MC101 Get Amplified Newsletter

Ty Cohen, the music industry's most recognizable voice, is the owner of a successful independent record label, a nation-wide music industry seminar speaker and panelist and author/creator of over 10 best-selling music business books, directories and software programs including the industry famous 101 Music Business Contracts software, The Industry Yellow Pages and The Ultimate "Music Industry" Power-Pack!

For nearly a decade, Platinum Millennium Publishing, parent company of www.MusicContracts101.com and Ty Cohen's Get Amplified! Newsletter, has helped over 27,000 independent musicians, singers, rappers, composers, record label owners, producers, managers, agents and others reach their music business goals. Using a unique combination of our very own tested and proven music business success resources, which includes a series of books, directories, software programs, videos, seminars and newsletters, our goal is to educate and empower musical individuals just like you with the tools needed to succeed!

This Week's Issue: We’ll examine tips and hints when dealing with entertainment lawyers as well as digital news from cdbaby.com. Inside you’ll also find a host of competitions for songwriters through the end of the year. In our Spotlight On feature we talk with Lynch & Knill who put a new spin on old time rock ‘n roll.

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1. PICK THE RIGHT ENTERTAINMENT LEGAL EAGLES

Your Aunt Rose who does malpractice lawsuits is not the best choice if you’re working out a deal with a record company. I’m sure she has many wonderful qualities as a person and as a lawyer but it’s important to find someone that handles entertainment law to lend a hand. You might not know what to expect or how to look for a legal eagle but here are a few tips.

First, ask if they handle clients at your level and ask for references. Once you get them, follow up and ask the artists what they thought of the services. It’s realistic that it will take a few months to nail down contracts but if it’s taking six months or longer or the artist feels they didn’t get answers within a reasonable amount of time, consider going elsewhere. Entertainment attorneys aren’t cheap (figure anywhere from $100 to $450 a hour) but they do work for YOU once you hire them. You shouldn’t have to wait weeks to get an answer to any questions that might come up.

Speaking of money, that brings us to fees. There are basically three ways lawyers are paid: 1) An hourly fee 2) A percentage and 3) Retainer. An hourly fee is just that – the lawyer is paid for every hour he works (usually with a minimum number of hours to be paid in advance). A percentage, again, is just as it says. He gets a percentage of your record deal for helping put it all together. The third is a retainer. This is where you pay a monthly fee and then use the services of the attorney as needed with money already in the ‘account’. The more you know the more likely you can decrease your costs.

That’s why programs like 101 Music Business Contracts (http://www.musiccontracts101.com/docs/products/001/index.htm) help because it saves time by taking out some of the legwork your attorney has to do. The more time you save him, the more money it saves you. When you sit down to discuss the fee also be sure to ask if there are any ‘hidden charges’. Hidden charges can be anything like long-distance phone calls, postage of documents, photocopies, faxes, and so on. Some lawyers include this in the fee but others do not. It’s important to ask up front so you don’t get the sticker shock of an extra bill you had no idea to expect.

2. CALLING ALL SONGWRITERS

The MusicMuse.com has reported several songwriting competitions you might want to check out for possible entry for this and upcoming months.

JOHN LENNON SONGWRITING CONTEST - Deadline: Sept. 28 The Contest is open to amateur and professional songwriters who submit entries in any one of 13 categories. Your song may be entered in any of the following categories: Rock, Country, Jazz, Pop, World, Rhythm & Blues, Hip Hop, Gospel/Inspirational, Latin, Electronic, Folk, Children's and the new "Lyrics Only" category. Please visit www.jlsc.com for more information.
2004 BOND SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION – Deadline: Sept. 30 Three Grand Prize winners will compete for title of Songwriter of the Year 2004. Prizes include: Professional Demo, possible publishing contract, professional copies of the demo, and Superscope PSD 300! More information can be found at http://www.bondmusicpublishing.com/ContestInfo.html.
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN SONGWRITING CONTEST – Deadline: Oct. 1 The proceeds of this benefit contest will be used to support missions. This contest is endorsed by Twila Paris and Russ Lee. For complete details, go to our website at http://christiansongwriting.com.
2004 GREAT AMERICAN SONG CONTEST - Deadline: Nov. 5 Judges include Grammy-nominated songwriters, music publishers and recording artists. ALL ENTRANTS receive a written evaluation of their songs. Categories are: Pop, Rock, Acoustic/Folk, Country, Christian/Gospel, Instrumental, R&B/Hip-Hop and a "Lyrics Only" category for lyricists. There's also a Special Music category for Patriotic, Novelty, Christmas & Children's songs. Visit www.GreatAmericanSong.com.
2004 UNISONG INTERNATIONAL SONG CONTEST – Deadline: Nov. 30 Selected winners will appear on a special limited edition CD and one Grand Prize winner will win a trip to write new songs with established professional songwriters. Enter by MP3, CD or Cassette! Visit http://www.unisong.com for more details.
AMERICAN SONGWRITER MAGAZINE'S LYRIC WRITING CONTEST - September 17 and November 15. All entries must be received on or before one of these dates to qualify. Send lyrics only. Lyrics must be typed and a check for $10 (per entry) must be enclosed. 3 entries maximum per contest. Include an entry form with each lyric sheet submitted. Prizes include: A Martin guitar with case and certificate to each contest winner. Top 5 winning lyrics for each contest reprinted in American Songwriter Magazine. One overall winner per year receives airfare to Nashville and a demo session. Call for required official form (615-321-6096) or print it from the website at http://www.americansongwriter.com.
LADYSIXSTRING ANNUAL LYRIC CONTEST – Deadline: December 31 Lyrics Only! Ladies Only! Best entry receives a Stardust Venus Guitar & Marshall Amp ...plus... lots of other super cool prizes. Open to all female amateur and professional songwriters. All ages. All styles. Winners will be selected by an expert panel of music industry judges. There is a $10 entry fee per entry. International entries accepted (void where prohibited). Made possible by LadySixString, Daisy Rock Guitars, Alfred Publishing, Women Who Rock Magazine, StringItUp! & The Indie Bible. URL for more information: http://www.ladysixstring.com/lyricwritingcontest.
SONG OF THE YEAR SONG & LYRIC WRITING CONTEST SUPPORTING VH-1 SAVE THE MUSIC – Monthly Song of the Year is currently accepting entries into the 2004 songwriting contest. Judges include Grammy Award winners as well as many other prestigious judges. The contest offers over $50,000 of prizes. 50 winners each month (600 yearly) will have their material sent out to labels, publishers, and A&R reps. Visit http://www.songoftheyear.com
PACIFIC SONGWRITING COMPETITION - Deadline: Mar. 31, 2005 The cash prizes total $25,000 and 2 i Pods are to be given away on the 500th and 1000th entry opened. The competition is open to all nations, genres and both amateur and professional songwriters. There are neither promises of chances to be heard by the “big boys” nor product to be given away .The sponsor wished for an Ad Free Site with occasional quotes and songwriting tips. Online Artistic Support is available twice a week at varying times of the day. http://www.pacificsongwritingcompetition.com

3. CD BABY DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION

From Cdbaby.com: CD Baby Digital Distribution is in full swing. With more partner companies signing up all the time, we're able to get your music out there for maximum exposure and sales.

When I first announced this last fall, I very conservatively said, "none of these services are *required* to carry your music if they don't want to," and that's still true but now I can very confidently say that ALL of the companies we work with are accepting EVERYONE's music equally, without playing favorites.

Here are the companies signed up so far. (Not every service has received every album yet, so if your music is not there yet, don't complain yet.) If you didn't sign up for Digital Distribution, just log in to your CD Baby account at https://members.cdbaby.com - and click the [DIGITAL] tab, up top.

Apple iTunes http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/

Rhapsody http://www.listen.com/

Sony Connect http://www.sonyconnect.com/

Napster http://www.napster.com/

PureTracks http://www.puretracks.com/

MusicNet http://www.musicnet.com/

AudioLunchbox http://www.audiolunchbox.com/

MusicMatch http://www.musicmatch.com/download/music_intro.htm

Emusic http://www.emusic.com/

BuyMusic http://www.buymusic.com/

NetMusic http://www.netmusic.com

DiscLogic http://www.disclogic.com/

Emepe3.com http://www.emepe3.com/

Etherstream http://www.etherstream.com/

Linspire http://www.linspire.com/

Music4Cents http://www.music4cents.com/

QTRnote http://www.qtrnote.com/

TriaSite http://www.gimmemusic.net/

CatchMusic http://catchmusic.net/catchweb/

Viztas Digital Marketplace http://viztas.com/

COMING SOON:

Digizaar http://www.digizaar.com/

Weed http://www.weedshare.com/

4. 6 TIPS TO SELL MORE CD’S AT SHOWS

Are sales sluggish at your shows or even non-existent? Not sure how to change it? If so, ask yourself what happens during our show?

Do you have a little table set aside after the performance or during breaks where people might have to stand in line to buy your CD? If you do, stop it immediately. Instead, go out, meet the people, shake a few hands, and kiss a few babies, whatever – why do you think politicians do these things? Simple, they’re making a connection. So start doing the same thing by getting to know the people who come to your show.

Price might actually matter too. People don’t want to dig $12 and some change (or wait for you to make change) just to buy a CD. Set an ‘easy price’ of $10 or $15. That way the total is in even bills for a quicker transaction. That way you can move on to other sales swiftly but politely of course.

What about your performance? Do you talk to your audience about why you’re playing these songs? I’m sure there’s a reason or a small story behind it. Tell them about it. Again, let them see YOU as a person and not just an object tied to a guitar or a microphone looking to make a few bucks. You’re an artist so let them inside your artistic mind.

Another good rule is how you behave offstage too. Maybe your drummer and your guitarist spend their breaks arguing about who screwed up the last set. If so, tell them to knock it off. The end of a set, or anytime during a gig, is not the time to rehash everything that went wrong. That happens after you’re done for the night and everyone’s gone home, which leads us to the next tip. Stay until everyone goes home. If you’re packed and out the door by last call you’re missing the chance at interacting with the public and losing potential sales.

Having a good product alone isn’t enough to make a sale. Any businessman will tell you that. Much of it is in the presentation so present yourself as something people can get behind and the sales will follow.

5. SPOTLIGHT ON…LYNCH AND KNILL

We recently spoke with John Lynch & John Knill of Lynch & Knill as they talked about their original CD, ‘Eyes Wide Open’ which melds together today's world sounds with strong influences from the 60s, 70s & 80s rock scene to create a thoroughly fresh experience.

John Lynch gave us a little background on both him and his musical partner John Knill: “John and I come from different yet similar backgrounds. John was born and raised in Ireland. I was born and raised in Vancouver Canada. My mother was from Ireland. I left the music industry in the 1970's to pursue a business career and returned in 1990 after selling the company. Most of my career has been in the studio writing and producing. John Lynch was touring Europe in the seventies and came to Canada to tour. He still performs in Vancouver and is in one of Canada's longest lasting house bands Killarney. When we started producing together we just clicked. All the instruments except for some drums where played by the two of us. Our first goal with ‘Eyes Wide Open’ was to have a younger artist use the tracks. We love to write and create. Let the younger generation be the stars and do the touring.”

How did you feel the first time you saw your CD in print? Knill: My first was on vinyl, Polydor records, in the seventies. The best is when you are somewhere that someone you don't know is playing your music and loving it. That's a rush! | Lynch: I went berserk. It was all wrong!

Desert Island question – if you could only take three albums with you what would they be? Knill: If there was a CD Player, an audio CD on survival, Eagle's reunion album and Eyes Wide Open | Lynch: Sgt. Peppers, The Wall and Eyes Wide Open.

What’s the greatest life lesson you’ve learned through your music (In other words, how have you grown personally)? Knill: Create music for love. If the money comes its a bonus. Have fun. | Lynch: How to work and interact with people. When I started playing I was 4 ft. 6". I have grown to 5ft 8".

If anyone is looking for great songs and arrangements or just want to check out more about Lynch and Knill, visit their web site at http://www.dream-maker-studio.com. Their CD can be found on www.cdbaby.com

6. Contact Info

The Get Amplified Newsletter is a free online newsletter about the independent music biz featuring news, events, and special offers on all things Indie. To use any of the articles or info contained in this newsletter please...

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