Nashville songwriting has different aspects.

1. The major release songwriters are, for the most part, either residents here or they visit here so often that they may as well be. Many of them cowrite, often they will cowrite with the artist, and some will write songs specifically for an artist.

I've recently heard from a reliable publisher that rarely are songs cut through the A&R departments. Nor, are songs that get cut often pitched "face to face," but are usually brought in to an office and put in the "right" basket, which only a songwriter with an existing relationship to the office recognizes. Gatekeepers and decision makers seem to prefer listening alone, most often while in their car.

2. The developing songwriters also live or visit here often, and will spend time at writer's nights, hangouts, and offices networking and developing relationships. Again, a lot of cowriting goes on, with developing writers gradually working up to writing with successful songwriters.

There is also an entire industry here that is devoted to developing songwriters, including publishers, demo houses, songwriter organizations, songwriting critics and teachers. Some of these services can be "shady" and some even prey on beginners, flattering them with unwarranted praise of their songs and offering them "access" to which they cannot deliver.

3. A very few songwriters get cuts from long distance, through the mail or acting through a publisher or agent. Again, usually these people will have, at some time, developed a personal relationship with people here.

These who occasionally visit or communicate via the internet and the mail are, perhaps, the most vulnerable to victimization by an unscrupulous service.

I have neither experience nor detailed knowledge as to how the business of songwriting is done anywhere else, so I can't offer a valuable comparison.

Hope this helps.

Mike

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You have to practice improvisation. -Art Tatum

Mike Dunbar Music



[This message has been edited by Mike Dunbar (edited 06-03-2006).]

You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

Mike Dunbar Music