Is MySpace making aspiring music professionals MISS opportunities?

(c) 2008 Hits A Million, LLC

Many aspiring music professionals, when an industry professional asks them about their music, will quickly say go to my MySpace page. I've consistently read and heard this reply. Even at music conferences where music professionals expect to get a CD, an aspiring music professional will say, "I don't have any music on me, just go to my MySpace page." In fact, many aspiring music professional will come to a music conference with no business cards either and will again say "everything's on my MySpace page."

That is a BIG mistake!

1. You assume that the music professional has time to go to your MySpace page.
2. You assume that the music professional will remember to go to your MySpace page.
3. You assume that the music professional will only listen to your music when they get to MySpace.
4. You assume that the music professional won't get distracted by other friend requests, other "come check out my music" requests, emails, blogs, status inquiries, etc.
5. You also make the mistake of having that music industry professional go through an extra step that he or she wouldn't need to go to if you were just prepared when he or she asked to hear your music.
6. You assume MySpace is up and working and that their play counts are accurate.
7. You assume the industry professional isn't having, or won't have computer problems.

Assumptions are not the foundation for success.

MySpace is a tool, a resource, just like Hits A Million. Don't miss opportunities because you are not prepared to give the industry professional exactly what they ask for when they ask for it.

Plus, you must understand your audience and the scenario. Music industry professionals are given, emailed, mailed, and listen to literally hundreds of Mp3s a week! If you have that person's ear right there at that time, why make them wait until later? Why not have an Ipod, your Iphone, an MP3 player or something to play your music on right then? I've heard it said that success = preparation meeting opportunity. Thus, if you are not ready when the opportunity presents itself, you have possibly missed out on that chance for success.

Granted you SHOULD have a MySpace page. It's become an industry standard. Some industry professionals won't even look at you seriously if you don't have a MySpace page. But when someone asks to hear your music, you should have an MP3, a CD, a jump drive, and any other form in which music can be distributed and then let the industry professional say, no, I'd rather go to your MySpace page. By being fully prepared, you can at least ensure that you haven't missed an opportunity to finally be heard by a music professional because the only place you have your music is your MySpace page.


Thedy B, CEO
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.ning.com

Networking is not Jumping Jacks

I hear people say all the time, "I'm grinding." Yeah...? Really...? Are you...? Or are you really just doing jumping jacks: moving but you ain't going nowhere? Many people continue to do the same thing over and over again and wonder why nothing's changed. Yes, some things come through persistence. But dog, if you been doing the same thing for 10 years and nothing has happened, then perhaps you need to change what you're doing or take it up a notch. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing, expecting different results. Maybe it's time to stop doing jumping jacks, and start walking, no, sprinting to the next move in your music career!

In one of my earlier post, I gave you a total of 33 different physical places you can go to network and meet producers, songwriters, artists, demo singers, A & R professionals, new fans, and new businesses who are looking for you! But some people will read that information and then not do it. Some will read it and take off with the information, taking their career to the next level.

What are you going to do?

Thedy B
hitsamillion.ning.com

Hitsamillion.ning.com - The premiere social network for music industry professionals

New! Hits A Million reaches almost 100,000 views in one month!! Come see why music professionals join this premiere social network every day!

Hitsamillion.ning.com - The premiere social network for music industry professionals

The Hits A Million theme song contest!!!

2008 Hits A Million Theme Song Contest Entry form.wpd
Hitsamillion.ning.com is one of the fastest growing social networking sites for music creators with over 80 members in a week and over 54,000 views in one month. And the site is constantly growing with new members and new content! Now Hitsamillion.ning.com needs a theme song which reflects what this site is about.

Do you think you and/or your team can write the winning theme song for Hits A Million?

Here's how the contest will work: Out of all the entries, five songs will be selected to move to the next round. The top five songs will then be judged by not only Thedy B, but by other seasoned music industry professionals, including two music publishers, a club DJ, and a Grammy-award/Stellar awarding winner producer. All of the top five songs will receive feedback from the judges. From those five songs, one song will be the winner. If you are chosen to be the winner, not only will your song have been judged by industry professionals but you will be the featured writer/producer on Hits A Million. You will get a full write up on the site, including your name and profile picture. Additionally, the song will be featured as the first song on the Hits A Million playlist on the main page. Your song will also be featured on the Hits A Million MySpace band page and a simple Youtube video will be made as added promotion.


Interested in participating? Then here are the details:

The deadline to enter is September 19, 2008


For more information, come to hitsamillion.ning.com

The Hitsamillion.ning.com team!!

Because there are so many things that I want to see done at hitsamillion.ning.com that I had to have a team. I needed a team that was enthusiastic, helpful, resourceful, knowledgeable, loves music and had a servant's heart. Well I finally have the team that I wanted. Interestingly most of my team members turned out to be some of the members who initially joined hitsamillion.ning.com right after I launched it. It's not coincedental though because typically the people who join you at the beginning see the vision you have for what you're doing and have demonstrated at least an outward show of support for you and what you're doing. So I'm grateful to the new team at hitsamillion.ning.com

This site is much bigger than me though. As I've said before it's about the members of the site. It's about the vision of the site. It's about the goals of the site. Our goal is to help the music industry professionals reach their individual goals in the music business. And the members see and know that because they invite others to join, they LIVE on the site, and they always help each other out.


So come join us at hitsamillion.ning.com

Events on Hitsamillion.ning.com

Another thing I love about hitsamillion.ning.com is all the great events I get to tell members about. There are all type of events that I post there in an events tab. Regardless of what you do in the music industry, I'm sure I've posted an event you'd be interested in. From music conferences, seminars, training courses, songwriting contests, beat battles, anniversaries, etc. Members also post events up so recently we had some Internet radio stations post events about their radio programs! Plus, members get to RSVP and let others know they are going and members can go together! You can also share the events with your "friends" on Hits A Million. So that is yet another thing besides Chat time that you can enjoy on Hitsamillion.ning.com

The Official Hits A Million Chat time on Hitsamillion.ning.com is this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. EST!

Come out and join us on hitsamillion.ning.com for chat time. See my previous blogs on what the official Chat Time is. Come chat, network, get feedback on your music, and if your music is hot enough, your music will be featured! Chat time is always a lot of fun and information!

Upcoming chat times will feature music industry news and information, a producers' beat battle, a poetic moment, and other new and exciting ways for you to showcase your talent!!!


So come out to the Official Hits A Million chat time this Thursday, August 14th at 7:30 p.m. EST!!!

Don't miss it!

Next Hits A Million chat time is tonight at 7:30 p.m. EST!

As I mentioned, I have really enjoyed the conversation and networking that I've been able to have using the chat room on hitsamillion.ning.com! So we are doing Chat Time again. Chat time is a formal time where we get together network, listen to each other's music, get feedback, vote on each other's music and the winning tracks/songs get featured on the main page! So if you are free tonight, come join us on hitsamillion.ning.com

Hitsamillion.ning.com is making it happen for its members!!

It’s happening folks! It’s happening! On hitsamillion.ning.com, members are seeing some of their goals come true! Some are getting opportunities for radio airplay. Some are expanding their reach, their brand, and their audience by getting on-air interviews. Some are meeting producers and songwriters to help their artists or themselves put out their very first CD! Some are getting the information they need to grow as aspiring artists, songwriters, producers, engineers and record label executives. Some people are making sales! Some are finding people in their area or outside their small town environment. The members of hitsamillion. ning. com are seeing their musical goals come true and I’m happy to say I had something to do with that so I’m meeting my goal of positively affecting others’ lives! How are they doing it? The members are seeing their goals come to pass through networking! Remember all them posts I did on networking? If not, refresh your memory by checking out the month long blogs I did on networking. For real, come and check us out at hitsamillion.ning.com!

Thedy B

Chat time on Hitsamillion.ning.com was great!

Meet me and other songwriters, producers, artists, rappers, and music business professionals met up at the chat room on hitsamillion.ning.com!!! It was great!

This chat time is a great way to meet other songwriters, producers, singers, rappers, music professionals, etc, to find out what we each other do, where we live, and perhaps what or who we are trying to find.

First we networked, then we discuss some topics, and then we checked out each other's music! Some of the chatters got instant feedback on their music! The members who got the most praise and recognition on the site got their music featured on the main page of the site! Just like I said in my previous post that they would! Adding the chat room has been great. What I love too is that people on the site are really hungry to handle business. Plus, everyone is nice, courteous, respectful, and business minded. It makes chatting fun and easy!

So again, join hitsamillion.ning.com and meet us in the chatroom on hitsamillion. ning.com at our next chat time which will be announced soon so keep reading for more details!


Thedy B
remember to check out my other blogs!

More reasons to join Hitsamillion.ning.com!

At hitsamillion.ning.com, first off: it's about the members!!!!!! That's why the members' pictures are on the main page at the top. As the owner of the site, putting the members' pictures at the top of the site reminds me who this site is for! I'm here to help and facilitate!

Next, I will be featuring members on the main page. It will not be the same featured members on the main page. Members will get a chance to be featured on the main page of the site. Members will get featured for different reasons. Putting your name, image and profile on the front page will help you brand and promote yourself. Certain members will have THEIR music on the front page, etc. There will be other advantages that members will have but I gotta keep those a secret. You have to join to find out!

Next, I'll be adding some cool features to my site. Only members will get to participate in those added features.

Also, unlike a lot of social networking sites, there will be industry news and information as well that will help members learn the music business. Currently, there's information on there about how to get an endorsement deal.

Also, at hitsamillion.ning.com, we start our own groups within the site. There's a current group on the site, the Lyrically Speaking group, where we spark each other's creativity, critique each other's music, and a lot more.

So yes, join hitsamillion.ning.com and get involved!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com

Why join hitsamillion.ning.com when there are other social networking sites?

Hitsamillion.ning.com is networking site for songwriters, producers, artists, managers, engineers, and all music business professionals. I started hitsamillion.ning.com in November 2007 because I wanted to interact with songwriters, producers, artists, engineers and music professionals in a way that MySpace, Facebook, and a lot of other sites I was on at the time really doesn't provide. As an owner of my own site now, I'm not subject to all the restrictions and limitations of MySpace.

At hitsamillion.ning.com, we can talk about issues that concern us as music professionals. I post events to let my members know about what's happening. Members get to change and rearrange and decorate their page. I get to change the featured members on the site so I can showcase members for their contributions. I can showcase my members' music. Plus, members still get to post pictures, videos, blogs, forums, music and comments. They can post events. They can make new friends. They can email their friends at one time. They can join and start their groups within the site. Plus, I welcome all of the new members to my site personally! So it's a great site. With over a hundred members, I'm not the only one who thinks so!

I'm a longtime member of MySpace and Facebook. Personally, neither suited all of my needs. I wanted to not only find out who people were and send them an email (which they may or may not read or respond to) but I also wanted to really interact with songwriters and producers in other ways. At hitsamillion.ning.com, people can really talk. You won't find all the sillyness that goes on on MySpace's forums. I hate their forums.


So yes, I want you to join hitsamillion.ning.com! You're truly welcome there.

Thedy B
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.ning.com

Come join me on Hitsamillion.ning.com!

Visit HitsAMillion.Ning.Com

Hitsamillion.ning.com is a free site for everybody in the music business. Be a featured member! Have your music featured on the front page of the site! Start groups. Post videos, comments, blogs, music, pictures, and events. Post classified ads. Find music industry events. Get industry information. Make friends and contacts. Check it out

Capturing Your Song Ideas Pt. 3 or Songwriting while traveling

In addition to the other suggestions that I mentioned about capturing your song ideas while you're out and about, I found another device that some producers and musicians use to get their ideas down while away from their stationary recording devices. Because I have not personally bought this particular product, I cannot tell you if this device is the best one to use or not. I'd suggest googling this product and reading reviews of it to see which one is best for you.



Meet the ultimate palmtop guitar companion and recording studio. Only slightly larger than an iPod, the tiny-yet-powerful Micro BR is a dream for musicians on the go. The Micro BR offers four simultaneous playback tracks (plus 32 V-Tracks), MP3 compatibility, onboard multi-effects, built-in rhythm patterns, a tuner, USB, an SD Card slot, and more. No guitar case or gig bag should be without one!

Features:
Ultra portable, only slightly larger than an iPod

4-track playback, 32 V-Tracks

Loads and plays MP3 files

Multi-effects onboard; dedicated guitar input

Time-Stretch and Center Cancel features (including MP3 files)

293 rhythm patterns

Built-in tuner and microphone

USB port for data transfer

SD Card slot for recording media, 128MB card included

BR in Your Pocket or Guitar Case
The Micro BR is so small you can put it in your pocket! It measures just 136.0 mm x 81.0 mm x 21.4 mm (5-3/8" x 3-3/16" x 7/8"). But even though it's tiny, the Micro BR packs an entire studio's worth of features into its tiny case. There are a dozen buttons on its front panel, nine knobs, and even a built-in microphone for quick capture.

4 Tracks & More
At its core, the Micro BR is a four-track studio with four simultaneous playback tracks and two simultaneous record / input tracks.However, there's more to this recorder than meets the eye. Each of the four main playback tracks also has eight companion V-Tracks (for a total of 32), so you can record take after take after take, then pick your best material for final mixdown.

Drum Machine & Effects Onboard
Given the Micro BR's small size and low price, you might be surprised to find the next two features onboard: (1) Almost 300 drum patterns are included. Use them for play-along inspiration or even as song foundations. The rhythms don't consume any of the four playback tracks -- they play back independently. (2) A quality multi-effects processor is onboard, including a time-stretch algorithm for changing the tempo of your audio tracks without changing pitch -- a great tool for both audio editing and phrase training. The Time Stretch feature can also be used with MP3 data; the Micro BR's Center Cancel feature can be applied to MP3 data as well.

MP3 Compatibility
The Micro BR is capable of loading and playing MP3 files. Load up your favorite guitar hero song via USB, slow down the tempo with no pitch change, and learn all of your favorite licks. You can even use the Micro BR as a standard MP3 player. All of your data is stored on convenient SD (Secure Digital) media found in common electronics shops. The included 128MB card, for example, can record approximately 65 minutes of audio when one mono track is selected.
Technical Info
Power Supply (Optional): PSA-120S

Careers in Music as a Film Composer

Perhaps I've convinced you that your true passion with music does not involve the business of selling records. Perhaps my blog has convinced you that you love music but you'd rather do something else. Perhaps you should consider becoming a film composer.

Here's a great video on how to become a film composer:

Grind after you sign Part 3

I've been blogging about grinding after you sign. Lyfe Jennings said he forgot to continue to grind after he got signed, noticed the decline in his record sells, and starting grinding again. I mentioned that a lot of folks in the music business like to use the word grind when they talk about how hard they work in this business and I said most are in fact not grinding as that term is really defined.

Well, here's a real life example of a hip hop artist/songwriter, Lil Wayne, whose real grind paid off.




Then even Diddy asks, is the music business right for you?!

Thanks G. Charles Edwards on thestudioexposed.com for finding and sharing this video!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com

Grind after you sign Pt. 2

In my last blog, I talked about the importance of grinding after you sign a record deal, a publishing deal, a producer's agreement or deal, etc. So read that blog to understand the context of this one.

JaWar also recently blogged about the fact that artists, songwriters, musicians and producers have to grind after they get signed. He added some interesting layers to this much needed discussion. In particular, he blogged about having a displaced vision and the importance of learning how to then change your focus, goals, dreams, and vision after you get signed to then accomplish something greater, and buying and reading books that will help you do that. To read that blog, click here

I've come to almost dislike hearing people say they are grinding in the music industry. What does grinding really mean? The informal definition of grind as reported by dictionary.com means "to work or study laboriously (often fol. by away): He was grinding away at his algebra." Grind also means to "devote oneself to study or work: grinding for a test; grinding away at housework."

So if you aren't studying, working laboriously, devoting yourself to studying or working, then you are NOT grinding!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriting
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion. blogspot.com

Grind after you sign!

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I went to an ASCAP event where Lyfe Jennings was on the panel and he said that he made more money and sold more records when he HAD to grind then when he got signed!

He said that once he got signed, he chilled and didn't sell as much as he had when he was grinding. Now he's back on his grind.

With record labels constantly dropping non-producing or low-producing and even mid-producing artists, artists better be on their grind to stay signed!

At another event, they talked about how Kanye West was signed to a record label and nobody at the record label was pushing his project. What did Kanye West do? He started pushing his project himself! All of a sudden the folks IN THE RECORD LABEL took notice and started getting behind Kanye's project!

So you see from those examples that just being signed to a record label is not the END of the grind; it's just the START! In other words, you must grind after you're signed. And you must grind to stay signed!

So if you know NOW that you really don't want to grind, perhaps you shouldn't don't do music to make a profit. You again can save yourself some money, time, energy, and effort by not trying to get involved in the music business. You again can always just play and write music for the fun of it and make your profession something else!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com

Music is a business you must work!

Again, I'm continuing to help some of my readers decide whether they are in the right business. My other blogs have helped you decide whether you love music, love the music business, whether music is just a hobby to you, whether you are just a fan of music. All of these are very important questions to discover whether you should stay in the tough business of the music industry or whether you should find another fulfilling job in the music industry that does not entail the business of selling music.

So here's my next question: is music only fun to you and not work?

Dictionary.com defines work, the noun, by the following definitions:

1. exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something; labor; toil.
2. something on which exertion or labor is expended; a task or undertaking: The students finished their work in class.
3. productive or operative activity.
4.employment, as in some form of industry, esp. as a means of earning one's livelihood: to look for work.
5. one's place of employment: Don't phone him at work.
6. materials, things, etc., on which one is working or is to work.
7. the result of exertion, labor, or activity; a deed or performance.
8. a product of exertion, labor, or activity: musical works.

Dictionary.com defines work, the verb, using some of the following definitions:

1. to do work; labor.
2. to be employed, esp. as a means of earning one's livelihood: He hasn't worked for six weeks.
3. to be in operation, as a machine.
4. to act or operate effectively: The pump will not work. The plan works.
5. to attain a specified condition, as by repeated movement: The nails worked loose.
6. to have an effect or influence, as on a person or on the mind or feelings of a person.
7. to move in agitation, as the features under strong emotion.
8. to make way with effort or under stress: The ship works to windward.
9. to use or manage (an apparatus, contrivance, etc.): She can work many business machines.
10. to bring about (any result) by or as by work or effort: to work a change.
11. to manipulate or treat by labor: to work butter.
12. to put into effective operation.
13. to operate (a mine, farm, etc.) for productive purposes: to work a coal mine.
14. to carry on operations in (a district or region).
15. to make, fashion, or execute by work.
16. to achieve or win by work or effort: to work one's passage.
17. to keep (a person, a horse, etc.) at work: She works her employees hard.
18. to influence or persuade, esp. insidiously: to work other people to one's will.

So if you aren't exerting energy, time, labor or activity, if you are not productive, if you are not employing yourself to earn your own livelihood, and you aren't accomplishing anything with your energy, time, labor or activity, then it's safe to say you aren't working your music business! If you, your team, or your music isn't working to persuade or influence people to buy into you, your music, your brand, and your company, then your time, energy and efforts aren't working, i.e. they aren't productive. If you don't regularly go into your place of employment, which in this case, a studio, then you are not working. If you only go to work from time to time, then you are not laboring and therefore aren't really working.

There are no hand outs, no free rides, no get in free passes, no mandatory regulations or laws saying the music business has to include you! The music industry and success in the music business is solely determined by your level of hard work, dedication and determination.

So again decide for yourself: do I really want to be in the music industry?

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter

Hits A Million, LLC

hitsamillion.blogspot.com

Are you just a fan of music?

Again, I'm continuing my blogs that I started last week on whether a career as a professional songwriter, musician, artist, or producer is right for you. Check out my other blogs on this subject. Next, I want you to examine whether you are a fan of music or a professional music creator?

According to dictionary.com, a profession is a vocation requiring knowledge of some department of learning or science: the profession of teaching. The American Heritage dictionary defines profession as an occupation or career; or an occupation, such as law, medicine, or engineering, that requires considerable training and specialized study.

However, dictionary.com defines a fan as an enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer of a sport, pastime, celebrity, etc.

So ask yourself this, am I just a fan of music or am I in the profession of making music?

See a fan is somebody who would rather watch others make music on Youtube instead of making music themselves.

A fan would rather google their favorite celebrities to see how famous they are, see how many magazines they are on, how many websites, how many fans they have, how many friends they have on a social networking site, etc. But a professional would work on becoming famous themselves, building their own buzz, making fans of their music, and promoting and branding themselves so that they too are generating fans.

A fan would rather watch TV shows of famous celebrities get awards than work on making award-winning music.

A fan would only admire what other famous people are doing but a professional studies what famous people do and do it themselves.

A fan, when seeing other celebrities in the music business venture out into other businesses and endeavors or expand their musical talents, would say, well I can't do that; but a professional would say, I can learn how to do that!

A fan doesn't study music, the business, and celebrities but a professional does.

A fan merely listens to music but a professional not only listens to music but makes music for them and others to listen to.

A fan knows everything possible about their favorite celebrity but a professional knows the things that he or she needs to know about that celebrity so that the professional can duplicate what that celebrity did to get to where the celebrity got to.

A fan won't do the things that a celebrity does but will only talk about all the things the celebrity does and is doing.

A fan doesn't do music as a living and only buys music; a professional not only buys music but makes music for people to buy.

A fan doesn't want to do music for a living but a professional knows that he is in a profession to make money and to earn a living so he sells his music.

A fan won't sacrifice or give up doing some things to get to where the celebrity is but a professional knows and understands that his or her time is better spent devoting it to studying, learning the business, and doing music.

A fan doesn't care what he or she doesn't know about the music business; a professional does.

What am I saying? As the dictionary.com stated, a profession is a learned occupation that requires considerable training and specialized study.

If you spend most of your time simply watching TV shows of all of your favorite celebrities rather than studying what they do, how they did what they did, finding out how you can do it too, learning your craft, expanding your musical talents, learning the business, etc., then you are merely a fan of music. You are really not interested in being in the profession of music. So again, I'd say, save yourself some money, get out of the profession of music, and find some other way to still enjoy music as a fan, such as becoming a music retailer, and stop attempting to become a professional songwriter, musician, artist, or producer.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com

I love music but I don't love the music business?

**** to read my latest posts, you may have to refresh your browser*****

I hope you've been reading my latest blogs on should you save yourself some money and get out the game we call the music business. And if you read them, you may say well, I love music but I don't love the music business!

I personally prefer calling the music business, the music industry. Why? The music industry, for example, entails the business of selling records, but it's not solely define by that. The record business is solely defined by the business of selling records. The music industry, however, has so many other things that songwriters, producers, beatmakers, etc. can do besides sell records. So you can love music and not sell records and do other things in the music industry.

For example, you can teach people how to create music by becoming a music teacher. You'd still be a songwriter or musician or a producer but you won't have to concern yourself with the song's marketability, or commercialism. That may be a great profession for those who just love music and don't want to sell their music.

Or you can be like JaWar and write some books about the music industry. Or you could write about music, about musicians, songwriters, music industry professionals, etc. I myself am about to write some books about songwriting so stay tuned for more details!

As an author, you can still enjoy music and again you don't have to worry as much about some of the negative things that come with the business of selling records. So yes, you can love music and not love the music business, and still love what you do in the music industry. There's nothing stopping you from doing something else.

Berklee lists over 70 different careers in the music industry!!!!!
Kenfoster.com lists all the qualifications, if any, that are needed to do some of these other careers in the music industry and their salary ranges. Menc.org also has a chart detailing salary ranges and qualifications of other careers in the music industry.

Just do a google search like I did for careers in the music business and you'll find lots of ways to still love music and have a career in the music industry.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com

Do you love the music business?

Hopefully you've read my blogs before and you know I always try to inspire people to stay in the music business and to see their dreams come true. But again, this week my goal is to encourage you to find your true passion if it ain't music. So in my last two blogs, I helped you analyze whether music was just a hobby to you and whether you love music or not. Hopefully by now, you know music is not a hobby to you and that you love music.

In a recent forum on thestudioexposed.com, I created a forum and asked aspiring producers, songwriters, artists and beatmakers, what they love about the music business. Here's some of the things I said in that forum:

What I like or love about the music business:

1. I love music.
2. I love the creative process.
3. I love the challenge of coming up with a hit record.
4. I like knowing that people can be successful in the music business.
5. I love that there are many places that music is being put now and that companies, businesses, engineers, and inventors are coming up with new ways of hearing, getting, transporting, and sharing music all the time.
6. I love the fact that some artists, producers, and songwriters can have long careers in the music business.
7. I like the fact that I can be an entrepreneur in the music business.
8. I love the fact that it gives musicians the opportunity for people to hear their music and share it.
9. I like the fact that you constantly meet a different array of creative people.


If you can't think of these reasons why you love the industry and more, then again I'd suggest you save yourself some money, stay out the music business, find out what you really love to do, and make money doing that! In my next post, I'm going to talk about what some of the other careers are in the music industry that you can do for those of you who are tired of the music business and want to do something else.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com

Is Music What You Love to Do?

*** you may have to refresh your browser to see my latest post*******

So I've been posting for the past couple of days about saving yourself some money by getting out the game called the music business. In my last post, I gave you some tips on finding out if music is just a hobby to you. Again, if it is, save yourself some money: don't attempt to get into the music business. Instead, find something else that you really love to do.

So I ask you: Is music what you love to do? Let me ask you a couple of questions so you can be the judge:

Is music what you think about all the time?

Do you fantasize about music and having a career in music?

Do you see yourself doing music?

Do you see yourself being successful doing music?

Do you spend a lot of your time making music?

Have you sacrificed some relationships over music?

Have you stayed up long nights making and creating music?

Have you spent lots of money trying to make it in the music business?

Have you borrowed money to make it in the music business?

Have you tried other careers, but the music industry is the only thing that you keep coming back to?

Have you even left music alone for awhile but still found yourself missing it?

Do you spend time learning it and studying music?

Do you spend time researching how others who do music, do it?

Do you find yourself talking about music all the time?

Are most of your friends fellow music lovers?

Do you have a large music collection?

Well, if you answered yes to those questions, music is what you love to do.

So do it! Go for it! Stay with it! Be committed! Don't treat what you love to do as a hobby, respect it!

But if you don't love music, save yourself some money, get out the game, find what you REALLY love and do THAT!!!!!!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com

Is music still a hobby to you?

**** you may have to refresh your browser to see my latest post******

In my last post on saving yourself some money by getting OUT the game, we call the music business, I challenged you to ask yourself whether music is a hobby or a business to you. So here it is:

If you are not willing to invest time in YOU: why should anybody else! Music is still a hobby to you.

If you are not willing to invest money in YOU: why should anybody else! Music is still a hobby to you.

If you are not willing to give something up to get what you want: why should anybody else! Music is still a hobby to you.

If you are not willing to dedicate yourself fully to YOUR goals, your dreams, your aspirations, your CAREERRRRRRRRRR, the things you SAY you want, why should anybody else! Music is still a hobby to you.

If you just want to play music for fun, write songs for fun, music is a hobby to you!

If you don't want to put in the time it takes, music is a hobby to you!

If you don't want to learn how to perfect your craft, music is a hobby to you!

If you don't want to get paid to do what you love to do, music is a hobby to you!

If you got a lot of excuses related to your career, your business, and your music, music is a hobby to you!

If you don't want to learn the business side of the music business, music is a hobby to you.

If you only work on your music every now and then, music is a hobby to you.

If you don't want to network, build relationships, make moves, brand and promote yourself, music is a hobby to you.

If all you want to do is create and never handle any business, music is a hobby to you.

If you quit because you got rejected, got a bad critique from someone, didn't hear back from someone, etc, music is a hobby to you.

For all those who find themselves answering most of those statements like, yep, that's me, then I'd suggest you save yourself some time and money, and get out the billion dollar music industry. Find your true passion and make money doing what you really love to do because music ain't it.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com

Save yourself some money: Get out the Game!!!!!!

** to see my latest post, you may have to refresh your browser or subscribe to this blog! *****

Okay, I'm always attempting to be inspirational in this blog as well as help people learn the business side and the craft side of this business. On here, I'm always trying to inspire people to stay in the music business and to see their goals come to fruition. For all those who are really grinding it out, really about your business, really wanting to make your mark in the music industry, and are ready and willing to do business, but just need that extra boost, please check out all of my inspirational/encouragement posts if you need encouragement. They will surely motivate you to continue.

I've also attempted to provide some money-saving tips for those who are struggling independent artists. I've done some blogs helping you to not spend your money on things or people only to find out you didn't need what or who you spent your hard earned money on or that you needed something better. So please read the blogs on saving money.

But over the next week, I'm about to encourage some folks to save their money and leave this game, we call the music business because play time is over!!!!!! Play time IS over! Play time is OVER! Save your money and get out the game! This is the music BUSINESS, people!!!!!!! What? Did you think it was going to be easy?! That you were just going to breeze into it? That you don't have to put in the time, the money, the effort, the lack of sleep, the lack of freedom to do what you want when you want, to lose some friendships after seeing folks don't have your back or aren't as serious? That you weren't going to have to give up something to get something in return? That all you have to do is create music and that's it?!!!!!!

Play with YOUR time, play with YOUR own money, play with your keyboard, your MPC, your vocal chords, your creativity, or whatever is your choice of toy! But people who want to be in this business know that it's a business like any other business!

And trust me: some people know and understand it's a business. A billion dollar industry!

Check this out from this article I saw:

In North America, the music business will total $26.5 billion in 2011, growing at an average annual rate of 2.8% from $23.1 billion in 2006. Recorded music revenues will remain flat as declining CD sales cancel out the sharp gains in digital sales. Music publishing and live music will grow.

In one dramatic example, live tours were once used as marketing vehicles to promote recordings, but today that model is being flipped on its head as increasing numbers of top-tier and mid-level acts earn more income from concerts than from CD sales.

Every major category of the live music industry has been growing and is poised for continued expansion, including ticket sales, merchandise sales, ancillary venue revenue and tour and special-event related sponsorships.

Read the full article here.

Did you see all the people and businesses who've set themselves up to profit off of your music? That's why I've been blogging about the music industry, about the mobile music industry, the global music industry, about new record labels, and putting up videos on this blog about the gaming industry, commercials, jingles, etc. because I want people to see all the opportunities to make money in this business! My question to you is: are YOU in a position to capitalize on this billion dollar industry or is music still a hobby to you?

Let me repeat that: Is music a hobby to you?

I'll help you answer that question in my next post so keep reading!

Sorry for the tone of this post but this is even a message I'm taking to heart myself, Thedy B. And, I don't know about you hitsamillion.blogspot.com readers, interviewed.blogspot.com readers, but I'm making music my career, not a hobby. I hope you are too!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com

Creative Ideas for Songs - Part 6

**** you may have to refresh your browser to see my latest post*****

If none of my other suggestions on creative ideas for songs helped you, then perhaps you need more inspiration. While reading this book, The Songwriter's Idea Book, I came across some key points she says writers have used to generate new song ideas:


1. To activate your right brain: Become more physically active:

• a. just doodle on the piano/guitar/drum machine or any instrument
• b. doodle on a pad
• c. verbally brainstorm

2. To activate your left brain: Start from a part and work outwards:

• a. in other words, start from a song concept and play around with that concept
• b. start with a title and build the song from there
• c. go from the end of the story line to the beginning or vice versa
• d. choose a motif or chord progression and follow it
  

3. Brainstorm:

• a. once you get a title, brainstorm for more titles
• b. once you get a song concept, brainstorm for more
• c. just write down any words that come to you and put the pieces together later. In other words write first, edit later!

4. Let it marinate!

• a. Once you get an idea, a concept, title, etc., move around, think about it, scribble, or just meditate
• b. Letting it marinate will help you come up with different ways to approach the same subject, title, concept, or idea.
• c. Imagine the words you want to use.
• d. Feel the emotion you want the singer to feel.
• e. Sleep on the idea.

Great ideas!!!!!!! Man, how many songs can you come up with if you don't allow your creativity to stop when you get ONE concept! Try using some of these methods and let me know how it works for you.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter

Hits A Million, LLC

hitsamillion.blogspot.com

Starting your own songwriting or production team? Cont'd

***** to see my latest post you may have to refresh your browser*****

In my posts last week I discussed the benefits of having a songwriting and/or production team and gave some tips on starting one. If you have not read those blogs, click here

In my last post, I talked about watching you who you get in bed with and discussed the consequences of working with someone you honestly don't know.

But what if the person you want to start a songwriting or production team is already a friend of yours. That should be easier, right? You feel you already know the person, right? Should friends start a songwriting or production team? Should relatives? Should spouses?

Again to get the answers to those questions, I'd suggest reading the bios of the urban songwriting/production teams and popular songwriting teams that I mentioned in my prior blogs from last week. You'll see that some of the teams are married couples, some are friends, some were business professionals who met each other and hooked up to form a business team.

But I want you to read this great article I found which gives some great advice for starting a business with friends and relatives:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officelive/FX102414561033.aspx?ofcresset=1

Let me know what you think!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com

Watch Who You Get in Bed With!

****to all my readers, I apologize for not posting more often and will change that as I refocus my energies to building up this blog and my other blogs so thanks for your patience****

I did some posts recently on starting and establishing a songwriting/production team. I gave some pointers on that and I want to continue that topic with this statement: watch who you get in bed with!

As an attorney, I am often asked to either draft a contract or look over one. What's written in the contract is what's written. In most cases what is written is written to protect the drafter, more so than both parties' interests in mind though that's not always the case. Read most terms in a terms of service on a social networking website and you'll quickly see my point. As I mentioned before, you can get an attorney to help you decipher the written terms of a contract. Attorneys can be beneficial that way.

But what you don't see on the paper are the people you are about to get in business with. The music business is a people business just like any other business: you have to learn how to work with different people and be in business together. So make sure that you really know who's who beforehand! Do your research! Find out as much as you can about the person. Make sure they are who they say they are. Google them. Make sure you can work with them. Don't be so eager to sign a record deal, publishing deal, distribution deal, etc., that you don't do your homework!

Suppose you are a songwriter, you sign a typical publishing contract where you have to write so many songs to fulfill your obligation or you have work for a music publisher for so many years. You better know who you are signing to, working with, collaborating with, going into business with, etc. before you sign those type of agreements! Do you wanna sign part of your publishing away to someone who is going to use and abuse you and then take part of your publishing even after you leave the situation because it's in the contract that if you leave, they still get a percentage of your publishing! And you left because you felt FORCED to leave the situation!

While I am all for establishing and starting your own production team, songwriting team, etc., just know that the relationships you build now and the contracts you enter into now can be as costly a mistake as marrying the wrong person. So please go into the songwriting and production teams and into a company with your eyes wide open about who you are entering into a business relationship. You'll be glad you did!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogpsot.com

Be a Creative Being - Part 2

Now here's a video of Queen Latifah and Eve, two female hip hop lyricists and artists who, despite a male dominated industry, understand their creativity, their ability to expand boundaries, and their ability to be inspired by a problem, and by each other! They discuss what it was like doing a collaboration together for the first time. They collaborate with none other than the production team, Cool & Dre!


cool & dre queen latifah and eve in the studio

You are a creative being - Part 1

*** you may have to refresh your browser to see my latest post****

Here's yet another inspirational post!

Do you know who you are? I mean really! Are you seeing yourself for the person that you really are? Are you seeing your full potential? Or have you closed your mind? Titles can limit the mind, creativity, and potential ... or extend those things. It's all in the person holding the title. In other words, are you seeing yourself as a creative person or just as a creative musician?

Do you see obstacles as impossible? Or do you see them as stepping stones? Do you, as a creative person, open your creative mind to see what else you can do to solve the problem? Then after you solve the problem, do you then see an opportunity to help someone else? Then do you see the opportunity to make money helping others solve the very same problems you have? do you even see all the potential that comes from a problem? or do you just see yourself as a ant trying to move a mountain?

Do you challenge yourself all the time to be as creative as possible? Are you a trendsetter? Or do you follow trends?

do you challenge your mind to think bigger? Or are you stuck in average? Do you realize that average is the enemy to greatness?

If you saw that you really need help in thinking bigger, being more creative, changing your perspective, and being more positive, here's some things I recommend:

1. read my other inspirational blogs on creativity!

2. read my other blogs on the music business because they will help you find solutions to some of the problems you may be facing.

3. spend time meditating on the these facts and truths: You are a CREATIVE BEING! The CREATOR of the UNIVERSE made you (created you) just like him! You CAN do anything! If it doesn't exist, you can CREATE IT! (and emphasize and meditate the words in caps especially). You CREATE SOLUTIONS. My CREATIVE MUSCLES are strong enough to move any situation out of my way!

4. listen to inspirational messages

5. read inspirational books

6. watch inspirational videos

Here's another video of a production team, Tim & Bob, talking about their success, the artists they worked with, their upcoming television show called The Producer's Diary geared towards up and coming producers. Thanks to Mack from thestudioexposed.com for sharing this video!





Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com

Videos of Songwriting and Production Teams

**** to see my latest posts, you may have to refresh your browser********

I've been talking about songwriting and/or production teams. In those recent blogs, I've discussed the benefit of starting a songwriting or production team, gave some do's and don'ts for songwriting/production teams, shared an article on other tips for songwriting and production teams, and gave you places to begin meeting like-minded individuals so that you can start your own production and songwriting team.

For this post, I wanna help show you some videos of songwriting and production teams. To do so, please visit my other blog, interviewed.blogspot.com. On there, you will find never seen videos of Midi Mafia, a production team and never seen videos from members of The Clutch.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com

Starting your own songwriting or production team?

*** to see my latest blog, you may have to refresh your browser*****

I've done a week of blogs on songwriting and production teams. So my question now to all of you who write alone, are you ready to start your own production or songwriting team? If you are a songwriter or producer who writes alone and is now ready to start your own team, but don't know where to find the people that you need, then I'd suggest the following things:

1. Network!!!!! Check out all the blogs I did on networking as I think they will help you find the right members for your songwriting and production team. Go to some music conferences. Check out JaWar's blog which lists over 25 upcoming conferences on mymusicconnection.blogspot.com. Please do attend one or more of these conferences, which are located all over the U.S.! Interestingly, it's from attending music conferences that I in fact found people in my own city to collaborate with, network with, find out about other events, etc. So again, get out the studio and network, network, network!


2. Find talented, business-minded, serious members who you'd enjoy working with! Well if you just met someone at a music conference, how do you know if that person fits that criteria? Well, do you see them out at multiple events, including music conferences, beat battles, open mics, industry events or a host of other networking places that I've mentioned in previous blogs? Do they have industry contacts? Have they been referred to you by someone who can vouch for them or by someone you know? Have you heard them sing (if they are a singer), heard their songs, heard their lyrics, their production work? Do you like what you heard? Does the person have business cards? Does the person have a CD of their work? Do they have a serious web presence? Are they currently working on their craft? Or are they constantly out partying, chilling, watching television, chasing women/men, etc? You can tell if a person is business minded and serious by listening to the person's conversation: what do they talk about the most? Don't just believe someone who says their "grinding" (an overused, misunderstood term in my opinion). Watch their work ethic which says more than their tongue service! And check the person's character and their personality and see if it meshes with yours or compliments yours.

3. Once you find those individuals, establish some rules. I gave you two days worth's of do's and don'ts to help you get started with setting a foundation for your songwriting/production team. Since you've found talented, business-minded individuals, there should be no problem with establishing some parameters!

4. Set up a schedule for when you will meet.

5. Meet and work with each other for awhile (I'd suggest no fewere than 6 months together), and then if the fit is there, meet with an entertainment attorney, see about going into business with your new members, and set up the right corporation for your production or songwriting team.

6. Then make great music together!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com

More Do's and Don'ts for Songwriting and Production Teams

*** you may have to refresh your browser to see my latest blog*****

In my prior post, I gave you some do's and don'ts for songwriting and production teams that I think will tremendously help your team! And in an effort to continue helping you and your songwriting and production team, I found another great article on tips that songwriting teams should consider when writing together. I think applying some of these tips will help you work better together: http://www.greatsongwriting.com/songwriting-teams.html

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com

The Do's and Don'ts for Songwriting and/or ProductionTeams

*** to view my latest post you may have to refresh your browser *****

In my prior posts, I listed some popular hitmaking songwriting and production teams. I also gave you the benefits of writing with a songwriting/production team. Now, I want to give some advice to new songwriting/production teams to help you work together effectively. Don't simply read these tips, apply them. Discuss them with your songwriting and production team. If you think it's necessary, print out these tips and have everybody sign these tips at the bottom as a sign that each member is committed to the songwriting/production team and will endeavor to make it another hitmaking songwriting/production team.

So here's the first set of tips and this first set of tips all revolve around one word: R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Without respect, no team can function! So follow these rules of respect:

1. respect each other - there has to be respect for each other in order for any team to work. There is a reason why you selected who you selected to join your songwriting team. Remember why you chose that person and why they chose to join the team. That will help you remember to respect each other.

2. respect each other's feelings - recognize that each person is different and may have to be approached or critiqued differently.

3. respect each other's opinion - you're a songwriting or production team. Because you're a team, give your teammate(s) the opportunity to critique your music and your lyrics. If you obey the first rule of respect, and that is, respect each other, then you should have no problems receiving and respecting that person's opinion, even if you disagree with it.

4. respect the session - turn off the cell phone! One, the cell phone transmit signals into the recording whether you are currently on the phone or not and two, it's disruptive when it does actually vibrate or ring and it messes up the flow of the session. Respect the session by working! Work hard, sing your best, play your best, write your best. Treat your session like the job you say you want! And have fun doing it!

5. respect each other's time - when you set a time to write, honor it! When you set a day to write, honor that day and do it. Be a woman or man of your word because your team is counting on you to show up. Sure things come up, emergencies and such, but repeated times of no-shows, repeated times of just giving excuses of why you can't show up, shouldn't be allowed. Why? That brings me to my next point on respect:

6. respect the group - it's a collaborative effort. If you respect the group, then you will show up because you know your team is depending on you. You know that they have to have your input, your presence, your strengths, and your skills to make things work. Also respect the group by not acting like you ARE the group! Sometimes one person thinks that they are the end all be all of the group and if it weren't for that one person, there wouldn't be a group. That type person has lost respect for the group. Sure there are leaders in a group. But just remember, a leader without followers is a person who walks alone! So respect the fact that you are a part of a group because there is no "I" in team!

7. respect each other's strengths - if you know that your strengh is lyrics, do lyrics. If your teammate's strength is composing music, let them compose music. When teammates stay in their lane, there are no crashes. It doesn't mean you can't state your opinion or suggest to the producer what music you may hear in your head if you're the lyricist and vice versa. It just means respect each other's talents, gifts, and skill level.

8. respect each other's contributions - that means get a split sheet and write down what percentage each person contributed to the song while still in the session! Don't leave without doing one! Have an understanding with your teammate(s) on whether everyone in the room regardless of whether they hummed or played a note or wrote a word will get a percentage or not AT THE BEGINNING! Don't assume everyone understands. Write it out.

9. respect your business - remember that you are a part of the business of music. You must respect your business. Take it seriously. Handle your business as a team. Do your paperwork. Hire who you need to hire. Remember that you can't just simply produce and write songs unless you have a business team (which I will talk about in later blogs).

10. respect your craft - work on your craft as often as you can. Show your teammates and yourself that you respect what you do by one: doing it! Two, study! Three, turn your weaknesses into strengths - learn how to do what your other teammates are doing. Four, learn what's hot right now and what's not. You show it by being humble enough to learn from people , from books, from courses, etc. In fact, I have mentioned several books and classes that can and will help you learn the craft of songwriting and producing. Have you purchased those yet? Have you followed through?

11. respect your intellectual property - in other words, copyright your songs! Don't do all this hard work and then not protect it!

12. respect others - stop hating on other songwriting teams and production teams! Stop being mad that somebody else got there before you did. Or some other team was able to work with someone you wanted to work with. Stop being mad at what equipment some producer used. Stop being mad, period. Show respect to other songwriting/production teams for being on their grind, for using what they got, for creating music that SOMEBODY ELSE liked or else it wouldn't have been recorded, respect the fact that they understand the business., etc Show some respect!

13. respect yourself - now if you find that your thoughts, opinions, suggestions, ideas, contributions, etc. are not being respected, then perhaps it may be time for you to respect yourself, leave the group, and start your own songwriting and production team!

Follow these rules of respect and your songwriting/production team will be a force to be reckon with!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter

Hits A Million, LLC

hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com

Urban songwriting/production teams

*** you may have to refresh your browser to see my latest posts! *******

In addition to some of the songwriting/production teams I wanted to make sure that I mentioned in my prior blog, I wanted to highlight some urban music production/songwriting teams. Again I think studying these songwriting and production teams will help new production and/or songwriting teams know that writing as a team is not only possible but profitable. So the following is just a few of the successful urban songwriting and production teams:


Ashford & Simpson

Babyface and L.A. Reid

Cool & Dre

Dre & Vidal

Gamble & Huff

Holland-Dozier-Holland

Jimmy Jam & Terris Lewis


Karma Productions


Organized Noise


Souldiggaz


Stargate

Tim & Bob

Trackmasters

The Clutch

The Neptunes

The Underdogs

Google these songwriting and production teams! Find out what they are currently working on. Find out what hits they have had. Study their history. Learn from their successes as well as their mistakes! I think again that by doing so, you and your production and/or songwriting team can duplicate these great songwriting and production teams' success and avoid any mistakes!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter

Hits A Million, LLC

hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com

Why form a songwriting team?

Did you enjoy my latest post about songwriting teams? Reading the stories of songwriting teams was good because you get a chance to find out how people met, how long they were a songwriting or production team, what hits they wrote together, who they previously wrote songs with, which artist they wrote for, etc. It's good reading! So check out that post if you did not!

So the question is though: why form a songwriting team? Why have a production team? If I can write a whole song by myself, why work with anyone else? Why give someone else credit? Why would I choose to include someone in on a song and then have to share the royalties?

Well, you don't HAVE to do anything. You can write a whole song from start to finish. You can make a beat yourself. You can write all the lyrics. You can write or compose solo, get all the credit, get all the money, and all the fame.

But here's some benefits to writing or composing with a songwriting and/or production team:

1. A songwriting/production team can help you write more songs. You can writer more songs with a songwriting/production team than you can by yourself. If you only have to write the hook, or do the bass line to a song, think of how many bass lines or hooks you could come up with, knowing your partner's got the verses or the melody.

2. A songwriting/production team can help you finish a song. Each person can write different parts of the song or help with finishing a song you've started but couldn't finish. In most cases, you can depend on the other person or persons to help you with a line or part or lick that you're stuck on.

3. A songwriting/production team can help you brainstorm more ideas and thus generate more songs.

4. A songwriting/production team can help you remember melodies, lines, titles, lyrics, and licks that you forgot so you can develop that part better.

5. A songwriting/production team can help you develop your craft - Since we don't all think alike, having another person's style that's different from ours will help develop your craft so that your songs won't all sound alike. While some producers have a certain sound, and you know I encouraged that in one of my prior blogs (click here to read it), you don't want people to say your song sounds just like the one you did on another project.

6. A songwriting/production team will help you have versatility in your music.

7. A team will help encourage you to continue. If you are dedicated to a group, sometimes that dedication to the group will help you stay dedicated to your dream.

8. A songwriting team helps eliminate weaknesses - if you are a strong lyricist but not a strong melody writer, hooking up with a melody writer will help you write better songs with better melodies, finish your songs, give life to your lyrics, help you write better lyrics since your lyrics will have to fit with the music, etc.
Same with producers who are great with making a beat but you need someone to help with writing lyrics or with mixing, etc.

9. A songwriting team helps with getting recognized. Typically we don't all know the same people so imagine having several people on a production team who meet different people in the industry or worked with different people at different times coming together to write and based on relationships, they are able to get their songs recorded. It happens in the music industry all the time.

10.Having a songwriting team helps you stay on your grind. Being accountable to a team will help you stay focused on doing what you need to do to make it in this industry.

So while you may be able to get all the credit, get all the money, and all the fame from doing everything yourself, consider the above benefits for writing and/or producing with a songwriting and/or production team and ask yourself, am I missing out?

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com

Popular songwriting teams

*** you may have to refresh your browser to see my latest post********

In my prior post, I indicated that I was going to start talking about songwriting teams and their importance. So I wanted to first list some popular songwriting teams just to demonstrate that there is power in collaboration and team work. As reported by wikipedia.com, here are just some of the popular songwriting teams:

John Lennon and Paul McCartney
The Motown team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland (collectively known as Holland-Dozier-Holland)
The team of Stock Aitken Waterman
George and Ira Gershwin
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Gerry Goffin and Carole King
Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry
Brian Wilson (and The Bee Gees)
Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong
Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann
Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora
Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
Daryl Hall and John Oates
Morrissey and Johnny Marr
Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam
Ian Brown and John Squire
Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway
Koshi Inaba and Tak Matsumoto
Guy Fletcher and Doug Flett
Geoff Stephens and Tony Macaulay
Rodgers and Hart
Sherman & Sherman
Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood
Joe Strummer and Mick Jones
Ashford & Simpson
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page
Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
Eddie Galan, Pete Doherty and Carl Barat
Don Henley and Glenn Frey
Roger Waters and David Gilmour
Brian Tatler and Sean Harris
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian
Grant McLennon and Robert Forster
Nicky Wire and Richey James Edwards
Steve Laine and Ken Cox
James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe
Max Martin and others at Cheiron Studios


I would suggest clicking on some of the links above so you can read the stories of how these teams met, what songs they wrote and recorded, and read the history behind each one. I think it's great reading to help show the significance of collaborating and working with a team of producers and songwriters.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com

The importance of having a songwriting or production team!

I'm a member of thestudioexposed. com. Its another ning social networking site much like my hitsamillion.ning.com site. But thestudioexposed.com consist of Bryan-Michael Cox, Donnie Scantlebury, Adonis Shropshire, Kendrick Dean, Sam Thomas, Troy Clark, Jahi Sundance Lake and Don Bowie. The show is produced by Breht Gardner, Bryan-Michael Cox and Fred Bumaye.

Both hitsamillion.ning.com and thestudioexposed.com are really great networking sites for producers, songwriters, rappers, beatmakers, musicians, and singers to meet each other, find industry news and information, collaborate, talk to and ask questions of industry professionals, etc. So please add these two sites to the list of great social networking sites I recommended that you join!

I've been asking the good folks on thestudioexposed.com in a forum discussion about what it's like being a part of a production team and/or a songwriting team. Every one of the teams that responded to that forum all said how much they'd recommend songwriters and producers to join or form a team. In my upcoming posts, I'm going to share with you tips on forming a team, writing with a team, building your team and the benefits of being on a team. So continue reading!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
Interviewed.blogspot.com
Musicpanels.blogspot.com
Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
Musiclabels.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com

Remember to check out my other blogs

****to see my latest post, you may have to refresh your browser*****

I wanted to make sure that my readers on this blog are aware of my other blogs and that you are checking them out. Those blogs are PACKED full of helpful information too. So remember to check these blogs out:

Interviewed.blogspot.com - new interviews from members of The Clutch, Bryan-Michael Cox, Midi Mafia (Fantasia), Chris Blackwell (Prez. of Island Records), Stephen Hill (VP, BET), Irv Gotti, Jimmy Iovine, Kanye West, Timbaland, Jermaine Dupri, and the list goes on. Watch these videos and get great advice and inspiration from industry professionals on how to step your music game up, how to write a hit, how to survive in the industry, how to expand your money, etc.

Musicpanels.blogspot.com -see video footage from the ASCAP I Create Music Expo during a panel with Johnta Austin, Bun B, Chamillionaire, Greg Watkins (allhiphop.com), Carvin Haggins & Ivan Barias of Karma Productions. There's also video footage of the Southern Entertainment Awards Panels with the TMI Boys and Music Mogul Wendy Day. Also watch videos of Bryan-Michael Cox, Russel Simmons, TJ Chapman, and Killer Mike at recent conferences.

Mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com - learn about which mobile companies are providing opportunities for recording artists to brand, market and promote themselves, connect with fans, and make more money. Learn some of the key players in the mobile music business. See which recording artists have already started going mobile with their music.

Musiclabels.blogspot.com- here you can find out about Jermaine Dupri's new label, John Legend's new record label, Bryan-Michael Cox's new music publishing and film and television company, and Jazzy Pha's new label. You will also find contact information and discover what each label is looking for.

http://globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com/ - learn different methods of taking your music to the international market. Here you'll find music resources, contacts, industry news, and websites that will be useful in helping you as a songwriter, producer, beatmakers, artists, and artist managers. You'll learn how to brand, market and promote yourself overseas.

Keep checking these blogs, subscribe and/or bookmark all of these sites! You will be glad you did!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter

Hits A Million, LLC

More Songwriting Contests

***To ensure you are seeing my latest posts, you may have to use the refresh button on your browser****

Check my previous blogs on other songwriting contests I've mentioned. But here's other opportunities to compete:

Songwriting Contest #12

Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest- Opens June 1st. Deadline is August 15th.

www.saw.org/masc.asp
The Songwriters’ Association of Washington (SAW), founded in 1979 as a nonprofit organization, holds the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest to help songwriters receive recognition and assistance in their musical endeavors. The proceeds from the contest enable SAW to provide programs throughout the year that educate and develop the talents of those interested in the art and business of songwriting. For more information on becoming a SAW member, call: (301) 654-8434. For more contest info: masc@saw.org

Songwriting #13:

Billboard's Song Contest - Deadline November 15, 2008

Whether your style of music is pop, rock, country, jazz, gospel, Latin, blues, or dance, the 14th Annual Billboard Song Contest could offer you unparalleled professional exposure among some of the music industry’s most influential names. All songs receive a judging report. Our judging report will tell you how your song performed with tips on structure and content.

Our professional songwriting and music industry judges will be considering your music on the basis of originality, lyrics, melody, composition and commercial appeal, so you don't need to book studio time to produce your entry. Although production does make the song prettier, production values do not count. A homemade "track" is fine. Don't worry if you're not a great singer - after all, it's a songwriting contest!

If you've averaged less than $5,000 per year total royalties earned from music since 1992 (including prize winnings from previous song contests), you're eligible to enter. Here's how a star could be born! Enter your original song(s) in any of these categories: Country, Pop, Rock/Alternative, Contemporary Christian/Traditional Gospel, Latin, Jazz, Dance, or R&B/Blues.

For more information, visit http://www.billboardsongcontest.com/


Songwriting #14:


Songdoor International Songwriting Competition - Deadline is November 15, 2008

With the goal of helping songwriters everywhere to improve their craft, SongDoor provides all entrants a free self-paced songwriting course from SongU.com and a professional, personalized evaluation of every song. The Grand Award winner receives a private-session, full band demo produced on Music Row in Nashville, as well as a one-year Platinum Membership to SongU.com and many other great songwriters' tools. There are also seven Category Winners. The judges (industry producers, engineers, artists and songwriters) have worked with the likes of Neil Young, *NSYNC, Tony Bennett, Britney Spears, Kenny Rogers and The Allman Brothers, to name just a few. The competition is open to amateurs and professionals worldwide. Competition opens: April 15. Entry deadline: November 15. Entry fee: $10. For complete details, go to: http://www.songdoor.com/. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
myspace.com/hitsamillionllc