American Idol songwriting contest hopefuls enter a long weekend…
Apr 26th, 2007 | By Joe Taylor Jr. | Category: General|
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And the discussion keeps on going, with most folks looking at the estimated 1500:1 odds that they might be getting a phone call from American Idol’s A&R department on Friday morning.
When you think about it, those aren’t bad odds.
Because the voting begins on Wednesday, it’s reasonable to assume that the team will have selected their finalists before heading into the weekend. Of course, the music business isn’t known for avoiding urgency, and I’m already hearing rumors that the A&R folks will have to dive into their reserve pool to make up for entrants who were either too young or too under contract to qualify.
Here’s your new American Idol Songwriter thread… and you can really help us out by spreading the word about what we do here at spinme.com — training emerging musicians to fend for themselves by building direct connections with audiences. A simple link to spinme.com on your weblog, your MySpace page, or your bulletin board can help let other musicians know that they can succeed — even without a call from the AI team. (And that’s what I’ll be writing about all next week — what will you do as a songwriter now that you know you can write a song to deadline?)
Note: To keep your comment from sitting in moderation for too long, go ahead and register a posting account. (I will be out of the office for most of Friday and Saturday.) We’ll verify your e-mail address automatically so you can comment like crazy, but we won’t e-mail you unless you sign up for our newsletter.
Track these topics: American+Idol, contest, music+business, songwriter, songwriting
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April 26th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Joe, you are simply the coolest and hopefully this will bud into a long learning and sharing process making us all a little better.
This is seriously the last bit I have…. Joe actually alluded to it, but there are some problems with the probable files.
Rumor, just rumor. But usually these things work in reverse, they simply toss all the ones that don’t make an impression to get it down to a manageable number. Then those are put into probables a/b/c and then those are sifted through and so on. There is a light due diligence that happens where they check age, and association and such. nothing to worry about it is part of the process. But a team that thinks they have their 50 ready to ‘pitch or ditch’ could see that number dwindle very quickly.
April 26th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
wow. i feel humbled by all the nice comments on my songs tonight!
you know when you find out what you really want to do with your life but it’s one of those things that are practically impossible to earn a living with? that’s my life story, as I’m sure it is with many of you on this board. This has been much more of an emotional experience than I realized it would be. You always think you’re in your own little bubble, but then you find out how many others feel and think the same way you do.
I’m into the songwriting circle thing as well. I normally would shy away from those things because writing can be so personal, but i like the people on this board because of the honesty. Man, this sounds like a greeting card!
okay, enough of me.
good luck to everyone once again.
April 26th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Michael,
I truly respect your integrity and professionalism.
You are a hard to find gem in this world. Thank you.
April 26th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
This has been so much fun…connecting with you all. I have really enjoyed “hoping” that we might get this. Anyways, I have been frustrated and a bit disillusioned lately. To make a long story short, I took out a huge loan to record a 4 song demo in LA and as it turns out, the songs aren’t really “hooky” enough. (that’s what I’m hearing from U.S. record people but I’m hearing differently from Europe) Anyways, I want to start writing music that is more accesible because the goal is to make people happy. Then, I want to record those and really take a shot at this.
So, I am setting out to write more songs! We should push each other to write at least one quality song every week post them here.
This has been a fun little addiction/obession/diversion!
Good luck to all of you!
http://www.myspace.com/laurendepino
April 26th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
you guys are so super cool. i’ve appreciated all you have shared and it’s nice not knowing others are full full in their heads with this…so i found out about th econtest 3 days before the deadline…i pulled through and i actually think it’s a great song but the performance isn’t tight ….grrrrr. i don’t want ot get to worked up about it but , i thought if they were interested they were going to re-work it etc……anyway. grrr. i hope ididn’t blow an opportunity.
hey, i was trying to upload my song video on youtube for you to hear but my quicktime and final cut files are too big …anyone have an easy compression trick?-
zoey
April 26th, 2007 at 10:52 pm
Eric, I checked out Someone to Love and I remember that song now that I’ve heard it again and see what you mean. A couple of dozen new ideas are popping in my head in how we can make it more expressive lyrically and vocally. Thanks for the suggestions.
April 26th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
Tamar,
I know what you mean. I knew there were obviously going to be alot of songwriters out there entering their songs but I just never thought about how similar we all really are. It’s humbling in itself to realize that and oddly enough, even though I’m a relatively private person, I’ve felt really connected to this group. If nothing else comes out of this experience I have a greater respect for all aspiring songwriters and musicians and I had high respect for them anyway.
April 26th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
So glad I found this blog!
I just sent my song entry to TryTunes.com. It’s called “Who I Am,” and because I’m shy and don’t post a lot, I haven’t requested or received a lot of feedback on it.
Every time I listen to it, I still love the song itself but feel more and more humbled by all the great vocals in other people’s entries. If I win, first thing I’ll do is hire a good singing coach!
Thanks to everyone for entering, contributing, commenting and encouraging each other.
“Who I Am”
http://www.taximusic.com/hosting/home.php?userid=1785
Kathleen
April 27th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Phil
Thanks for the compliment on the last two songs on my myspace page. I wish I had the time to have done those in the studio. I think the last one could have had what Idol was looking for. Anyway, I hope that Michael is right and that calls come in tomorrow and I wish all of you luck in being one of the recipients of that call. Good night, and good luck.
April 27th, 2007 at 12:16 am
Chick,
I’m glad listening to that song is helping you to come up with new ideas. That is a tough style to write…if it was easy, then Babyface wouldn’t have so many awards :)! I remember one season he did something with American Idol years back if my memory serves me right, and there was some buzz about him and Katherine McPhee recently…so that style is still alive and kicking.
I’ll see you all tomorrow! And as always, good luck!
April 27th, 2007 at 12:58 am
Is “probable files” a term in the “lingo?” What does it mean?
Meanwhile, you guys are stirring me up over here. I’m the type that doesn’t get my hopes up over anything. I do a good bit of performing, and I don’t have nerves anymore. But these threads quicken my heart a little every now and then…
April 27th, 2007 at 6:08 am
Folks,
I’m proud to announce that you’ve inspired me to go ahead and launch a set of open forums on the site. I’ve already started an American Idol Songwriter thread here:
http://spinme.com/?page_id=1543&forumaction=showposts&forum=11&thread=1&start=0
That way, you can discuss the contest AND facilitate ongoing critiques / songwriter circles right here through the site.
Thanks!
April 27th, 2007 at 6:39 am
I also do not understand what “probable files” are. Michael, where art thou? BTW: Thanks for the insider info!
April 27th, 2007 at 7:00 am
What Michael’s referring to is the way that most folks at songwriting competitions and radio stations sort out their submissions.
Somewhere, there’s a stack labeled “definitely,” a stack labeled “probably,” and a stack labeled “no way.” When Michael says there’s a problem with some of the probable files, I’m assuming he’s referring to what I’ve heard in backchatter — that we knew some folks would make submissions that didn’t meet the entry requirements. Either the songs were under contract somewhere, or the writer’s 18th birthday is in three weeks — something that someone hoped would slip through but that the legal team just can’t let into the contest.
Right now, the process is about verifying that all the “probable” finalists are legit.
April 27th, 2007 at 7:12 am
morning all! getting ready for work, I will seriously not want to go to the bathroom today for fear of missing a call!! hehe. I hope everyone slepted well. I didn’t…but I expected that!
Michael’s posts last night made me excited once again. I’m so curious how this contest will pan out.
let’s keep the conversation going today!
xo
tamar
April 27th, 2007 at 7:34 am
Doesn’t verifying the finalists are legit imply that they are contacting finalists? How else would they figure out if someone lied about their age, the song’s ‘contract status,’ etc.?
Not to be the resident skeptic, but Joe, do you have any additional ‘inside info’ to confirm that Michael is indeed a source and not just a talented creative writer?
April 27th, 2007 at 7:37 am
hey all. thanks again for being here. i have listened to a lot of your stuff… sounds really good. i would lov eyou to hear mine as well. i mad e video for you tube but the file is too big to fit … i am new at all this computer stuff if anyone knows how to make a file small on a mac or just another way i can put my song up here for you, that would be great. goodluck today.
-zoey
April 27th, 2007 at 7:41 am
steve: i was wondering the same thing…
April 27th, 2007 at 7:48 am
Yes, I can vouch for Michael’s status as a published songwriter as well as his current geographic location.
I’m actually surprised there aren’t any real leaks. They must have shock collars on their interns.
April 27th, 2007 at 7:51 am
Goodmorning.
Well, my morning didn’t get off to a good start, my son defecated all over my bedroom floor at 6:00am and I’ve been cleaning it up till now. I know nothing anyone really wants to hear…but I’m hoping this is not setting the precendent for the day, at least for me
Here’s a little Reminder for me & you:
I can’t feel my feet, Sitting on the edge of my seat, My heart beats like a drum, Staring at the phone, my body goes numb. Everyone has a story, but only one will be selected, O’ how many lives will be effected.
Eagerly believe that life is fair, Suffocating as it may seem, don’t forget that you cared, when it was your dream.
April 27th, 2007 at 7:51 am
Folks,
I’m going off to do some client work this fine, rainy day — to keep the conversation going, I invite you to head over to our new discussion board. This way, you can engage with each other without me as a bottleneck:
http://spinme.com/u/28
Enjoy!
-jt