I think amateur songs may be 'subjective', but pro songs are way less subjective than you think. Right off the bat there are just a bunch of things you can't do and things you have to do. The 'subjective' part in the pro game of songwriting is that people have different tastes, even with PERFECTLY written songs. So the fact that there always are some 'subjectivity' involved, doesn't mean that anything goes. It means that even the most meticiously crafted masterpiece may be disliked and miss out when singles are selected, while it still maintains it's status as an undeniable commercially viable song!

Playing live may give you some responses, but they respond mostly to YOU as the artist, and your audience may not have anything in common with the audience of the artists you are pitching the song to. Nashville supermentor Ralph Murphy offers a great perspective on this. An audience will accept almost anything if they have beer, and have chosen to go out with friends for a good time. But commercial songs has to work even when people have not selected to hear that song, or are out for a good time. Commercial songs has to work in the car, with people driving off to work, wanting only to hear the local news and weather forecasts. Commercial songs are supposed to grab and maintain the listeners interest in that context, changing their mind and attitude. That's a whole different ballgame.

Therefore, creating publisher interest includes that everybody loves the song AND adhere to the commercial song criteria for great communication.

There's just no way around that, if you are interested in backing your high hopes with something substantial.

And that fact is actually very positive and encouraging. It means that writing great songs is something you can learn to do, with a combination of talent and skill. 'Talent' means courage and integrity and 'skill' means the will to do your homework and use that knowledge in conjunction with your talent.

That's why folks like MAB, Harriet, Mike D and Mike C and many others, are offering REAL pathways to success, if you will provide your talent and skill (in the meanings above) :-)

nocentsinvolved