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hi,I'm Linda Brown and I'm new to this
web site. Actually, I'm new to Computers.

Would anyone in this organization
know which top 5 Music Publishers are now
accepting demo tapes from new and unknown
songwriters??? I would like to solicit some
of my songs and would like to start at the
top with my solicitation letters.

Hi Linda,
It is generally known that Major Publishers don't accept unsolicited material. I suggest you pick up a Copy of the 2005 SONGWRITER'S MARKET avaliable thru any book store, and start there. There are Publisher's listed that accept unsolicited material. Good luck.

Hi Linda and welcome. Yeah Ray's right. I don't know of any major publ, that accepts unsolicited unless you have some kind of an "in". There's good reason for that too. For one thing, they don't have time to sift though hundreds and probably thousands of pieces of "junk"to maybe find a gem. It's not "cost effective" + if they don't look at it, they can't be accused so easy of infringing on someones song. Having "access" to it is a main point in a suit.
Have no idea how good your stuff is but best to start at the "bottom" and even then you may be a while getting a publ. contract. I was quite a while getting my first one. (Maybe I didn't write so good <G> )
Ray gives good advice. Most writers start with S W Market. Have you had your stuff critiqued by someone "knowledable?
'Scuse me for running on, it's just tougher than most people think.

Linda, there are many smaller although successful publishers that accept material from out side writers although with a little get up and go you can get all the big publishing houses to take a listen. Two of the major ones are Famous music and Sony/ATV, both of which this unknown writer has gotten songs to and hand written replies from. Look up info on the net, get some key names and addresses and proceed. I've gotten much farther with a short snail mail letter rather than putting people on the spot by calling them. The best way to find publishers is to go to ASCAP.com or BMI.com and look up hit songs and the publishers are listed along with contact info, most often names and numbers along with addresses. All the best!

Well, Ricky is right. It's not impossible, merely difficult as they say. However, there's another consideration.The reason I brought up the "How good is your stuff" thing, and have you had it critiqued by a knowledgable party. Somethimes one listen is all you get. If your stuff isn't at least "In the ballpark", they're liable to write you off.
(I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Sony, up till a short time ago, take unsolicited? and then quit it?)
Wy

Wy,

Here's the thing, as policy Sony and most don't take unsolicited material, but on a more practical level all it takes is a little fact gathering and contacting one of many people at these big publishing houses and labels and chances are you can fins someone willing to take a listen if you present yourself as a professional and keep it short and simple. As far as only getting one shot if your stuff is not up to par, well my way of thinking is they don't know you by name and I can't imagine they keep a list of offending songwriters, lol. It's more likely if they don't like your material they'll send you a form rejection letter and not commit your name to memory. If you are close you'll probably get a hand written or personalized letter. I got a hand written letter from one of the heads at WB Nashville recently passing on my three song demo but telling me he liked what he heard but it just wasn't country enough. I'm not one for telling people when or if they are ready, if they feel they are then they have to jump in and see the responses they get. At least thats may way of thinking.

Ricky,
Well, I think you may have done a better job of fact gathering and contacting than most would.
As to only getting one shot , you've probably got a point If you don't make a pest of yourself and bug them enough to where they "do" remember your name, they will probably forget it.
My compliments on your 3 song demo to WB. "Just not country enough" doesn't even mean it wasn't "good" enough. You must be close
And , no, I wouldn't be one to tell people whether they're ready or not, but they should have an opinion from "someone" as to if they're anywhere close. I know in my first years of wtiting I thought I was close and I wasn't even in the "vicinity" I wasted quite a bit of money demoing stuff that wasn't worth it at all.
(Wonder if we've helped Linda any <G> )
Wy

I just noticed the answers to Linda's question. Thanks for those, folks! I believe I have heard the material that Linda has to offer, and it is really excellent. Now it is just a matter of getting it heard by the right people.