Country returns

[claire]

Wouldnt it be great if there was a route for Country music that didnt have to go through Nashville?? Check out SongU's pitches. Nashville based. Major and indie pitch opportunities. Local talent listening. No cost per pitch (just an annual membership fee). The same songs that I've had returned through Taxi have been signed through SongU. Go figure.Claire

[bucyboy]

Did anybody get a forward to the Tim McGraw listing? I got another return on my "Roses For No Reason" saying it was "hard to classify" and the reviewer gave it all 9's this time and said he liked the song a lot, but said it doesn't seem to completely line up with the opportunity. Not necessarily a "total" fit for listing. Buc

[cameron]

In the screener's defense (and I'm not specifically referring to you here Buc) I have to say I've just spent two days in publisher pitch sessions listening to a bunch of good but not great songs, and I also spent time today at a publisher's office watching (and listening) while one of their staff was going through their catalog of 1,800+ songs trying to find which ones to pitch to labels for some upcoming projects. Listening to that for awhile really makes you realize how a song has to grab the listener from the first bar. When you're listening to hundreds of songs at a time, most of them never get past the intro before they're clicking on the next song, and I can see why. There's no sense pitching a song that has a poor demo or sounds even slightly off from the listing when there are so many great songs to choose from. I heard some really fantastic songs today that have never been cut, and I saw firsthand why our song has to somehow standout from all the others from the first note.Cam

[hummingbird]

that's a great post, Cam.

[mazz]

Oct 21, 2009, 8:49pm, cameron wrote:In the screener's defense (and I'm not specifically referring to you here Buc) I have to say I've just spent two days in publisher pitch sessions listening to a bunch of good but not great songs, and I also spent time today at a publisher's office watching (and listening) while one of their staff was going through their catalog of 1,800+ songs trying to find which ones to pitch to labels for some upcoming projects. Listening to that for awhile really makes you realize how a song has to grab the listener from the first bar. When you're listening to hundreds of songs at a time, most of them never get past the intro before they're clicking on the next song, and I can see why. There's no sense pitching a song that has a poor demo or sounds even slightly off from the listing when there are so many great songs to choose from. I heard some really fantastic songs today that have never been cut, and I saw firsthand why our song has to somehow standout from all the others from the first note.CamCam, that pretty much sums up why "close" or "almost" isn't going to get through. Thanks for sharing your experience!Mazz

[bucyboy]

I know what you mean about all the songs available Cam. I use to live in Nashville and have also listened to hundreds of songs. When I was trying to get a deal the publishers would play me song after song, and like Cam said, a lot of the time we'd only listen to a few notes and move on because you knew right away it wasn't going to be what you were looking for. I agree the demo's have to be top notch to even stand a chance these days. I was curious if anyone got a song forwarded to the Tim McGraw listing. I was just a little disapointed that I got all 9's and the reviewer said it might not necessarily be a total fit. If it is indeed that close would it hurt to let someone listen to it? Just a thought. We have finished the rewrite of the song I pitched and it is being re-demo'd next week. We'll see if that helps. As to my original question, It doesn't seem like anyone got a forward on this listing. Buc

[cameron]

I didn't submit for the Tim McGraw listing, so can't help you with that one.My personal feeling has long been that Taxi SHOULD forward songs that are that close, simply because it's very subjective and the screener never knows exactly what they're looking for either.Cam

[bucyboy]

That's all I am saying too. The listing did say up-tempo's preferred but all tempo's excepted. If you're at a 9 out of 10 rating, why not forward it? That's all I was getting at too. Especially as Cam said, if it's that close why not leave it up to them? If they only play 10 -30 seconds of it and move on, at least you were given the opportunity for having a decent song. IMHOBuc

[hummingbird]

... forgive me for playing devil's advocate... but perhaps, the songwriter got his/her 10-30 seconds to impress when the TAXI screener listened to the (entire) song? Perhaps the listing party doesn't want to hear songs that were 9 out of 10s. They want only 10s? Perhaps the listing party respects the knowledge & experience of the TAXI screener as it's similar to their own?I can't walk in the shoes of an A&R rep, but I assume, when they come to TAXI, that they are getting the full services of those experienced in assessing the commercial viability of tracks in a specific genre. That way they don't have to listen to unsolicited submissions, and they don't have to listen to anything that hasn't blown a screener out of the water first. At any point in time, if they place a call to their resources, they can find hundreds of good prescreened songs to choose from. It makes sense to me that 'absolutely great' is all that will make it through to the next level.OTOH, I too am a frustrated songwriter/composer who would like the track that got all 9's & a forward from one screener, to not be marked lower & returned by someone else. I try to understand that and move on, but it ain't easy.

[jchitty]

I hate to rain on people's parades, but I've decided that pitching to Nashville is not for me. I've heard all the 'then you don't believe in yourself speeches and you must continue to work hard advice,' but at some point, a songwriter needs to throw in the towel and find another niche. Four years of constant discouragement has been enough for me.....I think it's easier to win a lottery than to get a song cut in Nashville.For one, you got to jump through tons of hoops to get something placed with a publisher. And then after you get a deal, you got to go through tons more hoops to interest a country artist with your songs. And then you have to play all the politics to make sure your song stands out from the competition....that being the pile of songs the artist is considering. And if you don't live in Nashville, it's extremely hard to do this from your computer. If lived in Nashville, maybe it might be a bit easier, but since I don't, I know it's an extremely daunting task.It's too much work and expense for too little reward.So I am not pitching to country listings any longer, although I'm still a TAXI member, and I'll still pitch to film and tv if I have something suitable.I know people have been doing this for years, and I admire that, but at my age, I don't have the luxury of time on my side....it could take 5 to 10 years to get somewhere. I wanna enjoy creating music now and have folks listen to it, so I've found other venues to present my tunes. Money has become less important to me now....getting heard has taken on greater significance.Here's one thing TAXI did for me....they helped me to become a better songwriter, and it's paid off for me. I'm now getting some notice in a few places. It's small notice in a small venue, but that's good enough for me. I've decided that I just love to create. Pitching all the time took the fun out of music for me. Another thing....going to the TAXI panel meeting on country music opened my eyes. Sure, there are times I get irritated with the TAXI screeners, but if you get down to it, it's not TAXI's fault. They are trying to give Nashville what it wants too....and that's really hard for anyone to do. TAXI has been a mixed bag for me, but as a whole, a good experience. I love those Nashville meetings Michael's had, (the film tv seminar and the panel meeting) and I'll most likely stay a member for the meetings (hopefully a Rally in the future) and continued advice on songwriting. I've come to expect different things of TAXI now....they don't necessarily have to be the vehicle to drive me 'where I must get that cut in Nashville.'To all those who continue to pitch to the Nashville listings, good luck. I hope you folks make it over the high bar....I would LOVE to see you guys do that. I would celebrate with you 'coz at least someone got through.