FAWM Progress….or not
So I signed up on the site FAWM.org. February Album Writing Month….the goal is to write 14 songs in 28 days. Here it is 7 days in, and I really have started on 2 songs. I have been busy recording some demos for some other songwriters. I am hoping to work on my own originals more in the coming weeks. I have been impressed with some of the songs that other songwriters are writing on FAWM.org.
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Tags: FAWM, February, Songwriting demos
Check out this blog post…. http://cactusjoeproductions.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/how-to-market-your-music-effectively/Some great posts for musicians who are trying to get their music heard!
- Chad
C-Sharp Productions: Songwriting Demo Studio
http://www.sharpmusic.com
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Tags: music marketing, music promotion
Found this interesting story about Tunecore. Thought you may like it as well. – Chad C-Sharp Productions Songwriting Demo Studio
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Tags: independent music, iTunes, TuneCore
We live in a very exciting time where it is possible to make money with your music even if you are not signed with a record label or music publisher. I am going to list a few of the ways that I have generated some income from my music. These things are opportunities that can be available to anyone….as long as you are working super hard on making your songs the VERY best they can be.
So here are a few places you can look to start developing revenue generating activity.
1. Get other artists to cut your song. If someone cuts your song, you can generate mechanical royalties. Try to get in touch with local and regional singers and bands in your area. Don’t shoot for the superstars, if you don’t have a track record of success, your chances slim. I have had artists that I produce cut my songs and this generates a little bit of income.
2. Join ASCAP or BMI. They collect performance royalties if your song is on TV or radio. They DO NOT submit your music to these media however. BUT if you are lucky enough to start getting some airtime, it can generate some nice money. I have had my songs used on some national shows and I get quarterly checks from BMI. That feels good!! I can’t live on it….yet….but I am proud that I have music that is being used.
3. Trusonic.com…..these guys provide music to stores and restaurants for in-store play. If they select your songs and play them, you get paid royalties. Again, it isn’t big bucks at first, or maybe ever….but something is better than $0.
4. PumpAudio.com: This is a great way to get your music infront of people looking for music for TV and ads. I have had a few songs picked up and used. They pay the owner of the music (me or you) 35% of whatever license fees they collect. It is not an exclusive deal, so you can still market your songs other places. They also do not accept everything sent in….so there is major quality control here. This is a good thing, because they want real people and producers using the site….if the songs suck, no one comes back, let alone pays for music from it. I have had stuff used and I have also had stuff rejected. That is the music biz.
5. Live performing….pretty simple. Get paid to play….even it is just tips.
6. Sell CD’s…..especially when you play live. You are face to face with your customer. Don’t be afraid to market to ‘em. Also be sure you have your CD’s online at a site like CDbaby.com. This allows you to sell to people all over the world and they handle the fulfillment.
If you search online you can probably find many other ways to make some money with your music. None of them is going to make you rich quick, but every dollar made from music is extra special. Keep writing, keep recording, do you thing….and if you need a great song demo….hire me 
Sorry shameless plug. – Chad Sharp
C-Sharp Productions
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Tags: ASCAP, BMI, CDBaby, music publishers, Pump Audio, record label, royalties, Trusonic, TuneCore
Don’t let yourself get frustrated with what you don’t have….be thankful for what you have and what you can do right now.
- Chad
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Tags: songwriters, Songwriting, success
If you want to really expand your songwriting arsenal, you should be listening to other genres. If you are finding it hard to break your songwriting habits and come up with new ideas, you may just have to change what you are listening to.
- Chad Sharp
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Tags: music, songs, songwriters, Songwriting, writing
Songwriting Tip: Write Bad Songs
If you want to grow as a songwriter, you have to exercise your writing muscles. You can do that by writing a lot of songs….even bad songs. You will get better the more you write.
- Chad Sharp
Record a demo for your song here.
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Tags: Chad Sharp, hit songs, music publishing, songwriting tip, write bad songs
Every songwriter is different. Every song is different (if the writer does his job.) One thing I have discovered is that even though I seem to lean one way in my writing, I do write from different starting places for the songs. Sometimes I write lyrics first, then melody and music. Sometimes I have the meldy and then I need words. The other way I write is to start with a chord progression. I play the chords over and over and try out different placements and rhythm and see what sounds the best at the time. I will start on different degrees of the scale. Sometimes I may start my progession with the iii chord and make that the sort of “base” of my song. It may not always follow the rules of music theory but I have come up with funky stuff and learned some things. As an example you may have a progression that goes: iii – V-ii – IV – iii
So for you writers out there that start with melody or words first….on your next song try throwing down some chords first and writiing to that. Feel free to post your link to your songs in the comments so we can hear your work.
PS – I am not a music theory expert, so some of my posts are very simple. I am just trying to share some of the things I have learned from writing songs for a long time.
–Chad Sharp
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Tags: chord progressions, lyrics, melody
Well last night I was surfing and I found a fellow songwriter’s blog. She had done a post about ‘February Album Writing Month.’ I had never heard of this before, but it is a super fun concept. Basically, you take the 28 days of February and set a goal to write 14 songs (an album worth.) There is a website where you can upload your songs and get encouragement and inspiration from other “Fawmers.” I just signed up and I am taking the challenge. It is my goal to write alot more this year, so this is a fun chance to make it happen.
You can get more info and sign up at htt://www.fawm.org
It will be fun to interact with other songwriters taking the challenge around the world. This is my first year participating, so it will be a new experience. I will try to do updates, but as you know I will be busy writing! LOL.
The blog where I discovered this is http://theriverrunsnorth.wordpress.com/2010/01/23/its-february-album-writing-month-fawm/
Be sure to show some love!
- Chad Sharp
Sharpmusic.com
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Tags: songwriters, Songwriting, FAWM.org, February Album Writing Month
Are you a songwriter? Do you want to collaborate with people in other cities, countries? Maybe your cowriter is at their home and you are at yours….wanna work on some songs?
Google wave may be a way for you to collaborate without being in the same place.
Check it out, it is a cool collaboration tool..
http://wave.google.com/help/wave/about.html- Chad Sharp
Sharpmusic.com
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Tags: collaboration, Google Wave, Songwriting
Recent Entries
- FAWM Progress….or not
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