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Anyone knows of Song Quarters?

http://www.songquarters.com

I'm currently researching tip sheets and Taxi-type companies and came across them via a Google search. Usually, I can easily decide whether it looks like a scam or legit, but I can't make up my mind about them.

Hello Nat,
It's definately a "slick" website, no doubt about that, but here's some points to consider:

1. "Welcome to the world's most extensive tip sheet for songwriting leads to major & developing artists."
Really, the MOST extensive tip sheet? At least that's what they claim, but where's the proof?

2. One year costs $395 and 6 months is $225, but what guarantee do they offer for a refund if you're not satisfied? To compare, Taxi gives refunds to unsatisfied customers.

3. "Used by Universal, Warner Chappell, EMI, Sony, BMG, Peer and songwriters for 100's of Top 10 artists."
Ok, might be possible, but if they have such track record please read on...

They make some strong claims, but if it's all true and verifiable we should be able to vet it, right?

I suggest you email them to ask some of these questions I pointed out above. At the very least try to find out who owns this company, learn about their background, when they started this service and what else they are or have been doing in the music industry and see if it adds up to a good reputation that we can cross-reference with other legitimate folks & services in the industry.

Even if this is a "brand new" business, you can still learn the basics about the owners, their background and their business track record, etc.

A quick search on Whois (networksolutions.com) turns up this info:
Registrant:
Heaven Ltd
PO Box 4620
Zug, XXX 6304
CH
+41 4141 4141
Note: This is in Switerland.

http://www.inthemusicbusiness.com/
http://www.hitquarters.com/
http://www.musicrecordcompanies.com/

I wouldn't be surprised if they are somehow connected with a recording studio (demo service) and/or A&R Label according to some of the clues I've seen on their network of affiliated websites.

Before we jump to conclusions, let's see what others say and if anyone has heard of them or used their service before, etc.

Michael

I believe Zug is in Switzerland, Michael. China would definitely be a huge red flag. Switzerland? I don't know but it seems counter intuitive for an American artist/songwriter to seek help from a company based in Switzerland. Isn't proximity still a big part of the equation?

Phil,
Right, it is Switzerland... will fix right away, thanks!

But there's still some unanswered questions like "who are" these people, owners and management team, etc.

Michael

Switzerland is one of the tax havens in Europe so might be why they are officially based there.

Hi. I am a former member of SongQuarters. Basically what they do is give you qualified listings of artist(yes they tell you the actual artist so that you can do the research)who are looking for material. They give you a variety of contacts for that artist(manager, A & R, former mgrs & A & R, etc.). For me, I was usually able to speak to one of these contacts over the telephone before sending material. Yes, there are artists signed to major labels. I had very few instances where I couldn't send material or couldn't contact anyone. I represented myself as an ASCAP publisher and used my salesman wiles to get an opportunity.
If I had more money in my budget, I'd still use them. I've been closer to getting a cut with an artist with them than with TAXI - although I'm currently a TAXI member. TAXI offers Film & TV opportunities - which I have a better chance at - than SongQuarters. So I get more opps for my buck. If one is uncomfortable with being their own publisher - basically a salesman - then I don't recommend using SongQuarters. Otherwise it's legit. There are lots of lead services in different types of industries (ie. insurance, construction, etc.). So as someone with a sales background, I expect to pay for qualified leads that would eliminate cold calling - which is an extremely low success method of prospecting.
Their location really doesn't hamper them in getting prospects. In fact, I've sent material to acts in foreign countries. I kept tabs on what I sent, for copyright protection purposes. I usually got a response one way or the other.

Summeoyo, thanks a lot for your feedback, it's very much appreciated.

Do they mostly list american artists, or do they also list british/european artists?

It depends on who's recording at the time.

Summeoyo,
Great... thanks for filling us in!
So as you say, the location isn't so important afterall, especially since on the web this is a totally international market now anyway, so I stand correced on that.

Glad to hear that Song Quarters is doing a decent job and it probably works fine if you can afford the budget and stay focused on your pitching sales.

I wonder how the company aggregates all these "warm" leads. I noticed that they invite artists and labels to list their requirements for free, but they must also do some advertising to reach the industry more completely.

This is there leads post page:
http://www.songquarters.com/index.php3?page=sq/looksong.php

Do you know anything about the Song Quarters owners or management team?

Michael

Hi Mike. I don't know about the owners or managements - but I do know that they're affiliated with HitQuarters. Here's an update on a previous post here. I just got a forward through TAXI.

Summeoyo,
Cool... would love to hear more about it sometime!
Thanks,
Michael

Anyone else have anything to report on this?

One of my collaborators got the A&R contact for an artist from SongQuarters, and we sent in a song to pitch. We did finally get a response, and that song wasn't what the artist was looking for at the moment.

It did lead to several e-mails, and the opportunity to pitch another song and some lyrical content. That trail, I think, may have died out but we did get in a door.

I've tried to contact a couple other artists through names listed on SongQuarters and not gotten anywhere (no response). I believe there are A&R reps, etc., who are listed there who didn't realize they were listed.

It does look like a good information resource, but you've still got to have your "salesman wiles" about you and you still need to be lucky (get the right person on the right day with the right pitch).

It seems like a common problem to me as whenever I find a contact list which is looking like an updated and worth working on, most of contacts don't exist. I haven't tried Songquaters but I tried some others including printed in Year Books for the very year I'm trying to get in touch and people who happen to answer tell me they are out of business, many telephone numbers and websites have been changed and I have to say none of contacts I've ever tried from any listing has ever worked for me. I still don't understand how a company who is calling themselves pro-active and tell me that they always respond and let songwriters know whether they are interested or not, never bother to do it. After countless emails and phone calls I simply go to the next one only to discover the same! I have much more respect for people who say up front that they don't accept outside submissions. At least I don't spend my time and effort with the hope to get published. Why is it so difficult to tell a simple truth? Why do people often say that they'd be delighted to hear my songs and then they send me a latter saying that they are not in a position to publish not in house composers? I don't like the idea of a salesmen but is this really the way forward?