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Tips & Resources by Brent Baxter, Songwriting Pro on July 22, 2019
Songwriters, beware! There are some songpluggers out there who will waste your time and money.
In our last blog (HERE), we discussed what independent songpluggers do (and don’t do). Hopefully, it helped you decide whether or not you want to hire one. There are some legit pros out there who do great work. But today, I’m going to reveal the kind of songpluggers you do NOT want to hire.
First, what are independent songpluggers?
Independent songpluggers don’t work for a major publishing company - they work for songwriters. (Although some may have their own publishing company in addition to taking on clients.) They pitch your songs and attempt to secure cuts. They typically do NOT take a share of your publishing up front. The songwriter pays the plugger a monthly retainer. It’s kind of like a reverse publishing deal.
In a normal publishing deal, the publisher pays the songwriter a monthly draw and pitches his or her songs in exchange for publishing (ownership) of the songs.
With a songplugger, you keep your ownership. In some deals, though, the songplugger will also earn some publishing and/or a monetary bonus if they get a major cut or the song reaches certain sales or chart positions. It’s an incentive for the plugger to not just get you cuts, but get you the BEST cuts possible.
Now, on to our “Stay-Away-From” list. You’ll have to be discerning, though. Songpluggers don’t put warning labels on their business cards.
*The Lovable Loser:
This independent songplugger means well. They have good hearts and the best of intentions. They really want to get cuts for their clients, and they’ll work hard. However, they just don’t have either the ears to hear great songs or the network to get your songs into the right hands. They mean well, they just can’t get the job done.
*The Way Too Earlybird:
Maybe they’re great people, a good hang, work hard and will eventually make the right connections... but you’re starting to pay them about 5 years too early. They can’t get your songs into the right hands yet, and that’s a lot of money down the drain.
*The Shark
This black-hearted scumbag preys on the hopes and dreams of aspiring songwriters. This jerk knows he or she isn’t really going to pitch your songs and try to get you cuts. They can fake their pitch logs and feed you baloney about how Luke Bryan’s producer loves your song or Ed Sheeran himself put your song on hold. BS. They just feed you enough hope to keep your checks coming.
*The Morally Compromised Pro
This person IS a legit independent songplugger. They have the ears. They have the connections. But they also have a stack of bills bigger than their stack of cuts. So they give in to the temptation to take on clients that they know aren’t ready. They know you aren’t writing hits, but they need the money. They’ll probably play your songs here and there to sooth their conscience... but they won’t play your songs so much that it hurts their reputation. Either way, you’re wasting your money.
But again, there are some good, legit songpluggers. I’m not trying to talk you out of hiring one- I just want you to spend your time and money wisely. So, if you’re considering shopping for an indie songplugger, I’d ask about their:
*Track record.
What cuts have they actually gotten? Any recent cuts or “name” artists? It may be an uncomfortable conversation, but you must ask.
*Network.
Who are their strongest industry contacts? Who are their golfing buddies? The stronger and wider their network, the better chance they can actually get you cuts.
If you’re interested in finding out more about independent songpluggers, I have a great opportunity for you. On Tuesday, August 13, I’m hosting a “Know The Pro” event with successful independent songplugger, Shane Barrett. And if you're interested in how standard publishing deals work, I have an additional "Know The Pro" event on August 20 with hit music publisher, Tim Hunze of Anthem Entertainment (formerly Ole' Music). This is your chance to hang out online and ask YOUR questions to a real sungplugger and a real music publisher. Together these pros have secured cuts by artists including George Strait, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and many, many more!
This is YOUR chance to sit down face-to-face (online) with real-deal music professionals, and I hope you won't let it slip away.
Here's the best part: these events are FREE for Frettie subscribers! So if you're already a Frettie subscriber, you'll receive an invitation to these events. If you are NOT a Frettie subscriber... what are you waiting for? Heck, it's only $5 a month!
CLICK HERE TO GET ALL THE DETAILS AND JOIN FRETTIE AND THESE EVENTS!
God bless,
Brent
