JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Nashville Song Service>>anyone know about them?

Hi, I'm new here. I have been offered a sonwriting contract with Nashville Song Service.They say they will record the demeo with their and vocalist, background vocals and a 7 piece band and pitch my song to publishers and artist for one year for 350.00 and 15% of any royalties.I have been corresponding with them thru e-mail The president and the v.p they are very nice and they answer any questions. They have sent theie names, their e-mail phone #s fax#s.The last time they contacted me, they even offered to offered to split the payment into 3 payments. They also did not have a good opion of Paramount.The President told me that paramount "does cheesy demos and promises the world to anyone they work with" Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

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Robert

[This message has been edited by palidin (edited 01-13-2004).]

If this is the same group, then there was a recent discussion about them here:

http://www.justplainfolks.org/ubb/Forum2/HTML/002648.html

I would ask for their list of recent placements and see how they respond to that.


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Larry
www.audibleresponse.com

[This message has been edited by Lwilliam (edited 01-13-2004).]

I read that thread< no-one realy answered is a straight forward fasion>>>only their thoughts on the subject

Well, typically the viewpoint here is that there is an inherent conflict-of-interest between a company that makes money from both demos and "publishes" or "pitches" those songs.

Of course they want you to spend money on the demo and some companies don't care whether the song is any good or not, they'll tell you it is and they'll offer you a deal on the publishing.

Granted $350 is not a bad price for a demo - especially if it includes some pitching. If they do good demos and you can separate the demo costs from any REQUIREMENT to give them a portion of the publishing, then you just have to decide if the demo is worth the money and pitch it wherever you want.

If you are considering giving up some publishing to them, then by all means you need to ask for recent placements and then VERIFY them.

If you really want to see if your song is any good, then have someone WITHOUT a conflict of interest (demo service) and who is connected in the industry evaluate your song. WAY too many people pay good money to have demos done when the song will never have a chance until they re-write it.


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Larry
www.audibleresponse.com

Thank you, Thats the kind of advice that I can use.Do you think that 15% of any royalties is a fair deal, considering that the publishing co. will be taking their share? And by the way could you tell me how much publishers generaly take?

Publishers usually take 50%.Sometimes less if you are a successful well know writer or already have the song cut and making money.

Also there are an abundance of shark publishers out there that will take your work and monies and create you the ultimate demo for a so-called nominal price. In this business your dealing with mostly closed doors and they use your enthusiasm, hopes and dreams to capitalise on. So you must do your research and inquires into backgrounds and track records. Good luck, just my 2 cents.

I had heard somewhere that this particular publisher is a shark...if your song is any good, a publisher will take it, demo it for you and pitch it, no out of pocket expense to you. DON'T PAY ANYONE to publish your songs...that's what the royalties are for, and if the song is really that good, they will do it for that money.

Slim

Thank you all for your input. In order to pitch a song to a publisher, I must first have a demo made>>right? So if I have a professional demo recorded, then the publisher has another made? If thats the case, should I just record a rough demo to pitch the song to the publisher or have a full production demo made? all this is pretty confussing to someone who just to get a foot in the door

Robert, I've heard of this company before. BE CAREFUL!! When you sign up with a publisher, they do not charge you anything upfront. It is their job to make the demo and then shop it.

Again be very careful. Either hire them as a demo service or as an independant plugger. Do not use them for both.

I have been in daily contact with Nashville Song Service via e-mail with the presidents assistant. Here is an excerpt from the yesterday's e-mail.
_____________________________________________Hi, Robert,

Here is some information from one of our brochures but it hasn't been
updated in a while. By and large we are under obligation not to discuss
anything under contract so it's pretty generic:

_________________________________

We are a registered publishing company with BMI. You need to search the
Publisher's Section of their website (there's a scroll-down list when
you get to their home page). We're listed as Nashville Song Service
Publishing. Also, the Better Business Bureau has information on us as
well, we're listed as Nashville Song Service with the BBB, and have a
clean slate with them. We have many writers who check both these sources
regularly, so you should be able to investigate as deeply as you wish.

Additionally we help in promotions once the demo is done and give you
advice on how to do the same if you request it. This is a tough business
and there are no guarantees for a song's success. Most of the song in
our catalog don't get cut. We have had cuts by Jimmy Cris, LeAnne
Rawlins, Steven Carpenter, Annie Price to name a few. We do work with
writers to arrange and revise their material to make it more marketable.
We also co-write if you don't already have melodies. Songwriting is a
process and we help our writers move several steps up the ladder of
being a professional songwriter. I would say if the only reason you're
considering our offer is to get a major cut right away, the percentages
are low of that happening. That has more to do with the nature of this
industry than the quality of your material. I'm trying to be as honest
as I can about the music business.

________________________________

Of the three songs you have, I can tell you Johnny Cash tributes are a
little yesterday, although he will live in our hearts forever. "I
Remember When" has good marks all over it, from Jim and review staff.

But ...I saw George Jones in an interview the other night and bless his
heart his hair does still look good

paragraph witheld for privacy

That's just something I yakked about with marketing when we were going
over your material again. I hope it doesn't sound to vultury, but I
think George would understand, he knew this business pretty well.

So, that's the idea. Otherwise I think "I Remember When" was the best
overall received. Let me know your plans Robert and talk to you soon.

--
Sincerely

name witheld fo privacy



[This message has been edited by palidin (edited 01-17-2004).]

Robert,

If you can get a demo cut, do some co-writing and get the kind of straight advice on the business that you need...all for $350...I say go for it.

And I wouldn't do it from home. Come on down to Nashville, get a hotel room near the row- have an experience, spend some money, see, hear, write and listen. It's only money.

So while you're here...visit NSAI (nashville songwriters), peek in on the bands working lower Broadway, spend a night at the Bluebird, and go to an open mic. You are one of thousands like you. And we all have to embrace that reality.

And figure out those co-writing dates before you come out.

But, if the songwriting service wants to charge you for every little thing beyond your $350 demo...don't do it. Make the agreements first and use them as your first connection in town.

And leave all fantasies at home- it only seems like a musical Disneyland.

Good luck.
Russ

Thanks Russ,
Thats the way I'm thinking. As long as I can have an open conversation with someone within the business, I feel that I have at least half a foot in the door and this guy seems to be as honest with me as his boss will let him be. I don't intend to sign on any dotted line any time soon untill I have done all my homework. I don't think they are nessesarly a scam but I'm not so niave as to feel that all the cards are on the table either.

I'm bumping this.

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Mike Dunbar Music

To me this says all I need to know. Publishers do not charge songwriters for demos or for pitching songs. That is their "JOB". That is why they take 50% of the publishing.

I won't say that these guys are a scam, they maybe legit, but I have signed 4 publishing deals throughout my career with both major and indie companies and never had to pay a dime. Again be careful.

Well it's nice to see other musicians from cdbaby here as well. I guess we can all struggle together. Kentuck

http://www.cdbaby.com/kentuck