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Continuation - Part 2 of 4 which started with Music Publisher's tips. These are all excerpts from the new Songwriter's Market for 2007. These are the best ones I found that could probably apply to anyone's recording production.

What do you guys think?
Is there anything that "pops out" or you'd like to discuss?
Thanks! smile

29 [b]Hot Record Company Tips[/b]

1. Submit top-notch material with great demos.

2. We are a small company, but working your material is our job. If we like it, we’ll sell it! It is a tough business, keep trying.

3. We are open to artists of unique quality and enjoy developing artists from the ground up. We send out rejection letters so do not call to find out what’s happening with your demo.

4. Be able to put the song across vocally.

5. We are out in the trenches with our artists and fight hard for them. Often in N.Y. and L.A. and we just may be that person standing in the back checking you out.

6. Think of the music business as a job interview. You must be able to sell yourself and the music is your baby. You have to be strong and not deal with rejection as a personal thing. It is not a rejection of you, it’s a rejection of the music. Most songwriters don’t know how to communicate with labels. The best way is to start a friendship with people at the label.

7. Make sure that you understand your band is a business and you must be willing to self-invest time, effort and money just like any other new business. We can help you, but you must be willing to help yourself.

8. Be marketable, creative, committed to achieving success, and willing to work hard to accomplish your goals.

There is no “fix it in the mix” safety; either it works or it doesn’t. What you hear is exactly what was played. Our main concern is music not marketing.

9. Build your fan base and present good images or professional packages as much as possible. Market focus in your genre is a must. Be aware of trends in music and film.

10. Love what you’re doing. The music comes first.

11. No egos!

12. Songwriters need to provide great melodies; artists need to have commercial appeal.

13. If you’re going to submit music to me, it must be because you love to write music, not because you want to be a rock star. That will eventually happen with a lot of hard work.

14. Spend your money on production and basics, not on fancy packaging and gift wrap.

15. We are a small label with a dedication to quality.

16. Some songwriters are pairing up with performers and putting out CDs with a “Writer Presents the Performer” concept. Do not encourage listeners to use drugs, alcohol or engage in immoral behavior. I’m especially looking for upbeat, happy, danceable music.

17. Help us keep our biographical file on you and your career current by sending us updated bios/press kits, etc. They are most helpful to writers/researchers in search of accurate information on your success.

18. Would you press and distribute it if it was your money? Only send it here if the answer is yes.

19. Create the best possible demos you can and show a past (history) of excellent self-promotion.

20. Be prepared to tour to support the release. Make sure the current line-up is secure.

21. Be patient and prepare to be in it for the long haul. A successful songwriter does not happen overnight. It’s rare to write a song today and have a hit tomorrow. If you give us your song and want it back, then don’t give it to us to begin with.

22. Make initial investment in the best production.

23. Does not accept unsolicited materials. Contact us through management or an attorney.

24. Only send material if it makes sense with what we do. Perhaps owning some of our records would help.

25. Be honest and genuine. Know how to write a good song, and know how to sing. Don’t send me your resume or life story please.

26. Know what we are about. Research us. Know we are a small company. Know signing to us doesn’t mean that everything will fall into your lap. WE are only the beginning of an artist’s career.

27. We are seeking music that is innovative, pioneering and eclectic with a fresh, unique sound.

28. Work as hard as we do.

29. We look for seminal, ground breaking, genre-defining artists of all types with compelling live presentation. Our quest is not for hit singles but for enduring important artists.


There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself. -- Johann Sebastian Bach

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Number 11 would leave out everybody!

Ego is what made many play with such creativity and then feed the desire to do well in all areas. I think they just meant to say, "No Jerks". But that would also leave out many that would otherwise be a hit for them,,,,as I'm sure there have been jerks in the music business, on both sides of the bargaining table.

Some would call Lennon and McCartney super ego maniacs, and some even to use Jerks. No them? That may be the problem, if there is no one allowing talent be themselves and just deal with it all, like many did with past drinkers, drug takers, and who knows what else that came into the major studios and made mega hits for record companies.

But, OK,,,,I'll play nice! smile



Actually a Member Since 1996 or 97 (Number One Hundred Something).
https://www.soundclick.com/bands3/default.cfm?bandID=1409522





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A few things do jump out:

Not everybody is a "small company" ((2), (15) and (26)). I was under the impression, in fact, that small companies are basically being swallowed up.

The "no egos" mantra (11) might better be expressed as "Remember our egos are bigger than yours." I agree with John--if we weren't awfully impressed with ourselves, we wouldn't be performing and otherwise exposing ourselves in public. Nonetheless, I understand that if the record company/publisher is investing in *me*, it is reasonable to expect they are ":who's on first," not I.

I was under the impression that (12) did not apply--that there was no separation any more (from the record company/publisher perspective, anyway) between "writer" and "artist." That's why there's this direction (expressed elsewhere in these rules) that writers have to prove somehow that their material has a market *by showing it's attracting audiences*. And that's how people like me, who can't sing and can't play guitar very good, end up on stages in front of scary-looking crowds of people.

"Music, not marketing"(8)? Puh-leeze! They *are* a business--and didn't they say above that you should consider your band a business? What you *want* them for is their marketing; that's what they're supposed to be good at. I'm not sure I'd want to hire a publisher or record company that didn't think their primary focus was marketing.

And (9) contradicts (27)--also (29). Actually, my impression of The Biz is that they were pretty much *anti*-innovation--everything new had to sound exactly like the last big hit, or they weren't interested. I always figured it was part of my job to show them they were wrong (not that I've managed to get anyone's attention, y'understand).

I *like* (16). Y'know, if we could figure out a mechanism for doing this consistently and effectively, we could *really* bypass the Industry. Up till now, I think we have depended on the Industry to provide this service.

For the most part, though, they's a good pile of rules.

Joe
www.soundclick.com/bands/7/joewrabek_music.htm
www.myspace.com/joewrabek
The Writer's Blog: http://nakedspacehamsters.blogspot.com

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Is #9 'Beware' of trends or 'be aware' of trends? The first makes me want to make sure I've got wooden stakes and silver bullets. After reading the entire treatise it just tells me you want a good product to market. Your preparing a submission to your specifications with the added disclaimer that something may or may not happen and are putting the onus on the talent. Its good info. Every point is debatable and makes a good case why I'm going indie.

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It's hard to sit in the other man's seat and see where all this is coming from.

Imagine though, receiving every lyric and recording you see posted on songwriting websites and having to sort through it all, much of which was nowhere near ready for your consideration. It's not amazingly good. It may have some merit but needs work lyrically, and then musically, and then the artist lacks the experience, the look, the charm, to take the product to the market and sell it.

Avoiding as much of that time-consuming sorting is all I see in these admonitions from Songwriter's Market; don't waste my time. By the time you get to these folks, your product should be ready, either for you to take to the market, or to market to another performer to take it out.

It's good info. It's rare you get that kind of insight to the mind of the buyer.
Now you know very specifically what they're NOT looking for.
Can you examine your own product and confirm for yourself you have what they ARE looking for?


There will always be another song to be written. Someone will write it. Why not you? www.garyeandrews.com
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Originally Posted by lionheart
Is #9 'Beware' of trends or 'be aware' of trends? The first makes me want to make sure I've got wooden stakes and silver bullets. After reading the entire treatise it just tells me you want a good product to market. Your preparing a submission to your specifications with the added disclaimer that something may or may not happen and are putting the onus on the talent. Its good info. Every point is debatable and makes a good case why I'm going indie.


Lionheart,
I fixed it... it should read "Be aware of trends in music and film." Note, it was a typo as I had to actually type that whole list by looking at the physical (hard copy) of the book. Actually, on 2nd thought, I believe the typo occured at the editors (publisher's) level in the book. Either way, I'm sure they meant "Be aware...".

Everyone else, thanks for commenting on this long but interesting "true to life" list of current tips from a variety of small and medium size record labels.

Keep em coming!
Michael


There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself. -- Johann Sebastian Bach

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I think there is a BIG difference between egos and a confidence of our composition or lyric. Ego is an attitude and not a good one. Having a belief in what one has written or composed is not a bad thing and it is the very thing that propels us and is necessary for us to take that lyric or melody to the next level, i.e. begin to expose it, share it, demo it, shop it, pitch it, etc. If we can't believe in "our stuff" how can we expect anyone else to even begin to.

Best,
Lynn


My Music at Soundclick
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=788266

~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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The small company reference I believe means Indie label. They do not have pockets of cash like the big boys, But you find alot more artists signing to them because the label is involved on a more personal level....They need you to succeed they need your revenue. One huge act on an Indie label can float them for years.

at least thats my take.

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Number 26 is kinda cute. I know what I'm about but I'm not sure about you. This post seems to wander back and forth between Artist and song writer. I'm sure they want the Artist to write all their own songs so they don't have to pay outside writer's. And pay for the CD costs. And pay some promotion costs. Makes you kinda wonder doesn't it?


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Well I think the labels want the whole package but if they come across someone that has "it" factor the writing part won't matter ...look at Martina McBride she just wrote her first song after being a star for gosh at least 10 years....

what I believe they look to do is use their "inhouse" writers
which if I'm not mistaken the pub stays with the label.....(someone correct me on that if they know otherwise)

so, more money for the label.....wise business move, bad for the independent writer. Thats why org. such as these are so important cause the networking pays of....so and so is looking too co-write and happens to know someone that plays bass and is looking to record in Tn.....its endless the possiblities JPF has.
And the mentor contacts are priceless....finding mentors is very difficult....Oh well I'm off my soapbox.....:)

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Michael, you pulled together this list from several entries in the book, correct?
That would be why a few of them may seem to contradict each other.

The Writers' Market books are great. I've used them extensively in my writing career. If you're a hopeful book author (yes, I have heard from a few of you so far, so that's why I'm adding this here!), the book you need to get started submitting is _Novel & Short Story Writers' Market._ If you want to write magazine articles, etc., you need the generic _Writers' Market._ There is also a Poet's Market, Artist's Market, Children's, and I believe Christian Writers' Market books out there.

Find them at your local bookstore, Amazon.com, or your local library. They are updated each year. You can check out older versions from your local library and read the articles, which are always high-quality. Current years will be in the reference section and not available for checkout. It's important to keep current to make sure the addresses and contact names have not changed.

Just a little primer, for those of you who may not be familiar with what these books are.

smile
Linda

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LYNN,
Good point about "BIG difference between egos and a confidence of our composition or lyric". I agree 100%!

KATHY,
Nice meeting you & thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Please don't put away your "soapbox" just yet... I think you're sharing some great stuff! And yes, with inhouse writers, the publishing normally does stay with the label unless you can negotiate a special deal, such as not getting paid an advance (salary) for your writing, or you're married to the boss, etc. wink

LINDA,
Yes, from the 2007 Song Writer's Market. These 29 "tips" are just a representation of what several hundred record companies had written (themselves) for the book. I'm sure these tips are virtually un-edited by the "Song Writer's Market" editor, so these are "real world" quotes from what's happening in the music market among today's record companies!

Personally, I'm not a 'hopeful' book author, but I do sometimes enjoy researching what different books cover or teach and then writing up some little discussion about them, or quoting some things I've learned. That's really what we're doing here in a kind of "specialized" way.

It's really fun to get so much input from different folks!
Maybe there's some people here that own their own small record company?
It'd be great to get their thoughts!

Regards,
Michael





There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself. -- Johann Sebastian Bach

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