What's Up? @ the World Wide Songwriters Association

So you go out golfing every weekend...now you are sure that you can beat Tiger Woods? You've been in the driveway practicing your jump shot...think you are ready to take down Kobe Bryant in a game of one on one? Let's take a look at your competition in this "sport" of songwriting.

In the blue corner, weighing in with no less than 13 #1 hits, multiple songwriter of the year award winner, multi-platinum award winning songwriter ... BOB DIPIERO.

In the red corner, with no less than 200 cuts in the past 3 years, multiple #1 hits, multi BMI writer of the year award winning songwriter ... JEFFREY STEELE.

Are you ready to step in the ring yet? These Nashville heavyweights, with all their success and awards, continue to write songs daily. Constantly training to defend their titles as songwriting champions. How do they train? They write! Then, write some more. Each one of them have written several hundred if not at least a thousand songs. Their demo recordings sound as good or better than anything you will ever hear on the radio, using top notch studio aces, with full mind blowing production! Now, before you throw the gloves down and run home with your tail between your legs, remember this. At some point in their career, they wrote their first song. Did they stop writing at 10, 15, or 50 songs? No, and just like anything else, practice makes you improve. I am pretty sure that if you were to ask them both, they would agree that getting a song cut is not easy. Even with proven success behind them, there are no guarantees that they will get another cut.

Now, can you expect to knock out these champs with your song? Does your demo have the quality to compete? Remember, a tie always goes to the champ. To break in, your song had better be a no-brainer hit. Don't try for the knockout right away, first you have to get a lucky punch in here and there. Now, quit whining about not getting a song cut, and get in the ring and start throwing some punches. You never know when you might land one.

Member News

WWSWA VIP Member Phil McKernan is at it again. After his success with being voted as a Finalist in the Australian Songwriters Association for his song "It's Such a Long Way (Home)" (which is on his new CD 'Excalibur'), he has been voted as "Suggested Artist" by the team at the VH1 Song of the Year Contest, again for his song "It's Such a Long way (Home)". "A lot of good things have happened to my music since I joined the WWSWA, Thank you again." says Phil. Good luck Phil, we are proud of you and are happy to be a part of helping take your songwriting career to the next level.

VIP Member Announcement

The new and improved process for submitting your songs to Publishers, Record Labels, Music Industry Supervisors and other Industry Professionals who are seeking and accepting new material is now up and running.

You can now read the CURRENT INDUSTRY LISTINGS and submit to them through the WWSWA website. No more need to make copies of your cd, pay for mailing them out, or take a trip to the post office.

You will now be able to take advantage of hundreds of chances each year to get your songs to the right people who can make things happen.

To submit, visit your SOUND BOOTH, view the listings, and submit to those for which you have material fitting the listing criteria.

The listings will be updated each month and whenever we receive new requests for material. Be selective, follow the details of the listings, and make sure you send your VERY BEST SONGS!

Independent Record Labels Growing Strong

In the ever changing landscape of the Nashville recording industry, independent record labels are nothing new. However, with the recent success of labels like Broken Bow Records, independent labels are beginning to make a much bigger impact throughout the industry. Broken Bow has successfully launched Craig Morgan into near country music superstar status; newcomer Jason Aldean has cracked the charts with his first two singles; and their latest offering, the lovely and talented Megan Mullins looks to follow in their footsteps with her first release.

Next, enter Category 5 Records, the latest independent label to start making some pretty big waves throughout the Nashville music scene. Category 5 has already signed country music megastars Travis Tritt and Sammy Kershaw, and have also launched new artist Craig Hand.

WWSWA VIP Member, Eden Langworthy has two songs on the debut release from Craig Hand, so let's hope this trend of success by independent label artists continues. It appears the days of the major labels having a stranglehold on the market may be coming to an end, which breathes new life into many songwriters & publishers efforts to put a song in the charts. With a top notch team of industry pros in place, Category 5 Records seems poised to be the next in line of what may be a growing list of indie labels to have a major impact in the industry. Sounds like good news to us..!