Songwriting Contest Secrets Revealed
June 16th, 2010 by We Are ListeningIn a blog post, Spinme.com Editor, Joe Taylor writes:
“If you type the words ’songwriting contest’ into Google, you’re going to come back with close to a million entries. And that number is growing all the time. Too many scam artists are realizing that it’s far too easy to convince a songwriter to part with her money on the assumption that she’ll get ‘found’.”
In a separate post, Joe Taylor writes:
“Too many songwriting contests market themselves with the fantasy that music business veterans and chart-topping superstars will be holed up in a conference room, poring over your submission. For the most part, that simply doesn’t happen unless you make it to the final round of the most elite and well-respected songwriting contests.”
Do you think there’s any merit to Joe Taylor’s sentiments?
June 16th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Absolutely. I can’t believe how many song contests there are out there now. In addition, it seems that everyone who worked in the music business at one time wants to critique your song — and not for a song.
http://www.jeffshattuck.com
Lior Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
I wonder exactly how many… 10? 20? 30? More?
June 17th, 2010 at 7:43 am
Yep. I agree. I think there are bins and bins of submissions and they are gone through by interns (nothing against interns, but I’m sure there are preliminary “screeners” who aren’t paid a lot); the songs get listened to for a few seconds (if that) and kept or tossed. The main purpose of these contests seems to be to collect entry fees. $30 per song? Give me a break. I always ask myself, “Would Townes Van Zandt do this?” If the answer is no, I don’t do it. I don’t compare myself to Townes as a writer, but he was cool.
Lior Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
He was cool.
June 17th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Agreed there are a lot of scams out there, but you have to be able to weed out the good from the bad like anything else in life. If you do your homework there are some good things that can come out of entering certain contests.
I have placed in about a half dozen legitimate contests in the last couple of years. Many give you banners for promoting your site and a little good publicity always looks good on your bio.
Not to mention I have won some prize money, which is coming in very handy in helping record me record my next project.
Do your homework. There are some good contests out there.
June 17th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
I’ve oftened wondered if it isn’t like the old tip board scam. You have 100 numbers on a board that you sell for 5 bucks a piece. You collect $500.00, and have a $20.00 prize.
Dick Bartley
Lior Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
I think many artists are thinking the same thing.