This is my first post in a three-part series I’m writing about “How To Get A Record Deal”. First of all, it is VERY hard to get a legitimate record label interested in signing you as recording artist. If someone promises you otherwise, RUN, do not walk, and slam the door behind you. With that… Read More » about How To Get A Record Deal-1: What Record Labels Want
Music Business
How and When Should You Copyright A Song?
Your songwriting is a form of intellectual property, and as such, it falls to you to protect it from theft. There are different levels of protection you can use. There is the paper and electronic trail… dated lyric sheets, worktape recordings, emails to cowriters, etc. NOTE: The ‘poor man’s copyright’ (sending your song through certified… Read More » about How and When Should You Copyright A Song?
Work-For-Hire Jingle Singing
My staff singers’ group in the 70’s! (I’m second from the right) I got a couple of great questions this week from a recording artist/stage performer about doing work-for-hire as a singer. This artist has been getting a lot of calls to do jingles. He asks: If I sign a ‘work -for-hire’ agreement, does… Read More » about Work-For-Hire Jingle Singing
How To Start The Day – from PCG Nasville’s Bernard Porter
I love working with people who really care about making other people’s lives better – especially when those people are music makers. That’s one of the many reasons I love working with Bernard Porter and his artist development company PCG Nashville. I’d like to thank him for sharing his thoughts in his guest post. I… Read More » about How To Start The Day – from PCG Nasville’s Bernard Porter
Protecting Your Songs: Practical Tips from Nashville
The voice of the songwriter creates intellectual property… an artistic and financial asset. The asset (song) need to be protected before publicly performing it, licensing it, releasing it, sending it out in the world. Here is the way we in Nashville like to do it: Get all cowriters’ and co-publishers’ info Too many times… Read More » about Protecting Your Songs: Practical Tips from Nashville
Why ‘American Idol’ Voice Falls Short
I’ve been asked several times this week by singers if I thought they should enter auditions for one of the national talent competitions like American Idol. It is a common question for all contemporary commercial vocal coaches, and one you may be asking, too. Some Things to Consider: They aren’t necessarily looking for the ‘best… Read More » about Why ‘American Idol’ Voice Falls Short
How a Music Career Is Like a Boogie Board
Tips o help you enjoy the ride! NOTE: The audio player should appear below, if not, please click on the title of this post and go online to hear. Available also on iTunes , Google Play, TuneIn Radio, Android apps It was that time again this month… for my annual boogie boarding vacation at the beach! While I was out… Read More » about How a Music Career Is Like a Boogie Board
When the Songwriter is a Minor
(Note that I said a minor… not a miner.) If the songwriter is under (minor) age, and wishes to sign up at a performing rights organization (PRO) such as BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, etc, there is a step which must be taken first. According to a client of mine who just went through this process for… Read More » about When the Songwriter is a Minor
Demo Lead Vocals: Can They Be Released?
I was asked this great question by a relatively new session singer who is starting to get some demo work: If I sing a demo and get paid up front and then it ends up getting used (with my vocal on it) for commercial purposes, do I have any right to any more more money?… Read More » about Demo Lead Vocals: Can They Be Released?
Branding Your Voice: Artistic Definition
What makes YOU stand out from the crowd? If you want to have a commercial music career with your voice, there is a step you don’t need to skip: Branding your voice. I like to call this your “Artistic Definition”. What goes into branding or defining yourself as an artist? Here is an excerpt from… Read More » about Branding Your Voice: Artistic Definition