Keen on Music Publishing
How can I get my songs heard by a publisher, artist or anyone else who can get them recorded?
This question embodies most of a songwriter's greatest aspirations and frustrations. We want our music to matter. Our efforts to expose our songs to a greater audience may be met with resistance, criticism, indifference or other reactions that are different from that which we hoped and dreamed. Ultimately, a Christian can find peace in doing everything that can be thought of to pursue this goal and then surrendering the results to God. But there's plenty that we can do in the pursuit!
Knowing that you miss 100% of the shots you never take, it can be said conversely that you have to take all the shots you can. It is important to be very proactive about spreading the news that you are a songwriter and giving people opportunities to hear your songs. This is true regardless of whether or not you live in or near a city that is considered a music center. In fact, there are studies claiming that the music business is becoming a decentralized industry [1] so the likelihood that you and your music can be discovered right where you are could be said to be increasing. One never knows when they will meet someone who knows someone, who knows someone, who knows someone that will have a connection that will prove useful to you.
It is vital that you be musically active in your own community booking gigs for yourself or playing at Songwriter Nights, Open Microphone Nights, Talent Contests and other situations where people can hear your songs. If there are no ready-made opportunities…create them! For example, any church, charity organization or school can use a benefit concert. Organize one and play some original music. You help yourself by helping others.
The idea here is to build your network. While the odds are remote that a legitimate publisher or artist might wander into a random songwriter night, the hope is that you can build relationships with other creative people who are there who may have connections that will be useful to you. It happens.
Another useful strategy is to involve yourself in songwriter associations and other music trade groups that will build your network. Not only will you be networking but there could be the opportunity for creative growth as well.
Contests and conventions or workshops conducted by legitimate, professional organizations, like ASCAP's I Create Music EXPO may provide scenarios for you to perform your music also. By carefully checking the credentials of those involved in the presentation of these sorts of events you can determine whether or not those involved might be worth your networking efforts. Choose those events that involve professionals who actually have relevant jobs with relevant companies! Information germane to this subject can be found in the answer to FAQ: "
Where can I find instruction, professional feedback and critique on my songs?"
The truth of the matter is that if you are carefully and prayerfully doing everything you can do to expose your songs to the public your songs will probably find their way to appropriate outlets. If your songs have hitmaking potential you will probably be found because music industry professionals and THEIR networks are so pervasive in our culture. Keep in mind that legitimate publishers perish without hit songs. So it works against their goals for them to isolate themselves and shut out great new songs. Songs and songwriters with strong commercial potential usually get "discovered" through the networks publishers have developed. Those songwriters and songs are rare. But the process starts with your efforts to make yourself and your music heard.
Write! Play! Sing!
Copyright 2007 Dan Keen. All Rights Reserved
[1] Terrell, P.(2005). Decentralization and Growth in the U.S. Music Industry.
Journal of the Music & Entertainment Industry Educators Association, 5 (2)
