Five years ago, I shared my story about sending my songs to songwriting publishing companies. I was full of hope. I made a list of major and minor publishing companies. I think I had seventeen publishing companies I contacted asking for permission to send them a demo of my songs. 

     Do you wanna guess how many contacted me back? Zero. My hopes were dashed. So I did what every songwriter does when life don't go how we planned. I wrote songs. Then I wrote more songs and I kept on writing songs. 

     So I squeeze in songwriting whenever I can. Every month  I go to a monthly NSAI meeting. (Nashville Songwriting Association International) meeting. My goal is to have a new song every month. At the beginning it was hard but songwriting get's easier the more you do it. Not easy. It is never easy to pour your heart out on paper. 

      I contacted by songwriters looking for a publishing deal on my website. Can I listen to their songs? Am I interested in giving them a publishing deal? Can I give advice on how to get a publishing deal? There is a real need for answers to these questions and I don't have the golden ticket. 

      I do have some advice that I try to follow. Keep on writing. Write, Write, and then write some more. Get better. Listen to your favorite songs. Learn what it is you like about your favorite songs? What chords they use. The structure of the songs. Is it verses and chorus's? Does it have a bridge? Does the song tell a story? Does the song make you fell something? Sad, happy, lonely, or does it make you dance? 

       Read, read, and read some more. Read books about songwriting. Books about songwriters like Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, or whoever floats your boat. Read books about anything and everything. You never know what will be the four leaf clover in your song.

       Share, share, and share some more. We have so many ways to share our music. Facebook, Tic Toc, Twitter, Spotify, Apple Music, etc. and the list goes on and on. I have tried selling my music. No pot of gold on that rainbow. So I give it away. Place it on my website, share it on twitter, and occasionally play it at open mics. 

       Let me ask you a question? What would you do if you made the best apple pie in the world, Bar None! You set up a website, take pictures of your pies, develop a marketing plan, buy a new oven, get the best mixer you can find, and you still can't sell your delicious apple pie. Give it away. 

         Sample, sample, and sample some more. Take that pie to a church dinner, take one to your neighbor who just had a baby, take it to work and share some with the employees in the breakroom. It makes sense when you look at it that way.

         But what if somebody steals my songs? Really? I got to be honest with myself. I haven't written a song good enough that anybody wants to steal. Remember, I can't get people to buy downloads. It is hard to get people to listen to my songs. 

        If you're writing songs and people are stealing them, Congratulations! You are on the right road. You are doing exactly what you should be doing. Writing songs. What do you do about someone stealing one of your babies? Hey, have some fun and go make another baby. You got the talent, you did it once, you can do it again and again and again. 

        Now if you do write a mega hit and you hear it on the radio. That is a different story. You might need a lawyer but that would be a sweet problem to have. You are going to make some money and you will have some to pay for your  lawyer too.

       If you are writing songs as great as you think they are. Publishers, artists, music attorney's and everybody else. They will find and love your songs and want to help you on your journey in this crazy music business. Have a great day and keep on writing songs. 

        If you're reading this here is one of my latest songs I wrote.