Biz advice needed!

[TheFates]

Hello everyone,

Hope you're all enjoying your day (or night). For my business savy Taxi members, should I should agree to a deal with a music lawyer who will shop my music around for a month to publishers and labels for $200 plus 5% commission of any deal she secures? I figure it's another way to get my songs out there besides Taxi, Soundcloud, Twitter and Blazetrak.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Elizabeth

[Len911]

You mean a songplugger?

Most would be considered sharks, the few reputable ones are very choosy about who they take on as clients, and for a month it wouldn't probably be worthwhile for them.

[andygabrys]

delete

[TerrellBurt]

I would see what kind of credentials this lawyer has and what kind of tangible results they have produced before I'd make a decision. Entertainment lawyers can charge $200 an hour for consultations so $200 for a month isn't bad price wise, you just want to make sure the lawyer is legit (no pun intended).

[Kolstad]

Don't even think about it, the music business doesn't work like that anymore.

[Casey H]

I'd stay away from this. Sadly, some lawyers pick up extra cash by getting folks to pay monthly fees to pitch your songs. Unlikely that one month's worth is of any value to you. More likely, they'll do one month, send you a list of places they (may or may not have) pitched your song(s), and try to get you to sign on for a longer commitment. Remember, if they mail a CD to Label X, they consider that having pitched your song. And that CD will probably end up on a trash heap with a million others.

I would use the money toward honing your songwriting craft (e.g. pro feedback such as from Taxi), recording gear, demo services, etc.

I'll be back with a great relevant story regarding this.

Casey

[TheFates]

Thank you all for your advice. I emailed her to get a clearer understanding of what the service will be and who her contacts are.

Will keep you posted.

Thank you again!

x

[TheFates]

Hey everyone,

She mentioned that she would shop my songs to her contacts at Songs Publishiing, Sony ATV, Warner/Chappell and Universal.

Thoughts?

[Casey H]

Hey everyone,

She mentioned that she would shop my songs to her contacts at Songs Publishiing, Sony ATV, Warner/Chappell and Universal.

Thoughts?

Complete BS... There is no way someone legit would shop your songs to such major players with REAL inside contacts for only $200/month + 5%. It's a game to get cash from you.

That story I mentioned... Years ago I submitted to a New York entertainment law firm after seeing their listing in Songwriter's Market. They contacted me and offered to pitch my songs for $500/month. I was so thrilled!! This was it! A NY entertainment law firm wanted to pitch MY songs. But I couldn't afford the $500/month and had to say no. I was very disappointed and thought I missed a major opportunity. Moped about for weeks.

Fast forward 1-2 years later. I started my own small film/TV music publishing company. To start building my catalog, I placed an ad in a well known tip sheet asking for music submissions. I got lots of great music and had some successes placing songs for other artists.

One day, a package arrived with a press kit and CD for an artist. Who sent it? That very same law firm who charges $500/month. So basically, the law firm looks at a tip sheet (one that anybody can get), and fires out press kits and CDs to publishers who list in there. Then they can tell the artist "Here is the list of publishers we pitched your music to this month"... "Yup, we sent a package to Hopeful Dreamer Music" (my company)...

So glad I couldn't afford that $500/month!!

HTH
Casey

PS How did you come in contact with this person? How do you even know they are a real lawyer? Feel free to PM me if you'd like. Plenty of sharks in the water out there. Beware!

[TheFates]

Thanks so much Casey! She is a friend of my cousin. She once charged me just to sit down and pick her brain about the industry. I thought it was a bit greedy of her but nevertheless took it.

I rejected the offer. Makes me sad that she would try to take advantage of me like I'm a stranger. Anyway, you live, you learn and you write more songs.

Thanks again!