Chris,

The overall real problem from my point of view is the "overall amateurization" of the music industry. Since the early 2000's with more and more recording equipment, computer programs, and easier and cheaper access not to mention the all encompassing nature of the INTERNET, it poured MILLIONS of people who THOUGHT they were songwriters, and a lot of unsruputable song pluggers into the game. Now, estimates from BMI, ASCAP and other sources are 30-60 million creators, writers, artists, authors, bloggers, vloggers, magazine article writers, photographers etc, into the game. There are estimated one BILLION songs a month that are uploaded tio the Internet, with about 100,000 videos and songs uploaded an hour., The vast vast vast majority of those, are "living room songs: that should stay just like that. In their living rooms.

But they put them on web sites, Facebook. Twitter, You tube, and all the other social networking sites out there. "PINOS' (PUBLISHERS IN NAME ONLY) and a lot of charletons, prey on these people, with emails telling them "We see promise in your work, and for (name the amount) of money, recording in our studios, enrolling in our programs, buy our merchandise,etc. We can get YOU in the music business!

Same thing that used to be in the back of the comic books and magazines "Draw this picture and YOU TOO COULD HAVE A CAREER IN ART!!!" You throw that in along with every one of these people getting "LIKES" from their "Friends" and you have a perfect storm of a LOT OF GARBAGE OUT THERE.

So finding "good songs" is a mind numbing experience. Having spent 30 plus years, nights a week, 5 hours a night, dealing with writers, songs, publishers, and the industry in general, teaching workshops, judging contests, etc. it has given me a LOT of insight to the overall quality in the game. Any one can do it.
Anyone can get on a golf course too. Doesn't mean they'll actually connect with the ball in the first place, much less hit it onto the fairway.

I believe everyone should be able to go for their dreams. But dreams have to be injected with REALITY. Most people need to do a LOT MORE HOMEWORK before they try to even get on this field. Can be a pretty expernsive learning lesson.

Thanks for your contributions.

MAB