Where To Send A Song Demo

[GiveNewLife]

I enjoy singing & just wanna see if my voice would make it in back up singing... so where do I send to a legit audio demo ? a recording studio or whatever you do.. :rolleyes: hopeful wisher.. tired of poor Iowa life..maybe I have a future too which has been set on the back burner unclaimed..

course its only karaoke but in Karaoke I'm told my voice is beautiful.. it just needs a voice teacher is all I think.. so I can find that diaphram thingy.. lol:eek:
And maybe I can't become part of it but I'm very interested. My kids are grown ups; I'm jobless; living on my SSDI & SSI still... Iowa is noted for hardly any jobs or hind to find unless you've been to college... (on the western side of state)...I'm 51... never been to college..

I didn't know I could sing until 2 years ago when I put forth my effort... and joined a contest..
so helpful information plz!!!!!!!!!

[Unregistered]

Of course I"m sure you're already aware the way to make it in Nashville is to be in Nashville. But, here are a few things you can do in the meantime to get started....A lot of great contact information can be found the Music Row magazine - check it out! Also think about a subscription to Row Fax or Pitch this Music (pitchthismusic.com) You'll get lots of info and will keep you in the loop on who is looking. Good luck!

[Unregistered]

see... I didn't even know THAT...

Yea I know ya gotta be there or be square...
thanks very much for your help..!
K

[haley]

I dont know what to do! People tell me i am just a kid and have no idea what i want yet. Then they turn around and tell me my voice is good and could have a great future bcuz of it. I have had many people tell me this. Im just confused of how i get started. I have asked to do many things but apparently EVERYTHING is a long shot! What do i do?!?!

[Unregistered]

Hello,

The first thing you need to understand about the music industry is it is not a "mail in" industry. There is no place to "Send" your songs. It doesn't work like that. There are 30 million artists on the internet and over a billion downloads a month, so thinking there is some place to "mail a song to" simply doesn't exist. It will only result in someone separating you from your money.

It is a business based on relationships. The first place to start would probably be in your own neighborhood, by learning about writers nights or open mics, that might be going on. NSAI, Nashville Songwriters Association International, www.nashvillesongwriters.com would be a good place to find out some info. There are over 100 chapter workshops around the country and in Canada and some places in the UK. www.musicstartshere.org is another place with videos from professionals with information on various subjects.

On the professional side of the industry there are three places music is represented in the US, Los Angeles for rock and pop, New York for more Urban, rap, hip hop, Broadway, Nashville for country and alternative. To truely succeed there are requirements to connect with people in those areas who are established. That is easier said than done.

The other thing you might do is develop a web presence. Getting capable songs well recorded, doing a You Tube video are all essential parts of an overall career in this day and age.

#1. Learn as much as you can about the business.
#2. Get out of your living room and get around other people in the business who know more than you.
#3. Attend educational conferences, workshops, etc.
#4. Get your material out there and into the game.

That should get you started.

Marc-Alan Barnette
MBarne4908@aol.com

[MBarne4908@aol.com]

Hello,

My name is Marc-Alan Barnette and I teach songwriting and the practical application of the music business based out of Nashville Tn. Your question is one that is asked all the time by people who have thought of picking up a guitar, a microphone, pictured themselves on American Idol or the big stage. Everyone wants to know "Where can I send my songs?"

The answer is: Nowhere.

With around 30 million artists and writers on the internet, a billion songs a month being downloaded, there is only so much room for people actually doing this. So there is not a central place that you "mail in" your songs. This is a relationship business with people that take years to develop the talents and connections to be able to have a career. A very very small percentage will ever make a dime. But there are places you can go to get started:

#1 Your own back yard.
Every community have open mics, writers nights, college talent nights, karaoke nights, coffee houses, etc. Those usually feature local musicians, writers, artists, poets, etc.that attend and share songs and information. Everyone who succeeds in the music industry come from somewhere else.and this is the first step.

#2 Attending writers workshops, seminars, classes, etc.
Songwriter events are almost everywhere. A visit to www.nashvillesongwriters.com will take you to Nashville Songwriters Association International, or NSAI. They are an organization located in Nashville with over one hundred chapter workshops all over the US, the UK and Canada. They have regular meetings and are always happy to have people visit. People get together, share songs, information, there are guest lecturers.

#3. Participation.
You have to get out of the living room and do this. it is a participation sport. You have to learn an instrument or pair up with someone who does play an instrument. You should be cowriting songs to learn the craft. If you need to take lessons, you have to do that. None of this is easy or fast. You need to have songs properly recorded. It is not inexpensive. This is a very serious business.

#4. Finding the business.
There are three places in the US that are the central gathering locations for the entertainment business.
NEW YORK- rock, hip hop, rap, jazz, East Coast urban
Los Angeles- Rock, alternative, rap, West Coast urban
Nashville- Country, roots music, alternative.

At some point relationships have to be fostered in one of these places. The mountain does not go to Mohammed.

#5 . A viral presence.
Most writers and artists now are doing their own recordings and You Tube videos.There are thousands on the internet every day. It would be a good idea to watch those and find out what others are doing. This is how Taylor Swift, Susan Boyle and Justin Bieber got their start.

If you are willing to do a lot of work be prepared for a lot of rejection and dead ends, yet ready to make some of the best friends you can make, you will do fine.

Enjoy what you do, learn and have a good life,

MAB

[gaggy2]

yeah i heard you can send your songs to nsai but it also has a fee for membership doesnt it? so i think when i get my songs recorded i will send them to bmi or ascap or taxi yes fees you need to pay bot they do distribute your songs to known artist and publishers. if in doubt check out any company say like paramount in nashville on line at the better buisness bureau se if their compay has a a or f rating any complaints etc. also i have not my self but there is if we are in doubt call a lawyer a entertainment lawyer to look over your contract or what ever company you decide to send your demos too . may god bless you

[Marc Barnette]

You can "Send" in songs to NSAI for evaluation if you are a member. If you are not, you can't. Pretty much anyone that is going to listen to anything requires you to be a member. This is a very expensive business and there is a reason major companies spend up to $2.5 million dollars to launch a new artist. there is no cheap way for anything and you have to understand the game.

TAXI is a song placement company based in Los Angeles mostly involved with film and television on the West Coast. It is about $300 a year to be a member.
NSAI is an educational organization based in all 50 states and the main office in Nashville. It is about $100 to be a member.

BMI, ASCAP and SESAC are performance Rights Organizations (PRO's) that collect money on songs that are recieving wide spread radio, television or film airplay. Again, you must join one of them as a member and there is not an automatic acceptance. You have to meet certain criteria.

There are hundreds of services like Paramount, which are essentially demo companies and many do substandard work which is why that one has so many complaints on them.

This can be the "Road to Hell Paved with Good Intentions" with everyone having an angle and many always willing to separate you from your money.
If you register a copyright, particpate in a contest, register songs online, or be a part of almost any organization that promotes songwriting, you will get dozens of emails and letters telling you that "They see great promise in your writing and that for a simple sum of (Fill in the blanks with large amounts) they will assist you in placing your songs in film television or with major artists..."

It is nonsense. Ask yourself. With people paying hundreds of thousands of dollars promoting their own artists, writers, and industry, and THEY are having problems getting placements, exposure, and making money, WHY would they come to you, a total unknown and untested quantity, for music when they already have more than they can do anything with?

It is a business of relationships and a long time building those. It is not cheap, easy or have any short cuts.

Learn about the business, contact those who know and watch out for snakes. You are in the swamp. Lots of them around.

MAB

[Unregistered]

go on u tube an sing (use music, nothing worse that a dry song) - Justin Beiber did that and look where it got him, if you are good they will see it - if you aren' t
say la vie - lots of fish in the see

[Unregistered]

Nowadays it is not very difficult to promote or publish the records. You can upload your lyrics on social networking sites. YouTube is a good option. You will get quicker response for it, as these are very popular among people, all over the world. You can also take the help of online music companies.

[victoria stiles]

While you're getting some attention online, start searching for managers to represent you. It's nice to have someone who is well-connected in the industry who can shop your material to record companies.Try to enter band or songwriting competitions. These will get you direct exposure with the industry. You will also be able to get press more easily if you do well in these contests.

[freakingidol]

There is nowhere to send a song demo that would get the attention of the real pros of the industry, you need to know someone who knows someone important. You can walk up to the doors but they are shut.

[victoria stiles]

It is not necessary to know someone. Good music speaks it self. A effective music campaign is enough for it.

[Unregistered]

Marc,

Thank you so much for your straightforward, honest, perfect advice. Lots of work, tons of perseverance, and total avoidance of 'easy' paths. For artists, there are none. But if you love what you do and keep at it - and go about it like you said - you'll be alright. We all want an easy one-stop-shop, but there are none. Thanks for pointing toward the right direction!


Hello,

The first thing you need to understand about the music industry is it is not a "mail in" industry. There is no place to "Send" your songs. It doesn't work like that. There are 30 million artists on the internet and over a billion downloads a month, so thinking there is some place to "mail a song to" simply doesn't exist. It will only result in someone separating you from your money.

It is a business based on relationships. The first place to start would probably be in your own neighborhood, by learning about writers nights or open mics, that might be going on. NSAI, Nashville Songwriters Association International, www.nashvillesongwriters.com would be a good place to find out some info. There are over 100 chapter workshops around the country and in Canada and some places in the UK. www.musicstartshere.org is another place with videos from professionals with information on various subjects.

On the professional side of the industry there are three places music is represented in the US, Los Angeles for rock and pop, New York for more Urban, rap, hip hop, Broadway, Nashville for country and alternative. To truely succeed there are requirements to connect with people in those areas who are established. That is easier said than done.

The other thing you might do is develop a web presence. Getting capable songs well recorded, doing a You Tube video are all essential parts of an overall career in this day and age.

#1. Learn as much as you can about the business.
#2. Get out of your living room and get around other people in the business who know more than you.
#3. Attend educational conferences, workshops, etc.
#4. Get your material out there and into the game.

That should get you started.

Marc-Alan Barnette
MBarne4908@aol.com