just curious country

[claire]

Just out of curiosity, how many of you submit for country listings and of those, how many of you have had songs forwarded? When I look through the "Forwards" messages on these forums, I hardly ever see a country forward, so I was wondering if fewer people write for the genre or if the screening process is tougher for the genre or what. Claire

[simonparker]

I wouldn't say the screening process is tougher - I would say that the listings for TAXI in Country are more numerous, tend to be for established acts, and are geared for outside writers. Therefore, the bar is going to be super high, and probably super high in greater frequency than other genres. Not to put any other genre down, but country music tends to be the hot songwriter market and therefore, more listings for outside songs, and more demand for higher quality product.I have no forwards in Country (come close a couple of times where I needed a few tweaks per screener comments). I do have forwards in other genres. As to whether it's tougher to get a forward there, I don't think so. Hope this helps.

[ckbarlow]

Country is generally known as the toughest one in which to get forwards, yes. But you can do it. Ten months ago I'd never written a commercial country song - but I just got my second country forward yesterday! Heed the critiques, do a lot of listening, study lyrics, look around you every day for great stories. Pat Pattison's book "Writing Better Lyrics" has been a huge help for me.

[claire]

Thanks. I actually was just curious, nothing else. I get forwards every now and then and have even gotten a response or two, but it just seemed as if almost all the posts about "I got forwarded" are for everything other than country, so I was wondering if the country writers are held to a higher standard or if there are just fewer of us. If it's only taken you ten months to go from having never written a commercial country song to getting forwards through Taxi, you are my hero - and I'm a pretty good writer!Claire

[ckbarlow]

May 20, 2008, 12:28pm, claire wrote:If it's only taken you ten months to go from having never written a commercial country song to getting forwards through Taxi, you are my hero - and I'm a pretty good writer!Well, that song's never gotten forwarded again and I sure haven't heard from the listing party. If a deal comes from it, then I will be your hero! Hey, it was based on my wedding vows, which I was working on at the time, so I doubt I'll ever be quite so inspired again! LOL...

[claire]

LOL! I'd love to hear the song.Claire

[rcase]

May 17, 2008, 6:23am, ckbarlow wrote:Ten months ago I'd never written a commercial country song - but I just got my second country forward yesterday! That's no small accomplishment CK.. congratulations to you, and good luck with the forwards (and your next song )!

[ckbarlow]

May 21, 2008, 1:14pm, claire wrote:LOL! I'd love to hear the song.ClaireSure! The one I wrote while working on my vows is called You Were There. There are Female and Male lyric versions on my TAXI page. The one that got forwarded the other day is called You Get Me, and it's on my TAXI page too.

[cameron]

CK, your songs are very good. I see a bright future for you as a country songwriter.Cameron

[claire]

That's a good song - congrats on the forward. I like it that given the arrangement it could work in several genres, not just country. Well done.