The best way I know of
December 22, 2022
Throughout my 20+ year career as an award-winning music producer, I have looked at every way I know of to get indie music out there successfully.
Here is what I think is your next best move with your songs….
Chris
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Hey! Give us a shout about anything really.
contact Sync Songwriter
Our goal is for you to start getting your music into TV & film.
Hi Chris
I agree. I discovered that years ago. I have major Placements with Disney, HBO, ABC, LIONSGATE FILMS, A&E, VH1, TNN, MTV, CBS AND MUCH MORE. John Covert BMI
Fantastic to hear, John. It’s great to hear it from someone who walks the talk.
Music is in my heart, by being. I can’t NOT make music.
👍
Hi, Chris! I’ve been writing music since I was 5 years old. Also, I grew up in the country on 30 acres of forest/natural habitat. I developed a belief in conserving natural habitats and a lot of my music reflects that. I would like to increase the awareness of our connection to natural spaces. It is almost passe now to say that, but I am connected to Nature in a way I don’t think many people are. I’d like to be able to change that.
I LOVE that, Einen.
Hey Chris. I make music because it is what is in my soul to do. I have known since age 3 this was my lot in life. I love music it is a part of my soul.
Very cool, thanks for sharing Jim.
Hi Chris
I kind of feel like I love the writing creating and performing.
Though I’ve always truly believed in my music I’ve failed to get it out there to make a living of difference financially.
Call me deluded but I truly believe from the heart it’s good enough to do that.
I just want to get it out there to a bigger audience to make a difference to help my family and believe people will love as the people who have heard it so far.
I’ve just spent a fortune for a sync licensing course all to realise I wasn’t going to be introduced to those connections you’ve made.
There’s a burning passion that drives me .
Any suggestions I’m desperate lol 😊
Reverbnation.com/lperrysmusic
Great to hear, Levi, but bummer you didn’t get any inroads into the industry. Those connections are the surest path to sync success.
I make music because I love to take my life experiences and use them to transfer a particular emotion into a song. It is therapeutic for me and I hope it can help others who listen to it.
Thanks for sharing, Joseph. Noble cause of the soul.
I make music because it’s what I do. I don’t know how I would stop. Yes, I want to share it. Yes, I want people to like it. Yes, I would LOVE to make more income from it. But, if none of those things come true (or become truer), I would still make up songs. Every single day I sit with my guitar, play the same chords, and wait to see what happens. It is a magic I don’t understand (which doesn’t mean that it’s good magic, just that it’s magic). The most profound gift I have ever been given was my eldest sister showing me how to play a G, C, and D.
Haha, I like how you wonder whether it is good magic. Either way, some of the best songs came from just a few chords.
I Produce Because I Think Its Necessary. Being A Musician Kinda Creates A Responsibility Of The Gift. Its Much Bigger Than All The Places And Spaces It Has Taken Me. As we merge into an era of jazz and instrumental music I hope the mainstream of the past respects the organic truth about the future of "Sound".
For sure, Tracy. Thanks for putting down here.
I have been moved by music since I was four years old, when my brothers brought home The Beatles’ "Rubber Soul," which I listened to repeatedly on our hi-fi in the basement. Got my first guitar and wrote my song shortly thereafter, and haven’t stopped since. Great songs move me in ways that cannot be articulated ("Writing about music is like dancing about architecture"), but I know that my passion is to write great songs that move me and others in the same way that great music (of any and all styles) moves me.
Rubber Soul is a fantastic starting place if you had to pick one. Keep following your dream to write great songs!
I believe that the purpose of writing, recording, performing music is to move people (including myself). I compose music because I get immense satisfaction from providing people with an emotional experience. However, at this point in my career that is not enough. I want & need to make money now. The joy I get from making music has not abated. But making money is now extremely important. Plain & simple.
I like how you start with moving yourself with your own music. I think that is a big secret to writing great songs. If it moves you, like an antenna it will move other people too. Yes, at some point you want your music to make money and that’s where doing sync licensing the right way can really pay off.
I MAKE MUSIC BECAUSE IT CAME TO ME IN BITS AND PIECES. AS A LIFETIME SIDEMAN I SAVED MY MUSICAL RESPONASES TO LIFE. THEY WERE ON PHONES RECORDERS AND ANYTHING THAT COULD SAVE SOUND.IN 2018,19 AND 2020 A SERIES OF THINGS HAPPENED THAT PLAYING LIVE WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I PULLED OUT MY BITS AND PIECES AND PUT ONE TOGETHER AS A WHOLE SONG SENDING IT TO A PIANIST IN BRAZIL. HE RECORDED IT SENT IT BACK AND I RECEIVED IT AS A SONG, MY SONG, YES IT WAS A SONG. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN WRITING FULL SONGS AND RECORDING. SO "WHY" AS A RESPONSE TO LIFE…THATS WHY
Love that, Danny. And yes, recording bits of inspiration when they happen is very smart.
Tim, Let’s see what you’ve got.. Bottom line.. You need us and we need you.. For me, I reinstated music into my life to counter media that that promotes the destruction of lives rather than the counter.
Worthy cause, Dave.
I make music to communicate truth to others. If I can somehow connect and help someone else along their journey, then my purpose in life is fullfilled. Music is love in a major key 🙂
Nice! Major key it is.
I make music because music is basically the only thing I know how to do. I feel the best when I am creating, sharing, collaborating and performing.
Perfectly said, Frank.
First of all it’s my passion, I love music! Also, to know that my music has made someone smile, dance or reflect on life and that it has lifted that person up and encouraged them somehow, that is a gift I enjoy giving. Of course, I would also like to make money doing this as well!
That is the pinnacle of sharing, Debby. Well done. Yes, I believe it is imperative to make money from your music so you can keep doing it.
I write and sing songs to lift others, to hopefully have them feel what I feel with my music …just help them have a better day.
Love it, Cathy.
Hi Chris, I’m doing this because I refuse to give up… I’m now 78 yrs old…. I think I’m still relevant…I’m a track guy that writes decent songs and uses pro vocalists, cause I don’t sing for beans. I’m making a little $$$ with shopping malls and Internet Radio … But I want placements… I know it’s all about relationships…Thanks
I am glad you see the light about relationships, Marvin, and great to hear you refuse to give up!
I make music to create goosebumps.
I love hearing that. There have been seminal songs in my life that did just that.
Emotional gratification. It’s the most important effect Music can have and is certainly the main reason why I’m a musician. Making a living at Music is something I wish would become easier, but it hasn’t. You’re right , getting my Music "synced licensed" has been very difficult. So while I still try to make $$ with my original material I at least find it emotionally gratifying at a strong level, which is a happy addiction – Music is the greatest of the arts – that’s why I do it.
I’d love to see you get the emotional gratification AND the sync placements.
Bless and serve others by sharing my message, inspire others and make money.
Cool, thanks for sharing, Karen.
I write music so that I can tell people that they’re a miracle. They’re free to attract whatever they want and they can script their life,change their life for the better for the days yet to come.When one changes the universe changes. My intention is to spread positive vibes and love with my music. I write with the intention to stop the war and attract peace with my songs. I only spent money didn’t earn any yet but we’re recording a 32 person choir for few of my songs. Got around 25 songs mixed and mastered songs and new ones finishing constantly.
Good things are happening and there’s only more to come.
I hope to marry my girlfriend and start up a family with her in 2023. Right now my parents are supporting me and I make these songs so that I can start earning money too. I believe in the songs and am proud of what I’ve created and I’ll keep on doing what I’m doing like a dolphin swimming in the sea making sounds. Music is what I’m speaking and what haunts me in my dreams every night.
I really need help to get these songs placed and start up a brand and a family. I believe it will all happen in the divine timing and I trust that.
Hope you have a wonderful evening ,night or day and hope this message resonates.
Much love, positive vibes and light from Turkey ! ❤️🤍🙏🏻
Ozan, thank you for sharing (from Turkey yet). I love your motivation and intention for your music. Yes, getting your songs placed is the next best thing to do in my opinion, and I believe in creating your own divine timing. Here is to your success in 2023!
I write songs because music is in my DNA. I’m a guitarist, songwriter, crate digger, music teacher, bandleader, concert goer…around the block and back. None of it exists without people out there listening. I’m grateful for anyone who listens to my music. I’m grateful for the circle of musicians that love playing my music.
Thanks for this Chris!
Great to hear, Jonny. Thanks for taking the time to share that.
i’m a writer — writers -well continue to write –sounds simple — but just like painters paint all the time. I do it for our fans –for the smiles — if a song I write influences someone – positively — all these things –fame can be overated and annoying as you can see with poparazzi pressure on some — money — like James Brown said ”man make the money – money never made the man ” amen to that —
so the main reason for sync licsensing is more smiles — more influences to the positive — more for the people of the World to enjoy.
Martin F Bradley
Very cool, Martin. Your heart is in the right place and with that attitude your songs will reach listeners and then the money will come. I agree with James Brown, but making some money with your music never hurts either.
I write and sing for all the same reasons every body else does but my hope is that the listener feels the same emotions that I feel and if I can accomplish that then I’ve done my job that’s more rewarding than all the money in the world I want to be remembered for doing a good job not necessarily fame but if that happened that would be a nice bonus so where do I fit in hum I do know I don’t want to tour so I can cross that off my list on the other hand it would be nice to have an audience somewhere out there lol is it tv commercials or maybe writing songs for other people Idk
Like you, I think transferring your emotions to others is a huge part of what music is all about. To get a very big audience without touring, licensing your music is a perfect solution to that.
It’s what I do. I love to write poems and about ten years ago added music. Nine CDs out. Having fun!!
Interesting, Bob. It’s usually the other way around for a lot of musicians. Music first and then lyrics, but whatever works for you. You are a poet first. Great to hear you have found your joy in music.
I write, produce.and perform music because creating music is in my being/ I cannot imagine doing any thing else. I love the grooves that I create and love to share them with others so they can fell the same exhilaration that I do. Music is my full time gig and. I love it.
I love all of that, Damon.
It is my life when I am away from my studio I can’t wait to return to a fault
Haha, I won’t say addiction but an obsession of the perfect kind. Thanks for sharing, Keith.
Chris – I have been playing for many years. I play/create music because it is a gift in my heart. Yes, it would be nice to have many more people hear my music as currently do. What keeps me back is the complexities you mention (too many to go thru). So, I create my music, record it to the best of my ability and, perhaps, to do an upload YouTube. I’ll always play ’cause I just like it :-).
Thanks for video. You produce a lot of good things!
Dan
Thanks for the kind words, Dan, and great to hear you do it for the love of music.
I make music because I like to create, I like to use skills as a pianist/ cellist, and use vision and ideas too produce and tap in to the emotions of a listener, also to share with other artist. The fact that it can be enjoyed by many people is very rewarding for me.
Yes, music has this perfect scalability. It is amazing how one person can create something that can be shared with so many people so quickly (when done right). That has been sync licensing for me. Great to hear you find so much joy in getting it out there, Edward.
I make music because that is how I can tell the story, I can take my feelings and print them out on my tracks.
Very interesting, Pawel. Not everyone is thinking about telling a story with their music. Thanks for sharing.
Music doesn’t cause destruction? What about Woodstock 99 LOL Seriously though, please correct me if I’m wrong, but you only help people with getting placements if they take your course is that correct?
Yes, I would lose the trust of my music supervisor friends pretty quickly if I didn’t vet the musicians and artists I help. When they learn how to do it the right way in my course, my music supervisor friends can feel confident when I send my students their way.
to adapt scripture to music
Nice! First time I’ve heard this and this must not only be challenging but greatly rewarding for you.
Because God told me I was a solo singer 20 years after I started writing and playing music. Then I had to quit because of Ménière’s disease and my regular job I was doing. After retiring 17 years later, I asked him what shall I do now with my life and that is what I heard Him say. I was at a low point in my life but it’s in my heart and mind. Nothing else matters. So, I just want to show all I did for over 10+ years especially at my age and putting in the blood, sweat, and tears. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Follow what your heart is telling you Allen, and never give up. Thank you for sharing such an inspiring story.
I have it truly and honestly in my DNA (since it came through family…a long line of tradition). I do it as a natural, artistic outlet of my innermost thoughts and ideas,💡emotions and feelings!
Great to hear, Ban. Thanks for sharing.
Writing songs is my form of mental illness. It’s a compulsion. Having a creative outlet has saved me from depression. Someone once told me that personal power comes from taking your disadvantages and making them your advantages. I’m always working on something. Making something cool. I’m my worst critic and when I like something, I’m over the top happy. When I was a kid I was told I had a gift from GOD. Music is my church. Inspiration meeting craft. It’s in you. It is you. I do t care about fame or money. It would be nice to be able to keep recording, and hopefully placements will do that.
Happy holidays everybody!!
That sounds like you are not only on the right path, Liz, but the one that gives you everything you need to be you.
Thank you for asking, Chris, it’s a good thing to consider. For me, it’s more than what I do, it’s simply who I am. I’ve been playing and writing for 55 years. It helps me and others to feel the range of human feelings,
Happy and sad, poignant or humorous. Also, I do it because I can, in gratitude to Spirit for being able to do so. So many people would like to do it, but their gifts lie elsewhere. I do have a yearning at this point in my life especially to reach a wider audience with the songs, to be better known, and to have have the songs be better known. It’s what I have to share with the world. The songs are like my children, and I want to find them good homes, good lives. Frank Goodman, Portland
Thanks Frank. Maybe I will have the opportunity to help you find your songs the homes you wish for them.
I have a sign in my home studio that says “my brain is 80% lyrics”. And it is so true. I have had this passion of music creation since I first picked up a guitar at age 12. I must bow to God for this inexplicable gift that has consumed me for decades now. I create with hopes of recognition but also just the act of creating gives me unspeakable joy.
It’s an addiction with no cure.
My son once told me that when I pass away at least he will still be able to hear my voice in the many songs I’ve recorded. So right there gives me reason to push forward. Not that I have a choice in the matter…I’m obsessed.
Thank you for sharing, Cynthia.
Good morning, Chris!
Thanks for your insights and encouragement.
I began studying music 66 years ago as a grade school student longing to be the next Earl Palmer, Duane Eddy or Floyd Cramer. Music became the place where I’d retreat from everyday troubles, finding solace in the hours of listening and playing. I eventually developed a much needed sense of belonging to something and my identity was forged.
I’m currently playing a somewhat trimmed schedule each week in New England and investing more time in composition and recording. My wife will attest; music is my passion and the aspect of my life which defines me !
BTW, my friend, Chad Hollister raves about you and gives you a solid endorsement!
Keep that passion alive, Glenn. Great to hear about the kind words from Chad.
Chris – I also wanted to comment on the previous video about leaving production to the experts but I can’t find that video now….so I’ll leave it here.
I’ve always gone by that mantra. I write songs well, I run bands and arrange things well, but I also like to work with players that put their ideas and opinions into arranging. When it comes to recording, I go straight to a trusted studio with a trusted engineer, and even a producer when I can afford it. Many people ask me why I don’t just do things on my own, or build a home studio, but I know my lane and I like to leave that part to people who do it for a living. It makes for a better experience and a better album. There’s no better place for me than in the studio with my guitar and trusted people chiming in, giving me feedback and ideas that I have to play on the spot.
So yes, I agree that it is best to leave production and engineering to outside ears that don’t have the same connection to the songs as the writer does. This gives it a fresh take and makes for better music.
I was really glad to watch this video and hear your message, because it is something I also tell a lot of musicians around me, or aspiring songwriters who are contemplating studio vs. home.
Thanks and Happy New Year/Holidays!
Jonny
Really good to hear, Jonny, and I couldn’t support that more.
Thanks for another great video!
I’ve always written music, as soon as I could crawl up on the piano bench writing “cowboy western music” I heard on TV or whatever it was at that young age. It truly is in my DNA. I’ll be writing in the hereafter. I always have melody/harmony in my head (besides the tinnitus 😊 ).
BUT my quirk has always been that creating music was enough, and I’ve not cared so much about sharing it except with family/friends—until now. Hence, I have tons of music (songs, instrumentals, chamber music, musical, couple symphonies, oboe concerto, etc.), and now I’m beginning to record it while continuing writing more. Most of my performing was on the classical side in every genre imaginable, even conducting. On the popular side, gigs doing my own songs, rarely any cover, and was always “McCartney” if we did a Beatles thing because I did have that versatile voice of 3+ octaves. (Also sang countertenor/soprano in Madrigal groups.) BlahBlahBlah
Here’s the thing: RECORDING SYNC READY MUSIC IS HARD! (for me) But, I’m getting there with the help of you and others. I’m riding the learning curve, and I’m a reckless driver, never being one to draw within the lines.
So I’ll always write music, it’s just something I do, and it takes me to that place, especially when sitting at the piano, that heals all wounds, creates inner Joy; There’s biology behind that. It used to be enough, and that enough was plenty (Sorry, I’ve just written s song, “Enough Is Plenty.”)
…Yes! I’m here to get my music directly in front of music supervisors and am grateful for the opportunity that Sync Club has provided me. I’ve had songs put in buckets they tell me 😊, and that’s affirmation in-and-of-itself. With the volume of things I need to record, I need those placements to fund my goals of recording more. I want to get on that loop putting out a few Sync Ready Productions for each one that’s landed, etc. And as you say, one GREAT sounding song beats any number of “almost productions” which just get thrown onto the cutting room floor, etc.
Since I’ll always be writing music, it’s time I now do the additional step of making great representative/usable recordings of it.
This is all really nice to hear, Paul. That said, writing sync ready music shouldn’t be hard. The trick is finding the opportunities for your art and not the other way around. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Chris, making music is my destiny. I’m not sure if my catalogue is "broadcast quality" but if not, it’s close. Please be so kind as to give me a quick opinion and then we can continue this conversation. I see no reason to invest a large sum of money in a course if those supervisors will think my tracks are not up to snuff. Season greetings, Rick https://www.rick-derman.com/music
Fair enough, Rick. You will have an opportunity to submit song to me when I open things up again in January. Just keep an eye on your inbox.
Hi Chris, Thanks for sharing this video. I started writing songs when I was about 12 years old and I find them to be cathartic at times, other times I’m struck with inspiration out of the blue and other times I write to brief and it’s more like a puzzle and a welcome challenge. I was lucky enough to make a full time living in music licensing prior to starting my family, but now feel like I"m starting over. I do enjoy making money, but I think I create music from my heart because it makes me feel fulfilled & creating current sounding productions is a fun challenge & I love the process and the excitement of researching shows, pitching to sups & the ultimate thrill of landing a sync. It totally lights me up! I’m getting so much out of SYNC CLUB and I know that it will be the vehicle that launches the 2nd half of my career in tv and film music licensing. THANK YOU CHRIS and your entire amazing team! sync club is like a dream come true! Warmly. Elza Llibhart. http://www.elzamusic.com
Thank you so much for the kind words, Elza! I love watching the successes of my students in sync.
I make music because I can. It’s one of the main ways I get to experience the life force energy of creating and extracting real joy from your life.
And I’m totally on board with your approach. The opportunity to make one-on-one relationships in the real (-ish) is crucial to cutting through the layers of noise. And also, it reveals the range of opinions and approaches to supervision and how people approach different production challenges.
I’m also a bit like Paul d’Amore in that I’ve always gotten such joy out of writing and playing that I’ve never needed much in terms of audience. Its always been a source of bliss that I’ve shared with family and friends and its brought a lot of vitality to my life and my family.
Very cool, Robyn. Doing it for the music comes first for sure, and then sync placements pull it all together.
I write music because if I don’t my head will explode – it’s like a full time radio in there!
The perfect outlet for your creativity, Andrea.
Hello Chris, thanks for sharing this!
I write music because I want so badly to make people feel something… the same way other peoples music makes me feel. I want them to want to continue repeating the song over and over again the same way I do when I discover something new that makes me FEEL that thing that nothing else gives you, whether it’s emotions, tingles, curiosity at the actual content in the song, or the need to get up and dance! Music plagues me day in and day out. It is my life’s goal to have a sync placement, hearing my music, my voice, my creation, accompanying a powerful scene on something that enhances what makes people FEEL.
Also I want to start making money from it so there’s that 😆
Appreciate the advice in an overwhelming world. Merry Christmas 😀
I love hearing that, Dani. Let’s make 2023 your year for making a living at what you were meant to do!
Trying to get my music up to snuff for licensing!
Keep at it, Vicki, and maybe we’ll get to work together when you are ready.
I’ve made music since I was a kid, it just flows out of me. I would like to make a living doing it.
That is a worthy goal, Jeff, and completely doable.
as a blind brain tumor survivor, sound is quite literally my universe! for me, making music is analogous to eating, sleeping, breathing! It is a compulsion of my spirit and a natural extension of my soul! Self expression, and sharing my story with others is an important part of the total reason I make music as well. Any kind of artist serves three important roles. I believe I serve these roles with my music. That of historian, philosopher and dreamer!
Thank you for casting your spirit out there for us to hear, Joey. I love your story.
I want to touch people…give them a moment of self.
Love it.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the advice.
I make music subconsciously within myself, all the time, just like breathing. I have a constant desire to write and record songs and the process isn’t complete until I’ve loaded it on Spotify? It’s like printing your own novel and putting a copy on the bookshelf, finished.
It doesn’t matter that no one but me hears my music, but a little feedback and encouragement is always helpful. I want to learn the craft and for each song to be better than the last.
My only problems are too little free time and and a breathtakingly slow computer 😐
Jamieson: https://open.spotify.com/artist/78jCbImRwE485ynaE6YtbR?si=215fwC7JSNqrvNY_H6R8VQ
All the best,
Jamie
It sounds like you need a new computer, Jamieson, and that will buy you some time to get things moving. Try to carve out more time for your music and I think you will find the path you are looking for.
To help and assist the void in my fans life. Music is my encouragement to take life on 1on1
👍
To reveal whatever should never have escaped notice in our hearts, but did. And to share it with pride and humility.
I love that, David.
I have no choice – it’s my passion. I love the entire process from a simple idea to a completed piece. I started as a singer/songwroter but now I’m focused on Cues for Film & TV. I have had a few placements, I do have tracks in several music libraries but as you point out "you’re a needle in a haystack". I’d love to go to the next step.
Congrats on your placements, Greg. Maybe we’ll get the chance to work together to help you connect directly with the right folks who can help you get lots more of these.
I write music so you can send it to MusiccSupervisor and I can get placed.
Haha, I’m in!
Merry Christmas Chris!
Thanks for another great video. I love all of the comments & relate to them all in some way.
I make music because I love it and it’s a natural talent I have. I also would like to make more income from it however, it’s a long game and I’m patient! 😊
Peace & love,
Judy 🥰☮️❤️🎄🎶
Great strategy, Judy. Thanks for the kind words.
Hi Chris!
I enjoyed watching you chatting on video.
I compose music in a similar way to writing a poem… Some pieces are long, while some are short. Yet, it usually comes around with an idea or a theme or two, three themes… of course all in sonic ways. In the process, I don’t calculate how much it would worth financially as this would involve a totally different system.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!🎅 🎄
I wish you the very best with your musical poetry in the new year, Gong. Merry Christmas to you too!
Hi Chris! I doing music because i did it since i have 6 years old, for me it’s natural doing this. Without music my life would be sad. Music give me an access to the otherworld, the invisible world without moving elsewhere.
Merry Christmas to you!🎅
Great to hear and thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas to you too!
From a very early age I was always drawn to the lyrics and the stories they told. I absolutely loved the liner notes of vinyl! I wanted to learn how to write songs like the Beatles. Then I discovered Paul Simon, Billy Joel, The Police, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Tom Waits, etc. How could I ever write anything as brilliant as any of them? But that has never stopped me from writing.
Great to hear and thanks for sharing, Anthony.
I make music to interpret the ideas and energies of the world into songs that inspire and help people to understand themselves a little more.
Very cool, Adam.
I make music because I love to be able to create something from my heart and express how i feel or how i felt at one point and if I’m able to share that with the world that’s great but I would still make music if I never sold a single song
That is good to hear that music for you is from the heart, Cory.
I think I was 8 yrs old when I wrote a song about my Gerbil? Yup…I realized then it was a way to express my feelings. Fast forward I’m in your class, expressing feelings, exploring new avenues, expanding horizons!
Love that, Kay. I’d like to hear your song about your Gerbil. 🙂
I love songwriting 🙂 The way it comes into being, from nothing to something. It becomes a living thing that you can listen to and enjoy. A way to express feelings of yourself and the world and put it into a tangible thing of beauty. How it can capture a place or a moment in time and make it come alive. yep. merry x mas 🙂
Yes, it is amazing how things can come from nothing. I guess that is the true meaning of creation.
Chris,
Honestly, music is the easiest thing I do. I can’t wait each day to sit at the piano or hold my guitar. I am committed to consistently placing music and increasing my fanbase to selectively tour and keep releasing music.
Brian
Amazing that it is so effortless for you, Brian. It sounds like you are in your perfect place.
If you were sequestered to an empty room and were only allowed to do one thing for the rest of your life, what would be that one thing that would make you happy, even fulfilled?
For me, the answer to that question was/is to compose music.
One situation that validates that composing music is an innate part of my existence (in my own soul) is that it’s difficult for me to end a musical work. Often, melodies spin more melodies the longer I work on that particular opus, often taking on a life of its own, and IT doesn’t want to end.
A true part of your life, Serena.
Hello Chris, obviously I want to make some money for the people on my roster and all the work we all do, but more importantly, I want to make a difference with my music and craft. Our moto is to serve people thru music, by inhansing the God given human gift of creating music, entertaining with it, soothing hearts with it, as well as improving and developing the ability to make it. If I can get my foot in the door of the licensing side of music, I think we could make a difference and even make money for those that crack the door for us. Love what you do and teach Chris, normally I would take your class, but I seasoned vets on my team and roster, it’s just we are at a place where we need opportunity more than a major class. You have all my respect, love some of your music as well. thanks for listening.
William, I actually provide opportunities over teaching. I am all about connecting songwriters to the right people in TV & film. I just need to teach my students how to do it correctly so I can keep those connections and ongoing sync placements.
I write because I have to. I have only ever released 3 songs, 2 of which I took down after one year. The third song I released in May of 2022. I have many more songs written but I’m still in the stage where I need to make money for my young family so I’m taking guaranteed work outside songwriting, in higher education. But I’m also working as a songwriter on a TV show in development. My next move/goal is to hopefully be songwriting up to 50% of my working hours in the next 2 years.
Great goal, Conner!
I write because of my love for the art of music. I traveled for years as lead singer for my band and other bands. I taught music for 36 years. While, during those years I never stopped writing songs. Some have been sung by churches, others have been performed by R&B groups. I have managed, produced, and published many songs. Several years ago I sought Sync licensing as a way to get my catalog to pay off as I have over 500 songs from writing since writing my first song on a napkin in the cafeteria in college. I am passionate about my writing, but disappointed that I have so many songs of several genres and still can’t make money off of them. This includes my 12 original Christmas songs. As often as I try not to write, I write several songs a month and have been for many years.
It could be that you just need to be introduced to the right people so they can hear your songs, Stanley. That is how I have found the most success in sync licensing.
I’ve been writing songs since I was 18, however I’ve been married with kids for almost as long. Wasted many years thinking things worked like the Boston song(smoked a big cigar and drove a Cadillac car he said boys I think this band’s outta sight)so ended up playing a lot of dive bars and actually quite lucky to be alive. I have a successful career but still the songs keep coming. Taxi didn’t work, Music X-ray hasn’t yet. As I said, the songs keep coming and I’ve still got I can’t even count how many in my back catalog. The old saying is most people go to their grave with most of their music still in them, so you hit the nail on the head, I just want to get them out there before I’m “in the dirt”. That’s my intention. So I’m still going for it, I’ve got a small demo studio and finally understand what a DAW is, just learned what “top line” writing is, actually have a hook up with Merf Music out of Nashville, but still working on that “big break” that so far has eluded me. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Thanks.
Thank you for sharing your story, Tim. Success in my world is all about connecting to the right people in the music licensing industry. That is exactly what I do so hopefully we have an opportunity to work together sometime.
Hi Chris I’m Paul from Rubber Knuckle Uk. We’ve made some decent sounding music and registered them with ascap etc but like you say, it’s knowing who to contact to help you in the right direction for SYNC. Is this something you could help us with? Any help would be greatly appreciated.. thanks for your time
I can definitely help you with that, Paul. It’s what I do. Come out to the panel and I will be able to tell you how we can work together and I can connect you to the music supervisors.
Hey Chris – when I first started writing songs at 10, it served as an therapeutic outlet for expressing my feelings. In my late 30’s I approached songwriting as a business and sought out many resources to develop my craft and compete with industry professionals. I had about 50 independent cuts. For the last 5 years, I’ve focused on sync opportunities and have had about 10 placements. I agree that with you, that since I have no artist aspirations, and cuts with major artists allude me, sync is the way to go! Thanks for your support of the songwriting community!
Good to hear, Donna, and congrats on the syncs you did get. Lets try to make that more consistent for you. See you at the panel!
Hi Chris! It’s in my blood! Been writing since I was very young. Played my 1st live concert as a junior in high school opening up for McKendrie Spring. Made a living as a performing singer songwriter. But my favorite thing was always writing and recording on my 4 track that led to 8 track to digital etc. Writing songs for others to cover, behind the scenes so to speak. Sync is perfect for this. I do have an artist presence on the streaming platforms for my ego and much appreciated fans, but really focusing on placements and not performing out as much anymore. Love the opportunity provided here.
BTW I worked at Dr T’s Music software in the late 80’s who developed the 1st music sequencer ever which was on the Commodore 64. The Apple 2E, Atari ST etc…from that I became a programmer and the company went on to develope children’s educational cdroms. I left and developed a CDrom "Learn to Sail! With Multimedia!" I used to attend all the sailing shows demoing the software. I did quite well with it.
Thought you’d like that tid bit!
Fair winds!
Hi Linda, super cool story about you early programming and sailing! Great to hear how music has been so important to you. Love to hear if you have a sailing blog or anything like that.
Hi Chris
I have been a professional artist all my life, in fact since I was a kid, I have traveled and exhibited all over the globe in galleries and museums whit my art for 25 years. But it was first after an accident that caused a head injury and a near-death experience that I started to play the piano spontaneously, previously I had never played the piano, but the head injury amazingly opened up a new world and I began to play and compose meditative music, which healed me. The music will put the listener into a relaxed state of consciousness. The accident occurred in 2012, and after a 3-year-long recovery, in 2015 I suddenly began to hear music in her dreams and decided to record & play what I was experiencing. After seven years of playing, the result is 7 Albums, and 2500+ compositions, I have performed in Carnegie Hall eight times with my music. And received many awards, and my two latest albums have been up for the Grammys Consideration. I would not in my wildest imagination have believed all these things to happen in my life. My life changed completely after this accident, and I believe there is a reason why I came back to life with this music to share it with the world. I still don’t understand where all this music is coming from and how I am able to play it. with that said, I have this dream that my music would be beautiful in film because it is so emotional and also healing, and I am very good to crate emotional pictures/feelings in my music.
Fascinating story, Karen. Perhaps music is all in there already and we just discover it. It took a head injury to jiggle the door open, who knows. Whatever the reason, it is so great you have pursued this and received all the success you have had with it.
I was born and raised in Amsterdam, New York and was blessed to grow up in a very strong, theatrical and musical family. My father was a successful, gifted actor and director in the region. My mother was a music teacher and an accomplished musician. Acting and music have been a lifelong passion. But it wasn’t until after I lost my parents 20 days apart from each other in 2019, that my life hit an all-time low. It was at this time that I started writing music and lyrics, while teaching myself how to play the ukulele. My father bought it for me on my birthday a few months before he passed. To say that songwriting helped heal me is an understatement. I went on to write and record songs that are centered around being thankful and never giving up in life no matter how hard things get. Music calms my soul.