Comments on: What We Have Learned About the American Idol Songwriter Contest http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/ Joe Taylor Jr. advises musicians that want to book more gigs... Sun, 14 Feb 2010 03:31:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By:   More questions answered about the American Idol Songwriting Contest by spinme.com http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26452   More questions answered about the American Idol Songwriting Contest by spinme.com Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:22:42 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26452 [...] We’ve had a really vibrant discussion going on in my previous post about the American Idol con... If you haven’t had a chance to poke through the comments, here are some more key points. [...] [...] We’ve had a really vibrant discussion going on in my previous post about the American Idol con… If you haven’t had a chance to poke through the comments, here are some more key points. [...]

]]> By: Joe Taylor Jr. http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26279 Joe Taylor Jr. Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:28:12 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26279 Folks, Going to move discussion to the new thread to keep the database happy, and because some common questions are answered: http://spinme.com/2007/04/more-questions-answered-about-the-american-idol-songwriting-contest/ Folks,

Going to move discussion to the new thread to keep the database happy, and because some common questions are answered:

http://spinme.com/2007/04/more-questions-answered-about-the-american-idol-songwriting-contest/

]]> By: natalie http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26278 natalie Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:27:23 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26278 I can't seem to be able to complete the transaction because I keep getting error messages about my credit cards. They are all good cards, but nothing is working. Anybody have any advice? I can’t seem to be able to complete the transaction because I keep getting error messages about my credit cards. They are all good cards, but nothing is working. Anybody have any advice?

]]> By: Bob http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26277 Bob Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:10:03 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26277 Jeanie: You might want to reference the 4/15 posting from "Jesse A", who claims to be a representative of this competition. If it is a good song with a strong, distinctive melody, and you sing it well, it just might impress their reviewers, who will know a good song when they hear it (or so Jesse A claims). However, if you do make it into the final 20, you could be at a disadvantage. The average listener will most likely be more impressed by an entry that does have instrumental accompaniment and a good arrangement than by something sung a capella. But if can't find musicians to work with on recording your song with accompaniment...well, it only costs you 10 bucks and a little time and effort to enter, so why not give it a try? If selected for the top 20, then at least you've gotten the attention of some professional A&R people, and that could lead to something, even if you don't win. Bob Jeanie:
You might want to reference the 4/15 posting from “Jesse A”, who claims to be a representative of this competition. If it is a good song with a strong, distinctive melody, and you sing it well, it just might impress their reviewers, who will know a good song when they hear it (or so Jesse A claims). However, if you do make it into the final 20, you could be at a disadvantage. The average listener will most likely be more impressed by an entry that does have instrumental accompaniment and a good arrangement than by something sung a capella. But if can’t find musicians to work with on recording your song with accompaniment…well, it only costs you 10 bucks and a little time and effort to enter, so why not give it a try? If selected for the top 20, then at least you’ve gotten the attention of some professional A&R people, and that could lead to something, even if you don’t win.
Bob

]]> By: Jeffery Cameron http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26276 Jeffery Cameron Tue, 17 Apr 2007 15:48:00 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26276 to Jeanie in response to #73.... that is sort of a gray area. i believe they want a "song" which is "music and lyrics". it could be argued that lyrics are just words without singing and that the singing of a melody is music, so if you did not have an instrument playing the chords of your song then that might be just fine. melody implies chords, so you might get away with it. but most demo songs written by songwriters have the chords playing on a piano or guitar (instrument) and the melody and lyrics being sung (voice). so that might make the A&R staff throw it out because they don't want to have to be a writer and determine the chords for you. if they did that, they would be co-writing the song with you and they can't do that. so my thoughts are 50/50 on your situation, but sort of slightly leaning towards the fact that what you entered will probly not be good enough. really hope things work out for you though....good luck :) to Jeanie in response to #73….

that is sort of a gray area. i believe they want a “song” which is “music and lyrics”. it could be argued that lyrics are just words without singing and that the singing of a melody is music, so if you did not have an instrument playing the chords of your song then that might be just fine. melody implies chords, so you might get away with it. but most demo songs written by songwriters have the chords playing on a piano or guitar (instrument) and the melody and lyrics being sung (voice). so that might make the A&R staff throw it out because they don’t want to have to be a writer and determine the chords for you. if they did that, they would be co-writing the song with you and they can’t do that. so my thoughts are 50/50 on your situation, but sort of slightly leaning towards the fact that what you entered will probly not be good enough. really hope things work out for you though….good luck :)

]]> By: Jeffery Cameron http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26275 Jeffery Cameron Tue, 17 Apr 2007 15:37:06 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26275 I had no trouble last night uploading my song. I use a PC with Internet Explorer 7 and I have FiOS (optical DSL). The only issue I had was on the BIO page. I did not have one typed out ahead of time. Me and my friend that I wrote the song with were making our BIO and editing it and it took 15 min, but when we tried to go to the ENTRY FEE page it reset and we had to retype it again really fast. So you really have to move fast on the submission website or you will have to start over again. Also, I had trouble using my hotmail account to register with. I had read the statement that it might cause trouble, but I figured it would go to my junk folder, but it never did. I created a Gmail account and had no trouble at all with that. On another note, I am a bit perterbed about them using the original song files for the voting process. I mean, in the guide on the site, they say it would make no difference on the quality of the recording as to the choices they will make to get into the top 20, but they never said that the file you uploaded would be used for voting. Then general public won't recognize how great your song is...all they will hear is a half recorded version, which is what most people will have entered in this contest because that is what the rules on the site talked about, just using a voice and an instrument. So I think they really should have had their guy that always plays piano on the show play it and have one singer sing the songs and they could do a basic production to show off your song without worrying about the stupid public. This was not a singing contest or a recording or a producing contest, it was a songwriting contest, and the dumb general public at large will not be voting on the song, only the singing. So this might really create a problem for this contest. I truly hope that when they choose the top 20, that they do not choose overly produced songs, and just stick to the basic voice/instrument type of entries. The one thing I am not sure about though is who can vote. I don't believe they are going to do the voting over the phone. The site says you have to be registered to vote, so maybe that means only the people (you might say peers) that registered for song uploads can vote on the top 20? I am guessing that anyone can register with an email address to vote on the website, but that will limit the number of people voting. The number of votes on the song will be very small compared to the phone votes that the singers get. Who knows, maybe they are going to make the song voting on the phone as well? I am tending to think not. They aren't even going to do a TV special on it like they had originally planned, and that would have been the only way to do phone voting. I think it will be web only, and that will mean less people able to vote for the songs. Maybe that is a good thing? What do y'all think? I had no trouble last night uploading my song. I use a PC with Internet Explorer 7 and I have FiOS (optical DSL). The only issue I had was on the BIO page. I did not have one typed out ahead of time. Me and my friend that I wrote the song with were making our BIO and editing it and it took 15 min, but when we tried to go to the ENTRY FEE page it reset and we had to retype it again really fast. So you really have to move fast on the submission website or you will have to start over again.

Also, I had trouble using my hotmail account to register with. I had read the statement that it might cause trouble, but I figured it would go to my junk folder, but it never did. I created a Gmail account and had no trouble at all with that.

On another note, I am a bit perterbed about them using the original song files for the voting process. I mean, in the guide on the site, they say it would make no difference on the quality of the recording as to the choices they will make to get into the top 20, but they never said that the file you uploaded would be used for voting. Then general public won’t recognize how great your song is…all they will hear is a half recorded version, which is what most people will have entered in this contest because that is what the rules on the site talked about, just using a voice and an instrument. So I think they really should have had their guy that always plays piano on the show play it and have one singer sing the songs and they could do a basic production to show off your song without worrying about the stupid public. This was not a singing contest or a recording or a producing contest, it was a songwriting contest, and the dumb general public at large will not be voting on the song, only the singing. So this might really create a problem for this contest. I truly hope that when they choose the top 20, that they do not choose overly produced songs, and just stick to the basic voice/instrument type of entries.

The one thing I am not sure about though is who can vote. I don’t believe they are going to do the voting over the phone. The site says you have to be registered to vote, so maybe that means only the people (you might say peers) that registered for song uploads can vote on the top 20? I am guessing that anyone can register with an email address to vote on the website, but that will limit the number of people voting. The number of votes on the song will be very small compared to the phone votes that the singers get. Who knows, maybe they are going to make the song voting on the phone as well? I am tending to think not. They aren’t even going to do a TV special on it like they had originally planned, and that would have been the only way to do phone voting. I think it will be web only, and that will mean less people able to vote for the songs. Maybe that is a good thing?

What do y’all think?

]]> By: jeanie http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26274 jeanie Tue, 17 Apr 2007 15:10:36 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26274 About the American Idol song writing contest, do you absolutely HAVE to have a musical accompaniment before they'll accept your submission?? I have written a great song and have the lyrics and melody with my voice recorded singing it and downloaded it to an MP3. I am not musically inclined and cannot find a musician in such short time frame. I only found out about the contest 1 week ago. Do you know if they will still consider it if I don't have an instrument on it? I don't see why it would matter that much since they're going to do a complete arrangement for it anyway. Please let me know something ASAP. THANKS!!! I'm sure I'm not the only person wanting to know this!! About the American Idol song writing contest, do you absolutely HAVE to have a musical accompaniment before they’ll accept your submission?? I have written a great song and have the lyrics and melody with my voice recorded singing it and downloaded it to an MP3. I am not musically inclined and cannot find a musician in such short time frame. I only found out about the contest 1 week ago. Do you know if they will still consider it if I don’t have an instrument on it? I don’t see why it would matter that much since they’re going to do a complete arrangement for it anyway. Please let me know something ASAP. THANKS!!! I’m sure I’m not the only person wanting to know this!!

]]> By: Dee Dee http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26273 Dee Dee Tue, 17 Apr 2007 14:27:59 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26273 Ted, you dear man! I do have a zero in my code. Tried your zany method and it worked! Pas de probleme. I have been so frustrated and had finally accepted that I would not be able to enter. Thank you for your creativity. I bet you have a great song. I hope to "see" you in the top twenty. Dee Dee Ted, you dear man! I do have a zero in my code. Tried your zany method and it worked! Pas de probleme. I have been so frustrated and had finally accepted that I would not be able to enter. Thank you for your creativity. I bet you have a great song. I hope to “see” you in the top twenty. Dee Dee

]]> By: Gwen http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26271 Gwen Tue, 17 Apr 2007 12:28:26 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26271 Not clear on what "moderaton" means? Not clear on what “moderaton” means?

]]> By: Gwen http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26270 Gwen Tue, 17 Apr 2007 11:46:58 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26270 Has anyone had problems with actually submitting a song....I can't get past the MP3 upload stage. I continue to get a "technical diffuculty" message from their end since yesterday. Has anyone had problems with actually submitting a song….I can’t get past the MP3 upload stage. I continue to get a “technical diffuculty” message from their end since yesterday.

]]> By: Melissa Cash http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26269 Melissa Cash Tue, 17 Apr 2007 11:39:39 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26269 To all mac/garage band users. I successfully submitted my song last week. Here's how I did it. I recorded in garageband, went to "export to iTunes" in the file menu. Then went to iTunes and "convert selection to AAC" from the Advanced Menu. That only converted it to mp4. I then downloaded jhymn http://hymn-project.org/jhymndoc/. And converted to mp3. jhymn worked great for me. To all mac/garage band users. I successfully submitted my song last week. Here’s how I did it. I recorded in garageband, went to “export to iTunes” in the file menu. Then went to iTunes and “convert selection to AAC” from the Advanced Menu. That only converted it to mp4. I then downloaded jhymn http://hymn-project.org/jhymndoc/. And converted to mp3. jhymn worked great for me.

]]> By: Ted http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26267 Ted Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:45:30 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26267 Dee Dee, I had the same problem. I re-entered it 5 times and it kept saying "invalid". One of the numbers in my 3-number code was a zero and just for giggles on that 6th attempt I punched in an o (oh) and voila - it worked! So if you have a zero, try an oh. This is so confusing. Dee Dee, I had the same problem. I re-entered it 5 times and it kept saying “invalid”. One of the numbers in my 3-number code was a zero and just for giggles on that 6th attempt I punched in an o (oh) and voila – it worked! So if you have a zero, try an oh. This is so confusing.

]]> By: Helen http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26266 Helen Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:03:35 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26266 Back again! Found success with compressing the song file; I am attempting to upload the version that is 3.1MB, but as soon as I click on Upload Track, the file disappears and 'No file selected' pops back up. It LOOKS like something is happening, but I can't see how if 'No file selected' is all I see. Any ideas? Back again! Found success with compressing the song file; I am attempting to upload the version that is 3.1MB, but as soon as I click on Upload Track, the file disappears and ‘No file selected’ pops back up. It LOOKS like something is happening, but I can’t see how if ‘No file selected’ is all I see. Any ideas?

]]> By: Helen http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26265 Helen Mon, 16 Apr 2007 23:36:45 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26265 Question for Mac users - after getting a satisfactory recording thru GarageBand, I got as far as getting the song to iTunes and thru the 'Convert Selection to MP3' without a hitch. The hitch came when I looked at the size of the file on iTunes - 34MB! I saved the song again thru GarageBand as a compact/small and then AGAIN as a compact/micro. I repeated the process to get it to iTunes, but it still claims it's 34MB. Am I missing something?!?!? I have read about the downloads for compression but am not sure what the best choice is for a Mac (OS 10.4.9, with - groan - dial-up). I have left word for my brother, who knows such things, but I thought I'd ask here as well. What a terrific forum this has been for a greenhorn in the truest sense! Question for Mac users – after getting a satisfactory recording thru GarageBand, I got as far as getting the song to iTunes and thru the ‘Convert Selection to MP3′ without a hitch. The hitch came when I looked at the size of the file on iTunes – 34MB! I saved the song again thru GarageBand as a compact/small and then AGAIN as a compact/micro. I repeated the process to get it to iTunes, but it still claims it’s 34MB. Am I missing something?!?!? I have read about the downloads for compression but am not sure what the best choice is for a Mac (OS 10.4.9, with – groan – dial-up). I have left word for my brother, who knows such things, but I thought I’d ask here as well. What a terrific forum this has been for a greenhorn in the truest sense!

]]> By: Dee Dee http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/comment-page-2/#comment-26264 Dee Dee Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:59:03 +0000 http://spinme.com/2007/04/what-we-have-learned-about-the-american-idol-songwriter-contest/#comment-26264 I've been trying to pay with my valid credit card and it keeps says "card code is invalid" I've check many times and I am doing it correctly. Is anyone else having this problem? I’ve been trying to pay with my valid credit card and it keeps says “card code is invalid” I’ve check many times and I am doing it correctly. Is anyone else having this problem?

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