Ray,

ALL song services want you to pay to pitch your songs. And on the face of that, nothing is wrong with that. Song pluggers are paid. Hit writers, even ones that have deals also employ their own song pluggers, usually around $1500 a month. And the publishers all have them that they pay as well. It is a function of the business. So on it's face, that is a normal part of doing business. The problem is ACCESS and TRACK RECORD. And the "outside song services" no longer have that because everything is now IN HOUSE.

I once attended a panel discussion with some publishers, at an ASCAP stockholders meeting. One of the publishers on the dias was one of the the biggest in Nashville and was owned by artist GEORGE STRAIT. She was asked by one of the participants, "what are you looking for." All of the publishers kind of smirked and she said "WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR ANYTHING. WE HAVE STAFF WRITERS WHO WRITE FOR US AND THAT WE PAY. AND THEY ARE GREAT WRITERS AND WE DO GREAT WITH THEIR SONGS. WE DON'T LOOK FOR ANYTHING."

This is the fallacy of the business and what I have never understood about the impressions of people outsde of the actual business. Why would anybody think they are "LOOKING" for any songs?

To date, I have written 3,197 songs since Oct, of 2003. At least 500 of those have full band recordings. All of those are written with other people who paid for the appointment to learn the finer points of writing. Many of those songs have been cut, have gone on to open doors for record deals, publishing deals, artists getting their feet on the ground, etc. I am getting quite a few cuts on songs that I wrote 30 plus years ago.

I am sought out by artists and others to write songs with them, not to pitch my existing songs. And even with that, it doesn't guarantee a cut, because as they get into their own deals, their own career moves, my songs may be swept aside for the companies and individuals they work for. But if I am going to pitch and promote anything it would be mine, not anyone from outside. Songs are quite relative, and I very much believe in my own songs, so it would not make any sense for me to promote anyone else over my own. And remember, the people I write with are writing about THEMSELVES, so they are built into the songs we wrote. No outside song is going to be able to trump that. And truth be told, I DON'T EVEN PITCH SONGS. I've gotten cuts on people who came to me or that I wrote with their own inner circles like their producers.

I do have some really great friends, whio have written AMAZING songs that they have not been able to get cut. I care about them deeply. Took one to the airport yesterday that is flying back to Key West Fla. Where he moved 10 years ago. He is one of the best writers I've ever known, and I've even done his songs before. But on the shows I do, I only have a few slots and those are going to be my own songs, because that is what I'm being paid to do.

Every single writer I know. Every single artist I have ever known, every single company I've had any knowledge on, are the same way. They have THEIR OWN songs, many they have paid a lot of money for recordings on.Every hit writer only has about six percent of their catelogue that gets any activity. So 94% of THEIR songs are NEVER HEARD.

The ONLY chance ANYONE has is FINDING AND DEVELOPING THEIR OWN ARTISTS. That is it. The "era of the outside pitch" is done, unless you are sought out. Fortunatly I have been, but that is due to being in this for 31 years and fighting it out here all of that time.

I'm sorry. I wish there was some magic formula I could give you because I know that you are a good guy and believe in what you are doing. But there is not one. It is a personal relationship business. It has always been that and always will. People take their own efforts over anyone else. That is self preservation and common sense.

It's "UPPING THE LEVEL OF YOUR ODDS."

If you were to go to a casino, and just sit outside in the parking lot, you would see the people coming and going, see the lights and hear the sounds far off. You'd be in the area, but your chance of making money would be ZERO.

If you were to go into the lobby of that casino, you would be in the middle of the people coming and going, be blasted by the sounds and lights, see winners and a lot of losers, see the games and tables up close and personally, but until you put some money on the table or slots, your chance of making money is ZERO.

If you put money in a game or slot, your chances are still not good, but they are better than the other two.

That is songwriting in the modern age and getting cuts:

Write a song by yourself and you only have yourself to pitch and promote. If you don't write AMAZING SONGS (and who knows what is amazing now) but you have NO POLITICAL CONTACTS. NOTHING INSIDE THE BUSINESS. Your chances are pretty much ZERO.

If you write a song WITH SOMEONE, particularly artists, or established or hit writers, hit producers, inside people, you have a little better chance but no guarantees.

If you write with a NEW ARTIST who is on the way up, you have really upped the level of the odds. No guarantees, but with each step you are closer.

That is reality, That is the world. Quit trying to mail anything in or send anything to anybody. Find artists. Help someone else develop their careers.

That's the only formula./

I always wish you the best and hope you find what you are looking for.

MAB

Last edited by Marc Barnette; 11/22/19 09:52 AM.