JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum collaborator to focus on commercial songs

I'm ready to test the waters, and am seeking a collaborator to focus on writing a commercial song.
I feel my strengths are imagery, and coming up with decent hooks. I have several hooks/titles that I'm confident will grab attention.

My weakness is in the actual crafting and polishing. Stating such may send up a red flag,
but I just want to be up front.

I hesitate to call myself an arranger, but I'm learning. I'm studying and prepared to learn to write charts and such.I play guitar at the intermediate level.

I'd like to find a writer much more seasoned than myself(who wouldn't), willing to take me under their wings.
I'm under no illusion that a writer with a publishing deal is going to want to fool with me,but I'm willing to make writing a priority regarding my free time. My job allows me to carry a cassette recorder with me,and I'm always coming up with lines/titles/hooks, sometimes verses or choruses while on deliveries.
I've got the mindset I think. Writing is all I think about. I'm realistic about how tough it is to get a cut, but I'm prepared to keep pushing toward it.

One more thing I might mention, I don't have a lot of money, so keep that in mind as far as demos go.

Anyone familiar with my material I've posted is welcome to reply. I have not used my best hooks... yet

Tony

Tony,

Email me: erik@eriktyler.com

I'm always willing to at least hear people out.

Erik / Baz
www.eriktyler.com
www.soundclick.com/eriktyler


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"The only way to get anywhere is to cross a few lines."

Hi Tony,

It may help to be a tad more specific about what types of music you are most interested in focusing your talents upon. Commercial music is everything on the shelf at your local music outlet. Good music comprises a very small percentage of that, and the Billboard Top 40 bible supports that idea.
And before the flames come out from every direction, allow me to also say that there is far more good music outside of the "music industry" and radio than inside of it. The concept of commercial appeal is mainly about making money, and in the music industry, that is not primarily about the artists.

I'd recommend your local library or a good book store to find the following great books on how to go about navigating the music industry:

Nashville's Unwritten Rules, by Dan Daley
Label Launch, by Veronika Kalmar
The Craft and Business of Songwriting,
by John Braheny

These books can also all be found online at http://www.powells.com/home.html (which proves that Amazon is not the only game in town either).

You can be a songwriter with a publisher, too... just don't expect them to make you wealthy overnight, since you are the one who has to churn out the hits, which will hopefully get picked up from a decent demo, then the artist who uses your songs needs to do a really good job with a good studio and producer, not to mention decent distribution and label support, and finally landing at the feet of the fickle public.

It's an enormous challenge to succeed in the music industry, but you can make it easier on yourself by accepting that fact and working steadily toward your goal. Keep working at it, and everything should work out for the best.

Oh, and great name too

Tony Chevalier
PEP Records
Arlington, TX


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Take a breath, relax.

Hello Tony, Thanks for taking time to offer some good advice.
If I had to narrow it down,I'd say alt country is where my heart is.Rootsy stuff.
I feel I could write new country, but I don't enjoy hearing much of it. Whiskey Lullaby blows me away, but that isn't new country to me. Just a great song.

You wrote........" Good music comprises a very small percentage of that, and the Billboard Top 40 bible supports that idea.
And before the flames come out from every direction, allow me to also say that there is far more good music outside of the "music industry" and radio than inside of it. The concept of commercial appeal is mainly about making money, and in the music industry, that is not primarily about the artists."

I hear everything you are saying there.
When I listen to radio, it is WDVX.com or my local free public radio station. The good stuff isn't on WHIT FM for sure.
I'd like to look through music rows' movers and shakers CD collections.Bet they listen to good stuff like us

I've reserved a copy of John Brahenys' book at the library. Supposed to be a good one.
Thanks for the other titles too, I'll check them out as well.

I'm not sure what staff writers earn as a minimum, but I'd consider that route, if that is what you meant by "You can be a songwriter with a publisher".

I'm just taking it all in, and would be delighted if I could make even 500 a week writing, performing, ect.
Thanks again for replying, I've found your comments helpful.

Till next time,
Take care
Tony