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The Muse's News |
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Issue 8.9 - December 2005
ISSN 1480-6975
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This issue sponsored by:
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I n T h i s I s s u e :
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@-- Editor's Musings
@-- Music Reviews - by Francesco Emmanuel, JJ Biener,
Lennon Bone, Jane Eoman, Brett Thompson,
Cheryl Mullen, Chip Withrow & Kevin Zarnett
@-- New Artist Spotlight Additions
@-- Songwriting Book Review - by James Linderman
@-- Musical Notes - Songwriting Contests & Market Info.
@-- Muse's Clues - Songwriting Web sites that inspire - brought
to you by singer/songwriter & teacher, Irene Jackson.
@-- Featured Article - CONTRACTS FOR WRITERS AND MUSICIANS
by Guy Betar
@-- On Site Featured Article - An article already online for your
viewing pleasure.
@-- Classifieds & Useful Services
@-- Contact information
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ISSN 1480-6975. Copyright 1998/99/00/01/02/03 - Jodi Krangle.
For more contact information, see end of issue.
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MUSE'S MUSE T-SHIRTS, MUGS, MOUSEPADS AND MORE
Black T-shirts are here! Just in time for Christmas. :)
See http://www.cafepress.com/musesmuse for details.
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S p o n s o r M e s s a g e :
(Many thanks to the sponsors that help support this newsletter!)
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ONLINE SONGWRITING AND MUSIC BUSINESS COURSES FROM BERKLEE
COLLEGE OF MUSIC
The best way to learn about writing it to write and what better
way to learn than under the mentorship of Berklee College of
Music's songwriting instructors. Berkleemusic.com, the online
extension school of Berklee College of Music, offers a number of
instructor-led online songwriting courses that provide the tools,
the support, and the practice environment you'll need to express
yourself more effectively in words and music. Berkleemusic also
offers forward-thinking business courses in publishing, legal
aspects, as well as the brand-new Music Industry Entrepreneurship
course for musicians that want to blend their musical ability
with business savvy.
Enrollment is also now open for their Winter Semester starting
January 9, 2006.
For more information visit:
http://www.berkleemusic.com/?pid=1127
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E d i t o r ' s M u s i n g s :
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Hello again for another month. :) Well, it's starting to get
really COLD out there. Bleh. Actually, I don't mind the cold so
much as I mind the snow. And I don't mind the snow so much as I
mind the gray, icky slush that's still around by mid-February.
Double bleh. Oh well. I'm inside more often which might mean
... more writing? Maybe? I guess I'll have to wait and see.
In other news, the end of the year is fast approaching. And what
happens in the reviews section at the end of every year?
(Well... it's kind of a "new" tradition. :) ) It's Gian Fiero's
Muse's Muse Awards! Lots of truly fantastically talented
individuals were honored this year. To see who and hear more
about their music - or to see if you're on the list! - visit:
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000997.html
Radio Muse has been a little tough to complete, due to various
illness and scheduling conflicts between myself and James
Linderman. So the commentary has been hard to get done. We've
finally done that though and hopefully will have the newest show
up shortly with the next one well on its way. :) I have most of
the songs chosen for show #13 already (this upcoming one will be
show #12), but there are still some openings. Drop by
http://www.musesmuse.com/radiomuse.html for instructions on how
to get *your* music into the show. I'd love to hear it!
Oh - a nifty cool thing about Muse's Muse merchandise from Cafe
Press: they now have black t-shirts! And the new design that
Craig from 1uffakind.com has put together for it looks really
awesome. They make great holiday gifts. There's tons of other
really nifty pieces of merchandise too. You can have a look at
http://www.cafepress.com/musesmuse for a complete list.
And if you're looking for the perfect holiday gift for the
songwriter in your life (yourself included!), there are tons of
wonderful ideas at the Muse's Muse Songwriter's Store. That's at
http://www.musesmuse.com/songwriting-store.html . There are
books (the 7th edition of the Indie Bible is just out!),
services, cool things like watches shaped like your favorite
electric guitar, songwriting software aids like MasterWriter and
Lyricist, and lots more. If you have questions about any of it,
let me know. :)
Also, if you're interested in spreading the word about your
music, I have a special on for a year long subscription to the
Artist Spotlights here on The Muse's Muse
(http://www.musesmuse.com/artistspotlights.html) at only $50 for
the year (that's $10 off the usual price and actually only $15
more than the six month subscription!). I'll only be offering
this special holiday price for a limited time though, so get in
touch with me as soon as you can if you're interested. :)
More information on the Artist Spotlights is at
http://www.musesmuse.com/spotlightinfo.html .
And now, on to the raffle winners! Here they are:
* Brian Hazelbower from Nanaimo, BC has won a copy of VSS's
songwriting organization product, Lyricist (for details and
information on a discount offered, see
http://www.musesmuse.com/vss-review.html)
* Terrence Okamoto from Honolulu, HI has won a copy of
"100 Miles To A Record Deal" by Bronson Herrmuth
(http://www.songrepair.com/bookforweb2.htm)
* Eileen Desterno from Columbus, GA has won a copy of
the "Musician's Toolkit" (for details, see
http://www.musicianstoolkit.com/muse/)
* Fredonna Walker from Beebe, AR has won a copy of "Go Girl Go -
The Women's Revolution in Music" by James L. Dickerson
(reviewed below!).
* Larry Pratt from Westerville, Ohio has won a 6 month
subscription to the Onlinegigs (http://www.onlinegigs.com/)
service. This valuable service is a powerful tool for musicians,
agents, record companies and managers designed to virtually
automate the administration of booking and promoting a band or
bands.
I hope you have a great month and a very happy Holiday, whatever
it is you're celebrating. And for those of you in colder
climes like me, keep warm! :)
All the best,
--Jodi
Back to Menu
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S p o n s o r M e s s a g e :
(Purchasing this great product will help support both the
newsletter and the sponsor who helps keep this newsletter free!
Plus, you also get a great discount! :-)
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LYRICIST VERSION 3: THE SONGWRITER'S BEST FRIEND
THE PERFECT STOCKING STUFFER!
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 $44.95! (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! http://www.musesmuse.com/vss-review.html
(And it makes a great Christmas present for other songwriters!)
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M u s i c R e v i e w s : by Francesco Emmanuel, JJ Biener,
Brett Thompson, Lennon Bone,
Cheryl Mullen, Chip Withrow
& Kevin Zarnett
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Gian Fiero has placed his 2005 Muse's Muse Awards online at:
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-gian.html
Congratulations to all those hard-working, talented artists that
received a special mention!
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NEW MUSIC REVIEWS SINCE LAST MONTH INCLUDE:
JJ Biener:
* Robin Stine
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000999.html
* Catman Cohen
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00001012.html
* Badi Assad
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00001014.html
Cheryl Mullen:
* Barry Carl
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00001015.html
Lennon Bone:
* HAM
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000996.html
Chip Withrow:
* Frank Emerson
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00001006.html
* Cody Road
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00001000.html
* Doug Spears
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00001010.html
Jane Eoman:
* Dean Wolfe
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00001004.html
* Maureen Carr
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00001011.html
Kevin Zarnett:
* Dafni
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00001008.html
* Shanna & the Hawk
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00001016.html
Francesco Emmanuel:
* Johnny J Blair
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00001005.html
* Sandy Foster
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000995.html
* Elliot Brood
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00001009.html
* Roumi Petrova
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00001013.html
Brett Thompson:
* Joe Rathburn
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000998.html
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******
For bios on each of the reviewers, see
http://www.musesmuse.com/musicreviews.html . If you're considering
sending in your own CD for review, you can also view that page to
find out which reviewer reviews your genre. Thanks!
Back to Menu
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N e w A r t i s t S p o t l i g h t A d d i t i o n s :
Great music is only a click away!
Here are just some of the great CDs highlighted in the
Artist Spotlight section of The Muse's Muse at
http://www.musesmuse.com/artistspotlights.html
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Jade Sholty - Genre: RELIGIOUS & DEVOTIONAL
Christian Music Guide says "5/5 stars. Sholty is all heart." One
Breath at a Time is being applauded by music critics and
audiences of all ages. Sholty has been compared to "Karen
Carpenter", "Shania Twain" and "Both Indigo Girls rolled into
one", but her strong melodies, positive message and heartfelt
lyrics are unique and contagious.
http://jadesholty.com/
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Ruth Wood & Friends - Genre: RELIGIOUS & DEVOTIONAL
'Eyes on You', by Ruth Wood & Friends, is a Christian
contemporary pop album in the range of Michael W. Smith, Amy
Grant and Twila Paris. The music explores a wide range of
emotions-from brokenness, loneliness and fear to exuberant joy in
worship. It includes three award-winning songs.
http://www.ruthwoodandfriends.com/
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Thomas Floyd - Genre: ROCK
Thomas Floyd is a Gnostic seeking spiritual truth. He is an
environmentalist and a peace activist, his music reflecting that
with songs like the environmental "Shadow Land" and the
politically scathing "America", the soul searching "Angel" and
much more. Listen to Thomas Floyd on Path with A Heartbeat
Records.
http://www.thomasfloydband.com/
For more Rock Artists, visit
http://www.musesmuse.com/artistspotlights-rock.html
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Taj Weekes and Adowa - Genre: REGGAE
For their debut c.d, "HOPE & DOUBT" Taj Weekes and Adowa have
summoned up a creation that both upends the idea of modern reggae
music, while maintaining faith with the overarching ethos of the
form. Audacious and original, it shines like a beacon among the
gray of contemporary reggae.
http://www.tajandadowa.com/
For more Reggae Artists, visit
http://www.musesmuse.com/artistspotlights-reggae.html
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S o n g w r i t i n g B o o k R e v i e w : by James Linderman
Go Girl Go - The Women's Revolution in Music
by James L. Dickerson ~ http://tinyurl.com/dynam
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I have, in my own very, very small way, done my part for the
women's revolution in music. Ok...so it's a very, very, very
small part.
Not only would you find that more than 75% of my cd collection
consists of female artist recordings but, if you hang out here
long enough, you might also find out that I have, since I was
around 14 years old, primarily worked as an accompanist for
female artists.
I have always found it a shame to be working as a session
guitarist and see the female album artist sitting in a corner
reading a magazine while a bunch of guys that she is paying,
decide what her recordings, of her songs, are going to sound
like.
To this end, I am always encouraging my female guitar students
and female collaborators to learn what they playfully refer to
as, "the guy stuff" and not just be "the chick singer".
From that perspective I opened the first pages of James L.
Dickerson's Go Girl Go and found a kindred spirit for this cause.
Go Girl Go begins as a retrospective of the struggle that woman
artists have had in an unfairly male dominated business. It
charts the course of change in the artist role of women in the
industry from the turn of the century to today but it also looks
at the role of women in administrative and executive positions as
well.
The book is divided into chronological chapters starting from
1900 to the mid 1950's, and then covers a decade per chapter from
the inception of rock and roll to the present day.
Many of the books I review are written well considering that the
authors are not usually journalists and are merely writing to
communicate their particular music-related expertise but Go Girl
Go is written by a journalist and is written extremely well by
any standard.
The author also has written insightful books on Elvis Presley,
The Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Jimmy and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lil
Hardin Armstrong and a historical retrospective on the music of
Memphis.
So…what's in this book?
There is a wonderful overview of the life of Lil Hardin Armstrong
who literally pioneered the future role of woman in the early
days of jazz against considerable odds.
I found the story of the administrative role that Marion Keisker
played in the career of Elvis Presley really insightful and the
newer parts on artist like Ani DiFranco and Liz Phair extremely
captivating.
You will also leave this book as a fan of Frances Preston who
most of us will have entered the book knowing nothing about.
If you are a female songwriter, this is simply a must have book.
If you are a guy in a band with a female in it, you would be
smart to read it and if you are a guy like me who thinks that
gender, like race, religion, shape, size, disability, physical
appearance and age, should never ever be a factor in an artist's
ability to have a shot at a career... then you should check it
out too.
This book, along with the careers of the women who inspired its
writing, will continue to help us purposefully move the music
business forward to eventually become a level playing surface so
that real talent can get to speak for itself.
Go Girl Go - The Women's Revolution in Music by James L.
Dickerson can be purchased at http://tinyurl.com/dynam .
******
ABOUT THE REVIEWER:
James Linderman lives and works at theharmonyhouse, a music
lesson, songwriting and recording pre-production facility in
Newmarket, Ontario. James writes songwriting articles and music
book reviews for The Muse's News, Canadian Musician Magazine,
Songwriters Magazine, and Professional Musician Magazine. His
writing is also featured in the James Linderman Wing of the
library at www.songu.com. James has a Canadian University and
American College education in music theory and composition and is
also pretty good at making up songs and playing the guitar.
Contact James at: theharmonyhouse@rogers.com
Back to Menu
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S p o n s o r M e s s a g e :
(Please support the sponsors that support this newsletter! Thanks!)
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SPOTLIGHT YOUR MUSIC ON THE MUSE'S MUSE!
The Muse's Muse Songwriting Resource (online since 1995) now has
a section of Artist Spotlights at
http://www.musesmuse.com/artistspotlights.html where musicians
and songwriters of all genres can strut their stuff. Newly
spotlighted artists are also mentioned in this newsletter (see
above). Check out http://www.musesmuse.com/spotlightinfo.html for
more details!
(Special Holiday Pricing for a Year Long Listing is in effect now
- but only for a limited time!)
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M u s i c a l N o t e s : Songwriting Contests & Market Info.
In the interest of conserving space, I will only be including
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!
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GLIMPSE INTO THE NEW GENERATION OF GLOBAL INDIE ARTISTS AND MUSIC
LOVERS
A new music site provides a fascinating glimpse into the future
of the new breed of globally connected and independently
empowered Indie Music artists and fans. CDs-FROM-THE-ARTIST dot
com (CFTA) harnesses the potential of the web to bring
independent artists and music lovers from all over the world
together for the purpose of providing and consuming music like
never before. No extra costs and loss of creative autonomy to the
middle man. No login accounts and passwords, a truly free global
music fair for artists to stage their music and fans to leisurely
stroll, listen, talk to the artist and buy CDs direct. Admission
is free for both artists and fans. But CFTA offers much more than
a free global music fair. It also provides a host of tools for
community building, interaction and connectivity free of charge
to visitors and artists alike allowing for direct interaction and
the power that comes with it.
CFTA can be found at: http://www.cdsfromtheartist.com/
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7th ANNUAL GREAT AMERICAN SONG CONTEST NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES!
The Great American Song Contest features awards for 45 winners in
9 categories and provides $5,000 in prizes. Music-industry judges
are publishers, recording artists, producers & hit songwriters.
EVERYONE receives a written evaluation of their songs. This
annual International event is by Songwriters Resource Network, a
trusted news and education resource for songwriters everywhere.
Submission deadline has been extended to December 7, 2005.
For details, visit: http://www.greatamericansong.com/ or e-mail
info@GreatAmericanSong.com
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LISTENING ROOM INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITERS' RETREAT, LA PALMA
ISLAND, SPAIN, JANUARY 22-29, 2006
Approximately twenty songwriters from around the globe will
gather for an intensive week of co-writing, networking and
development of craft in the coastal village of Tazacorte, Isla de
La Palma, Spain, January 22-29, 2006. During the week,
participants will be involved in daily workshop sessions,
assigned co-writing partnerships, and evening song sharing
circles.
The cost for the week is 1000 Euros, based on seven nights shared
housing, as well as daily breakfast, lunch and dinner and local
transport. Registration is open to writers at all levels of
development who possess a sincere desire to grow, upon review of
their work, on a first come, first serve basis, with spots
confirmed upon receipt of a non-refundable 50% deposit.
Further information at http://www.listeningroomretreats.com/
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UK SONGWRITING FESTIVAL NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR 2006
The UK Songwriting Festival is now in its third year. It’s a
six-day event, held at Bath Spa University every August together
with the long-established International Guitar Festival. Daily
lectures deal with the process of songwriting. Practical
workshops enable students to share their songs in a friendly,
supportive small group atmosphere. Guest speakers from the music
industry discuss their own perspective on the craft of
songwriting, and house band sessions provide the opportunity for
you to hear your own songs played by a professional session band.
All participants take home a CD of their work, recorded in one of
our suite of on-site recording studios. And everybody has to obey
the Festival’s golden rule – write one song every day!
The next Festival runs from 29th July-5th August 2006.
More info and bookings at http://www.uksongwritingfestival.com/ .
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MUSE'S NEWS READERS -- TAKE a FREE SongU.com COURSE!
SongU.com is pleased to make this special offer of a free
SongU.com course available to all Muse's News Readers (a $40
value). Come see for yourself why ASCAP says that the courses
offered by SongU.com "will undoubtedly help prepare songwriters
for any market no matter their place of residence" and NSAI says
we're the "next important evolution for serious songwriters."
To take your FREE SONGWRITING COURSE, simply go to the following
link: http://www.songu.com/suSponsor/musesmuse/ .
You can learn more about SongU.com courses, co-writing hookups,
industry connections and pitching by going to
http://www.songu.com/?sa=3 .
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DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPYRIGHT KIT
Download Indie-Music.com's free and easy Copyright Kit. Print
Copyright forms, Copyright submission process, handy tips &
tricks, choosing the right form, and more.
http://www.indie-music.com/freemuse.php
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SONGWRITING CONSULTATION SPECIAL OFFER:
Pete & Pat Luboff will pay for the phone call for Muse's Muse
songwriters who use the Luboffs' songwriting consultation
service. The service provides detailed, constructive song
analysis, answers to all your creative and business questions and
references to contacts when appropriate. Visit
http://www.writesongs.com/consults.htm for more information.
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INTRODUCING A SPECIAL WEBSITE PROMOTION PACKAGE ESPECIALLY FOR
MUSICIANS/SONGWRITERS
It's important for your website to be found once it's created. We
all know this. But who can afford the promotion a website needs
to truly make its mark on the web? Now YOU can. This package is
offered exclusively to Muse's Muse visitors only - and now
includes an Artist Spotlight listing! Do you have a website that
no one knows about? Do you want it to stand out from the crowd?
Now you can get it promoted for a fraction of the price most
search engine optimization packages would cost you. Visit
http://www.internet-marketing-mm.com/musicianpackage.html
for more details.
Back to Menu
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M u s e ' s C l u e s : by Irene Jackson
©1998-2005 Moonstone Productions All Rights Reserved. Used By
Permission
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Have you ever wondered how much work goes into publishing and
promoting a song? I don't mean the big companies, I mean as a
self-published, independant songwriter.
Well, just in time for the Christmas season, I came upon an
article written on a website called ChristmasSongs.com
(http://www.christmassongs.com/), a website run by Justin Wilde.
He calls himself "Mr. Christmas" and is the owner of Christmas
and Holiday Music publishing company in Lake Forest, California.
It occurred to Mr. Wilde that if he could just write that one big
Christmas hit, it could spend years in rotation with all of those
other Christmas classics. And one day back in 1979, he convinced
his songwriting partner Doug Konecky to collaborate with him on a
song called "It Must Have Been the Mistletoe". The story behind
the writing and promotion of that song is an interesting one
(http://www.christmassongs.com/itmusthavebeenthemistletoe.htm).
In the end, Mr. Wilde took it upon himself to pitch and promote
the song because he knew that he could work harder for himself
than any publisher would. Reading through the story, you get a
real sense of just how much effort it takes to get enough
attention and airplay, even when the song is recorded by bigger
name artists. Granted, the Christmas nut is a hard one to
crack...most of us want to hear the familiar songs we know and
love and not some cheesy new song that will never conjure up
wonderful memories. But a lot of artists like to release
Christmas albums and are often looking for something fresh to
include.
ChristmasSongs.com has a number of Christmas music samples in mp3
format for you to listen to, including two version (solo and
duet) of "It Must Have Been the Mistletoe". The quality of the
demos are certainly something to pay attention to. And Mr.
Christmas has a pretty good track record for getting the songs on
television and movies too, along with Christmas recordings.
So have you ever thought of or tried writing a Christmas song?
If you are as determined as Mr. Christmas, who knows? Maybe
yours could become a classic too! In fact, if you think you've
already written something worth pitching, you can submit your
Christmas or Hanukkah (or even Halloween) song to them.
In the meantime, have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!
******
Irene Jackson is a performing songwriter from Victoria, BC in
Canada. Aside from writing, recording and performing, she also
maintains a website for songwriters that includes tips, articles
and a songwriter's messageboard.
Songwriting Tips: http://www.irenejackson.com/tips.html
Homepage: http://www.irenejackson.com/
Songs: http://www.soundclick.com/irenejackson
Back to Menu
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F e a t u r e d A r t i c l e :
CONTRACTS FOR WRITERS AND MUSICIANS
- © 2005 by Guy Betar
All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission
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So you have finally got that break you have been working so hard
for. The A&R rep for a major label likes your music and wants to
sign you up, or a promoter loves your act and wants you to open
for a big name act. Maybe one of your songs has found its way to
the producer of a chart-topping artist, and they want your song
for his or her next hit.
There could be all sorts of scenarios like this, from minor to
major. Most musicians or writers of music would be willing to
give more than is good for their health to have such an
opportunity. The real question is - what do you do now? It's
hardly a surprise to anyone that you just don't turn up on the
night and all will be well. You know you would be crazy to hand
over the lyrics and score of your song without something more.
The real essence of "what comes now" is the business end of the
music industry. The CONTRACT. No reputable person or company in
the industry, no matter how large or small, should make any
commitments to you or handle any of your creative material or
affairs, without some form of document setting out the basic
terms of the deal. This is not just a necessary evil - you need
to protect your original material or your performance rights -
they are YOUR ASSETS. The challenge for most musicians and
writers is how to interpret and desirably negotiate what are
often lengthy, complicated documents full of legalese, without
selling their next ten years of royalties to pay for a competent
lawyer.
Don't misunderstand me - I am not suggesting you don't see a
lawyer. In fact, I strongly advise that you should. However,
reality makes it clear that all too few newcomers to potential
fame and fortune usually are not financially able to get the
professional advice they should. If through choice or necessity
you want to do the wheeling and dealing on your own behalf, then
there are some basis guidelines you need to know.
Firstly, why do I need a written agreement in the first place?
There are two very good reasons. The first is so the parties have
a common understanding of what they have agreed to do, and what
they get in return. The second is to make it easier to prove what
the agreed terms are if there is a dispute at a later stage. This
is all very well, but not always easy to put into practical
application, especially if the understanding and negotiating
power of both sides is not the same.
So how do you protect yourself and have some chance of
understanding what the agreement should say, and what it does in
fact say, and whether they are the same thing? Here are some
golden rules for dealing with contracts:
1. Understand the key elements of what you think the deal is
supposed to cover. This includes:
- What you commit to do and when
- How much you are going to be paid and when
- How much the other party is to be paid and when
- What rights to your compositions and/or performance are you
granting to the other party
- Be aware there are a whole suite of "rights" related to
electronic media that you should not lightly give away,
including streaming rights on the internet, and downloading
rights through the likes of Apple's Ipod sites, and your right
to do your own publishing on the internet.
- How long are you signing up for, and are there any rights of
renewal of the agreement for either party.
2. You should have some clear idea of what you think you want
from the agreement/arrangement, and compare this with what the
agreement says along the lines of Item 1. If they do not match
up, then you need to make a decision about what, if anything, you
are prepared to give up in exchange for the things you do get, or
how hard you will hold out on them. Some issues in particular you
should focus on are:
- What do you specifically expect the other party to do. These
things should be spelled out in the agreement.
- If there are any rights you want or need to retain (for
example you want to publish your music on your own website or
someone else's) then make sure you have the right to do this
spelled out in the agreement.
I hope this brief outline will be helpful as a basis for
understanding your contractual position a little better, and some
of the issues you should consider. It cannot substitute for the
advice of a good commercial/entertainment lawyer, or years of
experience in the commercial battlefield of the industry, but it
is a start.
If you have any specific questions feel free to send me an email.
I may be a lawyer but I am also a musician and composer - so I
guess that makes me half human!!!
*****
Guy is an experienced lawyer living in Sydney Australia and
specializing in technology, entertainment and commercial law.
While working with a wide variety of clients from large
corporations to individuals, he has also been a columnist for
several non-legal magazines and has presented a wide range of
seminars. Guy is also a musician and composer whose music has
been used on television and in the media. His principal
instrument is the acoustic guitar but he also dabbles a little
with electric guitars and keyboards. His music is quite varied,
covering purely musical compositions for which he uses
synthesizers, to a variety of pieces written for just acoustic
guitar. Recordings of Guy's music and songs can be found on (and
purchased from) the Broadjam site - http://www.broadjam.com/.
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" O N S I T E " F E A T U R E D A R T I C L E :
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Once more, I'm going to mention that Gian Fiero has placed his
2005 Muse's Muse Awards online at:
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-gian.html
I invite you to check them out - not just to read more about the
wonderfully talented artists he's decided to spotlight, but to
also get an idea of what kind of competition you're looking at
for the coveted top spots. ;)
It's always nice to know these things!
=================================================================
C l a s s i f i e d s & U s e f u l S e r v i c e s :
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THE 2006 GREAT LAKES SONGWRITING CONTEST
The 2006 Great Lakes Songwriting Contest is now open to residents
of the eight Great Lakes states and the Province of Ontario.
Grand Prize is $1000 cash, with 12 additional prizes of gift
certificates, discounts on songwriting retreats, and publicity
and performance opportunities. The former Michigan Songwriting
Contest is now sponsored by Elderly Instruments and Lamb's
Retreat for Songwriters.
Deadline for entries: 3/31/06. More at http://www.greatlakessongs.com/.
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BUILD A BUZZ AT INDIE-MUSIC.COM FOR ONLY $5/MONTH
Artists: Why join Indie-Music.com? I-M has been spotlighting the
best in independent music since 1996, featuring Articles,
Interviews, Reviews, Charts, & Streaming Audio in all musical
styles. Member Artists receive generous promotion on the I-M
website (2.5 million+ hits per month) plus access to our famous
original DIY resources, which have helped numerous musicians book
thousands of dollars worth of work over the years. For a limited
time, new annual Members receive free Lyricist and TrackNotes
software value $69.95). There's never been a better time to join
I-M!
http://www.indie-music.com/join2.php
-----------------------------------------------------------------
THE 7th EDITION OF THE INDIE BIBLE IS NOW AVAILABLE!
The Indie Bible shows you where to get your music reviewed, your
songs played, and your CDs sold. Now in its Seventh Edition, The
Indie Bible has 330 pages of valuable contacts and music-related
articles.
The 7th Edition of the Indie Bible contains:
4200 publications around the world that will REVIEW your CD!
3400 radio stations around the world that will PLAY your songs!
500 vendors and services that will help you to SELL your music!
200 sites where you can UPLOAD your band's MP3 files!
500 helpful resources and sites where you can PROMOTE your band!
52 articles that will help your career to MOVE forward rapidly!
Listings include web, e-mail and physical address, as well as
phone and fax numbers.
For details and to order online visit:
http://www.bigmeteor.com/muse
-----------------------------------------------------------------
REAL ANSWERS TO REAL QUESTIONS,
An eBook About Copyright & Publishing
If you want to know how to protect yourself as a songwriter in
this digital age, you need this book - EXCLUSIVELY offered
through The Muse's Muse. And it's now on sale for half price!
Visit http://www.musesmuse.com/realarealq.html to learn more!
=================================================================
ADVERTISING RATES: For Classifieds: US$50 Max. 8 lines, where
a line = 65 characters including spaces and punctuation. All
contracts must be prepaid. Write to: editor@musesmuse.com
For Newsletter Sponsorship rates and other advertising
opportunities, please see http://www.musesmuse.com/media.html .
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=================================================================
C o n t a c t I n f o & C r e d i t s :
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jodi Krangle ............................................. EDITOR
Kathryn Obenshain ...........................GRACIOUS PROOFREADER
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Muse's News is a free monthly newsletter for and about
songwriters. Subscribers are welcome to recirculate or reprint
The Muse's News for nonprofit use as long as the appropriate
credit is given and the ENTIRE text of the newsletter is
included (including credits and information at the end of each
issue). Others should contact me at editor@musesmuse.com.
All articles copyrighted by their authors.
Back issues and other information will be available at:
http://www.musesmuse.com/musenews.html
The Muse's News is part of The Muse's Muse, a web resource for
songwriters: http://www.musesmuse.com/
For further information, send your e-mail to:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
adinfo@musesmuse.com - How to place a classified ad, pass
on market information or sponsor
The Muse's News.
info@musesmuse.com - How to subscribe, unsubscribe, etc.
editor@musesmuse.com - To submit articles,reviews,ideas,etc.
SNAILMAIL: Please contact me first at editor@musesmuse.com
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Back issues of the newsletter can be read at the National
Library of Canada ecollection:
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