For what it is worth most of the chart music is not great...most people on this forum could produce music just as good if not better than a lot of the top 40 chart stuff....I bet if Taylor Swift anonymously sent in a new song unsolicited, even if it was her very best, it would be filed in the garbage bin unlistened to with all the others...and I bet that even if it was listened to it would still find its way into the bin. This illustrates the point it is not what you know but who you know. The best songwriter has no chance without the right connections and introductions. All the brothers, sisters, sons and daughters of existing stars who also coincidentally make the big time did not get there by talent or being discovered in a small pub. Their famous relatives put in a good word and asked for a favour.
I remember hearing about a famous songwriter who tried out the system by sending in stuff under a fictitious name and address....he found that his stuff was rejected.....The same stuff put in his own name was cut and made number one. No point in complaining...just make the best music you can and try your hardest to pitch it in the hope you get lucky......It is like a lottery. You cannot win unless you buy a ticket.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=687727&songID=5238055