SONG CONTEST BLOG

I attended the NAMM show today in Anaheim.  It’s the largest industry event that I know of.

Walking from the car park to the convention center, I heard a familiar melody echoing in the distance.  As I approached, it hit me that the song I was hearing was being performed live, on stage, in front of the entrance, by one of our very own song contest winners: Michael Logen.

Michael Logen is a two-time We Are Listening song contest winner; in 2005 and 2006.  Only one other artist has won our song contest twice.  He’s an immensely talented artist and an awesome human being.

After his 45min set, we had lunch together.

Three years ago, Michael was going through a rough patch professionally.  In the last year, though, his luck changed.  He has been writing and touring with Jonny Lang and Matt Kearney, both of whom have become close friends of his.  He has a number of cuts on their records and recently became a free agent.  Consequently, several major publishers, labels and managers are courting him now.  Things couldn’t be better.

Running into Michael was my favorite part of the day.

When I returned to Santa Monica where I’m staying for the rest of the week, I was struck by something he mentioned over lunch:

Lior, most artists don’t realize how long it takes.  I’ve been doing this for quite a while and it never occurred to me to quit.  I stuck to my plan.  That’s the difference.

A plan.  Now that sounds like a good thing to have!

What is your plan?

Have you got what it takes to stick to it?

Leave me your comments.

After winning The 2005 Singer/Songwriter Awards, Michael Logen signed with Combustion Music Nashville/Windswept Music LA and began working on his new album with producer Joe West (Justin Timberlake, Jewel, Shakira). In July, he left Nashville briefly for New York to play with Tony Moore (“I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight”) and Ritchie Cannatta (Billy Joel’s sax player) to later return home for a string of co-writing sessions with The Warren Bros., Kyle Cook (Matchbox Twenty) and Gordie Sampson (six weeks at No.1 with “Jesus, Take The Wheel”). We Are Listening’s US radio promotion partner, Tinderbox Music, is now working with Logen to promote his new album and single – also his winning submission – “Mystery”. Incidentally, We Are Listening works with the same studio musicians as Tony Moore recorded with on his last release, “Perfect & Beautiful”. Logen is making a big splash in the US songwriting circles at the moment and we anticipate a big commercial success very soon!

Winner of The 2005 Singer/Songwriter Awards, Michael Logen, and Finalist Judge, Andrea Stolpe, are getting together in Nashville tomorrow for a co-writing session.

Andrea, who has written for Faith Hill, Josh Gracin and Daniel Lee Martin, discovered Michael during The 2005 Singer/Songwriter Awards.

After hearing his winning song, “Mystery”, she got in touch and decided to schedule a co-writing session.

Michael, who is putting the finishing touches on his debut release, jumped at the chance to work with Andrea and, perhaps, include their creation in his up-coming album.

We all look forward to hearing the result and will keep you posted!

Visit www.AndreaStolpe.com

Visit www.MichaelLogen.com