Play For A Publisher: November 2020

Enter for your chance to play a song for a hit Music Publisher, get her feedback, and ask followup questions!

• Join this exclusive online event from anywhere in the world on Tuesday, November 17, 7:30pm-9:00pm Central.

• Every writer who enters one or more songs gets to watch the video replay.  It's full of very valuable, helpful tips from our guest!

• Every writer who enters one or more songs receives a free "Song Checklist" to help you write better, more commercial songs.

• Deadline to enter: Monday, November 2, 2020.

• Selected songs and writers will be announced on November 10, 2020.
• Enter as many songs as you want. (One song per ticket purchased.)
• Work tapes and demos are acceptable.
• All genres are welcome.  However, our publisher guest specializes in Country and Christian.
• You'll receive submission instructions in an email after your purchase.
• Songwriting Pro Membership Subscribers get $10 off each entry! (If you're not a member, check out all the goodies HERE.)

IF NOBODY HEARS YOUR SONG... NOTHING HAPPENS.

How can you get a song recorded by a major artist if nobody in the music business hears it? How can you finally quit your day job and start writing songs professionally if nobody in the music business hears your song? How can you ever prove to your family, friends and yourself that you aren't crazy if nobody in the music business ever hears your song?

You can't.

For a lot of songwriters, that's the hardest part of chasing a cut or a publishing deal. Writing quality songs isn't easy, but it's sometimes a breeze compared to getting those songs to someone who can actually do something with them.

But where in the world do you find a "real-deal" music publisher? Especially one who is willing to listen to YOUR song? So many doors in the music business only seem to open if you "know somebody."  How do you get to know a publisher?

And what if you live outside of Nashville?

It feels like you might as well live on the moon. Phone calls (if answered) usually get referred to ASCAP, BMI, SESAC or NSAI. Emails are rarely returned.

You feel good about your songs. But just how good are you, really? If you never get someone to listen - someone IN the business who could actually help you out - how will you ever know how good you really are? How will the world ever know? Maybe you're waiting to make that move to Nashville or to record that album, but you want a publisher in the business to at least give you some sort of feedback first.

Or maybe you've been avoiding playing your songs for a publisher. Maybe you're scared they won't like your music, and you'll have to buckle down and work harder. Or maybe you're scared that the publisher will really love it- and you'll have to decide if you REALLY want to pursue songwriting seriously.

How would it feel to play your music for a real music publisher?

Honestly, sometimes it'll be scary, and sometimes it'll be frustrating. But it's also exciting and empowering. You're no longer sitting around wondering, "what if." You're doing something! You're taking an active part in chasing your dreams! Every time you play for a publisher, you get a little smarter about the music business, you get a little wiser about your own songwriting, and you get a little tougher. And believe me- you'll need plenty of all three if you want to make it as a pro songwriter.

HERE'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

On the evening of November 17, 2020, I'm hosting a Songwriting Pro online "Play For A Publisher" event. This is your opportunity to get your best song heard by a professional music publisher. And since it's online, you don't even have to live in Nashville to join in and be heard- you can join us from anywhere in the world!

I always want to provide the best for the Songwriting Pro community. So I know I have to bring in a real pro- someone who knows the music business and is STILL an active, successful publisher. And I'm proud to announce that we have a great one!

WHAT'S THE EVENT LIKE?

CLICK HERE to get an inside look!

Meet Stacey Willbur of Full Circle Music.

And industry music publishing veteran, Stacey Willbur has worked for some of the top music publishing houses in Nashville.  She started her career with EMI Christian Music Publishing where she was a part of growing the publishing team & the beginning of the WorshipTogether brand. The EMI family led her to the Country division in 2002, and later to BrentwoodBenson/Capitol CMG where she served as Senior Creative Director.

During her time in publishing, she has worked with songwriters and artists like Kelly Lovelace, Mandisa, John Paul White, Chris Tomlin, Kari Jobe, Ben Glover, Chris Stapleton, Chris Stevens, and David Garcia. At present Stacey serves with Full Circle Music as VP of Publishing and A&R, while also managing a country artist from Australia.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS.

When your purchase your "ticket" to this event, you'll receive an email with downloadable instructions on where and how to submit your song. You will automatically receive an email that allows you to download the instructions and the Song Checklist. If you don't see it in your inbox, check your spam filter. The email sender will probably show up as "Gumroad" or "Gum.co."

I'll listen to each entry and choose the "top 10" that I think have the best chance to catch the publisher's ear.

I guarantee that I will personally listen to each song you enter. (One ticket per song, please. Purchase one ticket for each song you wish to submit.  Enter as many times as you like.)

You can submit demos or work tapes in .mp3 or .wav format. Either one is fine. It just needs to be something you can email to me. You'll get the email address in the instructions after you purchase. Please, no videos.

The top 10 songwriters will be announced through my website, SongwritingPro.com on Thursday, November 10, and they'll receive an exclusive invitation to our Zoom.us web-videoconferences. During the 1 1/2 hour conference, you'll be "face to face" with me the publisher guest as they listen to your song and provides honest, valuable feedback. The publisher and I will be able to see and hear you- and even answer a followup question or two.

The Play For A Publisher event itself will be an intimate, open, and honest time of sharing songs, feedback, and discussion. Therefore, it'll just be me, our guest publisher, and the top 10 songwriters during each event.

We'll meet with Stacey Willbur of Full Circle Music on Tuesday, November 17, 2020.

SUBMIT A SONG, WATCH THE REPLAY.

EVERY writer who submits a song will be able to WATCH THE REPLAY of the event.  It will be hosted and recorded on the Zoom platform.  A week or so after the event, I'll make the replay available (for a limited time) for each writer who submits a song.

This alone is worth the entry price!  Our publisher guests always share a lot of valuable insight and information.  If you want to know how a publisher thinks and what it's like to have a publisher meeting, the replay is an excellent way to do that!

Let me be clear. Submitting a song does NOT guarantee that it will make the top 10 or that our publisher guest will hear it. Due to time constraints, our guest will ONLY hear the 10 songs that I think have the best chance to impress him or her.

Also, just because the publisher hears your song- even if they like it- don't come in expecting to be offered a publishing deal on the spot. This event is a door opener, not a deal closer. The purpose is for you to get valuable professional feedback- for your growth as a songwriter. The event may also result in the seed of a real, personal relationship with a music publisher. But I can't promise a publishing contract or anything else. That's just not how the music business works. But if you knock our guest out with your songs... that's a great way to begin a relationship.

Also, I won't have time to give you my personal feedback on every song. But I will listen. If your song is awesome, it'll get my attention. And probably our publisher's, too.

THERE'S A DEADLINE TO ENTER.

To make sure I have time to listen, I will not accept any submissions after Monday, November 2, 2020. So be sure and get your song(s) in early so you don't miss out! The winners will be announced on my blog (www.songwritingpro.com) on Tuesday, November 10, 2020.

SONGWRITING PRO MEMBERS SAVE $10 PER SONG!

Subscriber-members of Songwriting Pro will receive a special discount code that will save $10 off the price of EACH song you submit.  Keep an eye on your email and the private Facebook Group for the discount code.  If you're not yet a subscriber, NOW is a great time to join!  See what SWPro has to offer you at SongwritingPro.com/Inside.

I'M ONLY ACCEPTING 300 SONGS.

I am only accepting 300 song entries for this event, which often sells out.  I want to make sure I can give each song a fair listen, and I simply can't do that if I get too many songs.  And, yes, these usually sell out - so don't wait!  Purchase your submission TODAY.

HERE'S HOW WE'LL MEET UP.

We'll meet on the Zoom platform. It's easy - and FREE - to use.  Winners can join the meeting from a computer or smartphone.  You can also call in to a special phone number (but you won't have video).  To find out more about Zoom, go to www.Zoom.us.

YOU'LL GET A FREE BONUS!

I don't want any of you to walk away empty handed. So in addition to the valuable replay video, EVERY songwriter who submits a song will receive "Songwriting Pro's Song Checklist." This checklist will help you look at your song with a critical eye - to ask yourself some of the same things that a pro or a publisher would ask when rewriting or de-bugging a song. Think you don't need a checklist to catch little bugs in your song? Think about this: even the best airline pilots in the world use a checklist before every single flight. That's part of what makes them the best.

That's a good deal for a $25 investment ($15 if you're a subscriber of SongwritingPro.com). And since I need time to listen, I'm limiting it to 300 submissions, and NO submissions will be accepted after November 2, 2020.

Feel free to enter as many times as you want, but it's only one song for each ticket you purchase.

Stacey and I look forward to hearing your music!

God Bless,

Brent

PS- If you're still not sure, CLICK HERE for a look at previous events!