JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Mentor Questions Forum ??!! SOME PUBLISHERS, LABELS WANT TAPES (NOT CD'S) ??!!

Been going through the 2007 Songwriters Market so I can send out my new 3 song demo CD (I am a writer/musician, not a singer/artist) so am looking for publishers mainly but some labels) AND to my shock, a huge number of them not only want me to submit a TAPE but a VIDEO CASSETTE- of MUSIC !? WHAT ? :o
Further shock is some of them don't want a CD - but rather a tape or video cassette instead, perhaps I should send a 78rpm plastic disk, mono of course, its 1947 right ? RCA, DECCA, CBS, David Geffen is 5 years old and only starting his 4th label.

You cannot even BUY a HQ cassette tape in a store anymore unless you go direct from a dealer.
I was also suprised how few wanted(almost none)online EPK's or websites...... it really is the 2007 Book, not the 1987 one.

I would love if someone could explain these ODDITIES. Thanks !

I would guess they never updated their listings.

I think Mike Dunbar hit the nail squarely on the head. Most of those listed don't bother to update their listings. Instead, they just let them drift from one year to the next. Too many of them are so busy sifting through the thousands of CDs they receive looking for a one-hit-wonder, they just can't be bothered to update their blurb on the Songwriter's Market.

Compare one year's "SWM" to the next and notice how many have actually disappeared and have been replaced by a new set of characters or "bottom-feeders" as I have come to think of them.

Take the time to read some of the "helpful comments" some of these people have the audacity to print. Write good songs! Listen to the Radio! Don't bother sending anything unless you are a performer! (My, such encouragement!)

Save your money folks. For the most part, Songwriter's Market is a collection of zeros. Those listed who are legitimate don't want submissions from newbies anyway.

You'll have better luck subscribing to a tipsheet oriented toward your specific genre.

Dave Rice

Damn that about knocked the wind outta my sails, so that means this book here is toilet paper since I am not an 'artist' I just write, play, produce, and hire demo singers - I need some special tip sheet ? PLEASE let me know - I have good material.
I did read the "Craft and Busniess of Songwriting" -it mentioned tip sheets but not as a priority. What you know that I should ?
Thanks so much, Mark
www.sonicbids.com/MKBMuzic

Try the Tip Sheet http://www.paradeofstars.com You can suscribe by E-mail.

Dave,

First let me preface that I've written an article for 4 of the last 5 Songwriters Market books. I also write articles from time to time for other publications, but SWM is the one I've come back to most often. The reason is that I used heavily when I first started to help learn how to contact folks, how to understand how things worked and how to practice my skills for bigger and better opportunities later. And it was simply fun to read and mull over.

The songwriters market is not a waste of time. It allows folks just getting started to start learning how to submit music, how to check out opportunities, info on some contacts they can start making and in general learn how to present yourself for a variety of opportunities. For the most part, with the exception of a few contests at the end, no one is charing/collecting any money for any of the opportunities. It's an info book. Are all the opportunities worthwhile? Nope. Neither are all the opportunities you'll find anywhere else. But in this case, that's okay.

Why? The reason is that when someone is just getting started, most of the time their music isn't ready for any success. Books like the Songwriters Market give them a chance to start learning how things work. There's solid info inside for folks getting started. There's fairly accurate contact info for 1000's of companies included (they update it each year, so it's fairly decent) and they work hard to make sure any companies getting complaints are removed. That's more than the net will do for you. The same old scam artists thrive on the net and in tip sheets (we see them pop up here all the time) but those same companies are quickly weeded out of the Songwriters Market.

Now, the other side of the coin is that often publishers who are just getting started will list there. It gives THEM a chance to start building their trade as well. Though you'll often find contact info for major players, just having an accurate listing won't help you get heard there. But it may help you start the process with a smaller or newer publisher. It's but one inexpensive tool with great basic info that most entry level writers NEED to learn (but often don't bother on their own) and it's a convenient reference source for folks looking for smaller publishers and contacts. There's also a host of other types of contacts for musical theater, festivals, contests etc. I think it's a fine and respected resource for the market it serves. That's why I've written so many articles for them. If only folks on the net would remove scam artists and near scam artists so regularly from their sites. Then we could stop fielding questions about Paramount and Hilltop and the others so often here.

Though I know Ray touts Paradeofstars reguarly as a tip sheet, in general most tip sheets are useless and far more costly than a 20 dollar book that comes out once a year.

Brian

Oh, and to address the initial comment: I wouldn't waste my time on anyone who wants ONLY cassettes. There are all types of companies and little old ladies making cassettes at the retirement home may love those companies.. but I doubt anyone needs them. Be happy that they helped eliminate themselves from the pool of people to consider. SWM asks each of it's listings for updated info multiple times each year. Some simply choose to be out of date. So do companies of all types in all industries. I wouldn't waste my time with those companies. Unless of course you're still not making CD's either. Then you're probably glad someone is still interested in getting them. Usually the only people still accepting cassettes are doing it to support their customers/clients as a convenience, not because they need that.

Brian

One thing that you need to realize is that no Tip Sheet or other place listing places you can send your songs will allow you to submit to the major publishers or artists/producers. But you need to start somewhere.

One other thing is attitude. Remember people on the other end are humans too and can only do so much. That intern today may be the star of tomorrow.

Hi Guys:

Brian I would not argue with you for all the tea in China. After all, I'm here to learn. Still, from my limited perspective, SWM has not lived up to its reputation for me. (Perhaps I have not lived up to their needs either.) It is information, nonetheless but so much of the info contained within it's covers is quite outdated.

To me, the best alternative is still to bypass the publishers and labels and pitch directly to the singer(s) in the genre you happen to write songs for. That leads directly back to networking, the 2nd most important aspect for today's songwriter.

Thanks to you and Ray for your opinions and information. We owe alot to you guys and everyone else here who shares and cares.

All my best,

Dave Rice

I really appreciate all the important feedback, no punin', and will try to tiptoe that line between jaded and hopeful, will keep learnin' biz tips, and pushin' my good songs on excellent gal singers who are semi connected or just darn good but need songs (and don't have a producer yet, wow tough to find) , AND enter song comps, other wise its slim pickins -no punin' again.

QUESTION ??? Are there many experienced Electric guitar based rock/r&b/fusion writer-producer-musicians on JPF. Seems to me a LOT of country and folk, and some Jazz players.
(I love all of that but its not the basis of my work).
Just wondering, not judging.
Thanks again for those who addressed my post, Mark
www.sonicbids.com/MKBMuzic

Hi Mark:

I believe that Brian addressed this question on a previous post. If my memory is correct, your assumption about more Country Genre than anything else is right. However, there are several who write, play and perform in other genres. You may want to pose the same question on the musician's area of this board.

Best of luck,

Dave Rice

The org. overall has far more Rock, Jazz, Instrumental, Rap and general Singer Songwriters than Country writers/artists. In fact, Country is middle of the pack in terms of size in the 80+ genres of music in our awards each time. But Country music is far more common a genre to encourage co-writers and thus our boards have far more country writers (or people who simply think that is their best option) looking for feedback and co-writers than any other genre. So JPF has plenty of other music involved. Music focused message boards in general of any type will attract more Country and Christian writers because of the business practices of those genres which include artists who will record other writers work.

Brian

So what is the best way to connect with the rock, r&b, AC, pop type artists and bands on JPF ?
Thanks so much for your help, Mark
www.sonicbids.com/MKBMuzic