What publishers exactly do??

[mazz]

You might consider adding an attorney to your posse of collaborators. If you can attract a writing contract with a large publisher, then you have something going on, and you need to approach the next contract with your eyes wide open, and an attorney is really the only one that can tell you what's in those pages. IMO, you need to seek out an attorney that you can relate to personally, that takes an interest in you and wants to be on your team. I'm sure they exist out there and if you put your mind to it, you can find one.

A large publisher probably has contacts that you don't, and hopefully really good contacts, and can get your songs in front of artists. Those types of contacts seem to be what the publishers can offer, but remember, without songs, they wouldn't exist, so you have a large part of the relationship. But you have to do your due diligence and ask the right questions up front. I hope you've learned what questions to ask next time and that you'll go in much more prepared.

This can be a tough business, but you are part of the business too, and having great songs is a great asset, but most "artists" don't think that way and allow themselves to get taken advantage of because they think: "hey, someone wants me and my music!" and leave it at that. Think of the most successful artists you know, even if you don't like them, and look into how they do business. They didn't get where they are by being afraid or by abdicating their business and career affairs to someone else. I guarantee that Madonna, like her or not, has a hand in everything that goes on in her empire.

Good luck.

Mazz