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Entries
Country Cruisin' (lyric)
Wed. June 11, 2008
10 things to look for in an acceptable single song publishing contract
Mon. April 21, 2008
How to avoid a song shark
Mon. April 21, 2008
American Soldier (lyric)
Tue. April 15, 2008
How to avoid a song shark
Mon. April 21, 2008
How to Avoid a Song Shark
1. Do not sell your song outright.
2. Never pay any sort of submission fees, review fees, service fees, filing fees, etc...
3. Never pay to have your song pulished.
4. Do not pay a company to pair you with a collaborater.
5. Never pay to have your lyric or poem set to music.
6. Avoid "pay to play" CD compilation deals.
7. Avoid songpluggers who offer to shop your song for an upfront fee or retainer.
8. Avoid paying upfront to have a publisher make a demo of your song.
9. No record company should ask you to pay them or an assosiated company to make a demo.
10. Before entering any songwriting contest, read the rules carefully.
11. Verify any situation about an individual or company if you have any doubts at all ( Contact the companies Performing Rights Society - ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, SOCAN, the better business bureau in the company's town, or contact the state attorney's office.)
12. If a record company company or other company asks you to pay expenses up front, be CAREFUL.
* The one thing that was drilled into my head over and over while attending music business classes in college is "if they ask for money upfront," walk away. There are possible exceptions, as in the case of a record producer, who commonly charges for his services, and maybe others I don't know about, but rest assured that if a publishing company asks you for money, they are most likely not legitimate.
12 rules to help you avoid songsharks, taken from the 2007 Songwriter's Market/Writer's Digest Books: Jane Friedman copyright 2006
* footnote by rjsongwriter
comments
Carmella Inchierchiera aka Lyricsinmyhead
4/21/2008 8:08 PM
Hello Randall, Thank you so much for the infor I sure appreciate your blog and you for taking the time to share with us your experience in the world of songwriting. Your friend in music Carmella
LBush
4/21/2008 6:10 PM
You forgot the "b" in published... rule #3. :)