Want to get inside the mind of a hit music publisher? Read on!
We had a great “Play For A Publisher” event in March with Scot Sherrod of Rare Spark Media in Nashville. The Songwriting Pro community brought some strong songs, and Scot brought some great advice. Let’s dive into some of his advice (paraphrased)!
It’s not a publisher’s job to tell you exactly HOW to “fix” or change your song. That’s up to you- you’re the creative one. But part of their job is to raise red flags when necessary.
Want more? Read on below.
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When you want to be a songwriter in a corporate environment, it’s hard not to me married to each song you write. After all, you have to be close to a song to write a life-changer. But you also have to have perspective to see the song for what it really is.
I don’t listen to a lot of outside songs (songs that my staff writers didn’t write). I try to have a well-rounded roster of writers, and I go to their stuff first. With outside songs, it’s all about who’s looking RIGHT NOW.
Think about how to demo a song where it’s a wide pitch- where it can be presented to many different artists. The more “specific” a demo is (when it sounds so much like a particular artist), the less places you can pitch it.
Make sure your lyric, melody and demo all match as far as mood.
These days, the ability to make tracks is a plus. That can expand who a publisher can put you in a writing room with.
Don’t be afraid to write an alternate version of your song to see if a different direction can make it better. You can always go back to the original version.
Songwriting Pro’s next Play For A Publisher event is coming right up, and our guest is Joe Dan Cornett, Creative Director of Daywind Music Publishing & Billy Blue Publishing! Joe Dan works in the Country, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass and CCM/Worship markets. If YOU have the songs, HE knows what to do with them! Play for a publisher. Get his professional feedback. Make a connection. Overcome your fear.
CLICK HERE TO GET ALL THE DETAILS AND SEND IN YOUR SONG!
God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,
Brent
Brent Baxter is a hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Lady Antebellum, Joe Nichols, Gord Bamford, Ruthie Collins, Ray Stevens, and more. He’s written a top 5 hit in the US, a #1 Single of the Year in Canada & a top 10 in Texas… so far. He also co-hosts a 5-star podcast, “The C.L.I.M.B.” on iTunes, Stitcher & HERE.
Love this! Very helpful!