July 31, 2007
July 2007 Issue
From Songwriting Software Plus
To help your songwriting with a focus on the benefits of innovative software, tools, resources and programs for your songwriting craft and career.
Click here to search Songwriting Software Plus or the Web via Google.
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Enjoy easier songwriting and make your songs more creative and more impactful - lyrically and musically - with our best selling, easy-to-ride, workhorse program! Hop onto Lyricist - your lyric and chord processor that continues to make it easier for you to more readily write and be creative with your songs - now in version 3. Lyricist gives you an easy interface, supports rich text, has chord charting (guitar, piano or Nashville Numbers), key transposer, song arranger (just chords - no lyrics) - all at the click of your mouse. Also you'll enjoy a built in spell checker, thesaurus, rhyming dictionary, media file launch, plus organize songs into album categories, export to RTF (Rich-Text) files, and even email your songs in an instant. Lyricist is all the essential tools for writing and polishing your lyrics and creating chord lead sheets. Check it all out by clicking here - and fall in love with our special Lyricist savings! |
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| Contents: |
First up: Editor's
Note from the laptop of Robert
Curtis,
your songwriter in residence at Songwriting Software Plus.
Robert Curtis song samples
at Broadjam.com/RobertCurtis.
Followed by Items:
1. 1-2-3
To Be A Good Co-Writee
2. This Month's Notable Quote
3. Songwriting Software
Plus Software Superstars
Editor's Note:
You may have noted the recent news story that discussed how a lot of supposed singer/songwriters who want you to think they write most of their own material actually don't.
It was reported that the artists think that it gives them more credibility with their audience if the audience thinks the artist writes all their own songs.
But a lot of hit artists don't write their own songs or merely participate very minimally in the creation of the songs they end up recording.
It many cases it boils down to the fact that the artists need great songs and realize that they need other talented writers.
Thus, co-writing continues to a large extent and may well grow as fans typically only buy/download songs they like now vs. entire albums that may have many otherwise mediocre songs.
So today we'll look at three nuts and bolts items that are essential considerations in co-writing - whether you write with a current hitster or you're part of the next Bacharach-David, John-Taupin, Jam-Lewis or Matrix songwriting dynamos you'll be ahead of the game being aware of and employing these items.
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| Item 1 |
1-2-3 To Be A Good Co-Writee
1 - Get A Collaboration Agreement
When you enter into a situation where you're going to co-write a song it's good practice to clearly define, in writing, how the song's expenses, like demo costs, and earnings, like from a tv show placement or artist cut for example, will be divided up.
This makes resolving any possible dispute later on easier or just in general makes it simpler to remember how the earnings are to be divided if you forget.
I like to think of it as preserving a good relationship right from the start.
Also, having a written collaboration agreement makes it clear you're serious about your songwriting and fully respect your co-writer(s)' contribution to the song.
Below is a link to the agreement I've built from various sources and agreements I've encountered.
You can preview and download it and use it and modify it as you wish.
Click here for the Collaborators' Agreement pdf file (right click to download).
For more information on viewing and or downloading this form click here to the co-writing page on Songwriting Software Plus and proceed to the middle of that page.
Keep in mind this noted collaboration agreement is for general reference only and is not formal legal advice. Consult a music attorney for any question or concern.
2 - Back It Up And Check It Out - Music Attorneys
Although the above agreement may well suit a basic co-writing situation it never hurts to be better informed and to keep up with developments in the music-legal world.
There are a lot of books on the music business written by music attorneys, the main text being This Business of Music, that you can buy at your local bookstore or online.
If you feel you need to consult with an attorney it is highly recommended that it be an attorney who specializes in music - and indeed they're called music attorneys.
If you find you need to consult a music attorney typically you can get recommendations from major songwriters organizations like the Nashville Songwriters Association International or The Songwriters Guild in the US, The Guild of International Songwriters and Composers in the UK and SOCAN in Canada to name a few.
3 - Copyrighting
There are different opinions about when you should officially copyright your song but first it's good to point out that your song is copyrighted immediately and automatically upon the completion of your song in principal.
Although your song is copyrighted upon it's completion the question becomes when do you want to officially register it? And note, now in the US, the cost has gone up to $45 for a regular submission.
There is no harm in doing it right away to totally cover the issue or you may decide to wait for a contract on the song which is often when it's officially registered.
In most of the world copyrights are officially recognized and respected whether you registered it in the US, the UK or elsewhere.
Whenever you decide is the time or wherever you can do it by mail of course even online at sites like Official Software.com.
For exact up to date information check out the US Copyright Office Sound Recordings page.
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| For Inspiration And Thought On Your Path To More Songwriting Success: |
"We
learn by doing."
-- Aristotle
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| Songwriting Software Plus Software Superstars: |
Lyric Writing (Windows and Macs):
Lyricist
- the premiere indispensable and affordable lyric and lead sheet music
writing program.
Performing Songwriter Magazine said this about Lyricist - "...what it does, it does well." March/April 2004
Click
here for all the benefits Lyricist gives your songwriting and enjoy the
Songwriting Software Plus discount - save $5.00. Or
try it FREE for 30 days. CD or download.
MasterWriter
- the most comprehensive program for writing lyrics with a recorder
for melodies and preprogrammed grooves.
Used by hit songwriters Gwen Stefani, Rob Thomas, Jimmy Webb, Kenny Loggins, Trent Reznor, Clint Black, Jeffrey Steele, and many more. Windows and Mac compatible.
Click here to read more about MasterWriter and save big with Songwriting Software Plus. Or try it FREE for 30 days. CD or download.
Music Writing (for Windows):
Play
Music - the easiest, most bang for the buck, music notation program
around. Our top selling notation program - click
here to see why.
Music Recording (for Windows)
Mixcraft
- easy, affordable, and quite capable, recording software. Just
released in version 3.
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| For your support consideration: |
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| Information & Credits |
Songwriting Software Express
is published monthly by Songwriting
Software Plus: Robert
Curtis, Editor.
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