For the country writers:

[matthoggard]

Howdy ya'll.I have recently been pondering the country music business and the direction it seems to be going.It is evident that the rock sound is really big right now. Ive seen this coming for a while now.Some of the songs are really great. Being a rock/country guy all my life I can really appreciate the solid rock guitar riffs and power chords that are popular in mainstream country today.What are your thoughts on where the industry might head next?I know that what we hear today was written at least a year ago.I still hear alot of traditional writing in the new stuff but it seems that the old craft is getting left further behind. There are a few artists that are holding on to it but I notice that they get way less airplay on the mainstream stations.If we are trying to stay current, and the songs we are writing today would be at least a year either on hold or in the studio is it possible to really impact the market?I recently noticed a listing a'la James Otto that we are going to try a specific write for. IF this is for mr. Otto, why would an established and well known artist/writer be looking outside of Nashville for music?Also, how many of the a'la listings we see are actually for the referenced artists?Ive read alot on how it is in Nashville, how hard it is for "outsiders" to break in. If the circles of writers and artists and publishers are so tight how can anyone possibly get a demo heard?I know your answers are going to be, "have to write a high bar song" etc. But my question is, even if you have a great song, who in Nashville will really give an outsider a chance?All the mediocre songs on the radio cant be just artist's choice and well known producers picks. I know an established artist can do pretty much what they want but there are alot of new artists recording sub-par (IMO) material. Oh well, just had to vent a little. Been listening to too much mainstream radio i guess.M~

[jchitty]

Hey, Matt....this is an excellent thread. You touch upon points I've also been thinking about in the last year. Country music is definitely changing. A couple of years back, I made a lot more traditional country music demoes (or neo-traditional) and now I'm having to revamp my songwriting. Everything goes in cycles, and there will always be a place for traditional country, but now, it's definitely more rock or pop oriented, modern country as some would say. I think trends are changing because young people tend to be the major purchasers of music. Yes, adults still buy it, but kids purchase more. You only have to witness the new trends...anything by Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, Sugarland, Dierks Bentley or Carrie Underwood sells. Yeah, neo-traditional country is still selling for artists like Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley, but you're right, the Nashville scene is changing.Since I'm older, I have to keep my ear out for changing trends.... I don't care for some modern country, but I still gotta learn to write it. And plus, it helps to have a good demo service (plug for Jimi, sorry, hehe) where people are younger and they can put an edge to songs that you might not get with a more traditional demo service.As far as song staying current in a year or so, I guess if it's a great song, it will stand the test of time, but you never know. And as far as what's being played on the radio.....yeah, I'll agree that some of it just isn't that good. Probably some artist's brother-in-law wrote it. But then again, I remember my parents didn't like my music either, and it's probably the same with country...anyone over the age of 40 likes the more traditional stuff, but the kids like their form of country.It's true that we newbies are held to higher standards....and Nashville is pretty insular I hear, so they're not just gonna let anyone come in unless they are a fantastic writer. Sure, there are not so good songs on the radio, but there are also some phenomenol ones...the competition is very stiff. I get can down sometimes.....I've been doing this quite a while and some people don't really understand the dedication and perseverence it takes. We're talking a very big committment, being able to deal with disappointment on a regular basis, etc. It's not that easy....writing country music is not for the faint of heart, but it's extremely rewarding in many ways as we all know.

[matthoggard]

Quote:Probably some artist's brother-in-law wrote it. Thats good stuff chits. Cracked me up bad!!!

[sgs4u]

Nov 11, 2008, 7:23pm, cameron wrote: Somewhere, I believe a Bill Gates or Michael Laskow type has figured out how songs are going to be promoted and distributed in the future and is positioning himself to be the new Messiah of music.CamI think you're referring to me, Cam, but hardly anyone knows yet. How'd you find out? And you can bet I'll be teaching it around here. The rest of your post was as wonderful to read as it was to meet you. my sincere pleasure

[jchitty]

Wow, good thoughts by Cam, Squiddy and Claire...glad I could make you laugh, Matt. I'll hang in there, Claire, and thanks....you've always been a big inspiration to me. If nothing else, I get some of my best songs out of struggle, so I just keep working when I get discouraged.....that's a good tonic for frustration....just writin' more songs and hopefully learning more as well. Squiddy's right about finding other sources as well....you folks made excellent posts.Wish I could have seen Sherrill Blackman speak, Cam.

[matthoggard]

Squids, thanks for all the wonderful comments. Im more frustrated that I let my job get in the way for the last five years. Time lost you know.Maybe we can make it up.The few months Ive been here have been a wealth of knowledge and understanding. You guys are awesome. Youve learnt me good! M~

[squids]

Well, it wasn't time lost though, sweepea. It takes quite a while to grow a very good songwriter and some of that isn't spent writin', it's spent livin'. I get that all y'all must write songs with stories (do not get me started on that! ) but really, how much emotion can you write into a story you heard from someone else about a story they heard from someone else without sometimes writin' a really wrenching example from your own life? We all gotta live. And no matta what Steve says, we all gotta eat.

[mojobone]

Traditional music is currently developing an entirely new audience that has little to do with Nashville. From Hank III to Southern Culture On The Skids to The Bottle Rockets and groups on the Chicago scene like the Henhouse Prowlers, there's lots of great traditionally oriented music to be found, for those that are looking.I just watched the CMAs earlier tonight and heard maybe four songs that I would describe as country; I'd say things are as bad as they should ever be allowed to get and the pendulum's due to swing the other way, but change generally comes to Nashville, not from it, to paraphrase Barack Obama. I think the kind of change that hit the rock biz with the rise of the Seattle sound and what was then called alternative rock will at some point smack Nashville upside the head, but in the meantime, I ain't holdin' my breath. I jes' keep pickin and grinnin'.

[jchitty]

Nov 13, 2008, 12:01am, mojobone wrote:Traditional music is currently developing an entirely new audience that has little to do with Nashville. From Hank III to Southern Culture On The Skids to The Bottle Rockets and groups on the Chicago scene like the Henhouse Prowlers, there's lots of great traditionally oriented music to be found, for those that are looking.I just watched the CMAs earlier tonight and heard maybe four songs that I would describe as country; I'd say things are as bad as they should ever be allowed to get and the pendulum's due to swing the other way, but change generally comes to Nashville, not from it, to paraphrase Barack Obama. I think the kind of change that hit the rock biz with the rise of the Seattle sound and what was then called alternative rock will at some point smack Nashville upside the head, but in the meantime, I ain't holdin' my breath. I jes' keep pickin and grinnin'. I totally agree here, Mojo. Some of the best country/bluegrass/Americana acts are ones you don't hear on commercial radio much. My favorite group right now is The Old Crow Medicine Show. I saw them in concert, and people were dancing out in the isles, yelling, cheering, etc....the place was so packed, I thought they'd have to call the fire marshall in. It was the best concert I've seen in years....well, except for Keb 'Mo.I see this as a trend too....one that may revive country music as we know it if it ever goes commercial....although in the end, it will become watered down too.

[jchitty]

Nov 12, 2008, 9:46pm, ontariolightning wrote:I've been at this since 2003, everday, reading songs, listening to songs, listening to badly written songs and then listening to better written songs, learned to stay away from cliche lines, which was hard, pretty much have been at it everyday for almost 5 years, the thing is I've maybe written one or two songs about my life, It's hard for me to do that so i make most of it upbut I believe through hard and dedicated work you can do anythingThey say it's hard to get a cut in Nashville only to discourage youIf you believe that honestly you don't have itJust my opinion, but it all starts with one songI like your thoughts about hard work and dedication. I think that's what it all boils down to....getting up every day and writing a line or two if you can. Pretty soon, you'll have another finished song. It also boils down to some luck too as far as getting a cut, being at the right place at the right time...the stars do have to line up. But in the meantime, hard work and perseverance will pay off when the time comes. And believing in yourself is key as you say...no matter how warm and fuzzy that may sound. And of course, it's about having some talent...but talent's like clay...it's raw and can be molded into something substantial as long as you continue to hone your craft.