GSC Bio Support

Stand Out Among the Crowd with a First-Class Bio

At Global Songwriters Connection (GSC), we realize that the first point of contact is the first point of sale. When you are connecting with music industry professionals, your bio is usually the first point of contact with them. A great bio is a minimum requirement to doing business as a singer/songwriter. It is also the first step to getting the gigs you need, to open the door for that publisher meeting, to the audition you are trying to schedule, and the warm handshake that develops into a deeper connection.

However, if you are like most people, attempting to write about yourself and your accomplishments can be a bit awkward, not to mention how challenging it is to capture a lifetime of accomplishments in a concise and interesting manner that will make someone take the time to read it.

That’s where GSC Biography Support Services come in! Our team of industry pros has seen hundreds, if not thousands, of artist bios, press kits, and electronic press kits (EPKs), so they will apply that knowledge to help set you apart and create your distinct music industry brand. GSC staff professionals will work with you to craft your story, to create a bio that is uniquely you, to help you stand out among your peers, and to ultimately better position you for success.

Whether you simply need to update your bio or refresh your entire EPK presentation to fit today’s market, let GSC help you feel confident every time you send out your bio that the first point of contact won’t be the last!

GSC Members – $98

Schedule a Bio Consultation

Our Bio Expert

Kelli Johnson

Kelli has over 20 years experience in the industry, as a performing artist and songwriter. Kelli has amassed a wealth of knowledge on the importance of branding, and standing out in a crowd. She knows exactly how GSC President, Sheree’ Spoltore’ prefers to position her members with industry professionals and she is here to help you put your best foot forward. Throughout Kelli’s career she has had several opportunities to work with various industry pros, such as Sheree, and is here to put her collective knowledge and experience to work for you.

2019 Frank Brown Songwriters Contest Winners Named

Frank Brown Festival LogoGSC was a proud sponsor and facilitator for the Frank Brown Songwriter Festival Song Contest!

The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival Song Contest has ended. This contest was open to songwriters from many songwriter organizations with entrants from all over the world. However, as in most every other song contest in the U.S. it was GSC members who once again scored the top spots!

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners and the Honorable Mentions (songs that either had high scores, a high level of artistic merit or were considered to show exceptional promise)! Check out these talented songwriters and their songs!

 

 

Grand Prize Winner is Tedd Swormstedt, OH – “Change”

Tedd wins a $500.00 Cash Prize, a performance spot at the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival along with accommodations, a 30-minute publisher meeting, mentoring meeting and song evaluations.

Second Place – Mitch Hammer, MD – “Straight to Loving You”
Third Place – Mike Rhodes, CO – “First Taste of Tennessee”

Top Ten Honorable Mentions!

  • Patrick Dodge, NY – “One”
  • Linda M. Moroziuk, ONTARIO – “Deep End”
  • Tedd Swormstedt, OH – “Girl, I Wanna Be that Man”
  • Bill DiLuigi, TN – “Outta My Hometown”
  • Rachel Barrentine, TN – “Shame Off You”
  • Carrie Cunningham Band, CA – “Fractions”
  • Bobby Evans, MO – “Love In A Heart”
  • Chad Hamilton, KY – “Dog Beers”
  • Michael Rhodes, CO – “Before LA”
  • Thalia Kalodimos, IL – “What Do We Know”

Hope to see you at the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival November 7-17, 2019! Learn more at https://www.frankbrownsongwriters.com.


 

Global Songwriters Connection Volunteer Member Representatives

GSC Member Representative

Global Songwriters Connection

Volunteer Member Representative!

 

GSC is not only growing real careers, as listed below, but we are growing as a worldwide organization.  The following GSC members have offered to represent GSC and their member experience in their home states and community. 

You will be reading more about these GSC members, in the months to come, as they continue to rise into music industry leadership in their communities and as GSC Volunteer Member Representatives. 

GSC is honored to be a vital part of EACH of these representatives’ careers and their publishing signing if they are a signed writer.  Our desire is to increase their visibility in the industry, launch them into music business industry leadership and have them share their GSC member experiences with potential members.  If I unintentionally left someone off of this list that I had contacted, feel free to give Sarah DeFors a call at the GSC offices and make sure you are listed and we order your business cards.

Thank you for serving GSC and congratulations on your leadership role within our GSC organization.

 

  • John Cirillo, TN
  • Gene Ezell, TN – signed to Sunset Gallery Music Publishing
  • Doug Folkins, Canada – Sr. GSC Member Rep Canada – signed to Lynn Gann Music Publishing
  • Mary Haller, MA – signed to Woody Bomar, Green Hills Music Publishing
  • David Hill, KS – 2017 GSC Community Ambassador Award Winner
  • Jason Kabler, TN – GSC Hendersonville Chapter Representative
  • Brett Mandel, TN
  • Dave Quirk, OR
  • Danni Ri, AL – signed to Dallas Gregory, Song Rocket Music Publishing
  • Jayne Sachs, OH – signed to Matt Lindsey, Matt Lindsey Music Publishing
  • Lynn Wilbanks, TN – signed to Dallas Gregory, Song Rocket Music Publishing

Frank Brown Songwriters Contest Winners Named

Frank Brown Festival LogoGSC was a proud sponsor and facilitator for the Frank Brown Songwriter Festival Song Contest!

These songs were reviewed by industry professionals for excellence and some amazing songs were submitted.

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners and the Honorable Mentions (songs that either had high scores, a high level of artistic merit or were considered to show exceptional promise)! Check out these talented songwriters and their songs!

 

 

 

Top Ten

  1. Diann Hammer: All I Know
  2. Bonnie Warren: Paint the Grey Away
  3. Diana Kelley: A Woman’s Heart
  4. Mark Stuart: Remote Control
  5. Anne Sterry: If I Had Loved You More
  6. David Snowden: Nothin’ You Do is Gonna Make Me Cry
  7. Chad Hamilton: Best Mistake
  8. Debbie Pascarella: The Fire I Can’t Put Out
  9. Jayne Sachs: You Key Still Works
  10. Ty Greiner: Bring on the Rain

Honorable Mentions

  • Debbie Pascarella: Tryin’ Not To Die
  • David Snowden: A Whole Lot Farther
  • Cayd Greiner: Loved For Being You 
  • Toni Wortherly: In the Hallway
  • Kristie Gondzar: Sugar Cube
  • Diann Hammer: Bottle or the Bible
  • Michael Rhodes: Good to You

For those of you who are entering song contests nationwide, you may be aware that GSC members continue to WIN or PLACE in these contests.  Our GSC team is  very proud of your recognition.

GSC is only a facilitator for this event.  The GSC staff does not take place in any of the judging.  We say that because GSC members have 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in this contest! As you can imagine we are thrilled.

2018 Member Success Stories Continued

More Cuts, Pub Deals, Artist Deals, Song Contracts and More

Our GSC members are working with everything they have inside to create success. They are working when they don’t “feel” like it. They are showing up and pitching their songs even when they are tired of being turned down. And just when some may be thinking that nothing will ever happen–BOOM! They get a cut, a call, or a contract! Please reach out to each GSC member and congratulate them on their success! It would mean so much to each of them to hear from you! We announced a few GSC member successes in January and now here are some more great reports that have come in over the past few weeks!

Read more

GSC Members win USA Song Contest

USA Song ContestCongratulations to GSC members John Cirillo and Daniel Reifsnyder, GSC reporter, and artist/writer Sarah Spencer whose co-write ”If You Drink” won FIRST PLACE in the Country category of the USA Songwriting Contest.

John entered the song into the contest so only he is recognized as the winner on the Songwriting.net website. He has been a member of GSC for 5 years and has worked diligently as a songwriter for many years. John is known in our Nashville community for bringing writers together, making connections, including others and for his disciplined work ethic. In addition, he regularly supports GSC and volunteers for most of our events when he is in town. Below is the link where you can check out the actual Contest Results. In the meantime, reach out to John Cirillo on our GSC Facebook page or on his personal page and congratulate him, as well as Daniel and Sarah!

See the Winners on Songwriting.net

 

GSC Member Mary Desmond Named Songwriter of the Year

Mary DesmondIreland Honors GSC Member and Songwriting Luminary
Mary Desmond, selected as
Ireland’s 2016 Songwriter of the Year!

By:  Dan Reifsnyder

GSC member and Irish music icon Mary Desmond was honored with a tribute and award night in Ireland at the Deanrock Ballroom, recently.

Artists Pat Daly, Finbarr Dennehy, Maura Dennehey, Joe Cooke, Mike Conda, Mona and musical duo “Just 2” showed up to recognize Mary’s many contributions to the music scene and perform her songs.

John Russel and Pat Daily, both involved in the Irish music field, helped put together and promote the event. Mary is prolific – having written hundreds of songs – many of which have achieved success not just in Ireland, but in England as well.

In addition, just last week, Mary was selected as Ireland’s 2016 Songwriter of the Year and yet another celebration of Mary Desmond’s songwriting achievements is pending. One of her songs, “My Phone Call to Heaven”, reached #1 on the Irish charts.

Not content to rest on her laurels, Mary has set her sights stateside to her next big dream – writing in Nashville. Many of her songs have been played through the GSC Publisher Online Pitch events and several times the songs have been taken by the publisher for further consideration.

Last year, Mary came to the US for the purpose of writing with some of Nashville’s top songwriters.  These connections and opportunities were facilitated by the Global Songwriters Connection team.  Mary made a huge impression on Nashville industry professionals with her determination to succeed and to learn the language, the phrasing and the US songwriting market.

“GSC has been a huge help to me, and Sheree has shown me such kindness,” Mary adds. GSC is proud of Mary and all her accomplishments!

Member Success at the June GSC PLAYS4U! Event

GSC PLAYS4U!

GSC PLAYS4U! RESULTS
June 23, 2015
The Listening Room

Every quarter Global Songwriters Connection brings in an array of publishers to our GSC PLAYS4U! event. Our members’ songs are presented to the panel of publishers. We provide the publishers with food and drink catered by the Listening Room, where we hold the event. Eleven publishers attended the June event, and eight publishers requested the event playlist. Additionally, there were thirty-three publisher requests for more songs and for more information about our members! These are big opportunities for our artists and writers. At our event, we also gave away a $75 and a $100 gift card. It is our way of investing in our members and the community.

Our attending publishers were:
⦁ Jillene Renee of Ann WIlson Publishing
⦁ Ann Wilson of Ann Wilson Publishing
⦁ Eddie Tidwell of Muy Bueno
⦁ Dallas Gregory of Song Rocket Music
⦁ Sam Cooper of Jericat Group
⦁ Woody Bomar of Green Hills
⦁ Melanie Howard of Harlan Howards Songs
⦁ Queenie Mullinix of Washington Street Publishing
⦁ Stevie Island of DoWrite
⦁ Ariana Deluga of Bluewater Music
⦁ Steve Bloch of Steve Bloch Music

Our featured songwriters were:
⦁ Jay Brehmer from Wisconsin
⦁ Alayna Carroll from Tennessee
⦁ Steve Dorian from Tennessee
⦁ Mary Haller from Massachusetts
⦁ Clayton Jones from Tennessee (pop genre)
⦁ Thalia Kalodimos from Illinois
⦁ Karen Kiley of Illinois
⦁ Allen Kreihbiel from Colorado
⦁ JT Lewis (Jordan Trajano) from Tennessee
⦁ Jenny Slate Lee from Tennessee (Christian genre)
⦁ Trish Matthews from Tennessee
⦁ David Michael from California
⦁ Nancy Moser from Kentucky
⦁ Clayton Watson from Tennessee.

 

 

Ruben Estevez Gets Bucky Covington Single

Ruben Estevez

GSC Member, Ruben Estevez, gets Bucky Covington’s NEW SINGLE,
“I Feel Ya”

GSC has been very honored to represent Ruben Estevez to the music industry for the past nearly three years.  Most recently Ruben was a GSC FEATURED writer at our quarterly GSC PLAYS4U! Event at The Listening Room.  We have played Ruben’s song, “I Feel Ya,” three times for publishers!  We are thrilled to know that we were on the right track with this song as it is now Bucky Covington’s single! Click here  (link to interview)  to learn more about this amazing writer and his journey to a major cut!  Provided by:  GSC Reporter Daniel Reifsnyder.  

Read more

2014 Member Success Update

GSC 2014 Results Report

Our goal was to increase your visibility, opportunities, connections, income, influence, talents and faith in yourself.

Our GSC team trusts you will be as pleased as we are with the results we were able to facilitate for our valued members. Thank you for including us on your journey. We never take your membership for granted.

24 POP Events (Publisher Online Pitch Events)

  • 720 songs played DIRECT to publishers.
  • 97 in-person member/publisher meetings as a direct result of this GSC monthly online event. This number does not include 2nd and 3rd meetings and current ongoing publisher relationships! Yes! Several of our members have an ongoing working relationship with different publishers.
  • 29 Pro Co-writes that were set up for GSC members after the publisher heard their songs the second time.

4 GSC FOCUS Events

  • Resulted in 2 publishing deals.
  • 5 ongoing member/publisher relationships.
  • 4 songs from these events are currently being pitched to artists by the publishers that attended the events.

4 GSC PLAYS4U! Events – We play the “best songs” of the quarter, selected from POP Events, Song Evaluations, and Mentoring Sessions to a room full of publishers.

  • 80 songs were played.
  • 6 members had appointments with publishers.
  • 38 songs were requested by the publishers.
  • 1 booking contract.

Member highlights from 2014!

Feel Free to reach out to the members below and ask them personally about their experience with Global Songwriters Connection!

Publishing Deals!

Doug Folkins, CANADA – signs publishing deal with Lynn Gann Music Enterprises while attending a GSC Focus Event. This deal is the result of a culmination of Doug’s efforts through the years and his usage of our services.

Danni Ri, ALABAMA – signs publishing deal with Dallas Gregory of Song Rocket Music. Dallas heard Danni Ri at our GSC Focus event and calls GSC on Monday and wants to sign her.

Cuts!

Jay Brehmer, WI – First CUT – Through GSC Opportunity Knocks Pitch Opportunity, and he received a SECOND cut through this same opportunity.

Sarah Spencer, TN – Gets a CUT – Through GSC Opportunity Knocks Pitch Opportunity

James Kocian, WI – CUTS in Major Nationwide Christian Project

 

97 in person/member Publisher Meetings!

Sasha Aaron – publisher meeting with Liz Morin, results in pro co-writing opportunity

Clayton Jones – publisher meeting with Devon DeVries of Big Yellow Dog

Laureen Smith – 3 in-person publisher meetings!

Ruben Estevez – publisher meeting Big Yellow Dog

Julie-Ann Morris – wins an in-person publisher meeting with Dallas Gregory.

Claire Ulanoff – publisher meeting with Matt Lindsey

Jayne Sachs – publisher meeting with Matt Lindsey

Justin Murray, OK – publisher meeting with Dallas Gregory

Scott Brantley, GA –  publisher meeting with Jimmy Metts of Starstruck publishing after being heard through a GSC POP Event.

Kelley King, WY – publisher meeting with Bobby Rymer of Writer’s Den Music after the publisher heard him at a GSC POP Event.

Gene Ezell, TN – Gets his song picked up at a GSC POP Event. A week later the publisher from Centricity Music asks for an in person meeting and now he has a growing and working relationship with this publisher.

James Kocian, WI – Gets heard through our GSC POP Events and has had THREE (and counting) in person publisher meetings. One meeting with Sony Music and one with Daywind music and a request for two more meetings.

Lynn Wilbanks – publisher meeting with Matt Lindsey

Other Successes

  • 8 Members received financial support through GSC and Music Cares to overcome extreme life challenging/medical situations. I am so thankful that Music Cares had never turned down anyone I have ever recommended. GSC is here to help you in any way that we can and or get you connected with someone who can. Please contribute to Music Cares if your finances allow.
  • 24 Members got their FIRST CUTS through GSC Pitch Opportunities.
  • 7 Members had their song placed on the popular show “Nashville”
  • 6 Members were invited for private auditions for national talent shows such as The Voice, America’s Got Talent and American Idol
  • 9 Artist/Writers were interviewed for their own article written on the Beaver Dam USA website
  • 3 Private Showcases

 

All of this success was created by members that are taking advantage of our GSC services. Thank you for a GREAT year and for SHARING Global Songwriters Connection with your friends.