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Submitting Your Demo to a Record Company or Producer

Ask yourself: Why am I submitting my demo? Is it because I want to promote myself as an artist? To get my lyrics read? I don't necessarily think I'm a good enough musician, but...


Sound familiar? Then spend some time thinking about defining your goals for your music. Stop thinking that 'someone' might see your material. Please get the stars out of your eyes and concentrate on what's important to you.


A little background history of what record companies USED to look for IN THE PAST. During the heady days of Tin Pan Alley in the 40's and 50's, music publishers hired staff songwriters to crank out songs for their catalogues. The artists would come by to try and find songs that fit their styles. The same has stayed true through today, but the emphases have changed. The 50's saw powerful singing groups that made hits. During the 60's and 70's, the industry became enamored with the singer/songwriter. For example, Carol King was a Tin Pan Alley songwriter who has cranked out her fair share of songs. She decided to take advantage of the fact that she was a well-known songwriter and came out as an artist. She made it 'big'. Other singer/songwriter types were discovered. People like James Taylor, Jim Croce and Gordon Lightfoot hit the scene. Then the big-time acts started appearing, like Elton John and Billy Joel. The later 70's and 80's saw the rise of the rock and metal bands. Suddenly everybody wanted to be a rock star.


In the 90's and on through today the industry has seen a drop in revenue and has had less speculative funds. Not as much money to throw around. The trend of looking for established acts to hire became more of the rule rather than the exception. And so it is today.


Today the record company is looking for a band or an artist to sign that is already successful. They are not going to invest money on some act that is not a proven gold mine. They want to see a band that is successfully touring and has successfully sold or is selling a CD project. The same goes for individual artists.


This doesn't mean that all is lost! It just means that we all need to understand exactly who we are as musicians and exactly what we want with our musical careers. Begin defining what you want in a music career and do what you need to do to get there. If you're an artist out there playing original tunes, work on getting a CD project and becoming a local sensation. Then work on becoming a regional sensation.


If you're a lyricist and you think you might have some skill in writing for artists, join songwriting groups and learn the craft. Get some critiquing and learn how to write successfully and where to submit your lyrics. Check out the Songwriting Forum here at GfB&B for some ideas.


Remember that there are plenty of smaller labels that need material, too. If you're serious about making money in the music industry, then get a book that lists record companies, publishers, artist agents and other agencies that are looking for material. The annual Songwriter's Market that you can purchase at Amazon is a great place to start. Learn what companies are accepting material for review. NEVER submit your work unsolicited. It will end up being trashed or turned into scratch paper; your CD a coaster.


If you have some complete songs that you think you would like to submit to the industry, you can either send them to companies that are accepting material, or you can hire an agency like TAXI to do this work for you. Yes it costs money to join TAXI, but it is money well spent. They have connections. You don't.


Learn the crafts. Let those crafts serve your inspirations.