When you contact a publisher, or label or artist, whoever you are 'pitching' to, you are asking permission to submit. If they grant permission that is 'soliciting' your pitch. 'Unsolicited' is the practice of us amateurs who think if we just send product out in the world certainly any recipient can see we're the next big thing.

That doesn't work, usually. Those consumers of product are inundated with solicited product and don't have time for it all. Listening to 'unsolicited' product puts them at risk of allegations of plagiarism if anything they ever publish bears any resemblance to the product you submitted without permission.

So that boils it down to contacting them, asking permission, and following their instructions. The most simple instruction is, "No. Thank you." The more complex instruction will specify how many songs to send, how, and when.

Be ready. If they solicit a submission don't start to get your product ready at that time. Be prepared to submit with well-written, well-presented songs. If they want a CD be prepared to supply it. If they want an mp3 submitted electronically, be prepared to supply it. If they want a wav file, etc. Be prepared. Success is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.

There will always be another song to be written. Someone will write it. Why not you? www.garyeandrews.com