Your Big Break

Ever since I was a teenager I dreamed of getting a music publishing “deal”. This was my goal! And I knew exactly how it would happen.

I would come to Nashville and meet with a music publisher in his office. He would listen to three songs and instantly realize my genius. Then he would sign me up to write and deliver the songs I wrote for artists everywhere to sing.  

I would write the songs for the whole world to sing!

So far, as you can read, this has been pretty much about “me” and what “I” wanted. Here’s what’s funny, being a successful songwriter and composer isn’t really about you (or me), it’s about who has need and use for the music we write.

On one of the many drives back from Nashville to my hometown with no deal and my tail between my legs, I had a thought. What if I just made my own music business? What if I took my songs, produced them, and found uses for them myself?

I didn’t know it at the time, but I was really hitting upon true music publishing with that idea. Over the years, this idea turned into a consulting, recording, and marketing business for myself and other songwriters and artists, but in reality, that’s what music publishing is.

Music publishing is like a record deal but for the music. You are working with a company to write songs and then the company is finding uses for them.

Songs for Artists

Sure, this still is something that’s needed. Artists need songs. But the problem is that most artists are also songwriters, so they aren’t just looking for your song, they are looking to get their own songs out.

This was always my mistake with publishing. I wrote songs that I liked hoping they would magically be paired up with some artist somewhere what would go make money with the song so I didn’t have to. The problem with that is I was writing for my own pleasure and didn’t know that finding an artist or label that would work with MY style for that artist’s music was like finding a needle in a needle stack!

Songs for Use

The better way to think about music publishing is how your music will be used and useful to someone else. Now, we all think we have the perfect song that will make the whole world sing. The perfect love song for a movie. The perfect worship song for a church. The perfect pop song for the radio. The problem is we don’t connect the song with the audience that needs it. Instead we are hoping, like me, that someone will just come along and recognize your genius and hook you up.

The truth is WE as songwriters and composers have to do that work ourselves. We have to get the songs produced well, and then do the legwork to find the right use for that song be it via a music publisher, a music library, a music supervisor, or whatever. 

The truth is hard. The truth is work. And likely, we can’t handle the truth.

My Big Break

For me it was about deciding to just make my own music business, and along the way I had a few people come into my life that altered how I did that.

Your Big Break

You need to make that decision to make your own music business too. Then perhaps I can be that person can alters how you do that and your roads to success.

Through my publishing side, From the Moment Music, I work on my own songs, as well as other songwriters and composers like you, to partner towards getting songs produced and finding opportunities for those songs. Opportunity and income from your music takes a village, it takes a strategy, and it takes sustained focus on your goals.

Now, when you start looking, there are a million ways that people will take our money in this space. Nashville, LA, and NY have people looking to “help you” by having you pay exorbitant prices to be part of their club sometimes without even hearing a note or even working with you personally. Just like the music business, the song business has been monetized for the masses.

But From the Moment Music is focused a little differently. I am focused on working personally with songwriters and composers who are focused on quality songs and compositions, as well as finding success for that music. It doesn’t matter, and likely is better, if you have a day job or another career that provides income, or are retired and finally focusing on music. Or you could be brand new to music and focusing on writing success from a young age.

Currently I am looking for a limited number of serious partners on building their music brand from the songwriting and composing side. We are living in the real world of making recordings in order to find income from real use like the exploding world of TV, film, the high paying world of advertising, the growing world of video gaming, and many more sources.

Yes, we will also be pitching to traditional music publishers, but believe me they are also looking seriously at the things above. In fact, advertising music has been a mainstay of most serious composers and publishers for decades, if not a hundred years. Same with TV and film. This is not new info, it’s just stuff we forget about, as our thinking is we need the next hit on Spotify or YouTube.

The truth is that the song is more valuable than the artist, as you see with classic artists these days selling their catalogs for triple digit millions.

If any of this resonates with you, I'd like to talk to you about working with  From the Moment Music. To be up front, I am working and plan to be working the rest of my life just as hard on my own music and opportunities as my partners. But many times, those opportunities have room for us to partner, so you can be part of my success, and vice versa. This is the very essence of music publishing.

To hear all the different styles that we work on, you can check that out at FromtheMomentMusic.com

Then get in touch if you’d like to be part of things and join us.

Quit waiting for your big break, and make your own success in songwriting and composing. Let do this together!

EC

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Eric Copeland is the president and lead composer at From the Moment Music, his private music publishing company for over 20 years. With different music production companies like Creative Soul Records, Positive Spin Songs, and Masterscore Music, Eric is focusing on placement of songs in music libraries, television, film, advertising, and more. For more information contact Eric at fromthemomentmusic@gmail.com

If you are an artist as well, check out CreativeSoulRecords.com and our offerings there. We'd love to help.

The Real Life of a Songwriter

If you are or have been a songwriter, especially if you have only written a few songs, or are just beginning, you may wonder what it’s like to live each day as a songwriter.

Well, if you write songs, it’s not much different than how you live now, with the exception that you are actively doing something about your songwriting development or career every day that you can.

The Compound Effect

I was recently reading the book “The Compound Effect” by Darren Hardy. His book applies to anything you want to do or be, but the point is daily, incremental changes or work can lead to any dividend or result you want.

Want to be a great songwriter? Want to LIVE as a songwriter? Then you need to do it daily.

“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” ― Darren Hardy, The Compound Effect

If you want to be a songwriter, you need to write, or think about songs, or study songwriting, or read about what other songwriters are doing in the music business especially, or make relationships with other songwriters or artists or publishers...You see where this is going?

You have to make songwriting part of your every day. Each day, each song, each idea, makes you a better writer and keeps you growing.

You Have the Power

It may seem like every minute of every day is filled, but it is not. There is always something you can steal time from: the TV, reading the (mostly bad) news, the times when you mindlessly play that video game. And yes, I know you need it. But you also are reading this because you want to be a songwriter.

“Since your outcomes are all a result of your moment-to-moment choices, you have incredible power to change your life by changing those choices. Step by step, day by day, your choices will shape your actions until they become habits, where practice makes them permanent.” ― Darren Hardy, The Compound Effect

You can daily do one thing towards your songwriting, Whether if it’s a fix to a chorus, or an email to a publisher or music company. Do something. Every day.

Be in Motion. Always Move Forward.

Walt Disney has a great quote we use often in our house.

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” - Walt Disney

You have to keep motion going. Dieting? Every day there must be a change to your eating and/or exercise. Money issues? Every day there should be a plan to spend less and save more. Want to write songs? Every day you should moving forward with something related to your writing.

“Newton’s First Law, also known as the Law of Inertia: Objects at rest tend to stay at rest unless acted on by an outside force. Objects in motion tend to stay in motion, unless something stops their momentum. Put another way, couch potatoes tend to stay couch potatoes. Achievers—people who get into a successful rhythm—continue busting their butts and end up achieving more and more.” ― Darren Hardy, The Compound Effect

The Real Secret

Okay, so here is the real secret to living as a songwriter. Write songs. Then find outlets for your songs. The end. See that wasn’t so hard was it?

Seriously, living as a songwriter means finding a way to involve songwriting in the way you live, make a living, or go about your day. Be a songwriter, even if it brings you NO money, NO fame, NO attention whatsoever. If you can’t be a songwriter under those conditions, then it was never about writing anyway. It was about money, fame, or attention.

Living as a songwriter means working it, getting better at it, and dreaming new ways to do it and find success. Just like you would with anything else.

Sure, Nashville, recording, web sites, social media, mentors, blah, blah, blah. They all may figure in. But the reality is you will be alone back at your home, and have to know how to live daily as a songwriter. And the only one who will do it, and make sure you do it...is you.

Have a great week!

EC

—

John Eric Copeland is a composer and songwriter (they are kind of different) who when he isn’t composing, helps songwriters, artists, and all creatives be more successful at what they want to do. Find out more at cre8iv.com

Want to take a bold step towards being a songwriter? Check out our new opportunity “Life of a Songwriter IV” at http://www.CreativeSoulOnline.com

Give Em’ What They Want

Once we put out a call for songs. We were looking for an uptempo pop country song, and gave VERY SPECIFIC examples, as well as the EXACT Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler songs that the songs should sound like.

Of course, only about half of the 50 or more songs were even close to what we were looking for. People sent us ballads, they sent us backwoods country, they sent folks, they sent country gospel!

Attention songwriters: Yes, I know you love your babies, your songs that God gave you. But if a publisher or artist or producer puts out a call for a fast song, DO NOT send a slow song because it’s great and would be perfect for them.

The Reason For Your Life Story

"I’ll pray a hedge of protection around you because I’m pretty sure you’re on a slippery slope. I might go as far as loving on you through this season. Just sayin’." - Jon Acuff

So many times, especially as songwriters that write for church or other religious reasons, we tend to write Christiany things. Yes, it’s a word. Ok, no it’s not, but you know what I mean.

Christianese. Words that sounds good to Christians because they know them and are comfy with them with our church friends or driving in the car praise-driving. But are these the only things to write about? Does writing more Christianish songs really get the true job out of reaching people for Christ?

Songwriting Essentials: Rhyme Time

(Guest post by the inimitable Robert Sterling. Find out more about Robert here.)

The single most common Poetic Device used in songwriting is without a doubt – rhyme. Unfortunately rhyme is seemingly so simple, the beginner songwriter may assume it to be easy. (Simple is very different than easy.) Really great rhyme is a well-practiced craft.

For those of you songwriters that haven’t read my book (Shame on you, by the way.)here are some quick tips that might help you better master a part of the craft we all too often take for granted.

How to Get Better as a Songwriter

I've been right where you are.

At some point in your life, it became apparent that you could put words and music together and make a song.

People know you as a songwriter.

But for some reason, no one has realized your genius (or least no one that MATTERS!) There has been no publishing contract with Word. There has been no calls from Toby Mac because he heard your music on Soundcloud. There has been no word from Hollywood, Nashville, or New York, even though you've sent a few demos that way.

So what is the deal?

5 Steps to Songwriting Success

As you can imagine, we hear a lot of songs on a week to week basis. People ask us daily for our thoughts on their songs and we work with artists trying to help them move to the next level with their songwriting. In all this work we see a lot of the same things happening in songs. So I thought it might be good just to lay out a few things that might help beginning songwriters as well as songwriters who have been at this for a while find more success.

Fighting Writer’s Block

You're trying to put together a new album, or haven't written any music in a while, but every time you sit down to write, the same thing happens. Either nothing comes to you, or you feel like everything you come up with is so stale and predictable you can't stand it.

Don't you hate when THAT happens?

Here's a few things you can do to fight this very common problem.

What Are You Writing For?

In working with Christian songwriters, we sometimes see some confusion about the kinds of songs they write, and the uses for them. We all hear about publishing, co-writing, royalties, commercial songs vs. artistic songs, etc.

It’s hard to know which way to write to please the powers that be in the music business. But the good news is we really don’t have to, and here’s why.

What if Nobody Ever Hears My Songs?

“Every man, and for stronger reasons, every artist, wants to be recognized. So do I.” - Albert Camus 

When I was a young songwriter, long before I became a full time producer, I used to really worry that if I died no one would have ever really heard my songs. Oh sure, my family and friends knew I was a songwriter, but I fretted hard about the world not knowing my work even existed!

At that point I had probably written 400 or so songs since I was in high school. I was raising a young family, and working full time at a corporate job. But as always in my life, I was writing songs like crazy.

Writing Real

"Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced.” - John Keats

Recently an artist told me they had written a song in order to really speak to someone about Jesus. They wanted to relate to this person on a deep level about exactly what the person was going through. So they had written a song just for that person.

Then they played me the song. It was a fairly generic song about the love of Jesus. Now, there was no problem with the song technically, but it certainly wasn't about the issues they said the person was going through. It was just a song with similar Christian diatribes as other general Christian pop songs.

Another time, an artist came to see us and I asked them what made them different with their music. They proceeded to tell me how they write really different Christian songs, with unusual chord patterns and lyrics that go deep. There was nothing wrong with what they showed me, but the songs were neither unusual in chords, nor deep in lyrical content.

So what is the problem here?

3 Real Steps for Christian Songwriters

“We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality.” – Iris Murdoch

So, you've written a Christian song, or many songs. You think they are pretty good. Others think they are good too. Now what do you do?

You've heard about songs getting published, how does that happen?

You've heard about people getting signed to publishing “deals”, and becoming a “staff writer”. What does this mean?

What are the real options to you, wherever you might be, to get something happening with your songs?

Just Write!

So what's my best suggestion for developing (or old pro) songwriters who want to know the secrets of songwriting?

Write more! Write often! Write now!

We may want to say we have writer's block, or don't have time, or don't feel "moved" to write.

But there's a sure fire way to get things percolating if you really, really want to...just write!

I know it seems silly, but the best cure for not writing is to - you got it - write.

How do you do it?

Here's some surefire ways that help me when I'm feeling blocked or not in the mood.

Transition: An Interview with Christian Songwriter Gene Ezell

An Interview with Gene Ezell, Emerging Christian Songwriter, Chattanooga/Nashville, TN

I’ve known Gene since we worked together as he was deciding to move forward as a professional songwriter. His passion has not waned, and it’s fun to see him at a later stage in life making the move from full-time professor and coach, to serious songwriter getting cuts in Nashville. I think this interview is a great read especially if you are considering a transition to work more at being a Christian songwriter.

How did you get started as a Christian songwriter?

The Art of the Co-Write

Not every person who writes songs is an expert in all phases of songwriting. Sometimes a songwriter might be a better lyricist, and other folks might be more talented at the music writing part. Or, it may just be that a beginning songwriter can be paired with a more experienced songwriter to craft a stronger song (and a better songwriters!)

In Nashville, co-writing is not only a time-honored tradition, but a publishing mandated necessity. Pairing strong writers together creates amazing songs with strong verses, choruses, ideas, and structure. And it makes each writer better for the experience.

Saying Old Truths in New Ways

“The secret of good writing is to say an old thing in a new way or to say a new thing in an old way.” - Richard Harding Davis

This post is specifically for Christian songwriters, but can also apply to pastors, authors, poets, and songwriters of any genre.

Folks, we need to come up with new ways to say things in our songs. And yes, I’m talking to you Worship Leader Songwriter. I’m looking directly your way Christian Rock Band Dudes. This one’s for you Top 40 Christian Singer-Songwriter.

I get songs sent to me every day from Christian artists and songwriters hoping to get them heard, published, or recorded. And many times, the lyrics are simply unbelievable. As Christians, we know the rules: Use the old standby phrases, write it in a pop-friendly structure, and BOOM! – Christian radio hit right? This one will really get you noticed.

Getting Serious About Publishing

We're ready to get serious, how about you?

If you're like me, you've been writing songs for years and you KNOW you need to do more towards getting them heard or in other people's hands. But like artists who after they finish a recording may struggle to get out and hustle to sell it, the work it takes to publish your songs out to the world can be intimidating.

But, being the solutions-oriented folks we are here at Soul of the Songwriter, we offer not only steps to get you there, but a very serious option for you here in Nashville once you complete the steps.

Living in an ABAB World

One of the biggest problems we see with Christian songs that come our way is a structure that seems random or strange to listen to.

Now, songwriters, I hear you. You say, “I want to write original stuff that no one has heard before!” Oh if that were only true. What you really mean is “I just wrote it down this way and I’d rather go write something else than change it at this point.”

Repeating Yourself (The Importance of the Hook)

Without a doubt the hardest thing to teach songwriters is the thing that should be the most obvious: You have to have a hook. For many reasons, a repeated, catchy hook is what separates the successful songwriters from those who just can't seem to get any traction.

The definition of a music hook seems to be "a musical and/or lyrical phrase that catches the ear of the listener". So the word hook comes from "hooking" them as they listen, so they'll want to sing along on the next chorus, and then of course listen repeatedly to our genius creation.

Getting Started as a Christian Songwriter

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." - Mark Twain

One of the first questions I get from new songwriters is "How do I get started as a Christian songwriter?" to which I reply, "Well, have you written anything?"

If the answer is no, then we move to Step One.

Step One. Write something.