Notes & Quotes for Songwriters from ASCAP Expo 2011
The ASCAP I Create Music Expo 2011 April 28-30 in Hollywood assembled some of the great minds and hearts from all sides of the music industry for a three-day summit on songs and songwriting. The Songwriting School was honored to attend again, this year as guests of ASCAP, with thanks to Sue Devine in the New York office. Our own Rob Seals took copious notes. Below are some soundbites that we hope will provide some healthy food for thought for your creative and professional beast.
ON CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOURSELF
- "Collaboration is the key to getting that big break. I was a guitar player but I played bass on Dr. Dre songs. Then I got to write. Then I got to produce. Just get in the room and contribute." - Mike Elizondo (producer/songwriter, Pink)
- "If you want to write songs in a genre that is not your own, you have to collaborate with authentic voices in that genre to write authentically." - Claudia Brant (multi-lingual songwriter)
- "Dig deep and be rigorously honest with yourself as a writer. As a musician, play from your heart--people will feel it." - Fergie (Black-Eyed Peas)
- "Do what you can with what you have where you are. If you know three chords, write the best three-chord song possible. If you just have Garage Band, learn to make it do everything it can do. Come from your own power and you're gonna win." - Kevin Rudolf (L'il Wayne)
- "The best way to manifest your ambitions is to have something specific in mind. Clear intent." - Nicole Mornier (songwriter, Britney Spears)
ON PUBLISHING AND PUBLISHING DEALS - "Disney Publishing is versatile, looking inside and outside the brand. The mistake most writers make when they approach us is writing too young. We are looking for viable Hot 100 singles." - Barbara Vander Linde (Disney Publishing)
- "Qualities in writers we seek: 1) persistence, 2) a track record that reflects persistence, and 3) a positive vibe that we can make things work. You have to be a utitlity player. Opportunities are hard won, so you have to rise to them." - Sam Kling (peer music)
- "For every 'overnight success' there are 10-15 years of hard work preparing." - Tom DeSavio (Notable Publishing)
- "If you are writing songs for an established artist to cut, you need to write FORWARD for the artist, not backward to where they have been. Take note of the TEMPO and STRUCTURE but not the SOUND of their current songs." - Barbara Vander Linde (Disney Publishing)
- "If you get the chance to submit music to a publisher, submit one song, two at the most. Let us ask you out on a second date." - Tom DeSavio
- "The world suggests that success is a contest. But support each other. Grow your network. Trade information--great collaborations and connections come from that." - Tom DeSavio
- "Versatility as a writer is great, but stay in your wheelhouse." - Barbara Vander Linde
ON SOCIAL NETWORKING and the MARKETING OF YOUR MUSIC - Ariel Hyatt notes that…
- A post's life is 60 minutes. Don't worry about over-posting.
- The most eyes are on Facebook at 11am, 3pm, and 8pm.
- The top two search engines in the world are Google and Youtube.
ON CREATIVITY and our RESPONSIBILITY TO IT - "Ideas are passing through us all the time. To be creative you have to be willing to have your antennae up and dial in a small detail." - Lindsey Buckingham
- "I struggle with confidence in my choices. My 'aha' moment was that I am not ok without music. It's a part of me." - Sara Bareilles
- "Writing takes discipline and faith that you can get from point A to B to C. It's hard." - Lindsey Buckingham
- When a social or political concern compels you to respond: "Your chosen craft as a songwriter is to communicate ideas and emotions. We have to VOICE those concerns to evoke emotion and drive home a message. Make them feel it. The world needs the art you are creating. Put your talents to use." - Paul Williams (songwriter, ASCAP President)
- "The Music Business is better now than ever before because it's like the Wild Wild West now. There is no Wizard of Oz. YOU are the Wizard of Oz." -Antonia Armato (songwriter, producer)
- "When it's a work in progress, people want to sandpaper the thing until it's smooth. If a line really bugs people, consider keeping it." - Dan Wilson (songwriter, Semi-sonic)
