*** DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION!
2008 USA Songwriting Competition's deadline is fast approaching. Winning
songs will receive radio airplay in United States and Canada along with
great prizes such as a Top Prize of over $50,000.
Sponsors of the 2008 Competition are: New Music Weekly, Acoustic Guitar
Magazine, Sony, Audio-Technica, Ibanez Guitars, D'Addario Strings, Sam Ash
Music Stores, ARC (Advanced Room Correction System), IK Multimedia,
Mi7.com, Intellitouch Tuners, Shari's Berries, Indie Bible,
LivewireMusician.com, AirplayAccess.com, Loggins Promotion, Superdups.com,
Acoustic Café Radio Program, Sonicbids.com, and XM Radio.
~WAYS TO ENTER:
Enter online here with your MP3 and/or lyrics:
http://online.songwriting.net
Or snail mail entries, please obtain the entry form at:
http://www.songwriting.net/entryform.html
Or enter using Sonicbids here:
http://www.sonicbids.com/usasong
*** ENTRY/ENTRIES CONFIRMATION
Please do not e-mail us to confirm your entries as this will slow down our
administration process. If you are sending songs via snail mail, please
note that you will get an e-mail confirmation only after the songs have
been processed by our data entry department which does take time
considering thousands of entries coming in all at the same time. However,
if you wish to get an immediate confirmation, I would strongly suggest
that you enter your songs online and you WILL receive an immediate
confirmation. You may enter online at http://online.songwriting.net or
at Sonicbids at: http://www.sonicbids.com/usasong
*** USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION WINNING SONGS ON RADIO
Acoustic Café radio show airs the winners of the 2007 competition every
week this month in May:
~David Francey (2007 USA Songwriting Competition, First Prize winner,
Folk) has his winning song "Ballad Of Bowser Macrae" the aired last week
on Acoustic Café radio show. Additionally, he was featured as "One to
Watch" for May '08.
~Jordan Zevon (2006 USA Songwriting Competition, First Prize Winner, Pop)
was interviewed and his song featured last week on Acoustic Café radio
show.
~Steve Tannen (2001 USA Songwriting Competition, Overall Grand Prize
Winner) of The Weepies has his song "Can't Go Back Now" aired this
week
and on the 1st week of May on Acoustic Café. His group "The Weepies" is
signed to Nettwerk Records.
~Greg Tannen (2001 USA Songwriting Competition, Honorable Mention winner)
has his song "Vegas Baby" aired on Acoustic Café.
http://www.acafe.com
XM Radio will be airing the winning songs of 2007 competition. Stay tuned
for details in the next e-mail newsletter. Meanwhile check out XM's XMU:
http://www.xmradio.com/programming/channel_page.jsp?ch=43
** TOP WINNERS OF THE PAST YEARS OF USA SONWRITING COMPETITION
Many have contacted us wanting to hear the top songs of the past years.
Here are some clips of the past years top winners:
2002 - Jag Star (Band) featuring Sarah Lewis - "Mouth":
http://www.myspace.com/jagstar
2003 - Gabriel Mann - "Lighted up":
http://cdbaby.com/mp3lofi/gabrielmann2-01.m3u
2004 - Patrice Pike, Wayne Sutton, Sean Phillips & Darrell Phillips - "My
Three Wishes": http://www.myspace.com/patricepike
2006 - Vikki Simpson (of the Waifs) - "Bridal Train" written by Vikki
Simpson, recorded by The Waifs here (please select the Song "Bridal Train"
at the audio panel): http://www.myspace.com/thewaifs
2007 - Ari Gold - "Where The Music Takes You", written by Ari Gold, Joe
Hogue 'JOJOHO' & Sean Petersen : http://www.arigold.com
2008 - ......We're waiting for your song entry, the winner may be YOU! So
enter today!
PAST WINNERS & FINALISTS' UPDATES
*Simon Spire (2007 USA Songwriting Competition Honorable Mention Award
Winner) was signed by Sony/BMG and his album "All Or Nothing" will be
released in July 2008.
*Ari Gold (2007 USA Songwriting Competition Overall Grand Prize Winner) is
nominated for a NewNowNext Award. The first annual award show on LOGO TV
airs on Saturday, June 7 '08.
*Kate Voegele (1st Prize Winner Pop, 2005 USA Songwriting Competition) is
currently touring with multi-award winning Pop group "Hanson". She is
currently signed to MySpace/Interscope Records, her album is out. She
remains the youngest first prize winner of the USA Songwriting Competition
at 18 years old at that time of her win.
*Pepper MaShay (2005 First Prize Winner, Dance/Electronica) appeared as a
panelist at Winter Music Conference along with USA Songwriting
Competition's event director Eddie Phoon and producer Jason Klein on March
25, 2008 in Miami Beach, FL.
*Darrell Scott appeared as a panelist at ASCAP's I CREATE MUSIC EXPO on
April 10 to 12. Darrell Scott's song "Good Ol USA" (first prize winner
of
the country category in 2005) was released by Faith Hill's album in 2006.
*The Wailin' Jennys (2004 & 2005 Finalist in USA Songwriting Competition)
won a 2007 Folk Alliance Award for "Contemporary Release of the Year"
for their album "Firecracker", it was released by Red House Records.
~Were you a past winner or finalist of the USA Songwriting Competition
and have some interesting news on yourself? If so, please e-mail us at:
info@songwriting.net
*** HOW TO WRITE HIT MELODIES, Part 3, by Molly-Ann Leikin
When I write a song, I always write the melody first, one note at a time.
While I have limited chops as a keyboard player, I do hear melodies in my
head. I keep a recording device of some kind with me all the time - in my
car, in my purse, next to the bed, even in the shower - so that whenever I
get an idea for something, I just record it, la la la'ing. Sometimes I
even call my voicemail, and sing to myself. I constantly revise the
notes, going over and over and over them. You may work differently, but
just remember that songwriting is a process, and what comes out in the
first draft is just that - a first draft - and usually needs several more
to reach the finish line. I'm lucky because I feel a little click in my
gut when I know something I've written is finished. But I don't have
anything to do with chords or programming until much later.
After writing the single notes of the chorus, I work backwards to write
the individual notes of the verse, again, one note at a time. When I am
finally happy with both the verse and the chorus, I go looking for the
chords to put around them. That way, I'm not inhibited by my lack of
musicianship or intimidated by the technical aspects of programming. I
just write the song. Once the melody's down pat and the lyric I write to
the melody clicks and I have the chords that go around the notes, then I
start thinking about "how do I hear this produced, what instruments do I
feel, what record on the radio sounds like what I'm going for." But it
all starts with the individual notes of the melody. I know from working
with so many talented, developing writers that they start with too much
ambition and too much technology and not enough bare simple note-by-note
creativity. So if you find your melodies aren't as strong as you would
like them to be, or that the marketplace requires, then I suggest you try
some version of my way of writing songs and adapt it to your personality.
When you change the process, you can change the result.
© 2008 Songwriting Consultants, Ltd.
~Molly-Ann Leikin (rhymes with bacon) is a song marketing consultant in
California, who, for a modest professional fee, works one-on-one to help
you find the right writing partner and then helps you market your finished
work to all the right people. A Eurovision finalist (American Idol in
Europe), Molly is the author of "How to Write A Hit Song, Fifth edition",
(June, 2008) from which this article is excerpted, and "How to Be a Hit
Songwriter", both published by Hal Leonard. She has a house full of gold
and platinum records plus an Emmy nomination, has written themes and songs
for over four dozen TV shows and movies, including "Eight is Enough" and
"Violet" that won an Oscar. From the USA and Canada, you can reach Molly,
toll-free, at 800-851-6588, or from anywhere in the world, at
www.songmd.com. Please note: Molly does not accept unsolicited material.
© 2008 Songwriting Consultants, Ltd.
*RADIO STATIONS THAT WILL PLAY YOUR MATERIAL:
XM Radio - XMU/The R.A.D.A.R. Report, airing Thursday 9pm USA eastern time
http://www.radiounsigned.com
WFUV (90.7 FM and WFUV.org)
eva@buzzwordpr.com
Influential New York City radio station WFUV (90.7 FM and wfuv.org) will
test-drive its forthcoming new music radio channel with a special program,
which debuted on March 17th and will be heard again on Monday March 24th
from 10:00 PM to midnight. The program, called This Is Only A Test, will
preview the new channel, which debuts later this year on a full-time basis
and will feature established and emerging New York City-based indie rock
and other styles. This Is Only A Test will air on 90.7 FM and wfuv.org as
a kind of open-source experiment to engage listeners in shaping the future
service; Following its debut on March 17th and 24th, the show moves to
Friday at 10 PM beginning March 28, following The Whole Wide World with
Rita. xa0;It will be available on demand at wfuv.org, as well as on 90.7
FM. For more information, e-mail eva@buzzwordpr.com
Samm Brown's "For The Record", a weekly radio program on KPFK 90.7
FM, is seeking artists/bands for airplay and critique. Each Sunday, Brown hosts a
program that focuses on the entertainment industry in general and the
music business in particular. He also presents a special segment that
showcases new and emerging artists. If you would like your music played
and critiqued by industry pros, send a package to Samm Brown's For The
Record, KPFK Radio, 90.7 FM, 11054 Ventura Blvd. No. 237, Studio City, CA.
91604.
KFJC 89.7 FM
19144 Brookview Dr. Saratoga, CA 95070
PH: 831-325-9013
Meat Hooks meathooks@unfunrecords.com
www.kfjc.org
I have been a DJ at KFJC in Los Altos Hills, CA since 1999 and will get
any CDs or vinyl you send me to our music director. Please send to me
directly, or to the station ATTN: Meat Hooks.
Radio Rietveld
Frederik Roeskestraat 96, 1076 ED Amsterdam, The Netherlands
PH: 003120-5711600 FX: 003120-5711654
Hans Kuiper/ Gijs Muller radiorietveld@gmail.com
www.radiorietveld.nl
We feature independent music, originally produced programs, soundscapes,
radio plays, interviews and art specials. We are connected to the Gerrit
Rietveld Art Academy in Amsterdam.
WBMB Baruch College Radio, 87.9 FM The Biz
55 Lexington Ave. Ste. 3-280, New York, NY 10010
PH: 646-312-4720
Gina Alioto ginanalioto@gmail.com
www.wbmbradio.com
Featuring all styles of music.
WNCW - Isothermal College
PO Box 804, Spindale, NC 28160
PH: 828-287-8000 x349 FX: 828-287-8012
Martin Anderson marting@wncw.org
www.wncw.org
We're always looking for new Americana, Rock, Singer/Songwriter and World
music to play.
WOJB - Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa College
13386 W. Trepania Rd. Hayward, WI 54843
PH: 715-634-2100 FX: 715-634-4070
Nicky Kellar programdirector@wojb.org
www.wojb.org
We're one of the most diverse and popular stations in Wisconsin.
KRCK-FM 97.7
73-733 Fred Waring Dr. #201, Palm Desert, CA 92260
PH: 760-341-0123 FX: 760-341-7455
The Big KC kc@krck.com
http://www.krck.com
KRCK supports local talent and encourages independent artists. Rock &
Alternative format.
WRHO FM
Hartwick College, 1 Hartwick Dr. Oneonta, NY, 13820O
PH: 607-431-4555 FX: 607-431-4064
Alex Cameron wrho@hartwick.edu
http://users.hartwick.edu/wrho
Please send us your promo CDs. We play all genres of music, however we
tend to lack in the Folk/Country/Jazz/Blues/ Classical/Spoken Word genres
- so more of those genres would be greatly appreciated!
WGRX FM
4414 Lafayette Blvd. Ste #100, Fredericksburg, VA 22408
PH: 540-891-9696 FX: 540-891-1656
Stephanie Taylor staylor@thunder1045.com
http://www.thunder1045.com
A mainstream Country station that mixes in Americana and Southern Rock. We
air a two hour Americana/Bluegrass/Texas Country show on Sunday nights
that incorporates independent artists.
*The list of radio stations are brought to you by INDIE BIBLE. You can
find the Indie Bible in these stores: Borders Books & Music, Barnes &
Noble, Sam Ash, Virgin Records, Tower Records and Mars Music. All USA
Songwriting Competition subscribers can get the $5 discounted Indie Bible.
Go to:
http://www.indiebible.com/usasong
*** IAMA Featured Performing Artists Spotlight
Featured Artists of the Month are:
~Katy Pfaffl (1st Prize, Best Female Artist, 4th Annual IAMA)
~Karen Lynne (Runner Up, 4th Annual IAMA)
~Abbie Barrett (Runner Up, 4th Annual IAMA)
For more details of the artists, please visit:
http://www.inacoustic.com/artists2.html
*AirplayAccess.com - available to Program Directors, Music Directors,
Syndicate Radio, and Internet radio. Radio airplay is tracking using the
STS technology. AirplayAccess is the music industry's answer for fast,
secure music delivery, enabling registered industry professionals, records
labels, artist/bands to get their promotional music directly to radio as
broadcast quality digital files. Airplay Access is a complimentary service
to radio stations from a trusted name in radio airplay tracking...STS
http://AirplayAccess.com
*New Music Weekly
http://www.newmusicweekly.com
*Loggins Radio Promotion
http://www.logginspromotion.com
*Songsinc.com is the new, ingenious online Music Company offering
songwriters, lyricist, poets and composers the opportunity to collaborate,
create, market, and promote songs through an amazing process called
TrackWriting - and they never ask for publishing or copyright
http://www.songsinc.com
*Livewire Contacts
http://www.livewiremusician.com
*IK Multimedia
http://www.ikmultimedia.com
*Onlinegigs - Onlinegigs Version 4 fully automates the booking and
promotional process for bands, booking agents, record companies and music
managers. Onlinegigs will do it all for you, from finding the right venue
to automatically reminding your fans about upcoming performances right on
their cell phones.
http://www.onlinegigs.com
*SongCast - world class music distribution company that delivers
independent music to iTunes USA, Australia, Canada, UK/Europe, Japan and
ALL of their other International Stores.
http://www.songcastmusic.com
*want2bdiscovered.com - We help unsigned and indie music artists of all
genres get their music heard by thousands of new fans! Create your FREE
music profile and upload up to 10 MP3s, "LIVE" stream one of your
performances on our homepage, upload photos, videos, links and much more!
http://www.want2bdiscovered.com
*Indie Community - acts as a booking agent and mentor for Christian
artists and speakers who want to use their gifts to minister in their
communities. Christian bands, worship leaders, and speakers can sign up
at:
http://www.indiecommunity.com