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The Muse's News |
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The Muse's News
Issue 16.6 |
September 2013
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ISSN 1480-6975.
Copyright 1998-2013 - Jodi Krangle.
For more contact information, see end of issue. |
FIND THE PERFECT GIFT FOR THE SONGWRITER IN YOUR LIFE!
All sorts of products and services especially for songwriters,
negotiated so that you get the best price possible. You'll find
means of promotion and distribution, songwriting aids,
educational products, musical instruments and their accessories,
and lots more. Any of these items would make a fantastic present for a songwriter in your life (even if it's you! :-) ) Have a Look!
NEED A NEW WEB HOSTING SERVICE FOR YOURSELF OR YOUR BAND?
I personally use HostDime - and LOVE them. Really. Their service is superb and prompt, they really know what they're doing, you can chat with them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and their pricing (The Muse's Muse uses a dedicated server) is very reasonable. Check them out!
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Sponsor Message:
(Many thanks to the sponsors that help support this newsletter!)
WRITE BETTER SONGS WITH MASTERWRITER 2.0 - NEW PRICE!
(And Muse's News readers *still* get a special discount!)
Looking for something really special for that songwriter in your
life? (Maybe it's you!) MasterWriter 2.0 is the most powerful
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MasterWriter is endorsed by ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, NSAI and is used
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Kenny Loggins, Trent Reznor, Clint Black, and many more.
In addition to giving you Rhymes, Close Rhymes, Phrases,
Pop-Culture, Synonyms, and the Definition, new features include
Word Families and Parts Of Speech, two unique and revolutionary
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possibilities for descriptive words and ideas. There have been
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greatly expanded Sound-Alikes (close rhymes), and a completely
redesigned Interface. These are serious tools for the serious
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MasterWriter's NEW price is now only $199 - but you'll still get
a *$20* discount (your price is just $179!) by ordering through
The Muse's Muse! Take the Tour, Download a Free Trial, and get a $20 discount! Note
that the auto-inserted discount number 3004 will apply the $20
discount when ordering online. Windows and Mac compatible.
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Editor's Musings: |
Hi guys. The tail end of the summer is here and I'm going to enjoy it for as long as I can. ;) I hope you're enjoying some nice weather too, wherever you happen to be. And for those of you heading back to school, may you ace every course you take!
Lots in the newsletter for you to check out, so I won't keep you. :) Here are the raffle winners for this month:
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Janice Ho from Mississauga, ON Canada, has won a 6 month membership to GuitarMasterClass.net. GMC has tons of helpful videos, instructors and lessons along with a forum for chatting with teachers and students 24/7, recording collaborations, attending video chats, & content for bass, drums, singing, piano, etc.
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Roger Roseborough, from Freeport, NY, has won a free 3 month membership to SongU, an Internet-based learning environment providing online coaching, co-writing and pitching opportunities, in addition to over 70 multi-level courses developed by award-winning songwriters.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR POTENTIAL RAFFLE WINNERS:
If you'd like to be considered for a raffle prize yourself, have a look at the various prizes offered at the top of The Muse's News webpage, decide which prizes you'd most like, and email me with your top two choices along with your mailing address so that I can get the prizes to you. Yes, it's really that simple. :) (And yes, the mailing address is kinda important. I promise it won't be used for any other reason than to send you your raffle prize - and to mention your approximate location in the notice of raffle winners you see above here.)
Thanks again for subscribing and enjoy! (Not just this newsletter. Everything, if you can. It's all in your perspective ... :) )
All the best,
--Jodi
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Sponsor Message:
(Many thanks to the sponsors that help support this newsletter!)
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BRETT MANNING'S SINGING SUCCESS SYSTEMATIC VOCAL TRAINING SYSTEM:
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Drop by for more details and start
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Music Reviews: Cyrus Rhodes |
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Artist Spotlights: |
Great music is only a click away!
Here is a selection of the great artists and bands highlighted
in
the Artist Spotlight section of The Muse's Muse.
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Melissa Auf der Maur - Genre: ROCK
For her second solo album “Out of Our Minds” Melissa wanted a more diverse album than her first. She made a creative promise to herself to try new things. For example: For the first time, she wrote a song for someone else’s voice and persona: “Father’s Grave” her duet with one of her teenage heroes Glenn Danzig. She pushed herself to write songs starting with different root sources: the bass, the piano, autoharp, lyrics, melody, guitar, a drum beat. She also made a commitment to herself to return to her visual and conceptual art roots, and make an accompanying “Out of Our Minds” fantasy film and comic.
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Songwriting Book Review
By: John Thomas |
The Ultimate Indie Bundle
David Wimble, Editor
www.indiebible.com
The Ultimate Indie Bundle is just what it says: a bundle of books aimed at helping you survive and
prosper as an independent musician. It is a total of 3183 pages, broken down into 414 pages of articles,
1218 pages of support services and companies and organizations to connect with to promote and move
your music, 164 pages of independent radio station and music organizations, 1387 pages of listings of
venues to gig in the U.S., plus another 173 pages of gig-able venues in Canada. This is a massive
package.
Now, if you take the advice of the editor of this package, read the articles first. Why? So, you’ll know
what to do with the other 2769 pages of contact information.
The articles are broken down roughly into articles about touring and music business articles about a
variety of other aspects of the music business.
The touring articles include information on:
• Booking gigs
• Working with booking agents
• Gig contracts
• How to care for your voice on the road (including when you have a cold)
• Venues and markets to play including alternative venues and the college market
• How to deal with stage fright
• Showcases and open mics
• Jam etiquette and the 10 Commandments of Jamming (amusing and informative)
• Renting vehicles
• Your gig checklist
The other music business articles cover topics including:
• How to get radio airplay
• How to get your music reviewed
• Performing rights organizations
• Electronic press kits
• Licensing
• Copyrights and trademarks
• Legal contracts
• PR and publicity
• Marketing and promotion
• Social networks and social media
• Royalties and royalty rates
• The art of negotiation
• Personal success principles
• Distribution
• The AABM – Agreement Amongst Band Members (I wish I had known this when I first started)
• How to legally sell downloads of cover songs
There is a lot of information here, and the information in the articles will give you an understanding of
how to use the PR contacts, and the review contacts and the radio stations to connect with them and
promote your music. The tour articles will give you an understanding to work from to use the venue
listings to plan your gigs or mini-tour or tour.
When it comes down to it, this is a huge resource with information that would take you an incredible
amount of time to put together.
Save yourself the time. Buy this bundle, and then get yourself a BIG cup of Ethiopian coffee as you go
through this and make very productive use of “The Ultimate Indie Bundle.”
******
ABOUT THE REVIEWER:
John Thomas is a singer, songwriter, bass player, and guitarist living in Macon, Georgia.
You can see him thinking on paper about his passion for music and songwriting, along with thoughts on bass playing, coffee, and seeing people live their personal revolutions online at johnthomascafe.com.
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Sponsor Message:
(Many thanks to the sponsors that help support this newsletter!) |
THE INDIE BIBLE PRESENTS THE ULTIMATE INDIE BUNDLE!
This is incredible offer that allows artists to gain access to $340 worth
of music directories for only $59.95.
The ULTIMATE Indie Bundle consists of this year's edition of The Indie Bible,
The Indie Venue Bible and Indie Bible ONLINE as well as a copy of next year's
Indie Bible ... all for only $59.95! Over 50,000 music listings in all including
Radio Stations, Music Magazines, Venues, Labels, Distributors and much more!
Click here for details and to order online.
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Musical Notes: Songwriting Contests & Market Info. |
In the interest of conserving space (when I need to), I will be including only
changes to this listing in this newsletter. All other contests
and market information that have already been listed here, are
displayed at http://www.musesmuse.com/contests.html &
http://www.musesmuse.com/markets.html.
Please check there regularly for updates!
15th ANNUAL GREAT AMERICAN SONG CONTEST NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES!
The Great American Song Contest features awards for 50 winners in 10 categories and provides $10,000 in Prizes. Entrants receive written song evaluations from music-industry judges, including publishers, music
producers and recording artists. The event is open to songwriters, lyricists and composers around the world. Sponsored by Songwriters Resource Network, a trusted educational resource for songwriters everywhere. Submission deadline is October 31, 2013. For details, visit: http://www.GreatAmericanSong.com
2012 GREAT AMERICAN SONG CONTEST WINNERS:
Ed Romanoff, Crit Harmon & Josh Ritter were the Grand Prize winners for their song "St. Vincent de Paul." First-Place category winners were Martin Flanagan for "Screen Door" (Acoustic/Folk); Randall Michael Tobin for "Kinda Cool" (Adult Contemporary); Cal Scott for "Paid Too Much For the Diamond" (Singer-Songwriter); Daniel James Maguire for "Ricochet" (Rock); Lanny Sherwin for Airport Blues" (Special Category Music); Dawn Kenney for "Sing Me Home" (Christian/Gospel); Carol Kay for "Parking Spaces" (Country); Lou DeAdder for "Jazzy" (Instrumental); Stephanie K. & Michael J. Powell for "Story of A Broken Heart" (Pop); Tjuan Benafactor for Casualties" (HipHop/R&B); and Mark Stepakoff for "Cold Blood" (Lyric Writing). You can hear these winning songs on the Great American Song Hall Of Fame at: http://www.greatamericansong.com/hall-of-fame.php.
SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS SONGWRITING PODCAST
Speaks Louder Than Words is a podcast that comes out every other week, with songwriters touching on their musical influences and upbringing, what's important to them in a song and often revealing the ideas behind their singles and albums. Since starting, Michael Kiwanuka, Nicky Graham, True Tiger and Ed Drewett have all appeared as have many more, sharing their thoughts on the craft. Click here to find previous episodes on iTunes... You can subscribe to get instant access to future releases.
NEWSONG MUSIC & NPR'S MOUNTAIN STAGE LAUNCH 12TH ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND SONGWRITING CONTEST
NewSong Music has recently announced the launch of its 12th annual Mountain Stage NewSong Contest – one of North America’s premier showcases of emerging performing songwriters. Twelve finalists in this year's contest will be invited to perform in the live performance finals at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts' David Rubenstein Atrium in New York City. The 2013 grand prize winner will receive a suite of career-advancing recording and performance opportunities that include:
• A fully-funded EP, produced and mixed by producer, musician and songwriter Charlie Sexton at Asheville, NC's Echo Mountain Recording Studios
• An appearance on National Public Radio's highly acclaimed Mountain Stage show
• His/Her own featured performance at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City during the 2014 season.
• A Sonus Musician's Chair, custom made to the winner's specs by Brian Boggs Chairmakers
• A fully-funded EP release PR/publicity campaign, courtesy of PledgeMusic
• A featured showcase spot at the 2014 Sundance ASCAP Music Café
• Cool new gear from Moog Music.
Additionally, ALL entrants will receive the following discounts, simply for entering:
• Oasis CD Manufacturing is offering a 5% discount off of any order
• Brian Boggs Chairmakers, makers of the Sonus Musician’s Chair, is offering a 15% discount
• Echo Mountain Studios is offering a 15% discount on studio time on their day rates
For more information and to enter please visit: https://www.newsong-music.com/contest/
The deadline to enter this year's General Round is September 15, 2013.
INDIE INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING CONTEST IS OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS!
IISC is an annual song competition to give recognition to some of the best emerging songwriters in the world, help develop their talent, and provide useful tools for developing the success of the artist. Contest are limited to 150 entries per genre so you don't get lost in the crowd! Choose between a Basic Entry (numerical score) or for $10 more, a Written Critique on your song. IISC is in its 8th competition and has given away more than $54,000 in useful prizes. Rock, Pop, Folk, Americana/Country, Instrumental, and Gospel/Christian genres are open! Visit our website for more details.
THE 10TH ANNUAL IAMA (INTERNATIONAL ACOUSTIC MUSIC AWARDS) KICKS OFF
The 10th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) is currently accepting entries, this awards competition is judged based on songwriting, performance & artistry. Win prizes in 8 different categories: Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Group/Duo, Folk/Americana/Roots, AAA/Alternative, Instrumental, Open, Bluegrass/Country. There will also be an Overall Grand Prize winner awarded to the top winner worth US$11,000, which includes radio promotion to over 250 radio stations in US and Canada, featured on Acoustic Cafe, a syndicated radio program. You may also obtain the entry form at:
http://www.inacoustic.com
TUNII.COM:
A REVOLUTIONARY NEW WAY TO SHARE AND PROMOTE MUSIC
Tunii.com pays Fans to Follow and Promote Songs and is 100% FREE to join for both recording artists and music fans. Join us in our mission of making Tunii the future of the music industry where together we can all share in the success for connecting artists and fans around the world. Sign up today through this special Muse's Muse link and please check out our short “How Tunii works video” It's Easy, it's FREE and it's Fun!
BOOKING & TOURING SUCCESS STRATEGIES & SECRETS ONLINE COURSE
Getting great gigs, building your audience and selling more merchandise is exactly what your career is all about. This online course is jam-packed with 12 hours of downloadable audio mp3s and PDF Action Guides. There are 5 modules: Module 1: Tour Goals & Planning Strategies, Module 2: Routing Your Tours, Module 3: Negotiation Techniques & Contracts, Module 4: Working with Presenters, Bookers, Promoters/Advancing the Date, Module 5: Targeting Your Markets for Maximum Audiences. Plus 2 hours of bonus classes, BONUS #1: Website Maximizer-Is you’re your Website Selling You? Learn how. BONUS #2: Copy Writing: How to write fan emails, press releases and other promo copy that get responses. Bonus # 3: Three free Industry Biz Booster Monthly Mentor Interviews. And finally, weekly call-in office hours to talk with former agent, manager, author, creator, Jeri Goldstein directly, about the course and your career. Booking & Touring Success Strategies & Secrets gives you artist-tested, step-by-step strategies to help you reach your career goals and make all of your tours profitable. http://performingbiz.com.
AWARD WINNING SONGWRITER OFFERING SONGWRITING TIPS AND CRITIQUING SERVICES
Award winning songwriter Jane Eamon is offering songwriting one on one classes via Skype. These sessions are one hour in length and can cover any topic you'd like to address. From writing, to critique, to ideas and games. Or just to share your thoughts and get feedback. If you're interested in a session contact janeeamon@shaw.ca to schedule a class.
HAVE YOU EVER STRUGGLED TO FIND THE RIGHT CHORD OR NOTE TO FIT SOMEWHERE IN YOUR SONG?
Hooktheory is a free resource that can show you how to integrate basic music theory into your songwriting process, making it easier to write catchy chord progressions and melody. Hooktheory currently consists of three main areas:
1. The Hookbook demonstrates basic principles of music theory and how they relate to popular music. It's filled with multimedia-rich content explaining musical concepts synchronized to real songs so you can hear what you are learning and make connections easier.
2. The Music Editor lets you write chord progressions in Roman Numeral notation and listen to them in any key. Add a melody, save your work, share it with friends, or export it to Garageband, sheet music, or guitar tab.
3. The Analysis Wiki is a user-generated collection of analyses of popular songs. Look up the chord progression and melody of a song, or use the music editor to create your own analyses.
Check it out now!
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Muse's Clues - By John Brhel
©2011-2013 John Brhel. All Rights Reserved.
Used By Permission |
John is taking a short break this month,
but will back with more website review goodness next month. :)
******
John Brhel is a songwriter from upstate New York who wrote his first batch of pop songs before graduating from elementary school. A lover of all music, John writes country songs, plays in a punk band and spends a good deal of his free time listening to Diane Warren ballads. John regularly attends industry events in New York and Los Angeles and is a member of ASCAP. A lover of melody and the left-field chord change, John lives and breathes songs. Write a song with him via Skype (berealmusic) and follow him on Twitter (@johnbrhel). |
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Featured Article - By Brad Dunse
QUICK TIP: One Lyric on Rye, Hold the Mayo
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Sitting at the snack bar eating breakfast recently, I wondered what might be a good topic for this month's tip. I sunk my teeth into a delicious home-made egg McMuffin and it hit me! A song sandwich!
No I haven't slipped the butter off my toast. There is a technique in writing a chorus called bookending or sandwiching. Basically, this refers to placing the title both at the beginning of the chorus and again on the last line of the chorus.
This is a great technique to make your title more memorable. However, this same technique can also be used with your entire song.
What do I mean? Well, I'm not referring to placing the title at the beginning of the song and again at the end, but rather placing a verse at the beginning and then either the same exact verse or one with slight modifications to it at the very end.
Why would we want to do this, especially since lyric real estate comes at a premium?
Well? When you bookend a chorus with the title, it makes the title more memorable, but when you bookend a song with a verse, it brings a level of familiarity, emotion, and closure that no other technique can do in quite
the same way.
Rather than explain it more, I've included a sample lyric about homelessness. I think this does an okay job of showing bookending a song with a very similar yet somewhat different verse to stress a point.
Lyric below with a few closing comments.
She's Long Gone
She lives downtown near Feldstein's Jewelry Store
She's been down there since the fall of 2004
Pays no mind to the trains that'll rumble through
Her address is the bridge over 7th Avenue
She begs downtown where shame fights her need to eat
Some people look but they never really see
They judge her worth by the soiled, unmatched clothes
Frozen hearts assume it's the life that she chose
Chorus:
And she's gone
Long gone
Far away where she came from
Did she run away?
Did she win or lose?
Would I do differently in her shoes?
She's long gone
She prays downtown in her private cardboard box
For herself and others like her down the block
Asks for strength and the courage if she dares
Thinks tonight she found the answer to her prayers
She left downtown at 11:53
Hung a sign on her box that read. "Vacancy"
Headed west past the unfamiliar shops
82nd Street it didn't matter where she stopped
Repeat Chorus
I walked uptown on my frigid midnight beat
Saw a crowd standing over a pair of worn out feet
Someone asked the crowd who she was, as if they knew
I said "A friend of mine from 7th Avenue"
She wore no coat, but a gentle peaceful face
And in her grip. the pointed answer she embraced
I held a tear 'til I covered her with my coat
Then dropped another for the years my heart's been cold
Repeat Chorus
He moved downtown near Feldstein's Jewelry Store
He's been down there since 11:54
He'll pay no mind to the trains that'll rumble through
One more abandoned soul down on 7th Avenue
C 2007 Brad Dunse
Used with permission
This technique was used to stress the point homelessness is an ongoing problem. The modified version of verse one takes us back to the same place, the same cardboard box within one-minute of the main character leaving.
Even though her leaving downtown took more than one minute, we get the sense
of a flashback to her cardboard home under the bridge with a new tenant.
Without the last verse it would be a story about just one person, but adding the last verse gives the impression when one leaves this world there is another to take another's place.
Maybe there's a song of yours which you can repeat the first verse, or a variation of it to give a kick to your lyric.
If not, how about writing one this month with the sandwich technique and see how it works for you.
Until then, keep writing from the heart!
*****
Brad Dunse is a performing songwriter based deep in the country's heartland reflecting sensitivity of daily living in his songs. Writing primarily in Folk, Country, Pop, or Americana, he occasionally writes CCM. Co-writer of The Wall, a tribute to Viet Vets receiving major market airplay, he's also received airplay on NPR, local public, independent, and web radio. He is a freelance writer, is board member of Minnesota Association of Songwriters, been member or involved in ASCAP, NSAI, SongU and other organizations. You can visit his web site at WWW.BRADDUNSEMUSIC.COM as well Add As Facebook Friend or Follow Him On Twitter. |
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"ON SITE" FEATURED ARTICLE(S) |
How The Most Successful Musicians Are Making It In The Music Business
- by Tom Hess
Are you committed to becoming a professional musician and making it in the music business? Learn how by reading this article...
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The Five Main Keys To Becoming A Truly Great Guitar Player - by Tom Hess
I have identified the five keys required for becoming a truly great guitar player. In this article I will address all five and explain how you can achieve greatness for yourself. The five main keys are...
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Proper Care and Feeding of The Gig Voice! - by Beth Lawrence
You use your voice constantly, for your whole life; and if you're a singer or speaker, you need to insure that your voice will stay healthy for life! Proper care and feeding of your voice is necessary to maintain a strong, rich voice that is vibrant, clear and has a tight, not wobbly vibrato.
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2 Reasons Why You Have A Hard Time Expressing Maximum Emotion In Your Guitar Playing - by Tom Hess
Do you want to have the musical skills that allow you to control the emotions your listeners will feel when they hear you play guitar? The single greatest skill you can develop as an artist is the ability to consistently create music that allows you to express yourself in this way. Read more in this article...
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Classifieds & Useful Services |
LEARN HOW TO PLAY GUITAR WITH GuitarMasterClass.net AND START COMPOSING YOUR OWN SONGS NOW!
GMC is a video lesson archive & community. GMC has tons of helpful videos, instructors and lessons. GMC also features forum for chatting with teachers and students 24/7, recording collaborations, attending video chats + content for bass, drums, singing, piano etc. All genres and styles are covered - Rock, metal, shred, blues, jazz, country & acoustic, funk.. We want you to have fun while learning - so get rocking NOW!
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-EXTRAS: Gear-, singing-, recording-, bass-, piano- and drum lessons. GMC Theory Grimoire eBook !!!
Special for Muse's Muse visitors:
Get a $10 discount for your first month of subscription!
LYRICIST VERSION 3: THE SONGWRITER'S BEST FRIEND
Lyricist is the first-of-its-kind word processor designed
specifically for musicians, songwriters, and poets. The software
includes a Rhyming Dictionary, Thesaurus, Album Categorization,
Chord Charting, Chord Generator, Song Arrangement, and On-Line
Copyright Link.
The new version 3 release adds support for "Piano Style" chord
symbols, Nashville Number System, and Transposition features -
all in one easy-to-use package - and all for only $54.95! (That's
$5.00 off to all Muse's News readers who purchase from the review
link at www.musesmuse.com/vss-review.html!)
This tool will revolutionize the way you write and organize your
writing.
Be the best songwriter you can be and purchase Lyricist
today!
FREE MELODY WRITING REPORT
Writing a great melody is the #1 component to writing a song your listeners will want to buy, and hear over and over again. If you want some easy ways to improve your melodies to start writing songs your fans will love, check out this FREE report. It'll teach you some great (and simple!) tricks for writing sophisticated and marketable melodies:
ADVERTISING RATES:
For Classifieds: US$50 Max. 7 lines (though I
do make exceptions), where a line = 65 characters including
spaces and punctuation. All contracts must be prepaid. Write to: editor@musesmuse.com.
Click here for Newsletter Sponsorship rates and other advertising
opportunities. |
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