Songwriter Advisor Blog

What does it take to learn to write songs the right way?  If you’re a beginner, why not just start fiddling around on the piano or guitar, and hope to start writing a song off the top of your head.  Why not?  History has shown us there have been a select few people who have merely been lucky, writing a hit song on their first try.  I’ll tell you why.  

Do you want to write songs that get no respect, you’ll have a hit once, and never write another one after it’s found out you have no depth in your songwriting, or do you want to learn to write songs that fans appreciate and respect, and build a lengthy, consistent, lucrative career?  This “all washed up” scenario has repeated itself over and over in the music industry!

Do you want to learn to write songs your hometown fans, family, and friends think are merely O.K., or do you want to learn to write songs that blow you away while you’re creating them, knowing instinctively based on your experience that people are gonna’ love the songs?

The way you prevent yourself from becoming just another person who calls themselves a songwriter is to learn the basics before you dive into the world of songwriting.  There are many websites all over the Internet that you can start with.  For starters, type “songwriting basics” into your Google browser and begin to read and prepare yourself through great information provided free on the net.

The Songwriter Advisor parent website also has a wonderful, free beginner songwriting course, and another free one can be found at Beginner Songwriting Tips to Get You Hooked.

Songwriters are either being considered for, or being signed to publishing deals with major and independent publishing companies virtually everyday.  That’s because music publishers are constantly looking for the next big Ne-YO or Dianne Warren to write hits for them.  The ones still making a great living in this music industry include songwriters and music producers.  You can experience success in this music industry as a songwriter and possibly set yourself up for life.

But to get to that level, you have to prepare yourself, and learn to write songs the right way!

Cd’s look like they might end up being a thing of the past quicker than anybody thought!  On Monday, September 22, 2008, SanDisk announced their new “SlotMusic” MicroSD compact memory card would be in stores before the Christmas rush and it would be backed by the following four major record labels; EMI Music, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group.

SlotMusicwill contain an entire album of songs in high quality MP3 format compact memory card.  Best Buy and Walmart have already jumped on the bandwagon, and one record label executive is reported to have quoted the prices would range from $7-&10 US dollars.

CD sales have been slow for some time now, so the powerful record labels are targeting the millions of cell phone users as well as MP3 players with “MicroSD” slots.  The SlotMusic cards will come with a USB sleeve so it can be plugged easily into any USB port in computers.  It’s also interesting to note these cards will be sold without any digital rights restrictions.

The Wall Street Journalsaid,  ”The releases are mostly by current pop artists including Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke, New Kids on the Block, Weezer, Usher, Chris Brown, Akon and Leona Lewis.  In a nod to older buyers, Elvis Presley is also represented.”

How will this affect songwriters and other musicians’ pockets? That remains to be seen, but these four record labels are trying to give record sales a shot in the arm, and it appears this can only benefit major labels’ bottom line if it takes off, and this in turn will lead to more profit for songwriters and other musicians.

Will CD’s become a thing of the past?  Not likely because of this product (even though it’s possible), but eventually it will in the near future.  I would imagine the marketing plan for SlotMusic is probably to wait and see what the public’s initial reaction is, then if it’s in the least bit favorable, to capitalize on it with as much aggressive marketing as possible.  The bottom line is: We, the consumers, hold the key!