JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum How I got my break

In another thread the question was asked, "How do I get my break?" At the risk of being voted off the island, I thought I'd share my story. Glean from it what you will.

Awhile back I wrote a song that I absolutely loved. It felt like a hit to me. I truly believed that, with the right exposure, the song could make a boatload of money for everyone involved: the artist, the record label, me.

I called the management of a major artist and requested permission to submit the song. The person on the other end hurriedly gave me the address and hung up the phone. The conversation lasted all of one minute.

I sent the song to the management company.

Every few weeks I would call the management company, only to be told that no one was available to speak with me. I consoled myself with the realization that no news is good news: at least the song hadn't been rejected.

Months pass. I'm getting frustrated. Time for me to pick up the phone and try the management company yet again. Only this time when I identify myself, instead of being told that no one's available, I'm asked to hang on. The voice on the other end sounds excited. Next thing I know someone gets on the phone and begins singing my song to me, telling me that he and the rest of the office have listened it THIRTY times. They all love the song.

I got my break.

The story today: airplay, videoplay, hundreds of thousands of albums sold. Millions hearing my music and lyrics. The dream realized.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=604368

Wow. that is great news.
So far all I have ever gotten is; Sorry we do not accept unsolicited material, click.

Mitch,

Don't stop there! What was the song? Is the lesson- believe in your song and be persistent? What you did works in job hunting. go back, thank everyone, keep inquiring etc. You might have bugged them enough that they actually listened to the song for the first time.

I don't envy the folks who have to sort through tons of submissions. It is probably like listening to soundclick files at random. After a while you wonder if there is any thing any good in the pile.

Can you post the original version you sent in?

Jim,

I prefer not to divulge the song or the artist. Hope you understand. Please feel free, however, to check out the songs at the following sites:

www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=604368
www.myspace.com/splitpeasongs
www.myspace.com/splitpeasongs4

Thanks,

Mitch

Unsolicited means that you did not ask permission - you just sent it to them! Learn the prodicall & save your postage as well as your respect! Ray Withrow This letter just goes to show that persistence pays off!

Mitch thanks for sharing your story. Yes, you were persistent but the song had to be good and obviously was. Can't wait to hear it someday when you can reveal it. Congratulations!!!!!

Best,
Lynn
I guess one could say "TAKE YOUR BEST AND BE A PEST"

No. I think thast means he rang asking permission, and got told they don't accept.
Solicited means they asked for it. Not you asking if they will l8isten to it.
Good one on the cut and all. I can't see for the life of me why not tell us which song it is being as it sems it has been released Ray.
It would be good to know and maybe give uthers a bit of hope.
May even sell a few more records so fo;lks can say they know the writer of that.
As is it is open to being a maybe maybe.
Or a ghost write to get the cut as sometimes does happen, and contract conditions do not allow you to state it was a bought by the publisher/artist song.
It happens
Graham

Mitch, I enjoyed your songs. They are really good and obviously very commercial. That is what I like to write as well. So you must have some secret to getting heard. I had a movie guy in LA tell me to send me a song I wrote. I went to a studio recorded the song and sent him the demo. Unfortunately it didn't work out. He told me he would see me winning song of the year someday at the Grammy's. haha! Boy have a layed awake thinking of those words. It has kind of kept me going hoping to prove him right one day.

I have sent things in to places in Nashville in fancy crazy boxes with candy and all that. I even painted them with jewels and the lyrics to my songs on the outside. LOL I did get a call from a head guy at ASCAP that told me it caught their attention and they did listen. I just wasn't at that level yet, or they weren't looking for what I had written at the moment. Believe me, I try. Is there some secret I am missing that got you through to where you are now? I will try anything. In the meantime I just keep trying to write something better than the song before. Man this is hard.

I am so glad you made your break through. Ya know we wish we could hear who it is who is singing your song. But I understand the secrecy.

Tammy

www.tammyedwards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards1

Hi everyone,

In book publishing, I've been told the exact opposite--NOT to put candy in the boxes, chocolate bars (oops, they melt!) or any of that stuff because it's aggravating to the editors. Either that, or they keep the candy & throw out the box it came in.

Also (with books) ANY rejection letter you get with "real ink" on the letter is HUGE good news. Anything more than a form letter, that seems the slightest bit encouraging, means SEND THEM SOMETHING ELSE. They will remember you, that you were good, and they're more likely to listen the 2nd, 3rd time around, because they realize you have some chops.

My guess is the second thing should hold true in the music biz as well? I don't know about the first.

I wish good luck to everyone in the race--

Linda

I got my break by falling down a well... Broke a bone in my right hand ... Still a break is a break

Sorry Mitch, but I don't understand why you won't reveal the singer and the song. Quite frankly, anyone can post what you
posted just to spike interest in a soundclick site.

Believe me, if I had a hit song being heard by millions,
everyone on this site and within the sound of my voice would
know the song and who cut it!!

Diane

Hi, everyone:

Here's the reason that I prefer not to divulge the song and the artist discussed in my original post: ultimately the song was not recorded by that artist.

However, interest from such a major artist opened many doors, allowing me to pitch more easily to other artists and get meetings with A&Rs, publishers, managers, and others.

One result of these opening doors: I recently had a hit single and video Benelux. The name of the artist is "Laura". Please feel free to check out the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdgI-qqn1TY

In the US this same song was released by Bratz on their "Rock Angelz" CD. The "Rock Angelz" CD has sold in excess of 500K worldwide. The Bratz recording of "Nobody's Girl" can be downloaded from ITunes, Amazon, Walmart, and other online retailers.

To me, here's the real question regarding my original post: what does it mean to get a "break"? In my situation --

- A song was written that I genuinely thought could be a huge hit
- The song was sent to an artist who I suspected was looking for material since enough time had passed since the release of the artist's last CD
- There was polite but persistent follow-up
- Interest from the artist was parlayed into interest from other artists, A&Rs, etc.

Aren't these steps that any good businessperson would take in trying to build a new business?

Mitch

Please feel free to check out the songs at the following sites:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=604368
www.myspace.com/splitpeasongs
www.myspace.com/splitpeasongs4

Good luck man.

I think it is great Mitch! I am really happy for you! I wish you continued success. It is great to get a foot in the door. I would enjoy hearing other new things you are working on when you have links. Thanks!

Tammy

www.tammyedwards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards1

So you wrote Nobody's girl? It's a good song. It's a good performance.
Or are you saying you wrote it? I'm still not sure what to make of your post. But if this is your song, great job. I'm talking about this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdgI-qqn1TY

Thanks, Tammy and Sam! Yes, I wrote -- and my publishing company, Split Pea Songs, publishes -- "Nobody's Girl".

Please feel free to check out my other songs at the following sites:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=604368
http://www.myspace.com/splitpeasongs
http://www.myspace.com/splitpeasongs4

Thanks!

Mitch

Hi, everyone:

A new JPFer PM'ed me following questions:

Didn't you put out leads to a lot of companies?

I was lucky: the management company that expressed interest in my song was the first company that I contacted. Before then I wasn't really pitching my material, probably because something told me that I wasn't ready. Now I'm constantly plugging my songs, always looking for new opportunities.

Do you think it is important to invest in a really perfect demo if the homemade one is very good?

When you pitch a song, you're basically asking everyone involved (the artist, the label, the manager, the promotion department, the publicity rep) to risk their careers on your song. If you think that your home demo is strong enough, go for it. Otherwise, I'd invest in a more polished demo.

Hope this helps!

Mitch

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=604368
www.myspace.com/splitpeasongs
www.myspace.com/splitpeasongs4

Well, I guess my 'break' came last year, when I visted BMI in Nashville. Most of you here already read it, and it's posted on my myspace page.

That really opened doors for me, and helped me develop relationships with some of the industry folks.

No cuts yet, but never say never!

In the MP3 thread I was asked how I got cuts, so I thought I'd bump this topic back up.

Mitch

Hi,who is that artist, you were pitching to? Could you send me his/her management's number or email address? Please visit http://smashtune.com/profile/raesoulman and rate my video

Jeez! This confused the hell out of me! For a moment there I thought dear Graham Henderson had come back from the dead! And to spook me further he mentions a 'ghost write'

Rather than bump a 3 year old thread. I would recommend starting a new thread but reference the old one via hyperlink

Cheers

Nige

Mitch,
that is truly encouraging. Well done and much much more success.

Have fun,
John

What surprises me is you managed to hold on to the publishing

If you could find a publisher, with contacts your material would find a worldwide outlet.

Major artists and hit songs are part of a massive hype, and they ( The Record Company's) want action from every source, including at least half of the Publisihing.

Established writers can set up Publishing because the songs they write are guaranteed hits.

A major Publisher would put you in touch with top writers who
would enhance your writing to a level, where you would not have time or inclination to write on J.P.F.

This is a great story.

Mitch, I have often listened to that Bratz cd. It is a great cd - and your song on it is terrific. Well done and congratulations.

If you get a chance, we would love to have to listen to some of Justice's songs on her soundclick page (link below).

Thanks

Tom

PS to JPF'ers. This guy is for real. That Bratz cd is excellent and his song on it is very, very good.

Here is a Youtube video of his song from the Rock Angelz Bratz cd.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=840134&songID=9312354

Tom

BTW, Mitch was the sole song writer for Nobody's Girl. Unlike many songs on the cd where there were multiple writers, he wrote the song by himself.

Tom

Hi Again Mitch

Thanks for sharing all this - it Really is a story side that we don't get to hear enough of so you are doing a real generous thing sharing with us here. ; ) jm

To hold onto your publishing, the artist and label have to want the song more than they want the publishing.

One aspect of being self-published is that I spend a lot of time pitching. Every day I'm reaching out to artists, managers, and A&Rs.

At the moment:

-- one of my songs was just recorded by an artist in Germany who is on a big tour and will be releasing an album later this year

-- one of my songs was just recorded by an new artist in Sweden

-- an A&R at Disney likes one of my songs and is looking for an appropriate project

-- I'm on the short-list of songs being considered by a new boyband

I can't provide details about any one project until it's been released. Until the song is in the stores, anything can happen.

I do have an administration deal with a publisher that collects royalties for me outside the US and Canada.

Since most days I'm home alone writing and pitching, JPF is a way for me to connect. Sometimes I post an MP3 when I'm just starting a song to see whether others feel the song is worth pursuing. Even if no one listens or responds, the very act of posting entices me to work harder to make the song better.

Some people write a lot and hope that something eventually sticks. I prefer to write less and -- hopefully -- better. I don't see much point in investing my time and money in a song I don't feel strongly about.

Mitch
www.myspace.com/splitpeasongs

Haha, you sure broke out of the usual mold these days, didn't you?

What a great story. Nice to know that something like this can still happen.

Moral of the story for me: write fantastic songs.

Good for you, Mitch. Did it lead to other cuts as well?

Yes, I've had other cuts, mostly in Europe.

BTW, that first cut didn't happen, but it opened the door so that people were willing to listen.

Yes, a writer's best defense is to write a great song. (It helps also to have a great production. Many people listen to the production first, the song second. If they don't hear the sound they're looking for, they stop listening.)

I remember meeting with a rep from Zomba. His take was that if you're writing competitive material, somebody, somewhere is going to notice. If you can't find anyone in the industry who thinks you've got what it takes, maybe you should reevaluate the product you're trying to sell.

Mitch was one of the earliest JPF members and even back in the late 90's he was writing commercially viable stuff.

I am thinking of visiting NYC in the next few months (health allowing) are you still there Mitch?

Brian

Hey Mitch!

Congratulations on your successes! I've had a few cuts in Germany/Europe as well. I went to your myspace page and I love your music. I noticed you also know an artist I know as well from Australia.

Anyway, I'll probably shoot you an email. Would like to talk to you more in a less public forum.

Gregory Watton
www.myspace.com/prosongwriter
www.twitter.com/gregoryvwatton
www.youtube.com/gvwatton

Yup, I'm still in NYC! If you do make plans to visit, please let me know.