Does anyone here set songwriting goals. My report card for 2004 & goals for 2005

Glyn - I'm not so sure tt you are right. Near my office there is a big Christian music shop packed full of CD's by people we have never heard of! Looks to me like one of those specialist markets which would be easier to break into and where you could get word of mouth sales much mor eeasily. Not one for me though!!

Specialist markets are very interesting - for example line dancing. (I know, I know...). But a line dancing expert got hold of a track on one of our demo's after it was played on a radio station in Bristol, and wrote a dance for it. Had the track not had a complete tempo and mood change in the middle, which ruined it for he dancers, she says we would have sold lots of copies. Makes you think.....
 
Rokket said:
That's cool. I'm glad to hear it! Good luck. Keep plugging. I am going to commit my plans? goals? whatever, to paper and post them on the fridge. The "experts" tell me that's one way to make sure you stick to them. They are in your face everytime you go grab a beer or whatever....
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Excellent Rokket!!! You Go!!
 
glynb said:
I listened to The One by Jagular.
So how big is the Christian Rock scene over there in the US? I mean is it possible to have a pro' career just writing for the Christian Rock scene or what? It's not something we have to any great extent over here in Europe, at least not in terms of doing it professionaly, mostly amateurs in churches and so on.

Quite a good commercial song, but i guess you'd have to change the lyrics for it to have broader mainstream appeal? For example making 'The One' the love of your life, rather than Jesus.

Anyway, good luck with your goals.
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Thank you!!

Contemporary Christan music is quite big over here and growing (as a general trend). Yes it is possible to make a living writing & performing it. There are many that do. In fact the publishing arm of the company I referred to has several staff writers (yes I'm doing my research). Still, it's not easy to get into. In fact, I've heard CCM music may be even harder to break into as you have the whole religious aspect to it that can get a little clique oriented. I find that a little sad, but reality and, not a behavior exclusive to Christians ;). So, yes it is possible, but difficult. Just like any other part of the music industry.
 
glynb said:
Quite a good commercial song, but i guess you'd have to change the lyrics for it to have broader mainstream appeal? For example making 'The One' the love of your life, rather than Jesus.
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I dunno. Commercially speaking, I think he's right on the money with it being about Jesus. Commercial music in the states - Emminem, Green Day etc. There's no where that I know of that a song with that sound is being marketed today. Also, I bet people who listen to christian rock are real devoted, (not a pun!) and like to see live music (from being accoustomed to seeing it in church), and prolly don't fileshare too much. But most importantly, I think that is where his heart it, and if you aren't true to your heart, you really can't do anything. I believe it, and you hear it all the time in discussion about creativity.
 
I don't set myself any goals, although I do need to kick myself up the arse all the time, as I'm extremely lazy.

I'm not much of a lyricist so I tend to concentrate more on riffs or whatever. I let things come naturally to me, which is very frustrating at times, as I may go for weeks maybe months having done nothing at all. Then from out of nowhere I get a few riffs that seem to write themselves and I record the demo within the week, then that's me back to square one again, lol.

I do get enjoyment out of it but it seems that writing music is 95% frustration and 5% satisfaction for me.
 
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Garry Sharp said:
Glyn - I'm not so sure tt you are right. Near my office there is a big Christian music shop packed full of CD's by people we have never heard of! Looks to me like one of those specialist markets which would be easier to break into and where you could get word of mouth sales much mor eeasily. Not one for me though!!

Specialist markets are very interesting - for example line dancing. (I know, I know...). But a line dancing expert got hold of a track on one of our demo's after it was played on a radio station in Bristol, and wrote a dance for it. Had the track not had a complete tempo and mood change in the middle, which ruined it for he dancers, she says we would have sold lots of copies. Makes you think.....
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Good point Garry, I think if you specialise it can be easier to have success than if you're going for the mainstream bigtime, I just wasn't aware of a big professional Christian music scene in the UK.

The example I am aware of is blues*. it's quite possible to put out your own album and live from gigs and sales if you're a good blues artist here in the UK and make a good living out of it travelling abroad doing shows too. And yes, I know all about making money from line dancing as my mum is into it (dancing that is)! Another specialist niche which seems to be doing well is latin bands, with the popularity of salsa dancing.

*And Age is unimportant, in fact its a positive advantage to be old and weathered if you play blues - something worth considering at my age!


Trouble is for me I like to switch styles on songs and the thought of specialising in one genre would bore me stiff, I'd rather give the thing up than do blues/country just to earn a living! Like someone else posted, your heart HAS to be in it.
 
I've always set goals during the new year in the past only to never accomplish them. I'm trying to better myself by actually following thru on some ideas for a change. For one I need to make music more often. I spend way to much time on the internet and not enough time making music. I'm trying real hard to change a lot of bad habits and not just issues dealing with music. I've been thru a rough last couple of years and my music has really suffered.

I'm getting back into making music and actually enjoying it. It's been 2 years since I recorded a song, but I've still been making beats when I would get in the mood which was not that often. I owe it to my family to get my S*** together being that I spent a lot of money on equipment and putting music out, otherwise could have spent that money on them. My wife has always been by biggest support since we've met and I love her dearly for it.

I started my label in 1995 and have released 3 rap albums, and one 12 inch Techno EP to this date. I'm 33 years old now and been DJing since I was 13 and making beats since I was 17, so I been in the game for a minute.

As far as goals go I just want to set them and actually make them happen. That's the hardest part... ACTUALLY STICKING TO THEM...
 
Just noticed your post Glyn. Funny, I can't bring myself to do the line dancing track which I'm promised I'd get money for. I even have a melody and stuff and I still can't do it!!

It seems to me the only really age sensitive genre is rock (oh, stupid boy, I'm forgetting the dance scene) but jazz, blues, funk and the like it doesn't seem to matter.
 
It seems to me the only really age sensitive genre is rock (oh, stupid boy, I'm forgetting the dance scene) but jazz, blues, funk and the like it doesn't seem to matter.
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has a lot to do with how much money it makes, somehow...
 
Garry Sharp said:
yeah...have to be young and sexy for the mass market.....
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yep, & a big part of that is the idea that only teens & early 20's will have spare cash that they will want to spend on ... frippery. like music...
 
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