View Full Version : How to get songs reviewed
christopherhugh
06-11-2002, 01:37 PM
Other than songwriting competitions, what are some good resources for having songs analyzed and critiqued by industry professionals? Are there any A&R execs that offer evaluation services?
Having your friends and family rave about your songwriting is swell, but it doesn't offer useful advice about improving the various structural elements in a song. Publishers don't seem to take an interest until you're good enough to make them money, but the whole point of getting constructive feedback along the way is so you can be good enough to interest a publisher. Entertainment attorneys walk to the beat of a different drummer ($). Producers seem to chronically overworked, and therefore lacking the time to mentor. Artists are often exceptionally nice people, but they will fall in love with any song that strikes them the right way, even it if has little market potential. So who's left?
I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or advice that anyone has. Thanks. :)
Christopher
SomeGuyNamedRob
06-11-2002, 01:39 PM
How about www.garageband.com ?
Once you set up a profile, you can upload your songs and have them evaluated by other musicians and songwriters.
While, admittedly, you'll your fair share of idiots on the whole, you can find a lot of good advice from the reviews.
Originally posted by christopherhugh
Other than songwriting competitions, what are some good resources for having songs analyzed and critiqued by industry professionals? Are there any A&R execs that offer evaluation services?
Having your friends and family rave about your songwriting is swell, but it doesn't offer useful advice about improving the various structural elements in a song. Publishers don't seem to take an interest until you're good enough to make them money, but the whole point of getting constructive feedback along the way is so you can be good enough to interest a publisher. Entertainment attorneys walk to the beat of a different drummer ($). Producers seem to chronically overworked, and therefore lacking the time to mentor. Artists are often exceptionally nice people, but they will fall in love with any song that strikes them the right way, even it if has little market potential. So who's left?
I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or advice that anyone has. Thanks. :)
Christopher
JimNdave
06-12-2002, 03:17 AM
Grab a copy of the Songwriters Source book. In the back pages is a listing of songwriters orgs. Join one close to you. They regularily hold tape listening/critiqueing nights. The added bonus is you get to network with the regional industry.
cool_E
06-12-2002, 07:37 AM
also check out tunesmith.net
I've been there for a few months now. It's definately
an excellent site to have your worked critiqued.
if you get to the point where you think you have songs that could be published, there's an organization called Taxi (no, I'm not affiliated in any way, and am not even a member). Membership is $300 a year. They post listings looking for artists and for songs (more so for artists). They're categorized, and there are explanations for what they're looking for. Once you're a member, if you see a listing that you think one of your songs may be good for, you send in a copy of your song(s), and a $5 fee. They will typically do reviews for you, though there are some that won't. And if the publisher likes your song, you vould get a deal. They have a website, I think it's www.taxi.com. I get their songlists each month thru email for free, since I signed up for that at the site. Can't hurt to check out the site and check out a listing just to see what they're all about.
SomeGuyNamedRob
06-13-2002, 03:15 PM
Originally posted by JimB
if you get to the point where you think you have songs that could be published, there's an organization called Taxi (no, I'm not affiliated in any way, and am not even a member). Membership is $300 a year. They post listings looking for artists and for songs (more so for artists). They're categorized, and there are explanations for what they're looking for. Once you're a member, if you see a listing that you think one of your songs may be good for, you send in a copy of your song(s), and a $5 fee. They will typically do reviews for you, though there are some that won't. And if the publisher likes your song, you vould get a deal. They have a website, I think it's www.taxi.com. I get their songlists each month thru email for free, since I signed up for that at the site. Can't hurt to check out the site and check out a listing just to see what they're all about.
I think a place like Garageband (which is free) might be a nice place to start before signing up for something this expensive. That way you can fine tune your songs prior to forking over the money.