13.3 Pitching songs to artists and labels

Pitching songs to artists and labels is a crucial skill for songwriters in the music industry. It involves preparing professional demos, crafting compelling pitch sheets, and leveraging networking opportunities to get your music heard by key decision-makers.

Building relationships with A&R professionals, song pluggers, and publishing companies can open doors for your songs. Participating in song camps, showcase events, and exploring alternative pitching methods like music libraries can also increase your chances of success in the competitive world of songwriting.

Preparing Your Pitch

A&R and Song Pluggers

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• A&R (Artists and Repertoire) professionals at record labels are responsible for discovering and developing new talent
  • They often have established relationships with artists and producers
  • Building relationships with A&R can lead to opportunities to pitch your songs directly to them for consideration
• Song pluggers are individuals who pitch songs on behalf of songwriters to artists, producers, and record labels
  • They typically have a wide network of industry contacts and deep knowledge of the current music market
  • Hiring a song plugger can increase your chances of getting your songs heard by key decision-makers (A&R, artists, producers)

Demo Recordings and Pitch Sheets

• Demo recordings are high-quality recordings of your songs that showcase their potential
  • They should be professionally produced and performed to give the best representation of your work
  • Demos are typically stripped-down versions of the song, focusing on the melody, lyrics, and basic arrangement
  • Having a strong demo can make your song more appealing to artists and labels considering it for their projects
• Pitch sheets are one-page documents that summarize the key information about your song
  • They include the song title, writer(s), genre, tempo, key, and a brief description of the song's theme or story
  • Pitch sheets also often include information about the target artist or demographic for the song
  • A well-crafted pitch sheet can help your song stand out and make it easier for industry professionals to quickly assess its potential

Networking Opportunities

Song Camps and Showcase Events

• Song camps are collaborative events where songwriters, producers, and artists come together to create new music
  • These camps are often organized by publishing companies, record labels, or music industry organizations
  • Participating in song camps can lead to valuable connections, collaborations, and opportunities to pitch your songs directly to artists and producers
• Showcase events are live performances where songwriters can present their work to industry professionals
  • These events are often attended by A&R representatives, publishers, and other key decision-makers
  • Performing at showcase events can help you gain exposure and build relationships with potential collaborators and industry contacts

Publishing Companies

• Publishing companies are businesses that manage the copyrights and promote the use of songs written by their clients
  • They often have established relationships with record labels, artists, and producers
  • Signing with a publishing company can provide access to their network and increase the likelihood of your songs being pitched to high-profile artists and projects
  • Publishing companies may also organize song camps, showcase events, and other networking opportunities for their songwriters

Alternative Pitching Methods

Music Libraries

• Music libraries are companies that license pre-recorded music for use in various media projects (film, television, advertisements)
  • They often accept submissions from independent songwriters and composers
  • Placing your songs in music libraries can provide a steady stream of income through licensing fees and royalties
  • This can be a good alternative to pitching songs to artists, especially for instrumental pieces or songs that may not fit a specific artist's style
• Submitting your songs to music libraries typically involves creating an account on their website and uploading your tracks along with metadata (title, genre, mood, instrumentation)
  • Music supervisors and other professionals can then search the library's catalog for songs that fit their project's needs
  • If your song is selected, you'll receive a licensing fee and potentially ongoing royalties each time the song is used