Hello again, BMB:

Thanks for your insightful posts to those of us out here in the "Netherworld." (Anywhere 50 miles away from Nashville!) LOL!

Your trip to Sony/ATV and the reply you received about "Pro Demos" only points out the crux of the problem for songwriters.

Most of us live in places that do not have studios capable of creating a "Nashville-sounding" demo. Many, including myself, simply resort to doing the best we can with what we've got. Of course, I believe in my music but I'll be darned if I'm gonna spend $700 for a demo so some intern on music row can make whatever claim he/she wants to turn it down. As you stated, they make it almost impossible to get thru the doors anyway. If I produced a Nashville demo of every song I want to pitch, I'd be on poverty row and never make it to music row.

Forgive my seeming negativity. It's just so very hard for songwriters who don't aspire to be artists to get up the ladder in today's music world. I have a songwriter acquaintance here in Texarkana who regularly sends his stuff to Nashville for demos at $700 a shot. He writes well and most of his songs sound better (after the studio treatment in Nashville) than anything you hear on the Radio today. If he did not have a high-paid managerial position, he could not afford to play this game. Even worse, he still can't get through the "golden" doors.

I was surprised to see that Sony wants six songs on a Demo CD. Most outfits blanch at three. Everything I've ever read states that they would be pleased as punch if we only send them one song.

In my opinion, the songwriter is going to get screwed out of 50% of the proceeds by the publisher. (Assuming he/she ever get published.) Then will be further nailed with the expenses of the Pro-demo and then have to pay back any advances received from the watered-down proceeds. The proceeds from record/CD sales will be doled out months after the Label enjoys using the funds to collect bank account interest. How in heaven's name does a songwriter ever climb out of the deep hole represented by the music biz? (I already know the answer!)

Maybe now you understand why so many of us are forced to go the "Indie" route and be our own publishers, send our CD's or digital albums to outfits like CDBaby so iPodders can download them and make us a little money.

Please don't take this as a "rant" against what you are doing for us. You represent the "messenger" and I know that Sony and other big outfits are also doing everything possible to stay afloat. In the end, I believe it still comes down to having a demo which represents tremendous commercial possibilities and by having very strong networking connections.

Thanks again for your efforts on our behalf. You are a unique resource to us.

Best regards,

Dave Rice