Getting Someone To Record Your Song

I had a request today from an acquaintance who wanted help placing a song with some artist…he wanted someone to record his song and he asked if I could help him make that happen.   As I responded to his post, I realized that I probably should share it with you all.

Here’s his post and I am keeping him anonymous to protect every thing and everybody that might be threatened by our litigious and often dishonorable society:

Hey James Lee, Been awhile. I've not been able to make the last couple of NERFA events - money, family, health - one thing or another. I saw your impressive resume on the NERFA listserv and had a thought. I've got a couple of songs that somebody out there should cover. But I don't know how to find 'em. Your mentoring offer, being on the table, I thought I'd reach out. I sang one of these pieces for R. B.  on the sidewalk on smoke break once.  I said, "who should I sell this song to? He said, "Man, it's a shame Nina Simone's dead." Whew! He then pointed me to J. M., who passed it along to C. K., where it just stopped moving. I'd like to email you the link and hear your thoughts. It needs a blues belter who happens to want to make this particular commentary. You game? 

My friend,  I am not much of one for placing songs, having written several thouand myself and  recorded some 27 cd's of my work, with very few covers.  

I suspect that getting people to record my songs is not my gift.  My only experience with placing songs with an artist is to meet or somehow connect with the artist and then personally give them the song.  

I have had a few publishing covers but I would not recommend going that way unless you need a little bit of money immediately. 

Sometimes a publisher will advance you a couple of hundred dollars, but then they own the song in perpetuity. 

I suggest that you try to network your brains out and be shameless about getting someone to hear your song.  it helps if you are thick skinned and don't care whether someone actually likes you or not.  

I am cursed with a big desire to be liked and it gets in my way.  I have found that I evidently would rather be thought of as a nice person that doesn’t take advantage of his friendship than someone who actually has a song recorded or used in a TV show or a movie.

I have several film editor friends that I have had for decades, but I’ve never pushed them to use my music in their films, even though the editor frequently chooses a temporary track to use until the director or musical director chooses which song to actually use.

And here is the interesting part:  frequently they end up using the temp song because they got used to it.

In any event, I suggest being shameless and pushy and not taking no for an answer.  I only wish that I could take my own advice in this area.

Comments

[Halley | Custom Business Cards]

I've always been amazed at how heartfelt some songs are but then I found out that there are times when the artists don't really write their songs. It's okay, but my attention just turns to the composer of the song and just be amazed with how meaningful every line is. And it's good to know the effort you're exerting for people to really appreciate your work.

[dan]

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