existing people in town. It is a very good hang. I believe we need to try and support the places that support us.

I am at the Commodore, usually once a month, often at the Maxwell House and various other places around town. This past week was a "triple," in that I played at 11:00 in the morning for BEER FOR BREAKFAST" a hit writers showcase once a month at Fiddle and Harp, over by the "big naked statue, then at Bobby's at 4:00 and finished up at the Blue Moon Waterfront Grill" at 7:00. I don't do that many of those any more, but I am often out and about around the town.

My schedule is always on my web site, www.marcalanbarnette.com.
And you can always contact me at MBarne4908@aol.com if you ever need anything.

MAB

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Aaron, As MAB noted all the Christmas songs have already been written. "What else ARE you going to say?"

And even if you come up with something that hasn't been said before, you've still only got about as much chance to get it on the radio as I have with this one. Which is to say, just about a snowball's chance in hell on Christmas Eve.

But write one and see. I guess you never know.

Santa Writes Home
© Dan Sullivan 1998

(Spoken)
Every year around Christmas time Santa Claus has to go on a promotional tour to help the toy companies sell their toys. And he has to stop at all the shopping malls and department stores and, as you can imagine, after awhile this gets pretty tiring. So one night in a motel in Fargo, North Dakota he wrote a letter home to Mrs. Santa Claus. And this is what it said.

Well I bet I've seen every Salvation Army tree
And every department store from sea to shining sea
I must have turned the lights on on a million Christmas trees
And held every boy and girl in the world on my knee

If I wasn't so busy I'd take you to lunch
It sure does get lonely being everywhere at once
Your hair is so curly and your skin is so soft
I'm gonna drop off these toys and take the next 6 months off

Well I love the laughing children and their eyes so bright and gay
They shine and sparkle like the stars across the Milky Way
But sometimes I get lonesome and I wish that you were here
I can't wait to get back home, I could use some Christmas cheer

If I wasn't so busy I'd take you to lunch
It sure does get lonely being everywhere at once
Your hair is so curly and your skin is so soft
I'm gonna drop off these toys and take the next 6 months off

Last edited by Dan Sullivan; 11/06/16 11:53 AM.

Write from your heart, not what you think others want to hear.

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Originally Posted by Marc Barnette
Aaron, yes that might not be radio ready. Although it is a different slant.

Jim, every Wed, from 12:00-8:00, there is a show called "SAM'S JAMS' at Bobby's Idle Hour. I am usually there around 2:00, and I usually perform right around 4:00. It is the only real writers night going on during the day in town and has a lot of new people coming in. So I try to support it as much as I can. It is usually ten or twelve regulars during the day, sometimes including "Lizard", who is the owner of Bobby's. He had a number one bluegrass hit last year.

There are also dozens, of new and existing people in town. It is a very good hang. I believe we need to try and support the places that support us.

I am at the Commodore, usually once a month, often at the Maxwell House and various other places around town. This past week was a "triple," in that I played at 11:00 in the morning for BEER FOR BREAKFAST" a hit writers showcase once a month at Fiddle and Harp, over by the "big naked statue, then at Bobby's at 4:00 and finished up at the Blue Moon Waterfront Grill" at 7:00. I don't do that many of those any more, but I am often out and about around the town.

My schedule is always on my web site, www.marcalanbarnette.com.
And you can always contact me at MBarne4908@aol.com if you ever need anything.

MAB


Got it. 2-4 Wednesdays.

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Jim, I'm on both sides of you this Wed. 4:00 at Bobby;s Idle hour, 8:00-8:30 at the Commodore.

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Hey Aaron,

When I have over the years, played this classic by an old JPF writer, Joe Wrabeck, is that folks choke and spray out their beer with laughter, women faint, and children scream and run away.

It's never failed to amuse....

https://www.reverbnation.com/joewrabek/song/3952334-im-giving-mom-dead-dog-for-christmas

I think it's now becoming a family tradition along with Joe's classic tune, "Bungy Jumping Jesus "

cheers, niteshift

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Haha dead dog for Christmas is an awesome song... Up until the 2nd verse chorus where it should have ended. The third verse wasn't necessary and dragged the song along. It's a perfect holiday song otherwise. Love the humour.

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Late for the waltz, as usual. I've done a few Christmas Songs in various genres... but I agree with Marc, it is a tough sell. Most of us begin thinking of writing Christmas songs too late in the year. I am told that July is not too soon to begin your "pitch!"

Joe Wrabek is practically a genius when it comes to "tongue in cheek" songs. His ability to bring up a myriad of comedic, semi-naughty, outright naughty and hilarious songs about dead things make him an experience worth exploring. He has opened his songbook to those who sing for an album last year and has started the same process again this year. I don't think it's too late to submit your version of one of his songs and you can download his entire catalog of chords and lyrics at his website listed here at JPF.

Sorry for the interruption but since Niteshift mentioned it, I wanted to get my two cents worth about Joe included in Aaron's thread.

All the best, ----Dave

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o2YAk2TsB0

I have one with a different twist.

GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS....I FOUND JESUS IN A STORM

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Is it anything like Jesus Take The Wheel? I always figured that to be a Christmas song.

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don't know if I have a country one...have to look but found one for children that needs a melody..

“What’s In Santa’s Big Red Sack” (children’s song)
(c)2016 Lynn Orloff


What’s in Santa’s big red sack
Slung across his big strong back
Stuffed and filled and tightly packed
Children want to know

Are there toys and lots of games
Dolls and trucks and choo-choo trains
Tasty treats and candy canes
Coming in the snow

Now it’s almost Christmas Eve, children wait impatiently
It’s a happy mystery to guess what hides inside

Will they be in dreams so deep
They won’t hear their rooftops creak
Or the sound of reindeer feet
And sleigh bells that will ring

What’s in Santa’s big red sack
Slung across his big strong back
Stuffed and filled and tightly packed
What will Santa bring, oh what will Santa bring!




My Music at Soundclick
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~call it a blessing or call it a curse, but I see all of life in verse~

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Originally Posted by Lynn Orloff
don't know if I have a country one...have to look but found one for children that needs a melody..

“What’s In Santa’s Big Red Sack” (children’s song)
(c)2016 Lynn Orloff


What’s in Santa’s big red sack
Slung across his big strong back
Stuffed and filled and tightly packed
Children want to know

Are there toys and lots of games
Dolls and trucks and choo-choo trains
Tasty treats and candy canes
Coming in the snow

Now it’s almost Christmas Eve, children wait impatiently
It’s a happy mystery to guess what hides inside

Will they be in dreams so deep
They won’t hear their rooftops creak
Or the sound of reindeer feet
And sleigh bells that will ring

What’s in Santa’s big red sack
Slung across his big strong back
Stuffed and filled and tightly packed
What will Santa bring, oh what will Santa bring!




I LOVE LOVE LOVE these lyrics! You should send Tammy Edwards these lyrics and have her put it to music and sing it. I can hear her voice singing them and she just put out a new Christmas CD so she's in the spirit. I am going to send her a link to these lyrics.. it seems like an upbeat happy holiday song!

Great job!


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Originally Posted by Marc Barnette
Much harder than you would think. New Christmas "Hit" songs are added to playlists about one every five years. Those are the ones that actually "catch on." Most are played sparingly and then dissapear.

Christmas songs have a five week pay period and most artists would rather record songs they grew up with or in public domain where there are little in the way of royalties to pay out. Many are also featured in "special packaging." So the dreams of getting a song that pays off forever are not really that accurate.

They are pitched, thousands upon thousands all the time. And the artists themselves like usual, write their own. The Christmas pitch season, pretty much has just ended. Most all of those are pitched in May and June and are recorded in July in between road trips for artists.

It sounds real easy, write a Christmas song from a different angle. Tremendously much harder to actually do. And the fact that EVERYBODY has tons of them, doesn't make it any easier. But there are more channels and even some year round pod casting or Internet radio channels.

So you can never tell. Like everything in the music business, there are no guarantees, and it is always easier to try and locate your own artists in your area and get songs to them, than try to dive into an already over crowded pool.

MAB


Amy Grant would disagree... her Holiday albums are her best work and feature originals that have become standards. Sure, she's at the top of the heap, but people love well done, especially upbeat, xmas songs. I just rarely hear really good ones.


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"It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney

"Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
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Brian,

That is not what I am talking about. I'm talking about songwriters getting cuts on Christmas albums, which everyone seems to think is the easiest thing there is because there are a lot of Christmas albums. There are actually MORE Christmas songs out there, since every songwriter writes them. They are one of the most common topics written about.

There are many artists like Amy and Johnny Mathis, who have an entire lucrative section of their career in the Christmas business. They tour for several months, have shows in Vegas and Branson, and do brisk Christmas business.

And there are many more opportunities. Sirius/XM radio, podcasting, Internet, year round Christmas shops, cable television, etc. there are many more outlets to take songs for songwriters. Once again, getting artists to RECORD them and actually getting them to the artists in the first place is much harder and the payoffs are not what they once were.

There were times when that "ONE HUGE CHRISTMAS SONG" could make an entire career. I am performing with one of those people this week, here at the Frank Brown songwriters festival in Perdido Key Fla. His name is RANDY BROOKS and he wrote "GRANDMAW GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER." he has been tremendously successful for around 30 years on that one song.

But it was done in an era that songs paid better and has become a perinnial favorite, heard literally hundreds of thousands of times, by millions of people over the holidays. And will be heard by more, since now they are putting up Christmas decorations after Halloween now.

What I am talking about is the same that we are dealing in overall songs now. More opportunities to get them out there, yet more competition, and less payouts overall. Exact same thing with the entire music industry. Less money overall and in all too many cases, little or nothing being paid for some songs that are even played many many times.

Again, coming down to places where the writers of these and hit songs congregate, hearing their stories and their examples of no longer making money, is where I get my information. Directly from the sources.

Having said all that, songwriters have to try. They have to keep pushing, finding ways to get their music out there. It is not impossible, and with some work and planning, finding their own artists, networking among their own writers groups, clubs, finding their own avenues, instead of waiting for a publisher, song plugger, label to do things for them, being proactive, can yield results. They can get songs out there. They can get Christmas songs out there. Collecting a fortune for it may no longer be in the cards, but there are still opportunities.

And if they are in it for the money in the first place, they are in the wrong business.

MAB

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Well,
I have one Christmas song I wrote in 1996. All the years I subscribed to Tip Sheets I don't remember anyone ever asking for Christmas songs. There are many CD's of Christmas songs that have been around way before the CD came into existence that still sell.

Last edited by Ray E. Strode; 11/07/16 02:18 PM.

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Ray, they do ask for them, usually those pitches are done in July. That way, artists, producers, labels, etc. go through and record them, when they are in between swings on their tours. Then a few months to package, do any videos, promotions, etc. A Christmas release sometimes will take two years or more to complete.

There are many "behind the scenes" things as well, as all things music business. Often, some of the major labels, like Warner Brothers, or Sony, will not consider songs outside of their own publishing arms or co-publishing deals. I have known many writers who got Christmas cuts but only because they were employed by the publishing companies that were partners with the publishing side of the companies. In Nashville, Warner Brothers Records is directly across the street of 16th Avenue, of Warner Chappell publishing, the publishing arm of that company. Anyone outside those two offices, which are completely separate entities, with staff, executives and day to day business, need not apply for products on those labels. Same with Sony, which has four or five locations around Music Row.
You have independent publishing companies that are partnered with the majors. For instance, Taylor Swift's "Big Machine" music, is partnered with SONY ATV. MUSIC. So anything with them is "Big Machine/Sony/ATV."

Like everything, it is highly political. And like anything, the place to look is for local, regional and newer artists to get songs too. You are trying to find and work today with the stars of tomorrow. Now for someone like yourself, who has an affinity for the older style of music, there are those artists still out there. As a matter of fact, one of my neighbors and good friends, Fred Mollin, produces on ICONIC artists, Like Johnny Mathis, Rita Wilson (actor Tom Hank's wife, Dan Hill, and Jimmy Webb.) Many of those (not Jimmy of course, who is one of the most successful writers in history) but they still record, are still around. Same with many older country artists, who are out there, playing Casinos, Branson, Vegas, still recording, still releasing product.
Of course, the inherent problem of those, are that any one who has been in this business for any length of time ,usually own their OWN publishing companies, with their own writers, or contacts, OR are writers in their own respect, with much success,like say a Bill Anderson, who at 80 plus years old, still gets cuts on people like Brad Paisley. Not gonna get through to those, so you have to do research, just like every facet of the industry. Again, my suggestion is look for artists of tomorrow.
YOU TUBE and FACEBOOK are where you find those people.

So there are ways to look, and places to try to place songs. But like always it is not who YOU know, it is who knows YOU and HOW they know you.

MAB

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Ray, they do ask for them, usually those pitches are done in July. That way, artists, producers, labels, etc. go through and record them, when they are in between swings on their tours. Then a few months to package, do any videos, promotions, etc. A Christmas release sometimes will take two years or more to complete.

There are many "behind the scenes" things as well, as all things music business. Often, some of the major labels, like Warner Brothers, or Sony, will not consider songs outside of their own publishing arms or co-publishing deals. I have known many writers who got Christmas cuts but only because they were employed by the publishing companies that were partners with the publishing side of the companies. In Nashville, Warner Brothers Records is directly across the street of 16th Avenue, of Warner Chappell publishing, the publishing arm of that company. Anyone outside those two offices, which are completely separate entities, with staff, executives and day to day business, need not apply for products on those labels. Same with Sony, which has four or five locations around Music Row.
You have independent publishing companies that are partnered with the majors. For instance, Taylor Swift's "Big Machine" music, is partnered with SONY ATV. MUSIC. So anything with them is "Big Machine/Sony/ATV."

Like everything, it is highly political. And like anything, the place to look is for local, regional and newer artists to get songs too. You are trying to find and work today with the stars of tomorrow. Now for someone like yourself, who has an affinity for the older style of music, there are those artists still out there. As a matter of fact, one of my neighbors and good friends, Fred Mollin, produces on ICONIC artists, Like Johnny Mathis, Rita Wilson (actor Tom Hank's wife, Dan Hill, and Jimmy Webb.) Many of those (not Jimmy of course, who is one of the most successful writers in history) but they still record, are still around. Same with many older country artists, who are out there, playing Casinos, Branson, Vegas, still recording, still releasing product.
Of course, the inherent problem of those, are that any one who has been in this business for any length of time ,usually own their OWN publishing companies, with their own writers, or contacts, OR are writers in their own respect, with much success,like say a Bill Anderson, who at 80 plus years old, still gets cuts on people like Brad Paisley. Not gonna get through to those, so you have to do research, just like every facet of the industry. Again, my suggestion is look for artists of tomorrow.
YOU TUBE and FACEBOOK are where you find those people.

So there are ways to look, and places to try to place songs. But like always it is not who YOU know, it is who knows YOU and HOW they know you.

MAB

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Yes Marc,
I have no doubt there is still a lot of No Unsolicated Material accepted. I was in Nashville on that day in March, 1963 trying to submit some of my songs heard. You could walk in a Publishing Company and they would play your songs.

I had written a song while there and wanted to record it so I could take it to a publishing company and maybe have it played. So I walked into a little Hole in the Wall Recording Studio, basically the guy had a Microphone and a Tape Recorder. But this guy said to me, if I didn't belong to the Musician's Union I could not play my Guitar! Now he could have made a few bucks and I would have had a recording but no go. I have no doubt things are still the same today!


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I have one I wrote a while ago...

"Credit Card Christmas" (C) 2010 by David Gill

Yep
Today's the day
I swipe all my cares away
I can hardly wait until I hit the door
The Holiday's are here
And time is drawing near
for me to put on Santa's hat once more

The parking lot is full
It's like every living soul
Has read my mind and beat me to the punch
I see the backup lights
I drive with all my might
I go so fast I nearly lose my lunch

<br>
But I
get the spot before
that giant SUV
This time of year
can always bring
Jeff Gordon out of me


<ch>
It's a Credit Card Christmas
I squeeze on through the door
There's a balance on my card
from seven Christmas' before
It's not the same as paying cash
but who am I to care?
It's a Credit Card Christmas
Plastic magic in the air!

Aisles and aisles of shoppers
some showing sharpened choppers
As all the items start to look the same
It pandemonium
My feet are getting numb
But my kid wants that
new video game

I stand in line for hours
Someone forgot to shower
The Holidays are bustling again.
The bill's eight hundred bucks
But I don't give a hoot
I can make minimum payments
til the year 3010!

Oh!

A Credit Card Christmas
I squeeze on through the door
There's a balance on my card
from seven Christmas' before
It's not the same as paying cash
but who am I to care?
It's a Credit Card Christmas
Plastic magic in the air!

The last gift that I give my kids
is one they ALL can share...

<background - "She left us with a bill for HOW MUCH??!!">

It's a Credit Card Christmas
Plastic magic in the air!

Merry Christmas everybody!!!

Peace,

Dave


"Where there's a Gill, there's a way"
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Here is the country version of mine and Jackie's Christmas song.



Its over 5 mins long.

Here is the pop version with last verse removed and tightened up, Just 3 mins long without santa at the end lol.



God Bless Roy and Helen


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Yeah Ray,

You probably came into a town with about 5 or 6 actual studios, and probably less than 25 or 30 of the type you are talking about, one mic and a tape recorder. Now, there are a couple hundred major studios and probably more than ten thousand of the type you mention, actually EVERYONE seems to have the software on their computers and phones to record full demos on those, INCLUDING VIDEOS, and have them on YOU TUBE and FACEBOOK an hour later.

You also were around at a time there were probably less than 50 songwriters total in Nashville. About five or six publishers and five or six record companies.

The Union power started fading in the 70's and by the 80's it was all but an empty shell, only being concerned with the largest projects. Now it is more or less superficial. Couple hundred actual union members (I used to be one), with hundreds of THOUSANDS of musicians in town and more coming ever week. Writers and artists are upward of 80,000-100,000 with more than a million songs written and recorded every year.

The only thing that has remained constant is that there are about 5 major publishers and five major labels and everyone trying to get to those. Musicians make around the same as they made in 1973.

So the more things change.....
MAB

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just coming out of my post election fog...can't do those 4am nites anymore Yikes!! 2:40am was the magic moment but you need time to calm down and listen to some post analysis. Brian I saw your post and wanted to say thank you for taking the time to read the lyrics and I'm so glad they "sung" to you. blush By all means if there is someone interested in trying out a melody then I'd be pleased as punch. Thank you.

Best,
Lynn smile


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~call it a blessing or call it a curse, but I see all of life in verse~

Always open to collaborations smile

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