JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Industry Message Forum Which publishers/artists should I submit to?

I am at a stage in my songwriting career that I am once again fired up to submit to the market. For a while, I was disillusioned with rejections of songs which I felt were potential hits, and came to the conclusion (at that time) that I was fighting a losing battle; I subsequently put everything on a back burner, submission-wise, and continued writing.

I now have a more positive attitude and want to submit my songs to country music publishers whom I feel will give my songs their best chances at success. I've recently written some songs that I think are some of my best.

I own Songwriters Market 2005 and have picked a few possibilities; those which have had past success with major artists, i.e., ones I know/have heard of...but there are only about 7 publishers that fall into this category.

I have nothing against independent artists; so far, they are the only ones who have cut my songs; but I have the underlying fear that some of them will cut something of mine that I feel is a great idea/song, and the independent may never achieve major success, and that song will be more or less "forgotten". If I could somehow get my material to the majors, then my dream of being a successful songwriter might come true "sooner"

I currently have one song in particular that I am trying to get noticed by the majors. I feel sure that an independent publisher will take it, but I don't want it to just get recorded and forgotten.

Does anyone else feel my pain? And if you have any connections to major publishers/artists, I would greatly appreciate the contact info.

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http://shayneman.proboards19.com/

I have thought of making an appointment with my PRO in Nashville and see what contacts they can help me with but haven't made the trip yet. That would be a good thing to do at this time in my career as most likely a lot of writers that have been writing for some time and have a good song catalog. In the mean time I send to listings in a Tip Sheet I suscribe to, Alegheny Music Works, and some that post on the WEB. I have signed a few Publishing Contracts but no results yet.

I have submitted some songs through that tip sheet, also, but had no luck. I do know not to sign any contracts without a reversion clause. I learned that lesson the hard way...


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http://shayneman.proboards19.com/

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(I do know not to sign any contracts without a reversion clause.)

I know what you mean,it happened to me.I'm a little gunshy when it comes to signing with a publisher that I know nothing about.It's easy to sign a song and tie it up for several years,not knowing if it is being seriously pitched or not.Those with a track record will not let you in the door and those that will let you in have no track record.How seriously will they work your song?It's a catch 22.Will they get you a
serious cut or just something to fulfill the reversion clause?

Yes I don't sign a Publishing Contract without a Reversion Clause. I did receive a couple of contracts a few years ago without a reversion clause. I asked the publisher to include the reversion clause and he agreed. I also received a publishing contract from someone else without a reversion clause and asked for it but he refused. I passed on the contract.

At this point I recommend making an appointment with your PRO and see if they will put you in contact with some receptive publishers. I would not sign a publishing contract without a reversion clause but tell the publisher a renewal is always possible if they happen to get some action on a song.

Will the PROs give publisher info over the phone? Or do they need to hear your material to decide if you're "worthy"? :/



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http://shayneman.proboards19.com/

As I understand it, call your PRO and make an appointment with the Writer's Rep for a face to face appointment. Take some songs you want to promote and play them for the Rep. Hopefully he will get you in to see some publishers that may take your material. You would want to contact the office of your Pro in the Geographial area you live in. They can't do that by phone.