We Deal In Real People often ask Clay and I why two writers who have had multiple #1 songs and are still getting cuts would spend time doing something like Songtown. I will start by saying that Songtown is a labor of love. It is the community we wish we had in the early stages of our careers. We would have saved a lot of money and succeeded sooner if we had access to something like Songtown. So, its our way of giving back. The other reason we are here can best be conveyed through a story. I was just starting out as a songwriter. Struggling in many ways. I had been without a job for several years and my wife was supporting us until I could get back on my feet. I felt bad that I wasnt bringing money for my family. I endured the continual question Have you sold any songs yet? from extended family and from friends. It was humiliating and humbling. I had nowhere to go but up. And then I got THE CALL. A co-writer called to tell me that we had been offered a single song contract. My first. I was elated. The publisher was a HUGE publisher in the gospel music industry. And they liked one of my songs enough to offer me a contract. I was finally legitimate. The monkey was off my back. I might make some money!!! I told everyone I knew. Then I got THE OTHER CALL. Something told me I should take the contract to an entertainment lawyer friend of mine. He was calling to tell me that he could not in good conscience let me sign the deal. The deal included a clause that said that the publisher would demo the song, and if the demo included one note different from my original arrangement (the work tape), they got HALF of my writers royalties in addition to ALL of my publishing. For those of you not hip to contract law, this meant that this was a HORRIBLE deal. The first thing they would do is change the arrangement by one note and they would get half of my writer royalties. To say that I was devastated would be an understatement. It was even more humiliating to tell everyone that I had bragged to that the deal fell through. That lesson was one of many Clay and I learned the hard way. We want to help you avoid those pitfalls. There are people all over town and all over the internet who have never succeeded as songwriters but are glad to take your money in exchange for telling you how to be one. There are people just lining up to offer deals like that first one I was offered. We are here to give you an alternative. We dont hype you up and promise to Get your songs to Nashville producers!!! or set up publisher pitch sessions where the publisher takes 10-12 songs even though they know the songs arent going to get cut. If thats what you are after, then you are in the wrong Town. We like to say we Deal in real. We just want to help you learn to write the best song you can possibly write. We want to help keep you from getting taken by people who dont know how to do what they are teaching. And we want to keep you from getting scammed. On top of that, wed like to get to know you and be your friend. If that sounds good to you, then welcome to Songtown. Marty Dodson Songwriter/Producer/Photographer
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 14:00:00 +0000
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