News - Jan 2007

Okay......here we go......it's (almost) 2007!!!

I won't grovel in how great 2006 was......but we had some good times.

The first two issues in '07 are - Sunday January 7th meeting. Same routine, my place from 1-4. Bring new material to critique, bring your wish-list for 2007. Bring your ideas for the group, be ready to do a co-write. But above all else, bring your best positive attitude - it's time to move this group forward.

Second up - is Tuesday January 9th open mic, at the Java Cafe' in Fair Oaks (corner of Fair Oaks and Madison). From 7-10, bring your new songs - and test the waters. We've been getting a solid turn out. I've add a CD player to my toy list, so those of you using backing tracks no longer have to bring your own.

Third issue, this will be new to anyone who doesn't make the meetings. We talked at the last gathering about doing a regularly scheduled co-writing night at my house. A gathering with no other agenda except to co-write. Starting on Thursday January 11th well do Thursday night co-writes. Every Thursday from 7-10, Beckett and I will open our house to group writing (breaking into groups of two or three each). This is aimed at raising the bar on our co-writing skills. We'll continue doing this as long as we can....until we burn out..

New subject, new color.......I don't get out much - I need my entertainment too...! Today I forwarded 11 songs from our group to the Nashville studio project. I'll let you know what happens (late January to February). I only filtered out a couple songs that just weren't current enough. All in all some pretty solid material. I'm hoping to get some positive feedback on them.

On "almost" the same subject. "Pitching Songs", catching the ear's of Publishers, A&R, Producers....whomever. This is for serious writers, and in this case - those of you focusing on Nashville in particular. When a chance comes along to pitch to "anyone" it's a great thing. It's puts you one the front line of how the game is really played. As long as you understand, big league game - big league rules. Current sounding material, professional sounding demo, and a professional looking lyric sheet.

This is the year that we cross the bridge into more professional "higher level" guests. The people who can get a songwriter's career off the ground. We'll still be bringing in the songwriting coaches - Rick Beresford, Jason Blume, Jai Josefs, etc.... But with the addition of Ralph Murphy, Dan Hodges, Sherrill Blackman and others, the chance for someone to breakout is here and now in 2007.

Besides the guests that will be coming into town, I'll be taking bigger shots at the game myself. I'm subscribing to all five industry "pitch sheets". These are weekly lists that are put out telling publishers and writers "who's looking for what?" I'll be actively pitching my own material by March of '07. For anyone else looking to do the same, let me know. I can show you how to do it yourself, or I can pitch it and take the publishing "only if it gets cut". I have a publishing license with ASCAP, it's primarily for my own material - but if I can help someone else get started "I'm open to talking about it". I'd rather that everyone else did it for themselves, and it's not that hard to do either.

My rules as a publisher are the same as my rules for a demo.

• Current sounding.
• Aimed at a specific artist or two.
• Aimed at the radio.
• No ballads.
• I would have to "love the song" to pitch it.
• Professional sounding demo.

These are the rules that I try to write to. These are the issues that I've heard time and time again in Nashville. I've had this stuff pounded into my head for several years now, I just want to see if I got it right. If anyone thinks that I'm trying to become the group's publisher......one simple statement "If you can get one of my songs cuts, I'll gladly give you 100% of the publishing!" Getting a song cut is the hardest part, and from 2000 miles away it's even harder. I'm just dumb enough to try.

Tahoe is 5 months away....and counting!

Thanks everyone......we'll see you on the 7th. If anyone is coming up to Tahoe this week, we'll be there tomorrow (Wednesday) through Sunday you can reach us there at (530) 544-8808.

Enjoy....and have a safe New Year!

Larry & Beckett Singleton
8333 Shilling Court
Granite Bay, CA 95746

(916) 797-3767

Larry Singleton 4singletons@msn.com