Big Jim,

Each one of those writers I mentioned have written songs that sold in excess of one million copies in markets all over the world. Except for Chas Sandford (I Ain't Missing You At All) which has sold around 10 million copies and been cut somewhere around thirty times and number one four times in three different markets.
Jeffery Steele has had 800 cuts, 87 singles, 12 number ones in country, rock and pop markets in the past six years. You probably have heard their songs even if you don't know the names. but again, I aim these comments mostly for people in the states who tend to find their ways into Nashville at one way or the other, because almost all other forms of music are totally self contained, meaning the artists, producers or inner circle, write almost 100% of all songs they do. Nashville is around 90%.
I am not here to argue with anyone on these threads. I am not interested in getting cuts, getting hits,. or winning awards. I am interested in writing very good and great songs and touching people's lives. That is it. Everything I talk about is about that.
I relay some information in the hopes that people take it in and apply it to their music. The reason is I would love for them to participate in writing opportuntites in their home areas. Perform good songs in clubs, open mics, writers shows, etc. to keep people drinking and eating and having a good time in resurants and bars and keep customers there to keep the doors open and having places for us to play.
I care about them getting outside of themselves and go to meetings of other writers who sometimes come through these areas. Co-writing, sharing ideas, and music and enriching their neighborhoods. I want people to appreciate what a musician and writer goes through and understand that there is a face and person behind the songs so they might illegally download one less song. I would like people to understand the craft and have workshops and seminars in their areas so they can expose their music to professionals, to go to schools and explain music to kids, to be involved in the arts so that it could support itself without non-sensical government interferance.
I like writers who support these types of threads with their time, effort and money, to get a leg up on the competition, avoid mistakes, save money and time where possible and understand things like marketing, and the "other side of the desk" what the industry goes through and why, in order to maximize the effect in it.
I live in one of the most vibrant encompassing music societies there is that have a diverse population and musical varity. I would love more people to experience it, find their way to supporting our studios, resturants, tourism, bars, writers nights,etc, and along the way enrich their own lives by meeting and interacting with like minded individuals. If for nothing else but making better friends a long the way.

I did my own song search tonight. I listened for one hour on the top radio station in Nashville, WSIX 96. It goes out to multiple states at night and is one of the most popular in the country. In one hour there was a mixture of the most current hits (about 9, and two older hits, Alabama and George Straight)
There was not a negative song in them. Recently, with clients of mine, I have had them watch current video channels for country music,and have not recently seen a negative song.
In the more negative theme songs, Next Time He Cheats, Stay, etc. there is a sense of woman empowerment and overcoming their struggles with a ray of hope at the end. With songs about Cancer, war, current economic situation, there is a sense of overcoming the struggle and surviving and flourishing.

Then I went to a party at the home of a very famous and succesful Nashville, LA,London, and Canadian producer. There were about 25 people, most of which were some incredible, session and live players and singers, with artists like Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Leon Russel, Eric Clapton, and many others. This was a hodge podge of amazing players. After a very nice meal of Southern BBQ, everybody got tired of watching the Academy Awards and gathered in the living room where there was a collection of amps, PA, drums, grand piano, congas, etc. and for the next three hours jammed on cover songs. Mustang Sally, Try a Little Tenderness, Get Back, Great Balls of Fire, Lay Down Sally, My Girl, Papa Was a Rolling Stone, Honky Tonk Women, Runaway, and the like, were played. The only condition was that they had to be up tempo and fun to play.
And at the end of the day, to me that is what music is about. Fun. In everything I do, everything I say, is designed to attempt to show the fun of music and sharing it with people all over.
Sorry this is so long, but I just wanted to get that out. I do care about all of you.

MAB