Category: Blog

  • Top Ten Tuneup Tips

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    Here’s some helpful information I share with songwriters who have sent in their songs for pitch consideration, rewritten in a more casual and grammatically correct style: When reviewing a song, the first thing I do is read the lyric sheet like I’m reading a story. I do this before listening to the song because I…

  • Paying For The Album Does Not Mean The Artist Gets To Own The Album (Why Record Contracts Are Horrible For Artists)

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    In this excerpt from Ryan Kairalla‘s new book “Break the Business: Declaring Your Independence and Achieving True Success in the Music Industry,” we get an unvarnished look at what it really means to sign a record contract. By Ryan Kairalla, from his new book “Break the Business: Declaring Your Independence and Achieving True Success in the Music…

  • 5 Seriously Dumb Myths About Copyright the Media Should Stop Repeating

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    Myth #5. Artists Feel Restricted by Copyright Right… and cyclists feel restricted by bike paths. Drivers feel restricted by the network of roads and highways. Pilots feel restricted by lift and drag. Truth: Professional, working artists who respect their own work also respect the work of others. Ask one — you’ll see. Anti-copyright crusaders love to shout about remix…

  • 13 Myths About Getting a Songwriting Advance

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    The following post comes from Alex Heiche, CEO and founder of Sound Royalties, a company working to transform the entire way that songwriters fund their creativity.  Sound Royalties has just partnered with DMN as part of our new, educational series on songwriter financing. Just like performing artists can chart their path without a label, songwriters also…

  • Infringement Or Fair Use: Knowing The Difference

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    Guest post by Jessica Kane Copyright is complicated, particularly in the music industry. With the recent rash of lawsuits which has been cropping up of late, we’re taking a minute to breakdown the differencebetween fair use and infringement, with the hope of avoiding the later. Copyright law in the United States can be complicated, especially in the music industry. Before using anyone else’s work…

  • Show—Don’t Tell: 3 Steps to Writing Better Lyrics

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    Here’s an excellent article by Nashville songwriter, Jason Blume. We found it here: Our goal, when we share a song, is to evoke emotion in our listeners—to have them not only know what the singer is feeling, but to empathize—to feel the emotion. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by bringing your audience inside the…

  • Navigating the Rocky Seas of Royalties, Splits, PRO’s, and Publishing Deals

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    Here’s an excellent article from Jeremy Dean. It was originally posted here: SONGWRITING, MUSIC BUSINESS, LICENSING/ROYALTIES The navigational tools of the music business can sometimes be confusing or misrepresented. To newcomers seeking a way to make their climb, it is a very frustrating circus of events to hurdle. Some of the most common misunderstandings on…

  • Don’t Get Screwed Over: 3 Situations Where A Handshake Deal Is Not Enough

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    While getting agreements in writing is almost always a good idea when it comes to the music business, there are certain situations where doing so is critical to making sure one’s creative work is protected down the road. Guest Post by Erin M. Jacobson – Music and Entertainment Attorney, Los Angeles, CA Musicians often ask me when…