Anyone trying to get their songs published in 2009 or 2010?

FrankieRage · #1 12-31-2008

I guess I ask because I am.

My intention is to get some decent demos produced in 2009 of what I think is my best material and then try and 'market' those songs in 2010 (or earlier if feasible, or later if it takes longer..)

I've been promising myself to do this for a long time.

My last attempt to get published was around 1977 !!!

Anybody else on this road in 2009/10 or beyond or are you all getting fat off old royalty payments?

Fx

VomitHatSteve · #2 01-01-2009

What do you mean "published"? Nowadays, you could argue that it's really easy to get published. (step 1. Set up a soundclick account. step 2. Post your songs.)

Or do you mean actually pressing an album and getting it (inter)nationally distributed to major retailers? Or something in-between?

Frankie Rage · #3 01-01-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by VomitHatSteve

What do you mean "published"? Nowadays, you could argue that it's really easy to get published. (step 1. Set up a soundclick account. step 2. Post your songs.)

Or do you mean actually pressing an album and getting it (inter)nationally distributed to major retailers? Or something in-between?

I guess I am using the term 'publish' to mean 'commercial release' of whatever kind.

I have put some stuff on amazingtunes.com as Frankie Rage (worth a listen!

); and if anyone downloads them legally I get 79p (that's 0.79 English pounds!) per track. No takers as yet but then it's just messing about stuff rather than the songs material I have in mind and as it's so easy to listen/download them without paying, I am not expecting to book any holidays on the proceeds!

What I am more interested in is getting my material placed with an agent and/or manager and/or directly with performimg/recording acts who are making commercial releases. I write in different styles so there may be non-writing acts out there who could use my stuff.

Well, that's the theory..

Anybody else looking to do this kind of thing, or are you all writing for fun or do you perform your own stuff?

Michael O'Regan · #4 01-02-2009

I write and perform my own stuff. At the moment, I'm looking to get some kinda record deal and am sending out demos.

-Mike
http://www.myspace.com/dennisregan

mikeh · #5 01-02-2009

I continuously send material to my publishers. I consider myself a semi-professional songwriter/musician (I don't earn my living writing songs - but it does generate an income stream). While I'm not "getting fat" on past royalties, I do get checks every year from my publishers and from BMI.

The more songs published, the better the chance of songs being placed, the more songs placed, the more songs recorded - which means more potential for income.

For the record - I don't consider opublished to mean posting songs on a personal web site, my space, or any thing like that. Nor do I think having ones own "publishng company" has any merit.......unless that publishing company can actually palce material in the hands of artists, managers, producers, etc.

Good luck with your goals of having demos submitted by 2009 or 2010 - having a realistic goal............and sticking to it, can be an improtant step toward getting published.

Frankie Rage · #6 01-02-2009

Hiya Michael and Mike!

Michael: I listened to both of your tracks on MySpace. Very good, I enjoyed both. I see you're in England too. Good luck putting the band together!

Mike: thanks for the response - nice to hear that somebody is getting royalties on songs - definitely where I'd like to be in a few years time but anyway it'll be fun trying - I get enormous satisfaction out of just writing the stuff but to get paid on something as well would be a dream come true! Sorry about the 'getting fat' comment, I was teasing of course, although a 'fat' cheque through the post would come in handy in the Rage household right about now!

Chili · #7 01-02-2009

In an earlier thread, I mentioned to Michael O'Regan about a book called The Songwriter's Market. It is published yearly and lists a ton of record labels, publishers, A&R, pluggers, etc... It also describes how to go about submitting material.

He noted that not many english labels are listed, mostly american, but he is looking to get himself a record deal. So, if you're looking to get your songs into the hands of a publisher, label, another performing artist, you might want to consider this book. They won't care if you are in the states or not.

Another avenue is to join a local songwriting club and start networking through them. I joined one here in Austin and next week we're having a songwriter's symposium where we will have platinum selling songwriters lecture on the art and business of songwriting. Last year a couple of songs got picked up, just by the networking afterwards.

Good luck,

KEVIN1600 · #8 01-03-2009

I just ordered songwriters market 2009 www.secondhandcherry.com

Frankie Rage · #9 01-03-2009

Hello Mr Chilli (Dave) - I did see your earlier post to Michael and I had made a mental note to go back to that - so thanks for re-posting those details. I will most DEFINITELY (!) be investing in a copy of that directory during the course of 2009... it sounds like a winner to me! I hadn't thought about joining a songwriting club, being a bit reclusive in that department, but I'll see what London has to offer!

I had a listen through some of your tracks by the way. I particularly like the clean and airy sound you get on your recordings. This is the kind of quality I'm aspiring to for my demos but I'm a way off that at the mo. Three of the tracks I heard stood out to me, 'A love I've been looking for', 'La Brisa' and 'Nothing can stop the music'. Great stuff, will return to your site at some point. Thanks again!

Fx

Frankie Rage · #10 01-03-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by KEVIN1600

I just ordered songwriters market 2009 www.secondhandcherry.com

I won't be far behind you I reckon, once I get over the 'post-Christmas broke-again blues' !!!

Fx

1,2,1234... · #11 01-03-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by VomitHatSteve

What do you mean "published"? Nowadays, you could argue that it's really easy to get published. (step 1. Set up a soundclick account. step 2. Post your songs.)

Or do you mean actually pressing an album and getting it (inter)nationally distributed to major retailers? Or something in-between?

Actually, this brings up an interesting question. Getting 'published' seems almost useless today given the minute you distribute the music anyone who likes it can make their own copies of it without paying. Exclusive copyright is almost a joke nowadays. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but the days of the mass-selling exclusive album are ending quickly.

Frankie Rage · #12 01-03-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1,2,1234...

Actually, this brings up an interesting question. Getting 'published' seems almost useless today given the minute you distribute the music anyone who likes it can make their own copies of it without paying. Exclusive copyright is almost a joke nowadays. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but the days of the mass-selling exclusive album are ending quickly.

People have always been able to make free copies ever since cheap tape recorders became available (that's yonks ago by the way!), but I take your point..

I can't see however, why exclusive copyright for the writer is in any way a bad thing. So I write it and you can have it for free? That's like saying I can work on the supermarket checkout for 10 hours and not get paid for all that frowning and grunting at customers!

Getting 'published' might have changed dramatically in recent times and more people may be stealing music than ever before BUT the aim remains the same, to get paid cash money for a song, by whatever means necessary, which would also include performing rights as intimated above by mikeh.

'He who pays the piper, calls the tune!' (er, that may not be a relevant quote here but I'm throwing it in for good measure..)

Fx

Chili · #13 01-03-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frankie Rage

I had a listen through some of your tracks by the way. I particularly like the clean and airy sound you get on your recordings. This is the kind of quality I'm aspiring to for my demos but I'm a way off that at the mo. Three of the tracks I heard stood out to me, 'A love I've been looking for', 'La Brisa' and 'Nothing can stop the music'. Great stuff, will return to your site at some point. Thanks again!

Fx

Hey!! Thanks for the nice words. I did all the songs myself in my little home studio using cheapo equipment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1,2,1234...

Actually, this brings up an interesting question. Getting 'published' seems almost useless today given the minute you distribute the music anyone who likes it can make their own copies of it without paying. Exclusive copyright is almost a joke nowadays. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but the days of the mass-selling exclusive album are ending quickly.

I agree the sales of CD's are declining rapidly, but download sales are skyrocketing. The decline of CD sales is bad news for major record companies who haven't found a new business model that allows them to hold on to their monopoly, but downloads are great for songwriters. Before, someone might be hesitant to buy a cd solely for one song, now they have no problem to download that one song for $1 and that generates more royalties for the songwriter.

Cheers,

Michael O'Regan · #14 01-03-2009

Hi Chili,

Regarding the SONGWRITERS MARKET, I hope you didn't misunderstand me - I have indeed found it helpful and have in fact sent out demos to some of the UK companies, having contacted them first.

There are also some helpful essays in there.

So, thanks for the reccommendation

http://www.myspace.com/dennisregan

Chili · #15 01-03-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael O'Regan

Hi Chili,

Regarding the SONGWRITERS MARKET, I hope you didn't misunderstand me - I have indeed found it helpful and have in fact sent out demos to some of the UK companies, having contacted them first.

There are also some helpful essays in there.

So, thanks for the reccommendation

http://www.myspace.com/dennisregan

I'm sorry, I did misunderstand. Thanks for clarifying. I think you could send demos to most any label or publisher. I'm willing to bet if they wanted to sign you, they would work with you regardless of your location. However, I have no experience with this and am just trying to get my material to a point where I think it's saleable.

good luck and cheers,

Rosemary · #16 01-06-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frankie Rage

I guess I am using the term 'publish' to mean 'commercial release' of whatever kind.

I have put some stuff on amazingtunes.com as Frankie Rage (worth a listen!

); and if anyone downloads them legally I get 79p (that's 0.79 English pounds!) per track. No takers as yet but then it's just messing about stuff rather than the songs material I have in mind and as it's so easy to listen/download them without paying, I am not expecting to book any holidays on the proceeds!

What I am more interested in is getting my material placed with an agent and/or manager and/or directly with performimg/recording acts who are making commercial releases. I write in different styles so there may be non-writing acts out there who could use my stuff.

Well, that's the theory..

Anybody else looking to do this kind of thing, or are you all writing for fun or do you perform your own stuff?

I am also hoping to get published in 09/10. By that I mean exactly what you say above.

Frankie Rage · #17 01-06-2009

The book "The Songwriters Market" looks interesting, Rosemary...

(gulp, that's a long name Tig, I mean Loop, ..er I mean... er...er... do you have a shorter name, Rosemary?)

...although I think it's mainly for the American market, as songwriters maybe it doesn't matter, as long as we have material of interest, does it matter where we live?

Welcome to the site!

Rosemary · #18 01-07-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frankie Rage

The book "The Songwriters Market" looks interesting, Rosemary...

(gulp, that's a long name Tig, I mean Loop, ..er I mean... er...er... do you have a shorter name, Rosemary?)

...although I think it's mainly for the American market, as songwriters maybe it doesn't matter, as long as we have material of interest, does it matter where we live?

Welcome to the site!

Thank you Mr R - now that you have given away my other identities, you can call me what you like as long as it is not rude! I have quite a few books already, including the Songwriters Yearbook, which is a companion to the Writers and Artists Yearbook. I really must read them sometime.

Frankie Rage · #19 01-07-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosemary

Thank you Mr R - now that you have given away my other identities, you can call me what you like as long as it is not rude! I have quite a few books already, including the Songwriters Yearbook, which is a companion to the Writers and Artists Yearbook. I really must read them sometime.

Can you ride tandem?