The Truth About Our Song Contest
January 9th, 2010 by Lior ShamirI recently sent out a newsletter under the headline Song Contests Are A Scam.
It was a big success.
Its open rate was higher than any other newsletter I have ever sent.
But it was a major flop too. Its unsubscribe rate was higher than ever before. I lost many readers forever. I received a lot of angry replies.
I wrote “Song Contests Are A Scam” to convince you otherwise. I included social proof and listed benefits.
To be honest, I don’t know about other song contests but ours is the real deal. And that’s the truth.
So where do you think I went wrong?
January 9th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
I think part of what went wrong is that you did a bait and switch. You attracted people by telling them something they all thought in their hearts was true (song contests are a scam) and then pulled a 180 and said your song contest wasn’t. Why should anyone believe that only you have ethical contests when everybody else does not? To make matters worse, if I understand your offerings correctly, you want to charge people twice — once for a critique and once for a contest.
Jeff
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Lior Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 11:39 am
You hit the nail on the head, Jeff.
You make me sound smarter and more calculated than I actually am
I want to stress, further to your last remark, that I don’t want to charge anyone for anything that will not be of benefit. The idea was to purchase a critique from us once and then decide if you should purchase anything from us (or anyone else in the song contest business) ever again.
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January 9th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
I read the post twice when it came through and thought it was an honest appraisal. I have been doing contests for years and mainly ended up with certificates + critiques.
The headline was the problem for people unsubscribing I would think. People live by headlines (almost like the title of the song!) so probably did not bother to look at the serious study you gave
ALSO people may have thought you were attacking other contests as all frauds and objected on that score.
Contests, in my view, are a great way to focus your writing and although I haven’t done one for a while I would still recommend them!
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January 10th, 2010 at 12:17 am
Would have made the title: ‘Song Contests Are A Scam?’ then everyone decides for themselves regardless of your take on it. More likely to get readers, subscribers, and no confusion about any sort of bait and switch tactics; even if they never were there.
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Lior Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 11:41 am
You’re right! The question mark would have made all the difference.
Excellent point. Good eye!
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January 10th, 2010 at 12:17 am
Song contests suck – they corrupt every reason that people are compelled to make music in the first place.
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January 10th, 2010 at 12:44 am
I thought your post was GREAT. In fact, it immediately made me sign up for a critique, which was incredibly prompt (but thoughtful) and very helpful. Some of us can handle the truth, rejection, whatever (all the disappointments one comes across trying to make a living in an artistic “business”). Some can’t take it so they bail, for however long or from whatever. But please don’t stop being honest!!! You did nothing wrong!! You told the truth and it was incredibly helpful to me. And again, it made me MORE trusting of your site, not less. Thanks.
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Lior Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 11:50 am
And that will be the title of my next post:
“Can You Handle The Truth?”
Thanks Mandy!
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Dann Russo Reply:
January 11th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
it’s a good thing I read through the comments before commenting – I would have just reiterated everything that Mandy said.
and I felt empowered and more confident after receiving my critique.
peace,
Dann
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January 10th, 2010 at 1:03 am
Looks like everyone chimed in with the same response. Bait & switch tactics, in any form, are as loathsome a scam as any song contest. While I generally read and enjoy your emails, and I didn’t unsubscribe, my immediately impression of the title vs. content was that your emails are slipping a little closer towards spam.
Personally, I really like merit-based limited panel judged contests, though they have their own weak spots.
It’s the “pay money to be in a contest” ones that smell of scams, while the “get all your friends to vote 1000 times each” popularity contests destroy otherwise good fan/band relationships.
Want to fund a contest without charging the bands? Count it as an advertising cost and take a tax write-off.
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January 10th, 2010 at 1:10 am
Sadly many people need to see the crap in life and they lose sight of the good stuff… The people who got angry about your newsletter, Song Contests Are a Scam, need to activate a brain cell… They absolutely missed the entire point of the article… First of all, why in the world get angry… It’s only a song contest… enter or don’t… it’s certainly not life or death… Get a grip people…
I have entered a few other “song contests” the WERE scams and their “critiques” were boiler plate, repetitive responses… wearelistening’s song contest is a great way to evaluate your skill level… win or lose… add the critique and you get a very professional, very helpful, personal lesson in songwriting…
wearelistening’s honest, straightforward approach to the contest concept offers us a choice… we can either enter or
or not… make the choice and move on… or offer some constructive criticism… the people who actually understood Lior’s newsletter will continue to benefit from wearelistening… the people who got angry… well… we will not miss you…
ark
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January 10th, 2010 at 1:12 am
No way u went wrong. U Speak from the heart and what u say is true. Without Stat’s or Analyctics. This is the Word of On Demand Speak ur peace!
U Got My Vote!
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January 10th, 2010 at 1:41 am
Not sure where you went wrong maybe ” Song contests are a scam”
Many believe that maybe they were not convinced of the reasoning you have to charge a large fee! or any fee for that matter. I personally would like to believe in them I have entered a few with limited success. So I too start to think this is a scam! A Revised approach maybe the answer!
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January 10th, 2010 at 3:53 am
First thing was that you did not do your homework on other song contest,and you are going to get others calling you to complain from other contests You don’t bad mouth any contest unless you know they have done something illegal and at that you don’t use them again.
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Lior Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 11:46 am
Where did I bad mouth ANY song contest??
Or anyone for that matter?
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January 10th, 2010 at 4:21 am
I thought the byline was effective – it got me to read.
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January 10th, 2010 at 5:12 am
Thou didst no wrong. Unfortunately it’s human nature for unsaved people to be self righteous. Don’t worry about it – live for Christ and he will make everything work for the good.
Best Regards – Darren Douglas.
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January 10th, 2010 at 9:11 am
It wasn’t that it was ‘wrong’..it was actually dead-right. Musicians often tend to have egos easily bruised when they are preceived as being ‘lectured’ to, or tricked. Truth is, in this business (as it stands) a thick skin is elementary for success. What you put out was the exact nature of what ione must do to persue such things as contests and liscensing. Competition is hell, having an edge is the most important thing one can do to advance thier songs
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January 10th, 2010 at 10:00 am
what were they angry about?
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Lior Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 11:47 am
The bait-and-switch, it appears.
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January 10th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
If one is successful in getting a good review at 30.00 then one decides whether to enter a song contest yours or otherwise for the same price that is where the expense comes in. I am considering a review but would like to know if I could in addition to the three specified questions asked could I add one or two of my own since those questions aren’t related to everything I am looking for in an evaluation!
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January 10th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
The only thing I don’t like about a contest is the lack of feedback unless you pay full price for a critique… or win…
How about add $5 or $10 to the entry fee and include mini-critique?
I’d sign up every time…
ark
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January 10th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
I read the original post, and I did not see any deception, it’s always “buyer beware.”
I have entered 3 different contests this last year, and got 2 critiques.
I thought the critiques were accurate, balanced good and bad parts of song, and quite helpful. I could tell that the reviewer had listened carefully to song and arrangement.
In my case, I believe, they will help me be a better writer.
A slightly lower cost would be nice.
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January 11th, 2010 at 12:58 am
Placing an “unsubscribe” link was your first mistake…
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Lior Reply:
January 11th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
It’s the right thing to do, Dean. It’s also illegal not to.
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Dean Caputo Reply:
January 11th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Kidding!
On a more serious note, if you had taken an immediate position in contrast to the comment/quote that song contests were scams, and then provided supporting information to substantiate your claim, I think the public would have viewed the post more favorably. I am not a fan of the lure. Moreover, I received this email more than once…not sure if it was inadvertent or not but it was unnecessary.
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January 11th, 2010 at 6:33 am
it’s marketing. Contests, e-mails, everything! It get’s old, and is probably why people got turned off. Headlines like that, which are a kind of bait and switch, are perceived as a kind of “gotchya” or a waste of time perhaps.
I still think you could organize a good song contest by just letting folks submit one tune. Everyone can vote, but not for themselves. They can rank 3 songs, good, better, best, not including their own, and cast only one ballot. Maybe charge a buck a song to cover some administrative costs.
What’s up with American Idol anyway! This sort of thing sucks because it showcases ability, not real talent. Talent in the broader sense has been neglected. Find a way to reward originality and something new, that would be great.
good luck. I admire your efforts.
John
John Mulkins
A World of Intentions
http://www.myspace.com/johnmulkinsmusic
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January 14th, 2010 at 1:36 am
I have concluded and truly believe in my utmost opinion that “Hit Song Science” is the future channel to determine the hit potential of all new/old songs, and that it should be the channel by which winning song selections should be made. The people selection process is old fashion and a pretty face can sometimes lend to a song being elected as a winning choice, among other devious measures that human imperfections allow. We use advanced computer technologies in most areas of living already, and as we are now so far advanced in this new area of “Hit Song Science”, with proven results, lets step into the next era of factual music technology and broaden our realm of hit song choice making into that which is fair and impartial and with just the honest clicks of a computer mouse. Check out ” uPlaya Artists.com ” And the Blogs there to find out more concerning the truthful era of hit song potential choice making..Thank You, Lawrence Ingle
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January 14th, 2010 at 2:07 am
After reading all the above replies, I believe Lior is correct in the fact that We Are Listening should have placed a question mark: (?) in behind the word Scams?? Maybe two of them….and the lady (Julie), that noticed that mistake should be allowed 3 free song critiques…lol….and at least one free song contest entry…lol…I do look forward to hearing those next winning songs on the radio in the near future though. Also I assure you that you didn’t even come close to bad mouthing any other song contests anywhere around the globe. It drew my interest more than it pushed me away, even without the question mark behind the end title word: Scams. Thank you for running an honest song contest….Lawrence Ingle..And I still believe that “Hit Song Science” is going to be the way of the future for all music people in all positions, high and low, big or small.
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