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#1159218 12/04/19 08:23 AM
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I think I'd like to try library placements again. I used several in the past and had some placements but I believe those libraries have gone out of business. Any suggestions as to who I should try. I think I would rather go exclusive.

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Morning, Everett:

May I suggest you have a long conversation with John Lawrence Schick about Libraries and the ins and outs of exclusive deals. Years ago, I tried an outfit in Chicago and was disappointed. There is a guy who posts a on-line newsletter about this topic... for a fee. John can tell you about it's benefits or anything negative about such an investment. I still don't know the impact of "streaming" on Libraries (if any) but it may also be a factor in your decision to move in this direction.

Best of luck, ----Dave

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The effect of streaming on libraries are astounding, like everyone. People are making no money, because most of the areas that are streamed are streamed for free. That is the effect of most of these companies going out of business. That, and the fact that it is a personal relationship business, as in most things in film and television are controlled by music supervisors, who write most of their own music. The "middle man" effect in the business is that they have been cut out of the process. Just like everything in all entertainment, the more people getting into it, which now is just about everyone, the less money paid out and therefore the circles involved are tighter. The "mail it in" approach will never and has never trumped the "face to face relationship."

Another casulty of the "free music era."

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Well said, Marc:

I'd enjoy sending a "stream" in the general direction of the folks who think "streaming" is going to resurrect music.
Yellow would be an appropriate color.

All the best, ----West Mayberry Dave

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Yeah, not a whole lot of money in streaming & downloads. Usually make around $100 to $150 quarterly (plus what shows up on my ASCAP statements). That said, there’s still money to be made in licensing to film/ TV. It’s far from dead. Big problem is that there are so many music libraries today. And many of them just don’t have connections in the real film music industry.

Music Library Report has info on over 600. Which is a good place for you to start looking for one that’s compatible with your genre Everett. Music Library Report: https://musiclibraryreport.com/ - yes, it costs to join, but you can sign-up for as little as two weeks (used to be $15). That’s plenty of time to compose a list of possible libraries. Art Munson, the owner, is one of the good guys.

As Marc pointed out, it’s so much about relationships (which takes time to develop). Also, it’s important to have your own distinctiveness. And be particular how you title your music. Have at least one good descriptive word in the title. Otherwise your music will rarely come up in the library’s search mechanism.

So yes, I highly recommend going for film/ TV placements. Some don’t pay a lot, but some do. I just had a promo that used 10 seconds of my music. They paid $1K licensing. That’s $100 for each second – wow! Also, some libraries are better than others getting their clients to turn in cue sheets to your PRO. If you have enough music, spread it around to several libraries. I prefer exclusive deals, with a 1-2 year reversion clause.

Good luck Everett!

Best, John smile

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I recently read that for movies and tv, the main reason people cant dent the market is because they dont have albums out and are not working musicians/bands.

Like, if we try to just write a song and place it in a movie, it wont happen, because they want somebody with a following. Not a huge star, but somebody who is at least creating a buzz. I guess that way they have a gauge if anybody will like the song, and if it can add pub to the movie.

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Thanks John, I will look into it. Not sure how much call there is for gospel music, even though I do have other genres, my first love is gospel.

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Everett,

Gospel and Christian music is one of the easier pitches you can make because there are always groups and individuals coming to local churches, doing concerts, fellowships, etc. They generally are not afraid of the lawsuits most of us have to toil under, which is again, why it is so hard to get the "internet and mail in pitches done." Film and television pitches are mostly music only, so unless they are broadcast ready recordings, with no lyrics on them, most likely the songs are going to get rejected. Lyrics tend to get in the way of a scene and dialogue, so are not going to be viable for the majority of pitches. There are some, as John has noted, but most music in film television and commericals are designed to support but not take the focus off the action on the screen. If you listen to commericals, you will find it either in the background with music only, or written for the specific product being advertised. The only time that changes, is if it is a classic hit song with an air of famliarity that would increase the viewers connection with a product.

Gospel and Christian artists do tour constantly and are generally more accessable through meet and greets. So being able to contact them, find out who listens for them, is an easier (not easy nothing is that) process than most other pitches.

The inherent problem you and all people like you face, is that you are getting more and more impersonal in a business that requires more and more personal relationships. This is the main problem. The Internet, having put so many people, so many songs, so much product out, and the vast vast vast majority of that sub standard and totally a waste of time to listen to, into the game. Therefore, it is more important than ever to have actual PERSONAL contact with these people. Even with a library you really need to know who you are working with. If you cant do that, you are mostly just wasting your time.

The quality people who have good reputations will think "They are trying to get with me. If they can't make the effort to know me, what do I need with them?"

And your competition IS taking the time to meet them. I have several friends who are song pluggers and they are on very close relationships with everyone they wiork with. Their reputation is everything so they are not going to take a chance on working with substandard quality. One bad appointment can end their careers.

So I think you need to tighten your net much tighter. Find the closest person's business doing what you want to do and contact them. Go see them. Have a sit down meeting. If you can't do that, I'm afraid, you are going to have the same results you have had in the past.

It's unfortunate, but with the amount of people and product in the game now, along with the decline in quality, it is just going to get tougher and tougher. Do you have videos or representations on your songs that you can post on web sites, you tube, facebook, etc? Again, if you don't, you are playing in the wrong ballgame. We all have to up our levels to the modern era. Or be content to be who we are. Which should be the first thing. Please yourself.

MAB

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I agree with Mark. Doing Gospel will work to your advantage Everett. Now Electronic music is another story. Every Tom, Dick, and Harriot does that. Millions of Electronic tracks in libraries. Even non-musicians do them using beats, loops and what-not.

I suggest sending 3 Gospel tracks to Crucial Music: https://www.crucialmusic.com/ They only allow 3 track submissions at a time. The reviewing process may take a couple months. They're extremely fussy. And yeah, they like real music. They go after the big stuff. Good upfront licensing.

Best, John smile

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I think John and I are pretty echoing each other but that is the truth. And the truth is that film and television pitches are getting MORE technical in nature, not less. One of my former clients in California, recently won an Oscar, for music he was involved with in the movie "THE WORLD'S GREATEST SHOWMAN" with Hugh Jackman, and he also recently finished the sound effects and music for the DISNEY theme park ride that features "STAR WARS." He started 20 years ago doing music for video games, and worked his way up through all those years. All of that music is written exclusively for those projects.

And this is the inherent problem with so many film and television libraries. TIME. When you are a production manager on a project, or music director, you are simply not going to go to some random library for what you need. You don't have TIME to go through hundreds and thousands of songs or pieces of music. You are under deadlines and your scenes require specific things. I've known of music supervisiors and heard them talk about their processes. They try to go to libraries and they all have their resources. But not random things. That just doesn't happen. One once said in a panel, is that "these people who use these things send in CD's with dozens and dozens of songs and say "go through and use what you need." Unless you are Elton John and Tim Rice, that is probably a waste of time. Until you are known for what you do, no one is going to listen to dozen of songs or pieces of songs. Just not time and they already have their own sources. Think they are going through that if you are not known? Not a chance.

I have a very good friend who is the owner of the publishing company I have worked with for over 20 years. She is a writer/artist herself as well as publisher and great musician. Her most recent "HIGH PROFILE" artist was ROD STEWART, who she played with for four years, three years ago. Some great photos of her playing Wembly Stadium for a Prince Charles fundraiser, with 80,000 people in attendance.

Two years ago, she was involved in a project with the Nashville film commission, our local film and television festival. They had several groups of people doing short, ten-thirty minute projects. Mini movies, television type shows, etc. My friend was chosen as one of the music producers to do music on one of the projects, and thirty minute project. She worked for months on it, including in between out of town gigs she was doing. Afterward she was nominated for an award for the film she worked on. Didn't win it but invited myself and several others for the awards ceremony.

But her biggest takeaway came a little later, during a break in the ceremonies, where she said "Oh My God! I'll NEVER try to pitch for film and television again."
The reason was that it was so complicated and detailed doing music for a project. Each scene has it's own rhythm, it's own textures. It has pacing and focus, and you can't just insert any old thing there. That is why a vast majority of music is written for that project. So going through random songs in random libraries, really leaves a lot to be desired. I can understand spending money on things, many people hire their own song pluggers. But those pluggers know the catelogu and what the projects entail.

John is nice enough to list a place to pitch songs, and that might or might not be a viable option. But before I sent anything in, I'd make sure the recordings are INCREDIBLE, and that you have some idea of who they are pitching for. It is a huge difference in pitching to a "Christian boy band:" and some older female artist. You really need to target whatever you are doing for the market you are trying to participate in.

"The Willy Nilly whatever" approach is long dead, if it ever really existed in the first place. Whatever you do, you need to have focus and quality. If you don't, you are wasting people's time, including most importantly, your own.

MAB

Last edited by Marc Barnette; 12/06/19 01:39 PM.
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Jason Kramer Music Supervisor at Elias Arts, DJ at 89.9 KCRW, Instructor at UCLA

“I want music that is familiar to the masses. If you want to get your music into a commercial, you should really consider pushing yourself out there as an artist. You need to have an audience when you pitch to a brand. We have to find stuff that already has a ‘like’ for other people.”

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http://blog.sonicbids.com/the-diy-musicians-ultimate-guide-to-indie-production-music-libraries

How can artists get their songs into a production music library?

“At Community Tree, we’re constantly looking for new music, to the point where we’ve listened to well over a thousand individual artists,” Hilhorst says. He points to two main reasons why his company will reject an artist’s material. The first is poor quality recordings. “This is a difficult point as we fully understand that recording in a studio can be very costly, but we do require excellent recorded quality, since that’s the only representation the music will be heard on,” he says.

The second reason for not accepting an artist’s songs is if the artist has a poor online presence. “If you want to be found, we recommend having a Bandcamp or a SoundCloud [account] where some of your music is cataloged,” Hilhorst says. “Remember that it’s essential to make it easy to be contacted, which you can do by adding your email to your about section on Facebook, Soundcloud, and/or Bandcamp, as well as ensuring that you have a unique name that can be googled.”

Another issue that can be problematic for music placement companies is the availability of instrumental tracks. “This is simply to offer more options to the filmmakers who often do prefer to work with instrumental tracks, depending on the project,” says Hilhorst.

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Originally Posted by Fdemetrio
Jason Kramer Music Supervisor at Elias Arts, DJ at 89.9 KCRW, Instructor at UCLA

“I want music that is familiar to the masses. If you want to get your music into a commercial, you should really consider pushing yourself out there as an artist. You need to have an audience when you pitch to a brand. We have to find stuff that already has a ‘like’ for other people.”


Notice it states "when you pitch to a brand". I agree with this. McDonalds, Walmart, Geico, etc., will consider the artist's popularity. However, that's not the norm for most TV/ film placements. I've used 20+ music libraries and their main concern is whether the music is right for the film. They could care less who you are. Also, the majority of film & TV placements are with instrumental music. So no, you don’t have to have a name or presence on the Internet to find success in the film & TV industry.

On another note, I find my publishers are looking for something different, rather than more of the same. Your uniqueness can separate you from the thousands of music creators competing for the same opportunities, using similar music. Choose to be uncommon…

Best, John smile

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Thank you all for pitching in, I appreciate it. I know the odds are against me, an unknown living out in the sticks far removed from the music scene. I felt the same way when I pitched to CCLI. They have over seven million songs on file so what chance did I stand in being discovered and have my songs used in church, especially when churches only get monitored once every two years to report what they used that Sunday. Man was I surprised when I got my statement a few days ago and found that better than half of the 450 songs I have registered with them got used at least once and some over 100 times in churches as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Europe, UK, Asia, Africa, Korea, here in Canada and mostly in the USA. So my songs passed that test but I know the commercial market is a much different animal and maybe I should leave it alone. If God is in it, who knows, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I will let God lead me in what I should do. Thanks again, I appreciate you guys and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, I hope you all find happiness and contentment in what ever you do. It can be a frustrating world at times but there is a better time coming.

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Everett,

I think you have to look at it in a different way. People who do arts, music, painting, sculpting, poetry, etc. have to understand that very very very little of art pay any tangible finacial benefits. That's just a fact of life and always has been. But you have to look at your victories from a different point of view. If you have that many songs in that many instances reaching that many people, that is an accomplishment that very very few can claim. So you should be congratulated on that.

As I and many others have been saying repeatedly that for most people, the financial payoffs simply are no longer there, and even huge artists and writers are not making the money people think they do.

So we have to take our victories and CELBRATE what we have accomplished, not spend all our time focusing on what we don't have. Art is about touching lives, emotions, and in your case, faith. I am sure you have a much more profound effect on people's lives that you give yourself credit for.

Do you keep trying? Of course. we never stop that. But if I had a wish for you or anyone is to stop focusing on some moneytary payoffs. To me, you have already gotten the best payoff. You have helped the human condition. You've made the world a little better place.

Can't put a price tag on that.

MAB

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Gentlemen, In all sincerity, there are exceptions on this site....but,

If you are on this site regularly and you are an amateur, or like me, have made some money in music...but over the course of a lifetime, not enough to even buy a new car....and if you don't have genuine call-up-on-the-phone contacts in the music industry who can truly and significantly monetize your music or get to people who can...then your chances of making enough money to be concerned with are negligible. From what I have read...even if you have a contact or two, payoffs are hard to make happen. Do music because it brings you pleasure. The odds are massively against any other payoffs.

Sorry for being a buzz kill, but "it is what it is."

Case in point: I spent hours of "in-the-moment" time developing a short audio-book around 7 songs, with Mike Z's help. I enjoyed the process and am very pleased with the outcome. I consider it the apex of my life's musical endeavors. The recordings were accepted by Itunes and Spotify through Distro-kid. Last time I checked, my earnings were 12 cents. No bitterness here. It was a lovely experience, but it is what it is.

CORRECTION: I just checked and my earnings have hit $1.52 as of this morning. What am I going to do with all that money?

Martin

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Originally Posted by John Lawrence Schick
Originally Posted by Fdemetrio
Jason Kramer Music Supervisor at Elias Arts, DJ at 89.9 KCRW, Instructor at UCLA

“I want music that is familiar to the masses. If you want to get your music into a commercial, you should really consider pushing yourself out there as an artist. You need to have an audience when you pitch to a brand. We have to find stuff that already has a ‘like’ for other people.”


Notice it states "when you pitch to a brand". I agree with this. McDonalds, Walmart, Geico, etc., will consider the artist's popularity. However, that's not the norm for most TV/ film placements. I've used 20+ music libraries and their main concern is whether the music is right for the film. They could care less who you are. Also, the majority of film & TV placements are with instrumental music. So no, you don’t have to have a name or presence on the Internet to find success in the film & TV industry.

On another note, I find my publishers are looking for something different, rather than more of the same. Your uniqueness can separate you from the thousands of music creators competing for the same opportunities, using similar music. Choose to be uncommon…

Best, John smile



Yes but I think TV and Movies are brands too, and so are the actors in them. It has to apply in a similar way, ive seen this before written by the people who decide.

Yeah I agree uniqueness is everything, but when asked for a specific thing, how unique can you be?

I guess it all depends in how big of a placement you're seeking. You do well for yourself so I wont challenge your approach....

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Originally Posted by Marc Barnette
Everett,

I think you have to look at it in a different way. People who do arts, music, painting, sculpting, poetry, etc. have to understand that very very very little of art pay any tangible finacial benefits. That's just a fact of life and always has been. But you have to look at your victories from a different point of view. If you have that many songs in that many instances reaching that many people, that is an accomplishment that very very few can claim. So you should be congratulated on that.

As I and many others have been saying repeatedly that for most people, the financial payoffs simply are no longer there, and even huge artists and writers are not making the money people think they do.

So we have to take our victories and CELBRATE what we have accomplished, not spend all our time focusing on what we don't have. Art is about touching lives, emotions, and in your case, faith. I am sure you have a much more profound effect on people's lives that you give yourself credit for.

Do you keep trying? Of course. we never stop that. But if I had a wish for you or anyone is to stop focusing on some moneytary payoffs. To me, you have already gotten the best payoff. You have helped the human condition. You've made the world a little better place.

Can't put a price tag on that.

MAB


Yeah have you seen the progressive insurance commercial. College student says she's an art major, and the woman says "oh, have you decided how you're going to make money"?

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Originally Posted by Martin Lide
Gentlemen, In all sincerity, there are exceptions on this site....but,

If you are on this site regularly and you are an amateur, or like me, have made some money in music...but over the course of a lifetime, not enough to even buy a new car....and if you don't have genuine call-up-on-the-phone contacts in the music industry who can truly and significantly monetize your music or get to people who can...then your chances of making enough money to be concerned with are negligible. From what I have read...even if you have a contact or two, payoffs are hard to make happen. Do music because it brings you pleasure. The odds are massively against any other payoffs.

Sorry for being a buzz kill, but "it is what it is."

Case in point: I spent hours of "in-the-moment" time developing a short audio-book around 7 songs, with Mike Z's help. I enjoyed the process and am very pleased with the outcome. I consider it the apex of my life's musical endeavors. The recordings were accepted by Itunes and Spotify through Distro-kid. Last time I checked, my earnings were 12 cents. No bitterness here. It was a lovely experience, but it is what it is.

CORRECTION: I just checked and my earnings have hit $1.52 as of this morning. What am I going to do with all that money?

Martin


I made 10 bucks on a song I wrote, I never cashed out and I cant even remember the name of the platform who has my money!

But in all seriousness, the vast majority of us dont try hard enough. If you were relying on making money off your release, you wouldnt be so passive you'd be out aggressively marketing, gigging, appearing, open micing,networking 24/7

The platforms and programs offered to diy musicians are nothing but gadgets to make us feel we're in the game. We're not, remember when soundclick used to make people feel they were somebody in the music business? It didnt take long for every single user to realize NOBODY goes there.

What do you think the chance is of some high school or college kid, or any age saying "oh man, i heard this great song on reverbnation, you HAVE to check it out. Or "I went to cdbaby yesterday and bought two great albums of a band that SOUNDS like the stones!"

They are either going to hear it through the hypeline somewhere major, or possibly catch the artist performing the song somewhere.

I always thought (and so do alot of people) that songwriters just write and send it off and poof, they have business. What I found was songwriters are ALSO, artists, performers, producers, they release their own albums, the teach music,give lessons.

Alot of times if you find a hit songwriter somewhere, chances are he has released several of his own albums already, and has a fan base. And i dont mean reverbnation fans.

First thing a songwriter needs to do is write great songs, then they have to approach songwriting like it MUST happen. You will starve without it.

It takes that kind of drive. The boss lived in an abandoned factory before he hit it big. Many stories of even pure songwriters are homeless and living under tressles trying to do something with their music. It's not going to happen placing the song in soundclick and posting a link here


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FD wrote

""But in all seriousness, the vast majority of us dont try hard enough."

That is a false reality and I dont care to spend any more time than this post arguing in favor of the obvious.
That sentiment is akin to the "stars" who get up on stage at the awards show and say ..."don't give up on your dreams. You too can be like little ol' me."
It\s a false platitude designed to project modesty and engender affection for that star.

The odds are astronomically against that, even if you move to Nashville and dedicate every waking moment to succeeding at music.
Look at some of MABS posts to see figures on the number of people who come and go from Nashville every month.
If there are 100,000 entrants and only one winner...your chances don't really exist.

And then there is the "It" factor, the "right look," "star power" "actual talent" and just plain luck.

Believe what you want FD. The constitution protects your right to be wrong and believe it anyways. wink

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"I think John and I are pretty echoing each other but that is the truth. And the truth is that film and television pitches are getting MORE technical in nature, not less. One of my former clients in California, recently won an Oscar, for music he was involved with in the movie "THE WORLD'S GREATEST SHOWMAN" with Hugh Jackman, and he also recently finished the sound effects and music for the DISNEY theme park ride that features "STAR WARS." He started 20 years ago doing music for video games, and worked his way up through all those years. All of that music is written exclusively for those projects.- Marc


Funny you mention Hugh Jackman, Marc. Quite an accomplished & talented individual. Recently a piano lounge track of mine was placed in “Bad Education” (staring Hugh Jackson) : https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bad_education_2019 and this was through Crucial Music Everett. And I agree 100% with Mark: “don’t focus on the monetary payoffs”. Just getting music out to an appreciative audience is plenty reward. But the biggest reward I get everyday is when I sit down at the piano and touch those beautiful ivories (well, plastics). This gives me a purpose – and I think that’s the bottom-line as to what all of us need – a purpose. And I thank God daily for whatever talent I was blessed with.

John smile

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Originally Posted by Martin Lide
FD wrote

""But in all seriousness, the vast majority of us dont try hard enough."

That is a false reality and I dont care to spend any more time than this post arguing in favor of the obvious.
That sentiment is akin to the "stars" who get up on stage at the awards show and say ..."don't give up on your dreams. You too can be like little ol' me."
It\s a false platitude designed to project modesty and engender affection for that star.

The odds are astronomically against that, even if you move to Nashville and dedicate every waking moment to succeeding at music.
Look at some of MABS posts to see figures on the number of people who come and go from Nashville every month.
If there are 100,000 entrants and only one winner...your chances don't really exist.

And then there is the "It" factor, the "right look," "star power" "actual talent" and just plain luck.

Believe what you want FD. The constitution protects your right to be wrong and believe it anyways. wink


Your odds are worse if you write a song, have Mike record it for you, and then place the link here to your itunes page...than they are if you sold all your belongings, used that money to buy food while you netoworked all over the country, knocking on doors, gigging everywhere you could, releasing your own albums, trying to reach as many listeners are possible who actually know you are there, doing open mics, and starting each day like...ok this is my job, i have to become a professional songwriter.

You dont want to argue, but there is no argument there, you are wrong if you think the odds are the same.

I know an indie who has 5 albums out. He has won 3 different national songwriting competitions, does some kind of gig at least twice a week, appears at songwriters nights and does open mics, has a facebook and twitter account of over 15 k people who he tries to engage and promote himself.

He moved to Nashville with this resume and has a few cuts under his belt. How many cuts did he have before he starting doing all this?

One of the most talented singer songwriters in the country had to do all this work just to land a few cuts. He earned the right to complain

You're right...im wrong...

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FD wrote:

""Your odds are worse if you write a song, have Mike record it for you, and then place the link here to your itunes page...than they are if you sold all your belongings, used that money to buy food while you netoworked all over the country, knocking on doors, gigging everywhere you could, releasing your own albums, trying to reach as many listeners are possible who actually know you are there, doing open mics, and starting each day like...ok this is my job, i have to become a professional songwriter.

You dont want to argue, but there is no argument there, you are wrong if you think the odds are the same.""
.
.
.
A bit overstated and melodramatic. Don't you think?
Maybe your odds go from 10 million to 1, down to 9 million to 1. Still bad.
Good luck to your indie. He will need it. I hope that he can make a living.

And no, I don't want to spend time arguing with you...in favor of the obvious.

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Originally Posted by Martin Lide
FD wrote:

""Your odds are worse if you write a song, have Mike record it for you, and then place the link here to your itunes page...than they are if you sold all your belongings, used that money to buy food while you netoworked all over the country, knocking on doors, gigging everywhere you could, releasing your own albums, trying to reach as many listeners are possible who actually know you are there, doing open mics, and starting each day like...ok this is my job, i have to become a professional songwriter.

You dont want to argue, but there is no argument there, you are wrong if you think the odds are the same.""
.
.
.
A bit overstated and melodramatic. Don't you think?
Maybe your odds go from 10 million to 1, down to 9 million to 1. Still bad.
Good luck to your indie. He will need it. I hope that he can make a living.

And no, I don't want to spend time arguing with you...in favor of the obvious.


I stated the obvious, you have zero chance of doing anything with your audio book. Not a knock on you or your ability or the quality of your work. its pretty obvious you dont need to do anything with your music.

The indie i mentioned, mind you, he's now in Nashville trying to write for other artists.

Reed Waddle

If you look up the word “troubadour” Google doesn’t give you a whole lot. There is a reference to medieval times and of course traveling, wandering musicians. But if you want a perfect example of a “modern day troubadour”, you need to look no further than the life and times of the 2012 grand prize winner of the Telluride Troubadour Contest, singer- songwriter Reed Waddle.

In a recent show he said “my life is like a gypsy trucker, traveling wherever my music takes me, writing about what moves me: the people and places I encounter”. Turn back the clock to August 2009, when he decided it was time for a great change. He moved from the “safety” of his hometown on the beaches of the Florida Gulf coast to the north Atlantic shores of Boston for a new beginning. The Destin, Florida native was seeking a breakthrough in a completely new arena. Within months he captured the Grand Prize of the prestigious New York Songwriters Circle and was a winner at The Mountain Stage New Song Competition in West Virginia. It was during this period of great change, growth and struggle, the songs that poured out of him became the basis for his most recent release: “Creatures of the Heart”.

After two years of touring and living in New England, Reed’s path pointed to New York City. He quickly found an ally in British producer lestyn Polson (David Gray, David Bowie). Soon they were hard at work editing and rehearsing with a band of handpicked veterans of the NYC music scene. In late May of 2011, they began recording. The album was cut live at Sear Sound and later mixed at Downtown Studios in Soho with Zack Hancock. The result is a potent blend of Reed’s soaring melodies and the bands’ raw energy that results in his most compelling record yet.

“Each album you make is a snapshot of where you are in your life as an artist and a person. There is an energy you can literally feel when you are in New York City and I wanted that to come through in this record. With the sound of the room and the players I found, I couldn’t be happier. We had a lot of fun making this album, doing things that I wouldn’t normally have done. It was cut live, no excuses…..either play it, or don’t. There was an element of danger, a step outside of what I am familiar with, so I played electric guitar almost exclusively. I am excited for people to hear about where my journey has taken me.”

“Waddle isn’t playing the game like the average up and coming musician… he opted instead to charge out of the gates writing and recording music that could be appreciated by millions. After spinning this disc a few times…we can’t help but think that, with the right backing, this guy could become hugely famous in no time. He has an incredibly smooth voice…and his songs are bound to strike a chord with people. LMNOP.com
Career Highlights:

Reed has opened for or appeared on stage with Hall and Oates, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Shawn Colvin, The Indigo Girls, Mat Kearney, The All American Rejects, The Punch Brothers, Glen Hansard, Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, Tim Reynolds (Dave Matthews Band), Vienna Teng, Katie Hertzig, Shawn Mullins, Ryan Montbleau, Jessie Harris, Matt Duke, Caleb Hawley, Liz Longley, The Whalers and many others. In June 2012 he performed at the 39th Telluride Blue Grass Festival before his largest audience ever, after winning the Telluride Troubadour Contest. His album “Creatures of the Heart” reached number 22 on the I-Tunes Singer Songwriter charts prior to his national tour opening for NBC’s The Voice winner Javier Colon in March of 2012. In 2010 he played in 38 states mostly in small venues, colleges and listening rooms touring with Caleb Hawley and as a solo artist. His songs “Ready to Run” and “Goodnight Los Angeles” were in rotation on “The Loft” for four months on Sirius Satellite Radio from October of 2008 through January 2009 . Reed has co-written with John Oates and performed on stage with him numerous times. Oates sang background vocals on his last album, “Piece by Piece”. He considers Oates a mentor and a strong influence on his career.
Awards:

2012 Grand Prize Winner: Telluride Troubadour Contest
2010 Best Song Runnerup: AAA/Alternative The International Acoustic Music Awards for “The Beast Within”
2010 Best Song Nominee: “Piece by Piece” The Independent Music Awards
2009 Grand Prize Winner: New York Songwriters Circle Competition
2009 Co- Winner: Mountain Stage New Song Competition
2008 Winner: Best Singer Songwriter, Beachcomber Music Awards, Destin Florida
2007 finalist: American Idol Songwriters Competition for his song “I Saw Stars”. It was one of 20 picked from 25,000 entrants nationwide.
ASCAP Award Plus Recipient: 2004-2005
International Songwriting Competition: finalist two times

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Fd...

John Legend
Taylor Swift
Blake Shelton
Luke Combs
Tim McGraw
Luke Bryan

and...Reed Waddle.


Tell your Indie friend just to read up on them and do what they did. Easy-peasy. wink
I might do it myself.

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Originally Posted by Martin Lide
Fd...

John Legend
Taylor Swift
Blake Shelton
Luke Combs
Tim McGraw
Luke Bryan

and...Reed Waddle.


Tell your Indie friend just to read up on them and do what they did. Easy-peasy. wink
I might do it myself.


Your changing the parameters now. Everette asked about getting songs in a library, you kicked off the ceremonies with a notion that were all amateurs and that nobody should try anything else, because the odds are stacked against you. Agreed.
You could argue that somebody like Kacey Musgraves will never reach the level of the artists mentioned above, and shes a star!

What your wrong about is that there are some people who are REALLY trying, and have the experience and real disapointment to back it up. You are basing your opinion on people who do next to nothing to make their musical dreams a reality.

Who would i be more inclined to listen to about the hardship and struggle of the music bizness, Reed or you?

Hes not a friend, just somebody whose music I stumbled upon through other indies, and i have corresponded with him a few times through email. Very genuine and nice guy, crazy talented. More of a folkie than I prefer but great is great

Your probably right, nobody is going to make any money, but hes made some money and had a very rich musical experience. Thats not posting on a songwriting forum...

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Here's a guy I actually met, in NYC at a show. Guess ill tell him to stop pursuing his music....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFe_hq_6n0I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vyb4qzt4zQ

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

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Hey guys, Everett was just inquiring about music library placements. Much of what you're debating about has nothing to do with that. And yes, there is money to be made using music libraries.

John smile

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Originally Posted by John Lawrence Schick
Hey guys, Everett was just inquiring about music library placements. Much of what you're debating about has nothing to do with that. And yes, there is money to be made using music libraries.

John smile


No Everette shouldn't try it cause were all amateurs..... LOL

But in a way what I wrote does have something to do with it. Because sometimes it takes a presence in the music business to get work/money out of it.

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Originally Posted by John Lawrence Schick
Hey guys, Everett was just inquiring about music library placements. Much of what you're debating about has nothing to do with that. And yes, there is money to be made using music libraries.

John smile


Well then...case closed.

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Moneys good....

Nobody is making music for themselves, everybody wants to be heard and appreciated. Ive been making music for myself and its not really much fun. Knowing somebody might be on the receiving end of your music is what drives you. Lets stop the bs!

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Originally Posted by Fdemetrio
Moneys good....

Nobody is making music for themselves, everybody wants to be heard and appreciated. Ive been making music for myself and its not really much fun. Knowing somebody might be on the receiving end of your music is what drives you. Lets stop the bs!



Lol....can you elaborate?

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John attempted to "take us back" to Everett's original inquiry. Music Libraries. They do exist and there are so many different types with requirements that are significantly different from the once normal music industry. Do your research carefully, Everett... it can prevent a great deal of lost time, effort and expense. Will it lead to much money? Only if your work is "on par" with our esteemed composer, Mr. Schick. Even then, the odds are long and the deck is usually stacked.

I know your music is intended for an entirely different market... but the rules they impose will still apply.

After about a year of jumping through hoops with no success, I folded my tent and stole silently into the desert of my tiny studio to "lick my wounds" and decide if another direction might change my luck. My final decision was to continue writing and recording to please an audience of one... me!

Martin, I'm sad to hear that all that effort you and Mike went through... generated so little income thus far. Who knows, maybe someone with the resources and connections needed today will hear it and want to produce a movie. Hope springs eternal.

FD... I feel your pain. All of us need friends... and there are so few during one's lifetime... (real, honest-to-goodness friends)... I am living proof that other than stating my position without animosity, I finally realized that I will never be able to convince anyone of my side of any argument... so why try? Just run your opinion up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes. If not, write or record another song... invent a cure for Alzheimers or come up with a perpetual motion machine. Time is fleeting, so please, do your best to develop lasting friendships and acquaintances. It will take you far, and help you climb into a happier place. Turning the other cheek is never easy.

All the best to all of you, ----Reverend Rice,,, LOL!

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Originally Posted by Dave Rice
John attempted to "take us back" to Everett's original inquiry. Music Libraries. They do exist and there are so many different types with requirements that are significantly different from the once normal music industry. Do your research carefully, Everett... it can prevent a great deal of lost time, effort and expense. Will it lead to much money? Only if your work is "on par" with our esteemed composer, Mr. Schick. Even then, the odds are long and the deck is usually stacked.

I know your music is intended for an entirely different market... but the rules they impose will still apply.

After about a year of jumping through hoops with no success, I folded my tent and stole silently into the desert of my tiny studio to "lick my wounds" and decide if another direction might change my luck. My final decision was to continue writing and recording to please an audience of one... me!

Martin, I'm sad to hear that all that effort you and Mike went through... generated so little income thus far. Who knows, maybe someone with the resources and connections needed today will hear it and want to produce a movie. Hope springs eternal.

FD... I feel your pain. All of us need friends... and there are so few during one's lifetime... (real, honest-to-goodness friends)... I am living proof that other than stating my position without animosity, I finally realized that I will never be able to convince anyone of my side of any argument... so why try? Just run your opinion up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes. If not, write or record another song... invent a cure for Alzheimers or come up with a perpetual motion machine. Time is fleeting, so please, do your best to develop lasting friendships and acquaintances. It will take you far, and help you climb into a happier place. Turning the other cheek is never easy.

All the best to all of you, ----Reverend Rice,,, LOL!



Dave

I agree with your point that the original point of this post was musical libraries and I think that we agree on the overall issues... but I cant help coming back to the broader issue....which is the monetizing of someone's personal musical catalogue. That was never easy to do for anyone lacking an inside lane and now even if you have an inside lane...it us hard to do. For songwriters, from what I've read, royalty sources have significantly dried up. The prospect of getting my songs cut by an artist of significance has GALACTIC COMPETITION and galactic odds against it...regardless of what I do. And even if I were to beat those odds...there is the next challenge of achieving monetary success with it.

I read somewhere that Lady Gaga wrote a song that made her 20K on royalties, but she made millions performing it. That appears to be the new model....sell seats and tee-shirts, coffee cups, whatever else someone will buy. The new model appears built on performances and the resultant branding and appeal. The songs are the ante that gets you in the game.

The takeaway...If you are here putting your stuff up freely on a free site, I SUGGEST, that you not concern yourself with making it pay, but deriving enjoyment on what there is to derive enjoyment from.
Dave, I think that you and I see that the same.

As for me...no need to feel sorry at all. I just turned 67. No significant piece of the population is wanting to hear what I have to sing, even if it was excellent and better than anything on the radio. There are too many factors beyond the song that make money in music happen. I lack all of them. But I loved doing my song story WITH MIKE and am very happy with the outcome and feel that it was a personal achievement.

And...IT HAS PAID $1.52. smile

With regards and hoping that you are well,

Martin

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Martin:

My best buddy back in Texarkana mailed me his annual Christmas Song CD... and it took more than $2.50 to get Uncle Sam to handle it from there to here... LOL! No, my friend... we are not "in it" for the money... the well has dried up and when it stops being fun... I'm gonna become a famous Portrait Artist. Uh oh, I forgot... they don't make any money until after the grim reaper comes around.

Regarding "wellness"... old age is an unstoppable process and it comes with tons of aches and pains. I do my best to ignore them and just keep on keeping-on!

Merry Christmas, my friend.

----Dave

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Dave, I have a song called Audience of one, it is gospel. When we sing praise and worship songs in church. it is not for the congregation that we sing, it is for the unseen presence of Jesus, the audience of one.

Songwriting can be frustrating but so is painting. I have a friend that paints beautiful pictures of real life and she can't get a showing. She gave up painting because the world is willing to pay a small fortune for abstract paintings, which to me looks like paint flicked on a canvas and makes no sense but the people with the money are suppose to see something in it that the poor uneducated people can't see. I call it snobbery, you know, the highbrows among us. LOL On the news last night I saw a banana taped to a wall fetch a $129,000.00, just because a well known artist put it there. Someone who was hungry came along and ate the banana, they just replaced the banana. So much for art.

I may follow up on Libraries if I can find the time. I am now getting past my frustration with songwriting. I'm just happy some of my songs are getting heard and hopefully appreciated. It's the first time in many years I am actually earning more money than I am spending on my music. LOL

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THat's great Everett. That is exactly how you should look at it. Art is another part of the insanity of all this. I saw that banana thing but didn't hear about anyone eating it but did wonder what happens when it rotted. I guess they just replace the banana.

That reminded me of a few years ago in my experience with Bernie Taupin, the lyricist for so much of Elton John's songs. Bernie was in Nashville to participate in Tin Pan South, our songwriting festival, but not as a songwriter. He was doing it as an artist. Or that was what he was calling himself. He met with a small, select group of us writers, all who had questions they wanted to ask. But he wouldnt talk about that outside of just a couple. He wanted to talk about his art which was doing a show at a very prestigious Nashville gallery. He just said a bunch of "art nonsense" that really didn't make a lot of sense.
Later, I went to his show and found out why. It wasn't so much "art" as just things put together, like dozens of those old Daisey BB gun targets put together in a big frame. And the price tag was like $45,000.

Modern art has always been like that and most of the time you think you are in an episode of "THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES." Music is exactly like that with things in the public arena that make no sense, some things that make money that for the life of you you can't figure out how or why and things that are incredible, beautiful, and amazing, doing nothing.

That's pretty much it. What is it worth? What you can get someone to pay you for it. Glad you seem to be doing well And as I said before, in my opinion, the fact that you are impacting a lot of people with your music seems to mean much more than any monetary value you ever get from it.

MAB

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By the way, I wrote "AUDIENCE OF ONE" once too. Some titles seem to pop up a lot. I guess we all feel that much of the time.

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Morning, Everett:

Snobbery is contagious! LOL! I have acquaintances who believe they need to pay more than $3 bucks for a cup of coffee from faraway Seattle! I end up putting more cream and artificial sweetener in my two morning cups than most people... and I suppose that means I really don't like coffee??? Does that make me a coffee snob?

As you know, we (here at JPF) have the "Shout Box" and after reading your comment about Banana Art... Geoff (niteshift) and John L. Schick have been discussing Bending Bananas for what seems a decade. I'll bet they would jump at the chance to buy that piece of "Snob-Art" you mentioned... even though it has a replaced Banana.

They say that "Fools and their funds are soon separated!" (No, I'm not disparaging our two JPF Rockstars!)

I did have the good fortune to find a water-color done by a WWII vet at a resale shop. He ended up being the head of Disney's Art Department after WWII. When looking him up, I discovered a photograph of him briefing General MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz over a terrain map model his team had created. Maybe after bringing that little treasure home, I will have pulled even with Michael LeBlanc and his collection of recovered treasures.

I'm guessing that half our participants here don't have a clue about who Nimitz and MacArthur were and what they did for us... but life goes on. On Pearl Harbor Day... most of the big money networks almost ignored the significance of that event.

Keep at it, my friend... as long as it is entertaining and keeps your inner soul happy.

Merry Christmas... or, as I've begun saying, "Merry Christians!"

----Dave

Last edited by Dave Rice; 12/09/19 12:18 PM. Reason: spelling
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Take up painting?
Didja see where a guy duct taped a banana to a blank wall I guess took a picture of it and sold the picture as "Art" for $120,000.00. And you think today's songwriting is bad!


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Originally Posted by Dave Rice


FD... I feel your pain. All of us need friends... and there are so few during one's lifetime... (real, honest-to-goodness friends)... I am living proof that other than stating my position without animosity, I finally realized that I will never be able to convince anyone of my side of any argument... so why try? Just run your opinion up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes. If not, write or record another song... invent a cure for Alzheimers or come up with a perpetual motion machine. Time is fleeting, so please, do your best to develop lasting friendships and acquaintances. It will take you far, and help you climb into a happier place. Turning the other cheek is never easy.

All the best to all of you, ----Reverend Rice,,, LOL!



Im speaking from an artists/writers persecptive, friends have nothing to do with it. Your friends will always tell you are good, they even believe it themselves because they know you, and dont really know the difference. What they DO know is that they will always listen to the music that catches their ears, and they sometimes dont even realize that your music doesnt really do anything for them.... They just know what they are listening to on their own time

You wont see me complain about the music business, because im not in it. I have rarely pitched, I have gigged and been writing on and off for years. Nobody had to tell me to write for myself...I didnt have a choice! and I dont have a choice. I write because in the back of my mind there is something out there, whether or not I do anything about the albums worth of material ive written, concept albums, sports themes, etc etc etc, is irrelevant to how somebody else should do it.

BTW, My mother always told me I was handsome, and a great singer....she happened to be spot on, but that's a different story.

[/quote]Time is fleeting, so please, do your best to develop lasting friendships and acquaintances. It will take you far, and help you climb into a happier place. Turning the other cheek is never easy.[/quote] But what if you're wrong about this?

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Originally Posted by Martin Lide
Originally Posted by Fdemetrio
Moneys good....

Nobody is making music for themselves, everybody wants to be heard and appreciated. Ive been making music for myself and its not really much fun. Knowing somebody might be on the receiving end of your music is what drives you. Lets stop the bs!



Lol....can you elaborate?


All im saying is that music, songwriting, performing, takes a lifestyle to really accomplish anything on the business end. It's like some people that I run into who tell me they are going to do real estate on the side.... it's the same exact premise. I have yet to see anybody succeed selling real estate part time, because it takes a lifestyle to achieve it. You have to be all in. It's not you just wishing to make some money on the side, you have to love selling houses and live it.

Writing a song and expecting to work during the day, and find some website to pitch it to in the night, is not going to work. I'm sure there are exceptions, but for the most part...

But to tell others not to try to pursure music, because I sent in a few demos and didnt hear back would be a disservice to everybody.

I mean my dad was correct telling me to forget about it, just make it a hobby. But then again Springsteen's dad told him the same thing. Somebody's gotta do it

If your strictly a hobbyist, why create an audio book, or an album or record your songs? I mean if you collect stamps do you show anybody else your stamps? Do you packaged them up and place them on line for sale? If you do, then your not a hobbyist

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FD wrote..."If your strictly a hobbyist, why create an audio book, or an album or record your songs?"

Because I enjoyed it and the opportunity was there when Mike came along. And it provides me with something very concrete that I am proud of. Rather than just open mics, song circles and rough recordings. It moved the songs from what they might be in my mind to what they actually are in reality. And I like how they turned out. If I had anything else that yearned for expression, I'd do it again.

Do you remember debating that BIAB and similar tools would never yield a studio quality recording? Have you heard Ricki's "LOSS?" If you have not, give it a listen in "Mp3's and tell me if you still contend that?

The following previous post has been amended....

""Fd...

John Legend
Taylor Swift
Blake Shelton
Luke Combs
Tim McGraw
Luke Bryan

and...Reed Waddle.
and...Bruce Springsteen


Tell your Indie friend just to read up on them and do what they did. Easy-peasy. wink
I might do it myself.""
.

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Originally Posted by Martin Lide
FD wrote..."If your strictly a hobbyist, why create an audio book, or an album or record your songs?"

Because I enjoyed it and the opportunity was there when Mike came along. And it provides me with something very concrete that I am proud of. Rather than just open mics, song circles and rough recordings. It moved the songs from what they might be in my mind to what they actually are in reality. And I like how they turned out. If I had anything else that yearned for expression, I'd do it again.

Do you remember debating that BYOB and similar tools would never yield a studio quality recording? Have you heard Ricki's "LOSS?" If you have not, give it a listen in "Mp3's and tell me if you still contend that?

The following previous post has been amended....

""Fd...

John Legend
Taylor Swift
Blake Shelton
Luke Combs
Tim McGraw
Luke Bryan

and...Reed Waddle.
and...Bruce Springsteen


Tell your Indie friend just to read up on them and do what they did. Easy-peasy. wink
I might do it myself.""
.


Wonderful that you are getting some reward out of what youre doing. Wont hear me begrudge you that. But you keep telling others how to behave on this site, what to talk about and what not to, and whether or not they should pursue music as a source of...ahem... anything monetary.

Lol, you should stop busting on Reed Waddle, he's better than any songwriter on any forum and getting somewhere, more success even at the indie level than anybody I know of..

Have you cowritten with a member of Hall and Oates? Are you in Nashville trying to wreak out a living? Do you have a national fan base? I dont...

This is a pretty good video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDLJ7FD9Vrc

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""But you keep telling others how to behave on this site, what to talk about and what not to, and whether or not they should pursue music as a source of...ahem... anything monetary.""

I wish that I had... or even thought that I had... that much influence over people here or anywhere else. I don't.

I buttress the recurrent theme expressed by myself and others that there is a reality to all of this and that wasting time and money on statistically impossible scenarios is time and money that could be better spent.

If you think otherwise, maybe you will be more persuasive.

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Originally Posted by Martin Lide
""But you keep telling others how to behave on this site, what to talk about and what not to, and whether or not they should pursue music as a source of...ahem... anything monetary.""

I wish that I had... or even thought that I had... that much influence over people here or anywhere else. I don't.

I buttress the recurrent theme expressed by myself and others that there is a reality to all of this and that wasting time and money on statistically impossible scenarios is time and money that could be better spent.

If you think otherwise, maybe you will be more persuasive.


But you cant record without spending money. If you wanna buy your own gear, your gonna spend thousands if not more.

BTW, I still dont believe BYOB can produce professional results. Especially when it comes to stuff with electric guitars, and it removes an option of composing which is the musical motif, interlude, riff, BYOB cant play melody, it can only play accompaniment.

Defintly not cutting it for rock music, for folk, country, pop it can work. Ie, if the song loss was heard by some agency, and they asked for a slightly different rhythm variation of the song, it wouldnt be possible, because thats whats there. It works because you havent heard, or i havent heard that band in a box track. But somebody else could write a song, and use the same exact track, and youd have two songs with the same arrangement.

That said, it provides very good results, at a much cheaper rate. No knock here.

Last edited by Fdemetrio; 12/09/19 05:12 PM.
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Here's the good news. Ive located the platform that I used to earn 10 bucks on a song many years ago, and they still exist! It was nimbit!

And they thought they were in the clear.....

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rut roh, login troubles, maybe they went to Hawaii on it

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