45 min
Episode 2: Mark Irwin - Be Proactive at Networking and Songwriting YOU CAN Make a Living In The Music Industry Podcast
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- Music Interviews
I recently spent time with my friend and songwriting partner Mark Irwin. Mark is a hit country music songwriter in Nashville. He co-wrote Alan Jackson’s Here In The Real World which was nominated twice for Song of the Year by he Country Music Association. Mark also wrote the hit song Highway Don’t Care for Tim McGraw featuring Taylor Swift and Keith Urban among many others. Mark has been signed to multiple publishing deals throughout his songwriting career. Today we are talking about how to network and make a name for yourself and how to make connections as a songwriter in a music town. We also talk about music publishers and the process of getting your foot in the door to get your songs heard so you can land a publishing deal if that is what you are looking for.
Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.
Mark Irwin - Show Notes
Networked by getting a job in a music venue and building relationships.
I knew the songwriting business was in Nashville so I packed up and moved here.
NSAI - Nashville Songwriter's Association International. They help connect songwriters with people in the industry.
Networking and going to writer's shows and meeting people who are doing what you're doing is important.
It takes time of focusing and writing everyday to build up the writing muscle.
This is a relationship driven business. You find out about a lot of opportunities by building relationships with people.
People blow opportunities and relationships because of ego or arrogance
The process of connecting with a publisher:
Some people say take your best 2 or 3 songs and make elaborate demos. I think if you make a really good clean guitar or piano / vocal, then the song will sell itself. Then call places on your own. Find publishers willing to listen to outside (unsolicited) songs. Publishers will connect you with other writers and artists to write with and that helps build connections and is how I met Alan Jackson and co- wrote his first hit song "Here In The Real World." It takes a while to build this up, it's not overnight.
You still have to work a job even if you get signed to a publisher at least for a while.
Discipline yourself to make sure you are writing everyday and know why you moved to town to do music.
I was still working when my first hit single was out.
What's the purpose of moving from one publisher to another?
Some publishers don't have the kind of money that is needed to support a writer where they can stop working a normal job. Having a song that is a hit helps open doors to meet with other publishers. Bigger publishers can sometimes pay a draw against future royalties that you can live on while you write for that publisher.
When the person who signs you to a deal leaves and new people take over and you don't have a cut for a while then you get dropped from the roster. It's still a business.
Usually when you're at a publisher and you have a decent relationship with them, you're going to stay as long as you can because it's hard to talk away from a catalog (Collection of songs you've written for the publisher). Usually if you leave a publisher it's because you got dropped.
How long are you typically contracted to be with a publisher?
They can be different but my first one was 18 months, then the company has the option to pick you up for another year or dropping you. Usually after that it's every year. They look at what they are paying you and any money coming in and decide if they want to keep going.
How many songs do you have to write per year?
Average is 12 songs by yourself or 24 if it's a 2 way co-write. But if your doing it every day you're going to write more than that.
A publisher will usually give you 2 or 2 1/2 years to get something going.
These days it's more writing with artists. It's harder to get outside songs cut meaning a song that t
I recently spent time with my friend and songwriting partner Mark Irwin. Mark is a hit country music songwriter in Nashville. He co-wrote Alan Jackson’s Here In The Real World which was nominated twice for Song of the Year by he Country Music Association. Mark also wrote the hit song Highway Don’t Care for Tim McGraw featuring Taylor Swift and Keith Urban among many others. Mark has been signed to multiple publishing deals throughout his songwriting career. Today we are talking about how to network and make a name for yourself and how to make connections as a songwriter in a music town. We also talk about music publishers and the process of getting your foot in the door to get your songs heard so you can land a publishing deal if that is what you are looking for.
Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.
Mark Irwin - Show Notes
Networked by getting a job in a music venue and building relationships.
I knew the songwriting business was in Nashville so I packed up and moved here.
NSAI - Nashville Songwriter's Association International. They help connect songwriters with people in the industry.
Networking and going to writer's shows and meeting people who are doing what you're doing is important.
It takes time of focusing and writing everyday to build up the writing muscle.
This is a relationship driven business. You find out about a lot of opportunities by building relationships with people.
People blow opportunities and relationships because of ego or arrogance
The process of connecting with a publisher:
Some people say take your best 2 or 3 songs and make elaborate demos. I think if you make a really good clean guitar or piano / vocal, then the song will sell itself. Then call places on your own. Find publishers willing to listen to outside (unsolicited) songs. Publishers will connect you with other writers and artists to write with and that helps build connections and is how I met Alan Jackson and co- wrote his first hit song "Here In The Real World." It takes a while to build this up, it's not overnight.
You still have to work a job even if you get signed to a publisher at least for a while.
Discipline yourself to make sure you are writing everyday and know why you moved to town to do music.
I was still working when my first hit single was out.
What's the purpose of moving from one publisher to another?
Some publishers don't have the kind of money that is needed to support a writer where they can stop working a normal job. Having a song that is a hit helps open doors to meet with other publishers. Bigger publishers can sometimes pay a draw against future royalties that you can live on while you write for that publisher.
When the person who signs you to a deal leaves and new people take over and you don't have a cut for a while then you get dropped from the roster. It's still a business.
Usually when you're at a publisher and you have a decent relationship with them, you're going to stay as long as you can because it's hard to talk away from a catalog (Collection of songs you've written for the publisher). Usually if you leave a publisher it's because you got dropped.
How long are you typically contracted to be with a publisher?
They can be different but my first one was 18 months, then the company has the option to pick you up for another year or dropping you. Usually after that it's every year. They look at what they are paying you and any money coming in and decide if they want to keep going.
How many songs do you have to write per year?
Average is 12 songs by yourself or 24 if it's a 2 way co-write. But if your doing it every day you're going to write more than that.
A publisher will usually give you 2 or 2 1/2 years to get something going.
These days it's more writing with artists. It's harder to get outside songs cut meaning a song that t
45 min