Songwriters who believe they can break into the music industry by mass mailing their work to publishers and record labels will be disappointed. Most unsolicited songs will not likely get listened to by anyone of importance, if at all, according to publishing company executive Stephen Finfer. Record companies are bombarded by unsolicited material that is typically a waste of time. To best utilize thier time, they rely on other people, or trusted sources, to filter what they will listen too.
Stephen Finfer of Arthouse Entertainment advises aspiring songwriters to find someone with music industry connections to bring them and their music to the attention of artist, producers and executives. Agents, lawyers and managers are good referral sources for songwriters hoping to get their songs picked up “artists and repertoire” (A&R) people and producers, according to Finfer.
In addition to being the co-CEO of one of the top ten most successful music-publishing companies in the world, Stephen Finfer held senior management positions at recording companies and was senior creative director and A&R representative at Paramount Pictures. His advice to songwriters is to subscribe to credible sources that provide information about artists currently looking for material. Then use filters to get your music properly listened to by decision-makers. If you can develop a direct relationship with the right executives, you should do that to.
“Whos Looking” information is available from a host of sources or can be obtained by doing the legwork yoursef. The trick, according to Finfer, is pitching a that already sounds like its a hit on the radio; don’t make excuses or ask the listener to hear things that arent there. You must know the production direction, tempo, lyrical direction, range, and a host of other elements, to give it your best shot. At the same time, a hit song, can be a hit for almost anyone regardless of its production.
Another method that Stephen Finfer recommends is listening to what the artist has done in the past. A recent album or single might be the best indicator about the types of songs the artist might consider using in a new project.
Regardless of how you get your information, Finfer cautions writers to invest in a production that presents their song in the most dynamic way possible. Recording company executives listen to a lot of new music. Getting your music noticed with bare-bones guitar and vocal or just piano and vocal can be difficult with so many songs competing for attention. More than likely, a song pitched using such a presentation will go unnoticed.
Stephen Finfer suggests investing in a dynamic, professional presentation recording that grabs the listener’s attention. The reality of the music business is that executives and A&R people are less concerned with the name of the writer than they are with how the song sounds.
Getting a song heard is only one hurdle a songwriter has to overcome, cautions Finfer. A record company executive who likes a song might hold on to it for years before matching it to an artist.
