If you are planning on pitching to a male, you best have a male and female vocal. Artists rarely can "hear through" a recording, and they are going through hundreds of songs when they are previewing a recording. Having a female only vocal is just another reason to turn it off. Girls are a little better about listening to male voices but in this day and age, I wouldn't count on it.

In many cases, with major artists, you also better have it in the KEY they usually sing in. Again, all artists have their OWN favorites, their own songs, those of their friends, the publishers, producers, label people, you know, the ones who sign their checks? So they are looking for reasons to turn something off.

You should try to find a key that is neutral for both women and men. That way you only have to have one track. Can be done, but you need to have a couple of experienced singers.

This is NOT the "old days." Demos can't be rudimentary, guitar vocal or piano vocals when you are pitching the artists. The higher the level, the more complete the demo needs to be. And again, why it is best to write them WITH artists to begin with to have them involved in the process. The days' of the "outside pitch" are pretty much done anyway. So this is the equivilant of wanting to get on the Interstate with an Amish Horse and buggy. You can do it, but it is not advisable.

All the songs you are up against, have the right keys, singers that sound like the artist they are pitching to, have just enough attitude to "sell" the song, yet be "safe" enough not to intimidate a singer.

Pros sometimes have to have three or four versions of a song to cover different types of pitches they are doing.

MAB