NashvilleHype!

The ever Beautiful and talented Buffy Lawson recently released a new song, “Sentimental Moment”, to her Myspace site.  It’s a song she wrote by herself and it’s absolutely beautiful. 

I always say that, generally speaking, country music should be sang by artist that actually know what they’re singing about.   Country music is about hurt, heartache, pain, and redemption - and who understands that better than someone who has lived through some of each?  In this song, Buffy is singing her heart out - if you’ve ever heard Buffy sing, you know she has serious vocal ability.  

You may know Buffy from her time in Bomshel. She left Bomshel back in December and has devoted much of her time to writing new material.

How I wish that more country music would sound like this!  And how I wish that more country music songs would ring as true as this song is written.  It’s a heartbreaker with hope, all in a traditional style.  If this is the direction Buffy is going in, everyone who is kindof tired of the same old same of bubblegum pop or late 80’s hair band rock being passed off as country music should thank the good Lord. Go over, give it a listen, and tell Buffy what you think.  I believe you’re going to love it, and especially love her vocal on it.  My goodness is she good! 

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Forget-Me-Not, an organization that raises money for Alzheimers Patients, is having a benefit concert April 6th, from 6-11pm, at the Nashville Palace.  There are going to be some great artist coming to perform and it’s going to be a great show for a great cause.  We hope you’ll mark it on your calendar and plan to attend.

(This commentary is taken from the REPORT: 5 Do’s and Don’t’s in Nashville which is part of a larger ebook entitled, “Heartaches, Heartbreaks, and Making It in Nashville” - you can get a FREE copy of this report by signing up to the NashvilleHype! Newsletter)

Do: Pay for recording, musicians, demo singers, and marketing.

Unless you are signed under a publishing deal or a production deal, paying for these things are part of your responsibility.

Don’t: Pay to be published. Pay for someone to turn your poems into songs (scams! run people!)

NashvilleHype!, even as late as last week, received an email from someone who had sent their poem through the mail to a place who, for a small fee, would turn their “lyrics” into a song for them – and then pitch the song to well known national artist. It’s a SCAM.

Oh, they’ll take your poem, and they’ll make a few changes here and there, and they’ll place music to it and record it, and yes, it’s even likely that they’ll place it on a compilation disk and mail it out to however many contacts they have – the scam is, you’re never going to get an honest to goodness real cut from these services YOU PAID MONEY FOR.

Here’s a question, did you know that even worthless copyrights are worth something? That’s right. There are ‘publishing’ houses that do nothing but collect copyrights, build their catalog, and sell out to another company based on those copyrights. It works like this:

Publisher “A” has a catalog of 5,000 songs. Within this catalog they have 3 songs that have been major hits on the radio, meaning those copyrights are still bringing in some residual income to them and the writer (and boy do they ever trumpet those songs!). Here comes the sucker with a poem who is willing to PAY publisher A to turn their poem into a song and pitch it. Publisher A gladly accepts the payment, does an hour of work, and keeps the publishing (their share of the copyright). Now they have 5,001 copyrights. Eventually publisher A has 10,000 copyrights (with those 3 songs being the only hits) and publisher “B” comes calling. How much are those 3 hit songs worth? Answer: The whole company. There are actually people in the accounting field paid to do ‘due diligence’ on copyrights; and there are figures and tables, and graphs to show how much a publishing catalog is worth. One with 10,000 copyrights is worth more than one with 3 hit songs. Regardless if those other 9,997 copyrights are trash.

A copyright is a piece of property. It can be sold, licensed, and leased, just like property. You wouldn’t pay someone to come paint your house and then give them the house! The best thing you can do is not pay someone to take your property off your hands. So what do you do? How do you get your poem turned into a song?

Locally. It’s the best way. You must do the hard work of actually getting out of the house and going down to the bar, or church, or where ever music is played live, and you must talk to the people who are playing it. It’s your job to convince them that they should help you by writing together, recording together, and pitching together. It won’t be an easy sell, and you’re likely to face your first rejection, but eventually you’ll find someone with whom you click and you’ll be able to turn that poem into a song – at virtually no cost – and better yet, you won’t lose your property. If your song is actually good enough, you’ll be able to make another ’sell’ – either to a publisher, or an artist.

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MP3 Rocket - The #1 P2P Product on Download.com!

We’ve tried to provide for you the ability to have more people see you, hear you, and get to know you.  We’ve added several services that can help you gain fans, get recognition, and help move your career to a new level.  All of these services are completely free, and if you aren’t using these services, you’re losing out and wasting your potential. 

The first service is the NashvilleHype! Video Channel.   Here you can upload or link to your videos.  The video channel is prominently displayed on the sidebar here at NashvilleHype! and this is a good way for others to see what you have - whether it’s a music video or an EPK. 

The second free service is the NashvilleHype! Forums.  Since placing the forums on site, no one has used them.  That’s ashame.  Since having our Myspace listed in the forum we’ve had over 300 people look at that thread.  That’s 300 + people who could’ve been checking out YOU on your Myspace - listening to your music and becoming your fan.

The NashvilleHype! Forums have a place where you can list your concerts, when you’re coming to town, what you’ll be doing, etc.  People write all the time to tell us about a show, and so far at least, no one has taken the 3 minutes it’d take to post about it for free.  That’s ok with us, if you don’t want people to find out where you’re playing and what you have going on, we’re not concerned.  But for those who would, the NashvilleHype! Forums are here and an available resource for you to use.

In just a few minutes time, you can read about how you can gain a TON of new exposure while at the same time having the potential to Win $5,000.   This isn’t a scam.   It’s not a marketing ploy.  It’s the real deal!  All you have to do to be entered to win is enter to win. That means you just have to sign up, and upload a song or video.  It really is that simple.  The competition isn’t a ‘popularity’ contest.  It’s not about getting all your friends to come vote for you over and over.  It can’t be gamed like that.  And besides, you’re popular and people vote for you a thousands times - what does that matter?  Can you really stand up to others in a fair, open, and honest competition?  If a pat on your back is what you’re looking for, then yeah, this probably isn’t for you and in all seriousness, neither is this industry.  But if you’re serious about your career, and you really believe you have the ability to make it in this industry, why not give it a try? - besides, $5,000 and all the other great opportunities your given by entering is nothing to sneeze at.  This is real exposure.  And it will tell you the real truth about where you stand with a public that isn’t your ‘friend’. 

Remember, the more you do for yourself, and the less you rely on others (like NashvilleHype!) to do for you, the better off you’re going to be.  You have to earn your fans.  We can’t write about everyone, and we’re not going to write about everyone.  We’re extremely picky about who we have to promote here on site because we know, what we say, and who we have on site, matters.  You get our attention by doing the three things above, and if you’re good enough, you just might make it on.

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New Direction.  That is what caught my eye today.  So me being me, I had to ask exactly what direction this was going in?  Okay, so if you have never heard of Steven Cooper, maybe you would be familiar with his stage name, “Lyrycyst“. He is a proclaimed rap/rocker.  Rap? In Christian music? Why sure and if you have not listened to it you should. You get as much, if not the same amount, of “God’s Word” in it too.

Lyrycyst states, “When I first started I knew rap had several stigmas and one of my goals was to change the way people thought about it. People always complain that they can’t understand the words, there’s never much of a positive element, and the music is often a boring loop pattern. As I’ve grown as an artist, I’ve sought out to change all three- rapping in a clear way people can understand, making the content clean and relevant to the issues of the day, plus setting a standard for the innovative arrangements and creative music tracks. Because of these three things, I’ve seen people who never really listened to rap or hip hop before stand behind something they never thought they would.”

In the last six years this singer/songwriter has literally worked his way tooth and nail to get where he has gotten today. With over 300 live shows on his resume, some being alongside fellow artists Relient K, Jeremy Camp, and Toby Mac it is nowhere but up from here.

In his October 2007 release of “Masquerade” he delivers messages of the troubles in todays world, being lonely, obesession with celebrities, political division and the closeted subject of abortion. One of my personal favorites is “What If I” which is sung with Dove award winner Rachel Lampa. Abortion is a topic that is kept under the table in many places but when you listen to the words of this song, it makes you feel like taking a stand with many of us who are against it. Lyrycyst says, “I believe anyone can personally feel the pain of the issue because if our parents chose abortion we wouldn’t be here!”

Today Lyrycyst talks of what I would like to say is “a fresh breath”. Sometimes when this industry makes all the calls over and over and literally confines you to what they think you should be, a “breath” is a good thing to have to stay alive.

He states, “Since the beginning of this year I have felt the need to go in a brand new direction as an artist. Lets face it, I’m not your cookie-cutter christian artist, and sometimes it’s easy to get sucked into having to look and act like one. I’m determined to be the artist that I feel God has called me to be. I want to make the music I feel He wants me to make, whether the subject matter is controversial or not. I want to carry an image that represents who I am. I am determined to take my message beyond the christian market. If Eminem can say what he believes in, then so can I…”

Some people might think this would be a bold move for an artist to make. Yes, frankly it is and I think it to be a brave one. After all being a singer/songwriter is all about being who you are right? If you are who everyone else wants you to be then you have lost yourself in an imaginary life. I don’t care to say how sad that would be to realize you lost yourself after it was too late!

He further says, “The biggest part of what I’m saying is letting God take me where he wants me to go, instead of always being concerned with what the industry is looking for. I have no intention on every leaving my message behind, it is my foundation in everything I do.” Mega kudos for stepping up to the plate Steven Cooper-ahem-LYRYCYST! Be sure to mark your calendar for April 20th and head down to Rocketown in Nashville during GMA week to check him out!

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 (This commentary is taken from the REPORT: 5 Do’s and Don’t’s in Nashville which is part of a larger ebook entitled, “Heartaches, Heartbreaks, and Making It in Nashville” - you can get a FREE copy of this report by signing up to the NashvilleHype! Newsletter)
 

Don’t: Listen to those who say you’re easily going to be the ‘next big thing’ - they’re liars. There’s no way in the world you’re easily going to be anything.

Being a songwriter or artist is HARD WORK. Don’t let anyone ever fill your head with dreams of the big-time. Not that you can’t make it to the big-time, but it takes a lot more than one person’s word to get you there.

Often times artist will meet a backer (someone who will pay for recording) or a ‘manager’ (I use this term loosely) who will make some pretty big promises. Most of these promises have nothing to do with real market realities. What are those realities?

1. You have to be young – 14 to 23 is the going age for females, 19 to 28 for males.

2. You have to be good-looking – or at the very least, photogenic.

3. You have to be thin, or if male, in good health.

4. You have to stand out among the crowd of sound-alikes – more on this later.

5. You have to have a good ear for songs – being great at everything else will get you nowhere without hit songs – they don’t hear a hit, you’re down 90% already.

6. You have to have a full team of support behind you – managers, publicist, publishers, stylist – and at least one person at the label in a position to do something (this can be the most difficult part – you can’t imagine how many people with powerful titles have little or no real power!)

7. You have to have a LOT of spare cash – you’re going to need it for your own marketing, PR, photo’s, etc. Yes, this is even AFTER you’re signed.

8. You have to have put in the hard work, the road work, the hundreds of ‘real’ shows – sorry, Karaoke queens at the local bar need not apply.

I’ll give you an example of a group that fits each of these points – and will ultimately be signed. I’ve had them on NashvilleHype! several times, The Hewitt Sisters. These are pretty harsh realities – so don’t fool yourself! If you don’t meet these criteria, it’s not the end of the world, but you have a serious uphill battle to climb here in Nashville. But let me remind everyone like I do so often, there’s a whole world out there waiting, wanting to be entertained! And you can make a good living entertaining those people.

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Several artists we’re very proud to have had on NashvilleHype! have been written about in their local papers, are going to huge National competitions and winning, are being played on radio shows coast to coast, gaining more fans than anyone can shake a stick at, and generally having a blast as their careers kick into high gear.   NashvilleHype! is all about letting others know about great artists we believe in, and in the promotion of these artist.  All of these artists came and performed for us at the Supercell Benefit.

Kelsey Skaggs has a great write up in the Dayton Daily News.  Our favorite part of her article is:

“Kelsey’s older brother, Kyle, came home for a visit after a year at the University of Louisiana and said to me, ‘Do you realize how much has happened for Kelsey since I left for school? I’ve never seen anything explode like that,’ ” Lisa Skaggs (Kelsey’s mother) said.

Thomas Miller, the popular Internet Radio Show host, just raves about Kelsey on his show.  He loves her music almost as much as we do - and she is featured not only on his show but also featured on the Thomas Miller Show homepage. 

Like we continue to say, it’s only going to get better for Kelsey.  She is amazingly talented and she’s taking all the steps necessary to have a long, lasting, and successful career.  Industry insiders here in Nashville (particularly those in the secular Christian music market) need to wake up and start taking note of Kelsey.  I promise you, you’re going to miss out if you don’t.

William Ferrarini just had an article released on Reminder Publications. 

“Ferrarini has been writing songs since he was 16 and touts “Send Me a Miracle” as one of the most meaningful of all the songs he’s ever been a part of writing. Cathryn Miller Gipson of www.nashvillehype.com, an online entertainmet news blog, seemed to agree. Of Ferrarini she wrote on the site, “While listening to it myself, I find it to be at a place of tranquility and quietness. His voice is comforting and soothing and a sound all his own.”

Paul King, the owner and editor of NashvilleHype.com, said Ferrarini’s “a good man for coming all the way down here to help us with the benefit … William is a rare find. He’s an extremely talented performer and songwriter, yet one of the most down to earth, humble and caring individuals you will ever meet.”That’s just too cool.  It seems like William is everywhere - and he’s certainly popular here on NashvilleHype!

Kelly Ray Davis probably did more than any other artists to promote the Supercell Show.  He had several news articles written about him and his focus was on the show - and he had several radio interviews as well and it was the same thing.   The Herald-Dispatch has written about Kelly a couple of times.  Kelly continues to tear it up back home and is looking forward to more trips to Nashville as things continue to pick up for him.

Readers know how much we love Rachel Farley.  She’s like family at this point, so when we learned that she had won numerous National awards from the North America Country Music Association International, we were thrilled!  She won 2008 Traditional Songwriter of the Year for “Lonely Alone”, 2008 New Country Songwriter of the Year for “Tennessee”, 2008 CD of the Year, 2008 Rising Star Award-Female Entertainer of the Year, 2008 Most Promising Vocalist of the Year!  Holy Cow!

You might recall we reported when she had gone to the local awards show in Georgia and brought home a handful of awards then.  This National awards show included the top 2 from each state and also Canada.  That’s a lot of competition! 

Rachel was recently selected as one of the 5 contestants for “15 Minutes of Fame, Jr” at Opry Mills on April 5th.  They will have a decible meter and will measure which contestant gets the biggest response from the audience as well as adding up judges scores. If she wins she goes to finals later in the year!  So we’re asking everyone to come see this spectacular talent perform and also help support her by making a lot of good noise after she performs.  We want Rachel to win and go to the Nationals - so come out and help!

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