MUSIC INDUSTRY BLOG

In response to an email alert that automatically goes out to our members seven days before a song contest deadline, I received this email this morning.  It made me chuckle.  Is that bad?

I am pleased to see that there are only 7 days remaining before this farce comes to a blissful end.  Every day this “opportunity” has been before us it has seemed like a miserable exercise in futility.  Please inform me when you have completely closed your doors to any additional submissions so I can rest in peace.  It’s been a nightmare.

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Alexandria Maillot came in first place in Round 3 of The 2010 Singer/Songwriter Awards for her song, “All We Need”.

Constructive criticism welcome by leaving a public comment here.

I received this email yesterday:

Most contests are a scam.  But the reason musicians come to this conclusion is because they pay some big fee to enter a “contest” and they never hear anything back except an email telling them they didn’t win.  Kind of like what I got from your contest.  Sure it had a chart that said I got 3 stars, but why?  Can’t even get a review included with my $30?  Oh well, live and learn.

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I received this email this morning:

Hi.  My name is XXXXXXX.  I was wondering if we could maybe strike a deal.  You see, I have no money because I am not famous yet.  If you can help me become famous, then instead of giving you 30 dollars, I will give you 500 dollars!

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I received this email this morning:

…I was gonna submit a song but then I realised you want $30 to review it.  Well?  I want $30 to send it.  Please send a check or money order to:

XXXX XXXXXX
40 XXXXXXXX Avenue
XXXX Cottage
XXXXXburg, XX
077XX

When I receive payment I will send you the song.

Thanks!

-M

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Anyone who enters a song contest should get feedback.

As of next month, anyone who enters our song contests will.

We’re in the final stages of launching our Song Contest Score Card, which will allow the judges to rate six elements of your song or lyric from a  scale of 1 to 5.  The Score Card will be delivered to you via email and saved in your We Are Listening account.

Whether you’re a winner, finalist, runner-up or not selected, you can be sure that at the end of each song contest that you participate in, a Score Card will be emailed to you – free of charge.

This is an example:

In 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?

Share your thoughts >>

Graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in Public Relations and Entertainment Communications, Eavan began her music career as an A&R intern at Atlantic Records. In 2007, she joined the Artist Management Department at Vancouver-based Nettwerk Music Group. Out of Nettwerk’s LA office, Eavan works directly with the artists Jars of Clay, Sixpence None the Richer, Maria Taylor, Griffin House, and Lucy Schwartz on a day to day basis. In 2009, she began working with manager Kevin Kocher for the artists Chromeo, Datarock, and Fan Death, as well. In her free time she throws parties and books shows with other music industry friends under the moniker “Less Jack More Jill” and is quite fond of gummy bears and puppies.  We’re delighted to welcome Eavan to our panel of song contest judges.

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For his prize, Vincent Robert Trocchia, winner of Round 3 of The 2009 Lyric Writer Awards, joined forces with We Are Listening’s songwriting duo, Pat and Pete Luboff to polish his lyric, set it to music, and produce an outstanding demo.

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Learn more about our lyric writing contest, other songwriting competitions, and song critique services.

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Next week, we’re launching our proprietary user management system.  Big words for a small organization!

Think of it as your personal song contest and critique status manager and editor, accessible by clicking on My Account (at the top right of every page on our site).

What is a Status?

We assign a status to your contest submission or critique the second your transaction is complete.  For contests, your status is Received until the contest deadline.  After the deadline, it’s In Review for up to 30 days.  Within 30 days, at the point that the judges have made their final selections, you receive a final status: Not Selected, Runner Up, Finalist or Winner.

With critiques, it’s simpler.  As soon as you purchase your critique, your entry is In Review.  When the reviewer has completed the critique (within 14 days), the status is Complete.

Why is Status important?

1. So you can self-edit your entries.

For example, if you had trouble uploading your song file, wish to make changes to your lyric or even want to substitute your entire contest submission, as long as your status is Received, you can!  And you can do it in just a couple of clicks by logging into your account.

2. So you can keep a record of your important communications with us.

When we assign your final status (Not Selected, Runner Up, Finalist or Winner) or complete your critique, we notify you via email.  As of next week, these emails will be saved in your account, along with every single detail associated with your contest entry or critique.

How do I access these details?

By clicking on Details on the right of each contest or critique item in your account!

If a final status has been assigned to your contest entry (Not Selected, Runner Up, Finalist or Winner) you can click on that to view the email that was sent to you, by whom and when.

Why did we go to the trouble?

1. So you have total control over and insight into the service that you are paying us for.

2. So you no longer need to depend on emails from us.  We will continue sending them, you can be sure of that, but all the information you can possibly wish to have about your contest entry or critique will be at your fingertips.

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