ShareSong.org February
03 Newsletter - Joy in the House, Carlos Ortiz, David Cooley & getting
your music heard with Rick Muchow
Joy
in the House
"Joy
in the House" is a musical diary of songs written by members of
Faith Bible
Chapel, Page Arizona over a two-year period. The musical
variety of the album reflects the diversity found in their church,
including elements of acoustic rock, dance-pop, rap and even a
Native American flute solo. There are songs of celebration and
rejoicing as well as deeply worshipful moments. By God's grace, all
of these elements blend together into a well-rounded worship
experience. The CD contains songs by ShareSong.org
contributors Stephanie
Lawrence, Dustin
Boston, Mark
Selenich and John
and Helen Green. Anyone who donates
to ShareSong.org this month will also receive a free copy of “Joy
in the House”. Carlos
Ortiz
This
month we feature Carlos
Ortiz’s new album “Hero”. Why “Hero”
“Hollywood is releasing many movies with Superhero themes.
We're living in a time when many are searching for a
"HERO" to call their own. In my book, a
"HERO" is someone who would give their life for someone
else. A "HERO" would put their own needs after
someone else’s. And a "HERO" would continue to
protect those who are helpless against evil forces. To me only
ONE PERSON can fit that description. That person is JESUS
CHRIST! I wanted to write songs that were contemporary
and yet could transcend the generational gap.”
David
Cooley
David
Cooley’s songs are draw from personal struggles, searching for
answers to questions and transcribing Scripture stories and
messages. Dave
Cooley currently leads worship at Calvary Bible Fellowship Church of
the Northern Lehigh Valley in Walnutport Pa.
No
more Real Audio
The S
Beyond
the Building
As
a songwriter, how do I go about getting my songs heard outside my
home church? Do you have any advice regarding connecting with record
companies who produce worship CDs?
Rick Muchow:
God
has blessed us as worship leaders to be able to serve our specific
church congregation and with the some of the songs we write, to
sometimes reach beyond our congregation through other worship
leaders into a larger portion of the church body.
My 13 years of song writing at Saddleback Church have been out of
necessity. For me, song writing has never been something that I have
done for an outside audience or as a first-focus business effort. My
approach as a worship leader has always been to seek out songs for
the pastor's particular message, whether it's a specific theme or
energy level or seeker-sensitivity or whatever. I have often found
it to be easier to write a song that fits my pastor's message than
to find an outside song. Sometimes, those songs are given a life
outside of my local congregation.
Your questions lead to two different paths: getting a record deal
and publishing your songs. Rather than focus on the process of
getting signed to a record deal, I'm going to focus more on the
publishing side of things with a big picture look followed by some
suggested starting points.
The publishing business is about a publisher making the most of
their and your investment in songs. The business basically has 3
components: exploitation, protection and song inventory.
Exploitation is their term for letting others know about your songs.
The term "exploitation" sounds negative, but it basically
means getting exposure for your songs through various vehicles
including use on a CD, in a songbook, musical recordings, in films,
on TV, etc. Protection has to do with securing and administering
copyrights and licensing fees/royalties. Song inventory is simply
their portfolio of songs to represent.
A publishing company is a business. "Generally" song
royalties are split 50/50 between a publisher and a songwriter,
though that is certainly negotiable on both sides. The industry
makes money by placing the song; getting others to use it. A good
publishing relationship can help a songwriter earn a living.
Publishers seek to match songs with an appropriate project. It's
very much about finding that right song in the right place at the
right time. As you pursue having your songs published, know that
rejection is a part of the process. Rejection does not indicate a
bad song, though it can. Most of the time, rejection means that a
song does not fill a need (style, product, vibe) for that publisher
at that time.
Songwriters who are getting their songs placed have a working a relationship
with artists and publishers. Unsolicited submissions to artists or
publishers will probably not get heard. It can happen, but it is the
least effective method.
If you feel that your songs speak to a wider audience than the local
church and might be a useful tool to other worship ministries, then
start with a small circle and work your way out. That's basically
what publishing is on a grassroots level.
Test the waters beyond your local congregation through:
1) Songwriting or Music Competitions
There are many songwriting and music competitions. Locate and
figure out which ones you want to pursue. Some examples include
SongWriting.net (http://www.songwriting.net)
or the John Lennon Song Writing Competition (http://www.jlsc.com).
2) Music Conferences or Festivals
3) Worship or Music Magazines and Internet sites
Magazines and web sites like Worship Leader (www.worshipleader.com,)
Christian Musician (www.christianmusician.com,)
and ShareSong.org (www.sharesong.org,)
often provide independent artist and songwriter editorial, special
indie-friendly ad space or free resource opportunities.
4) Music or Denominational Associations
Look for music associations or denominational associations to which
you can become a member and attend events.
5) Local Benefits or Live Performances
Get out and perform locally and regionally. You never know who
might hear your music and what opportunities might result. I was
recently part of a benefit for local schools where I shared the
stage with a host of nationally recognized Jazz artists and
performed my one of my songs. My songs aren't Jazz, but the
experience and exposure was great from both a networking and a fun
point of view.
Your Relationship Network With Artists & Publishers
Ultimately all of the above combine together to create a
relationship network for you. The placement of my song "The
Greatest Mystery" in the film and on the soundtrack for Left
Behind II was a direct result of the relationship network I have
after 13 years of ministry and song writing. Connecting with the
companies and artists who will use your songs starts and ends with
the personal relationships you build. Those relationships are the
best way to get heard.
In Him
Marty Kendall
