Below is my letter the editor about a songwriting article I stumbled upon.

Do you agree or disagree with me about this particular contest?

what's interesting is when I googled the contest's address I discovered it was the same address as a houston songwriter who did well in the john lennon song contest a few years ago.

I guess he came to the conclusion that the people who really make money in song contests are song contest organizers.

So he created his own contest, and attached it to VH1's "save the music" program to create credibility.

I believe that with most large song contests, most of the entrants are wasting their time and money. Though I would add if a person is one of the few who do well, a win may help their music careers. A friend of mine has won grand prize in the John Lennon Song contest twice. The first time it helped his band get a deal with capitol records. They also chose to decline the $5,000 publishing offer from EMI, which wound up being a very wise decision.

Ande Rasmussen

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here's my letter to the editor:

hello brian,

I stumbled upon your article
"In tune with success: Songwriter honored in VH1 contest"

I really don't want to steal any of Angel Marie Moll's thunder, but I don't beleive the Song of the Year contest (SOTY) is an official VH1 contest as your article portrays it to be. I believe the SOTY contest creators attached themselves to VH1 to create credibility. They are doing this by claiming they are going to donate an unspecified portion of their proceeds to VH1's "Save the Music" non profit. This misleads people into thinking it's something VH1 is doing.

Ande Rasmussen

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here's the article:

In tune with success: Songwriter honored in VH1 contest

By Brian Eastwood / News Staff Writer
Saturday, October 2, 2004

BELLINGHAM -- When Angel Marie Moll was 17, she began writing poems and dreaming of a future as a singer/songwriter.

Unsure if that was the right path to follow, the Milford native never got an agent or the financial backing necessary to make it big. The dream was postponed further when Moll's mother died when she was 24 and again when she had children of her own.

"Their dreams and everything for them come first," she said.

Twenty-four years later, Moll's own dream has been rekindled.

Moll received an honorable mention in VH1's "Song of the Year" contest, a monthly competition that has drawn submissions from around the world. She was recognized for one song in July and awaits word on four other songs she has submitted.

One winner and four finalists in each of nine music genres are chosen each month. Moll was one of about 75 contestants to earn an honorable mention in July, according to the contest's Web site, www.songoftheyear.com. Honorable mentions include all nine categories.

The top prize in the contest is a songwriting contract with the music company BMG.

"If something comes up with it, great. If not, it's (still) something I love to do," said Moll, who lives in Bellingham with her husband David and two children. "Right now, I'm on cloud nine. This is the coolest thing that ever happened to me."

The song that earned an honorable mention, "My Heart on a Page," was inspired by Moll's father, William Kelley Sr. Kelley had a heart attack in January and is being treated in the spinal care unit at the West Roxbury VA Medical Center.

When Moll was growing up, her father listened to country singers Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn and watched the show "Hee Haw." He often sang as he worked around the house, she said.

Moll still has a taste for country and listed Shania Twain, Faith Hill and Martina McBride as her favorite contemporary artists.

"I still like the heart-wrenching songs that tell a story," Moll said. "I think lyrics are just a way of expressing your soul."

In the early 80s, while most of her friends were listening to U2 and R.E.M., Moll adored Barbra Streisand, whose songs inspired Moll to try songwriting. A picture of Streisand still hangs in Moll's living room, between the television set and the computer.

Moll's mother, Margaret Calcagni-Kelley, also encouraged her to pursue her passion for writing.

"My mother always had a great way of saying things," Moll said. "She's like my soul. She knew me better than anyone."

Moll's current inspiration is her two children, 11-year-old Sydney and 3-year-old Nicholas.

Her daughter, who competes in modeling pageants, aspires to be a lawyer but also shares Moll's talent.

"Even though we're so different, creatively we're a lot alike," Moll said.

Nicholas was born with holoproscencephaly, a birth defect that prevents the brain from forming correctly, and diabetes insipidus, which is caused by the kidney's inability to conserve water.

Moll said her son is her hero.

"He teaches me how to truly live life," she said. "Knowing what he has and not knowing what the future brings, you value things in a different way."

Moll quit working three years ago to stay home and take care of Nicholas full time. As a result, she is also writing all the time.

Moll has published more than 100 poems on the Web site poetry.com and was named a merit poet by the International Society of Poets, which is affiliated with the Web site.

Through services offered by the society, several of her poems appear on laminated, wallet-size cards, while others are on greeting cards.

In addition, Moll has also sent a copy of a children's book to publisher Simon & Schuster.

"You just have to wait and see. It's sort of a waiting game," she said. "Even if you think you have what it takes, there are a thousand other people who feel the same way."

Although the VH1 "Song of the Year" contest has similar long odds, Moll said she is happy to have been acknowledged at all.

With her work going before a judging panel that includes Grammy award winning producers, executives and musicians, Moll said she is also hopeful of an opportunity to gain exposure for her writing.

"You're being critiqued and you're being judged by people who are the best in the business," she said. "To me, that's an honor

( Brian Eastwood can be reached at 508-634-7505 or beastwoo@cnc.com. )

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Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@aol.com
http://www.AndeRasmussen.com
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.soundclick.com/anders
http://www.MySpace.com/anders

Editor Of "Inspirations for Songwriters"
Message archive:
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A friend of mine as a was a Finalist and Song of the Year send her material to a bunch of people. From that, she has had 4 call backs from people either wanting to record her song or publish it. She is actually waiting on 2 of the publishers seeing which one looks best.

I would suggest contacting VH1 and find out if they are associated and also if any donations have been made. Song comps are a great way to make money for the promoter and there are many scammers out there but they do look good on the resume.

ande

In a message dated
2/12/05 3:02:21 AM Central Standard Time,
newsletter@broadjam.com writes:

ARTIST: Jenna Drey
Miami, Florida

Featured Song: Shadow of a Stranger
It has been an interesting journey for the pop singer/songwriter Jenna Drey, whose first single was recently produced by the legendary Nile Rodgers. With over a three-octave vocal range, Jenna soars over pop melodies with the sensual yet silky voice that has been compared to the greatest female singers. Her music would be classified as Hot A/C, but many of her songs have been remixed into dance songs too.

In May 2003, Jenna began submitting songs for review on Broadjam and also started using the TAXI submission tool. That summer her song "Why Should I Believe You" went to #1 on Broadjam and stayed in the Top 10s for three months. During that time "Stand in Line" also hit the Top 10 Charts. Through Broadjam, Jenna submitted to the Dallas Songwriters Contest and in November 2003 "Stand in Line" was announced as the Grand Prize Winner. That December Emanon Records (distributed through Universal) offered Jenna a record deal.

In January 2004, Jenna won first place in the January VH-1 sponsored “Song of the Year” contest. That February Jenna discovered METAJAM, which her publicist now uses to create press releases and promo materials, track gigs and appearances, and manage Jenna's portfolio on Broadjam. Jenna signed her recording contract with Emanon in March of 2004 and her first album, "Just Like That," was released last September. The album was produced by two-time Grammy winner Nile Rodgers (Madonna, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, etc) and Kevin Churko (Shania Twain). Jenna is managed by David Frangioni (Aerosmith).

Click to visit Jenna Drey's Artist Profile Page.

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To: newsletter@broadjam.com
CC: customerservice@broadjam.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)

hello,

in your latest newsletter in Jenna Drey's article you wrote:
"In January 2004, Jenna won first place in the January VH-1 sponsored “Song of the Year” contest."

I don't want to steal any of Jenna's much deserved thunder but
the "song of the year contest" is NOT a VH1 song contest.

the "song of the year contest" claims to give a portion of their proceeds to VH1's
save the music foundation. that contest is not sponsored by VH1 and was not created by VH1. But I believe it was purposely designed that way to mislead people into thinking that it is and to add misleading credibility.

when you google the contests address
you'll discover it is shared with Bryan Bryant from Houston
http://www.bryanbryant.com/
My guess is Bryan created the the song of the year contest.
He figured out that song contest creators can make much more money than those who enter song contests.

when you go to VH1.com and do a search for
vh1 song contest
you'll find the following
Your Search For "vh1 song contest" yielded no results

Ande Rasmussen

------------------
Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@aol.com
http://www.AndeRasmussen.com
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.soundclick.com/anders
http://www.MySpace.com/anders

Now I am not familiar with that guy you said may have started the contest however consider this. Do you know DAS Ventures which involves a guy named Rothchild that started the John Lennon Contest? The billboard contest is a small family owned group of guys in Oklahoma somewhere that Billboard allowed them to use their name. They are not connect to Billboard charts though. Unisong and Windrift contests are also just simple contests that someone started that no one knows.

Im not defending Song of the Year since I really dont know much about them. Having said that, I dont know how anyone knows much about any of the contests. Though I do appreciate any contest supporting a charity.

I think overall, contests are good for the top winners and not so good for the non-winners. I suppose I understand the disappointment from you guys that didnt actually win the contest (ive been there) but thats the nature of a contest. There are a few winners and a lot of people who dont win.

the VH-1 sponsored “Song of the Year” contest

The song of the year contest makes an undisclosed donation to to VH-1's Save the Music Foundation.

Ande

------------------
Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@aol.com
http://www.AndeRasmussen.com
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.soundclick.com/anders
http://www.MySpace.com/anders

Working with such a brand, from my experience, warrants a rigorous screening process.

This contest has done well to partner with VH-1. As with all things concerning the exchange of money, it is up to the 'customer' to research the transaction and the company to protect its name so they don't lose 'customers' in the future.

From what I have read here, it seems that this contest is in good standing... but I will have a look for myself too.

I'd be careful who you support. The company in question, beyond misleading people with their connection with VH1, also is among the worst and most relentless spammers in the industry. It doesn't support your own credibility to go on record saying they are legit.

Midnite

quote:

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Originally posted by Brian Austin Whitney:
Lior,

I'd be careful who you support. The company in question, beyond misleading people with their connection with VH1, also is among the worst and most relentless spammers in the industry. It doesn't support your own credibility to go on record saying they are legit.

Brian

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I do not support this contest. Beyond what I have read here, I know nothing about them. I also don't know whether their relationship with VH1 is legitimate or not.

I don't believe the contest has officially partnered with VH1 Save the Music.

Here's the list of VH1 Save the Music sponsors
http://www.vh1.com/partners/save_the_music

here's a list of donors
http://www.vh1.com/partners/save_the_music/who_we_are/supporters.html

This contest just declared that they are going to give a portion of to VH1 save the music.

which is great.

the problem is this contest is designed in such a way to lead people into believing it is the VH1 Song Contest.

Which it is not.

Also when songwriters win something in this contest some have launched PR, gotten press, or added to their bios calling it "the VH1 song contest."

It's just misleading, creating the appearance that the contest is a bigger deal than it really is.

Song Contests are all about making money for the host organization.

At some point songwriters need to quit entering contests and concentrate on getting cuts and getting their songs used in TV and film.

ande

quote:

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Originally posted by wearelistening:
VH-1 is a huge brand and I imagine that, assuming the relationship is legitimate, they would be very careful about the use of their name in association with anything.

Working with such a brand, from my experience, warrants a rigorous screening process.

This contest has done well to partner with VH-1. As with all things concerning the exchange of money, it is up to the 'customer' to research the transaction and the company to protect its name so they don't lose 'customers' in the future.

From what I have read here, it seems that this contest is in good standing... but I will have a look for myself too.

Lior Shamir
Managing Director
We Are Listening
www.wearelistening.org

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