Encouragement for Songwriters

I believe that it was at the Southern Entertainment Awards where I recently heard two panelists say that the music industry is a discouraging one. Songwriters are sometimes constantly told no. Your songs may be rejected. You may have worked hard to get your songs written and recorded only to find that you've run out of money. You hear various reports that different organizations are trying to force artists, songwriters, and songwriter's organizations to reduce the royalty rate. You hear that record sales are plummeting. You may have even been told that you don't have the skills to write a hit. Your manager, lawyer or industry connection may not be returning your calls and emails as fast as you would like, or may not believe you are quite there yet. Whatever the case may be, one thing is true: You have to encourage yourself and keep it moving!!!!

Somewhere from deep inside you, know that you have been given the skills, talent, the resources, the idea, the concepts and the gumption to be a hitmaking songwriter! If your songs need improving, then learn as much as you can about songwriting but keep on writing. Practice makes perfect. And if you think about how many other people who are now very successful were once rejected, it will help you continue your journey on becoming a hit songwriter.

Here's what I call the Hall of Prior Rejects:

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school team.
Anika Baker was rejected by Arista's executives who refused to renew Chapter 8's record deal while Anita Baker was a part of the group.
Ivan Basso's former team released him because they felt he would never win anything. Now the Italian rider is challenging for the Tour de France title alongside five-time winner Lance Armstrong.
Jennifer Lopez was rejected twice before she got her first regular high-profile job as a "Fly Girl" dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color in 1990.
Bobby Valentino was rejected by American Idol and later, his debut album went gold.
Jesus was rejected.

So don't give up just because of rejection or news of bad reports, succeed anyway and as Porsche Foxx from V-103 would say make your haters your motivators!