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Write different subject matters other than just love songs!!

Publishers tell us that one of the best ways for songwriters who are NOT signed to a publisher to get noticed their songs is to be writing something DIFFERENT from what their staff writers are writing and turning into them every day. Write songs about different subject matters–anything other than just love songs. Publishers receive tons of love songs and love songs will always be in style. However, we are trying to INCREASE your chances of being heard.

Below are just a few of the suggestions I have been hearing. I have written them down and included a few links for you. Again, the song itself may be “dated” and from several years back. It is simply the SUBJECT MATTER of the song that publishers say they are not receiving. If you want to help ADD to this list of songs from radio today…shoot me over an email at [email protected] with the title of the song and artist name in the subject line. Hope this helps!

1. Nostalgia Life Story Songs – today’s advertising images are frequently reflective of vintage ads, of days gone by as far back as the 40’s.

a. “The House that Built Me” – Miranda Lambert
b. “Mayberry” – Rascal Flatts

2. Radio Drive Time Songs – tempo, fun songs about WAKING UP or WINDING DOWN the day, the night, the weekend.

a. “Finally Friday” – George Jones
b. “It’s 5:00 Somewhere” – Alan Jackson
c. “Good Morning Beautiful”– Steve Holy
d. Christian Radio had Mandisa’s song “Good Morning” – which was a huge “radio drive time” song. Take a listen and see if can hear WHY radio would love this song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnmWwudeqfM

3. Happy Songs! – the world has so much chaos they need songs to encourage people, get them moving, dancing, feeling hopeful

a. “Great Day to Be Alive” – Travis Tritt
b. “Happy” – Pharrell
c. “Can’t Stop the Feeling” – Justin Timberlake

4. Unity, Hope, Oneness

a. “Get Along” – Kenny Chesney https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LI8X-GhFA8
b. “Come Together” – Beatles
c. “(I’d Like to Teach the Word to sing in) Perfect Harmony” – Roger Cook Song

5. Overcoming Songs/Anthems or if you are an artist Your “Dream” Songs

a. “The Climb” – Miley Cyrus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2zyeVRcbs
b. “I’m a Survivor” – Destiny Child
c. “Overcomer” – Mandisa
d. “I’m Gonna Be Somebody Someday” – Travis Tritt
e. “Chasin’ that Neon Rainbow” – Alan Jackson

6. Songs that pay Homage to those who have gone before

a. Alan Jackson – “Midnight in Montgomery”
b. Taylor Swift – “Tim McGraw”
c. Keith Urban – recent tribute to Merle Haggard on Coming Home album
7. Songs about our “insignificance” and/or “power”
a. “Live Like You Are Dying” – Tim McGraw
b. “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven” – Kenny Chesney
c. “Dust in the Wind”– Kansas

Lyrical Content
Really challenge yourself to say something in fresh and unique ways, like the Pop Genre Song “Consequences” by Camila Cabello. If not, the publishers will be singing Ariana Grande’s song to you “Thank you, NEXT!”
You CAN do this!

Sheree’ Spoltore’

If you FAIL to PLAN, you PLAN to FAIL!

Start your  new year off RIGHT with this FREE GOAL SETTING CLASS from GSC!

This Goal Setting Class is a powerful tool to help you truly PLAN your 2017 year. This class is normally taught in a classroom setting, so just skip past the sign-up process and get straight to the heart of the matter.

Please DO read each portion of the class as many of us, as creators, are self-sabotaging by nature.

LEARN WHY we often make the choices we make!
LEARN HOW to overcome these self-sabotaging habits!
PLAN for a great 2016 YEAR OF MIRACLES!

We Believe in YOU!

Your GSC Team!

by Sarah Defors

I was originally a GSC member from the Los Angeles area for nearly 3 years and then…I moved to Nashville and I WORK at GSC.  I’ve recently passed 3 months of living and working in Nashville full time. There are so many wonderful things I’ve learned, especially working behind the scenes at GSC. Sheree has asked me to share my observations from the perspective of being a member of GSC from LA to being right in the middle of the magic of Music City, the business and industry events and showcases.  Now that I am working behind the scenes with Sheree, this article could go on and on. But, here are a few highlights I think everyone can benefit from professionally, creatively, and personally.  I trust it will be of service to you:

1. Please, please, please ALWAYS come prepared.

Even if you’re great at winging it, do the extra little work to plan for whatever is coming! One unexpected thing can throw you off, as I just had reaffirmed in a publisher meeting; but, being prepared can put you right back on track. Nobody ever said “Wow, I wish I was less prepared.”

2. Know how to read the room.

This comes in so many different forms. If it doesn’t come naturally, Google is your friend. Read up on body language and cues. Writers, peers, audiences, and ESPECIALLY industry professionals will give you cues when they’re done with a conversation/meeting, when a certain vibe song doesn’t fit the energy of the room, when they are giving you an opportunity to play a song or talk about yourself, and when it may not be the time to talk business, etc. I’ve seen nerves (especially not being prepared) make someone totally not pick up on a cue, have a meeting go way too long, and not even let the publisher talk. Don’t have that be your first impression.

3. Lift up others.

Sometimes the best first impression you can make is to sit back, listen to your peers or industry pro’s, engage and listen, and compliment people where it is deserved. Make sure the compliment is TRUE; we can tell if you’re just flattering for flattery’s sake. Make sure to take your time to shine when it comes up, but don’t take someone else’s moment by talking over them or interjecting.

4. For the love of Johnny Cash, Brand Yourself.

POP pitches have been incredibly educational for me in many ways, but I couldn’t have imagined how much work they are to prepare for. Please send your music on time and try not to change the songs last minute. If you do, we have to change the PowerPoint, song sheet, and playlist. Please attach your bio, photo, lyrics (IN WORD DOC FORMAT) and mp3’s in one email. If you don’t, we either have to search through thousands of files to hopefully find an old lyric, bio, or recording, or you just won’t have a bio or lyric for the publisher, which looks bad. If everyone else’s lyrics are beautifully branded with their name, email, phone number, photo, co-writers, etc., and yours are haphazardly thrown together or missing a component, IT LOOKS BAD AND UNPROFESSIONAL. Publishers have disappointedly commented on this behind the scenes. They actually KNOW our GSC members from all of the other events they do and they have come to expect this step of excellence. Not only have they called on us to OPEN doors for meetings, signings, single song agreements….they have also called us to CLOSE open doors they gave a member because the person dropped off the materials they requested without contact information! It looks unprofessional – you’re not ready for the next step.

5. If you don’t read anything else here, READ THIS.

Take the time to look inward and know your flaws, insecurities, and strengths. We all have them. These things can permeate every part of your artistic, personal, and professional life because, let’s face it, in the music industry your truth and personal life are your product, your business, and your identity. If your internal foundation isn’t solid, it breeds insecurities and cycles that can cause you to not be present in your meetings, writes, etc. Believe me, publishers, A&R, and Pro-writers CAN TELL SOMETHING IS OFF. Know yourself first. Sheree is always focused on helping YOU be the best YOU can be FIRST and then…your music as you are the source of the music. YOU are who a publisher or label signs.

Respectfully,

Sarah DeFors

by Daniel Reifsnyder

5 Tips To Make You Instantly More Professional At Writer’s Rounds

If you’re an artist/writer, doing shows is a given – even if you’re simply a writer with no designs on a record deal, performing out at least sometimes is a given. It’s a great way to meet potential co-writers and friends, and a great way to gauge audience reaction to your songs. Wherever you are in your career, here are some tips to help you make a great impression.

1. Be Early
Life happens. The venue you’re playing is only 20 minutes away, but you blow a tire halfway there. Or there’s an accident and traffic is backed up for miles. Or you get there and you can’t find parking (a given if you’re playing Downtown Nashville). I always try to be a minimum of half an hour early for gigs. This not only leaves plenty of time if the unexpected happens, but it also gives me time to check out the acts before my set. It’s always nice to catch even a little bit of their stuff and introduce yourself.

2. Stay Late
Nobody expects you to close down the bar, but if you skip out the minute your set is done, that can be seen as rude. Most people are understanding if you have a long drive ahead of you or another gig you have to get to – it happens. But if it happens all the time, it starts to look like you’re unsupportive of your peers. Even staying for just a few songs can leave a better impression than packing up and rushing out.

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GSC members,

We have been diligently gathering information about what publishers are looking for when it comes to songs.  At GSC, we want to provide you with information that helps you to write songs with intention, direction and purpose.  We trust the information below with help you in your efforts.

Song Types – Song publishers are telling us that they want beat driven “track drive” tempo songs but with meaningful, meaty lyrics.

Titles – Publishers want and need FRESH UNIQUE TITLES that are almost like a slogan on a t-shirt or a slogan that you would read on a coffee mug.  Songs are released as singles and on digital sites like Spotify and need to STAND OUT.

Read more →