there's a singer searching for songs blurb in this IFS
READ ON


Congratulations to Steve Seskin
his song Pictures won JPF song of the Year out of 140,000 songs entered
John Michael Montgomery cut it but it was never released as a single.
His former label missed a #1 hit.


lately I've been enjoying Ramblings Byron Hill's new CD
all the songs are great I particularly enjoyed
track #12 "Pages of My Mind" that was also recorded by Ray Charles.
http://www.byronhillmusic.com/store.htm

Byron's other CD very worth giving a spin
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/byronhill


<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
Inspirations For Songwriters (I F S)
IFS aims to INSPIRE YOU into ACTION
over 2,600 songwriters, music publishers, artists, and
music fans receive IFS
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DIFS/
<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
 
  Please FORWARD IFS to your songwriting friends
 
  If you want to RECEIVE IFS or
  If you want to CHANGE your email address
  SEND an EMPTY email to
 
  difs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
 
  Allow IFS slide past your SPAM FILTERS.
 
  IFS hopes to help you E N L A R G E your
  songwriting ability and results.
 
  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 
  DID YOU KNOW THAT All IFS messages are archived on
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DIFS/messages
 
  Once you're in the IFS archive, if you're looking for something in
  particular, you can do a key word search
 
  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
  Wanna know the easy way to find the IFS home page?
  Type in
  www.SongwriterBlog.com
  or
  www.SongwritingBlog.com
 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dear IFS readers,

I hope this email finds you well

Here we are 2 days before thanksgiving

have you ever written a thankgsgiving song?
let me know

It's been raining like crazy and since I live on a river, I get to see the
flood first hand in my back yard, fortunatly I haven't had any property damage.
So life is great.
I just got back from a back packing outing at lost maples state park.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/lostmap/


I recently put "Lone Starry Night" up on
http://songramp.com/ande

you can find Lone Starry Night at:
http://www.songramp.com/view.ez?sampleid=22873

please
1) drop by
2) have a listen and
3) jot your comments
I cowrote with "Lone Starry Night" john Arthur martinez,
john arthur was runner up to buddy jewell on the original Nashville
Star show.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

IFS readers
what's new with you?
I'd love to tell the world about you and what you're up to if you
have newsworthy type info or goings on.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Speaking of john Arthur
I've been working on a new song with him and I received the following
email from him


Subj: Calling all jAmFans ...
From: jAmFans@...

NOTE FROM BETTE:
 
Happy Thanksgiving to all jAmFans and their families from all of us
connected to jAmFans!
 
As we come into this Christmas season, and all the love it brings
with it, let us remember the children who are left wanting, and
needing love and support.  john Arthur has joined, with other Texas
artists, to put together a lovely CD called "Austin's WB Holiday
Songs" benefiting the Austin Children's Shelter.  Twelve wonderful
holiday tunes with jAm performing "Angels We Have Heard On High". 
This is a must have for your collection.  You can hear about 1/2 the
song if you go to www.jamfans.net and click on Christmas.  Or, go to
www.mytexasmusic.com and hear 20 second clips of all songs, and
purchase it for only $5.00.  Our thanks to Lucky at My Texas Music
for selling this for the WB.  The entire selling price will be going
to the shelter, as everyone connected with this project is doing it
at no charge.  What a truly wonderful gift it is when you give of
yourself!  So, please help us help the children by purchasing as many
as you can.  Great gifts for those special people in your life.
 
Now for a few special words from the man himself .....
 
NOTE FROM JAM:
 
Dearest friends and fans,
 
Thanks for your posts--many of you I have responded to personally,
but if I have not please send me an email at
jam@....  I'm excited to share that several of my
songs are being played by DJs in Texas and the world, the label is
focusing on my bilingual version of "Amarillo by Morning" in the
state of Texas. But, it looks like the fan favorite "If I Didn't
Care" has received some unsolicited plays from some very influential
stations in Country Music including WSIX in Nashville during the
Gerry House morning show. So the label is seriously considering
releasing it at the beginning of 2005.

Also, I've contributed a song to an album called the WB Holiday Songs
which benefits the Austin Children's Shelter. You can buy it at
www.mytexasmusic.com for only $5. Every penny of that goes to the
shelter.
 
Two motion pictures have asked me to contribute music for their
soundtracks. I'll let ya'll know as I know more.
 
Order Lone Starry Night at www.johnarthurmartinez.net or 
http://www.dualtone.com/jam_lsn_cd.htm  Great Christmas Stocking
Stuffer!
 
Vaya con Dios (go with God),
and Happy Thanksgiving,
 
john Arthur

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Think you've got what it takes?

Nashville Star is doing its third season
OPEN CASTING CALL AUDITIONS

The Austin Auditions are November 29

AUSTIN, TX
WHEN: Monday, November 29,
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

WHERE:
Dallas Night Club
7113 Burnet Road
Austin, TX

Listen to KASE 101 for more information

The NS3 video submission deadline is 12/01/04

http://www.usanetwork.com/nashvillestar/pdfs/homevideoguidelines.pdf

Good Luck!

http://www.usanetwork.com/nashvillestar/

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ever check out
www.digitalmusicworks.com

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

by the way when I dropped by:

http://www.byronhillmusic.com/store.htm
I also noticed Byron's offering handwritten and signed “Born Country”
lyrics

Lyrics to “Born Country”, handwritten and signed by Byron Hill on
high-quality 8.5”x 11” parchment, suitable for framing, with letter of
authenticity included.
(BHP-L-001) $40.00

“Born Country” was written by
Byron Hill and John Schweers on September 22, 1989,
and was a #1 hit for the band Alabama on RCA
Records in 1992.

which made me think of
http://www.manuscriptoriginals.com/
check it out

Graham Nash wrote:

"In 1992, I was asked to donate a personal item for an auction that was being
held by a local school near my home in the Hawaiian Islands to raise funds
for the school's athletic gear that was destroyed by the ravages of Hurricane
Iniki. I had a photograph of my friend, Joni Mitchell, which I had taken some
years before. I thought it would be a good choice. In an effort to make it a
little more special, I thought I'd handwrite the lyrics to the chorus of my song
"Our House" around the margin of the photograph.

On the night of the auction, I was very pleased to watch this piece raise
several thousand dollars for the children at the school. Afterward, I approached
the woman who had purchased the piece and told her I was genuinely overwhelmed
she would pay so much for the photo with the chorus of my song on it. She
smiled and said, "Mr. Nash, you make a mistake. You may think this is your song,
but this is really my song. Years ago, my boyfriend put this song on the
turntable, dropped down on one knee, and then proposed to me. Now I have a piece
of
that song and a moment that I'll cherish forever."

This incident was instrumental to the inception of our company, Manuscript
Originals. It so clearly and simply illustrated to me that music truly touches
more than just people's hearts; it affects our lives in ways that are
indescribable. I am still amazed by the intensity of feelings that get stirred
up in me
when I hear the music I grew up with. So many of the key moments in my life
have songs that serve as their emotional landmarks. My recollections of
becoming a young man are flooded with the colors and the music of those years.
I've
always felt the same is true for all of us.

Songwriting has always been one of the most effective ways I communicate.
There've been plenty of times when I've been asked about my songs and someone
will say, "How did you write that?" And quite honestly, I never really have any
idea. All I know is that songs are the most powerful tools imaginable and they
serve to bring us all to a place where we can experience shared memories and
emotions. Manuscript Originals was established to celebrate the work of great
songwriters throughout the world and to honor classic songs that continue to
endure throughout time."
http://www.manuscriptoriginals.com/idx_about_content.htm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If you hope to get country cuts with major label artists,
I think it's helpful to study songs written by hit country writers.
People who have gotten cuts.
That is what your songs are competing against.
Do yours measure up?
If they don't what do you need to do so they will?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

a note from an IFS reader

Last year I contributed my song, "Down By The Water," recorded by
artist, "Bill Scull," to a CD project titled,
"One Step Closer, Artist For A Cure," put out by
Song House Publishing. 


Below is an announcement from Song House Publishing regarding the
project.
Dear e-news subscribers,

Song House Publishing is pleased to announce that it's independent
release "Artist for a Cure" CD has made CD Babys Top Seller list! CD
Baby is the largest seller of independent CD's on the web with over
70,000 artists! The AFC CD was a Top Seller for the last two weeks of
October...we actually sold out! What this means is that the CD and
artist are starting to catch on! This CD is not only for a great
cause, but has some of the best songs and artists you will hear today.

100% of the CD's proceeds go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to
benefit finding a cure. We were able to send them our first check in
October. With everyones help we hope to write many more! The CD is
now on the CF Foundations website and is getting some national
airplay.

Take a copy to your local radio station, and start requesting the CD
on the radio.  It not only helps the independent artist but will also
benefit a good cause.
You can purchase the CD on The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's website
at:
http://www.cff.org/ways_to_give/marketplace/one_step_closer_CD/
or
http://www.cff.org/ways_to_give/marketplace/ 

or you can go to www.cff.org   and click on visit marketplace.  This
will also make a great Christmas gift for a friend or loved one.

The first release called "One Step Closer" by Josh Davis and Eddie
Stroop, was selected by the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
(www.cff.org) for their 2004 campaign called "Great Strides". This
one event raised more than 20 million dollars last year for CF.

Lisa Marie Brennan
http://www.lisamariebrennan.com/

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

another note from an IFS reader


Dear Ande
 
Here is some news of  recent developments in my career.
 
A song I wrote with singer-songwriter Jenny Bruce, "Desert I call my heart"
was named Pop Song of the Year by the Just plain folks network.
 
Also, one of my dance songs has been recorded by The Weather Girls for their
new CD coming out soon.
 
I also have another dance being recorded by a pop singer named Danielle on a
large indie out of Chicago called EsNtion Records.
 
I'm still looking for singer-songwriters to collaborate with in the NYC area,
if any of your readers are interested.
 
thanks for everything,
 
Noel Cohen
Emoryssongs@...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Singer Searching for Songs


From: kathy@...

Ande,
Could you please enclose the following material in your next
newsletter:
 

Looking for original material for a national blues recording artist
who is seeking material for his next album.  Looking for people to
submit songs and demos of original material that would fit into the
blues/rock genre.  Submissions should be made to: 
Almost Famous Productions,
P O Box 2331,
Marshall, Texas  75671. 

Please be sure to include complete contact information.
 
Sincerely,
Kathy Davidson

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Subject: Re: 2004 Just Plain Folks Music Awards Winners Announced

Hi Everyone,

After 18 months of screening, judging, narrowing down and planning
and sheer hard work, we had the 2004 Just Plain Folks Music Awards in
Santa Ana, CA on Sunday night and all the work was worth it!  The
night was simply incredible and the packed house of other folks who
were there with us were treated to one of the most talent packed and
positive vibe evenings of entertainment and community sharing in
their lives. 

We featured performers from 25 different genres of music and from
Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America and Australia. 
We're still on the road and won't have a chance to give you all a
complete recap until we get back home.  A couple quick highlights:

Michigan Industrial/Hard Rock/Metal band Celldweller won 5 Awards for
Best Industrial Album and Song, Best Metal Song, Producer of the Year
(Klayton) and Overall Album of the Year out of over 10,000 albums
submitted. www.celldweller.com . His 5 Awards tied the record for a
single year by one artist. 

Lithuanian Band SKAMP, who led the awards with a record 12
Nominations, won 4 Awards for best Dance and Rap/Hip Hop Album as
well as Rap/Hip Hop Song and won Best Overall Group of the Year. 
www.skamp.lt

Michael Allen Harrison from Oregon, the pianist with 6 nominations,
won 3 Awards for Best Solo Piano song and album and best Instrumental
song.  www.michaelallenharrison.com

Out of 140,000 songs entered, the overall
Song of the Year
was "Pictures" performed by Steve Seskin and written by
Seskin and Jones. 
www.steveseskin.com

Male and Female Artist of the Year went to Zak Morgan (winner for
Best Children's Album) and Erika Luckett, nominated in Female
Singer/Songwriter and Latin categories and a previous album winner in
Vocal Jazz and Cabaret.  www.zakmorgan.com and www.erikaluckett.com

Live Artist of the Year went to Sekou (tha Misfit), who holds the
overall all time record for most Just Plain Folks Music Awards with 9
over the past 4 years.  www.sekouthamisfit.com

We had 12 other Artists who swept both song and album awards in a
particular category.  They included these artists who were
represented at the show:

The late Carole Fredericks swept the Gospel Categories with wins for
Best Gospel Album and Song and two of her nieces accepted the awards
on her behalf.  Dave Osoff also swept the Instrumental Jazz Album and
Song categories and Ze Manel, who kicked off the awards show with a
stirring performance of the winning African song also won for Best
African Album.  The Travis Larson Band swept the Rock Instrumental
Categories. 

There's lots of great stories to share, so please watch for that next
week.  Until then, here's a link to our home page where you'll see
all the winners and finalists listed. 

http://www.jpfolks.com/home.html

Be sure to check all the categories including the Founders awards
which include all the biggest awards of the night.  Next week when we
return to Indianapolis we will post photos of from the show, the
winners and finalists and all the surrounding events as well!

Big thanks again to our sponsors Disc Makers, ASCAP, Korg, TAXI, CD
Baby, Future of Music Coalition, Virgin Digital and to Whittaker
Music for supplying our Back Line for the event.  Also big thanks to
Matt Kramer and all our volunteers at the awards show who helped us
with the monumental tasks of an event of this size. 

There were 785 different artists, writers and bands from around the
world who received a nomination this year.  Each one should be proud
not only of their success in our awards program but also of being
part of this great global community of musicians who put their
talent, heart and soul out there for everyone else to experience,
share and enjoy.  Thanks to all of you who entered and who keep
proving our Just Plain Folks motto:

"We're All In This Together!"

Til next time,

Brian

Brian Austin Whitney
Founder
Just Plain Folks
www.jpfolks.com

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

SongwriterUniverse.com Monthly Newsletter

In This Issue: November 2004 

•   New "Best Song Of The Month" Winner
•   New "Best Vocalist Of The Month" Winner
•   The deadline for the next song contest is November 30
•   Join the Songwriters & Artists Directory for free
•   New Article in SingerUniverse Magazine
•   Message from Dale Kawashima (head of SongwriterUniverse)


New "Best Song Of The Month" Winner

MIKE MORAN of Bellaire, MI (pictured right), has won this month's song
contest, for his song "I Can't Make Everybody Happy."

In addition, here are the other Top Five songs of the month:

"On A Day Like Today". Written by Ken & Becky Rash of San Diego, CA.

"My Rent". Written by Darcy Menard of Belmont, CA.

"Can't Stop It". Written by Liquid Blue (Ryan/Stephens) of San Diego, CA.

"Clear". Written by Drew Pearce of Mill Valley, CA.



Click here to read the Winners Article



The deadline for the next song contest is November 30

ENTRIES ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE NEXT, 'BEST SONG OF THE MONTH"
CONTEST:

The deadline for the next, monthly contest is November 30. The winning
songwriter will be written about for a very positive article at
SongwriterUniverse.
The four, free prizes for the contest winner are: (1) a copy of the "A&R
Registry" directory book (pictured right); (2) a copy of the "Indie Bible"
resource
book for independent artists; (3) the instructional video, "Guitar Playing
For Songwriters," by top Nashville session guitarist Gary Talley; and (4) a free
service with musicSUBMIT.com, which is a website & press release submission
service. The entry fee is only $12 per song (or $20 to enter two songs). Click
here to read the song contest instructions



New Article in SingerUniverse Magazine

"TOP A&R EXEC TERESA LaBARBERA WHITES JOINS JIVE/ZOMBA RECORDS AFTER A GREAT
RUN AT SONY."

There is an exclusive interview in SingerUniverse Magazine with A&R exec
Teresa LaBarbera Whites (pictured right), who is renowned for signing
Beyonce/Destiny's Child and Jessica Simpson while at Columbia/Sony Records. She
A&R-ed all
of their multi-platinum albums. She talks about working with Beyonce and
Jessica Simpson, and also about her new position as Vice President of A&R at
Jive/Zomba Records. She is currently working with the Backstreet Boys, J.C.
Chasez
of *NSYNC, and she will also be signing new artists.

In addition, we are currently working on some great new articles for
SongwriterUniverse Magazine. There should be a new article on the site in two
weeks.
Click here to read the Teresa LaBarbera Whites article



New "Best Vocalist Of The Month" Winner


MIRANDA BENTLEY (pictured right) of San Francisco. CA, has won the November
"Best Vocalist Of The Month" Competition, for her performance of her new song
"Hey You" (co-written by Rob Lederer).


Here are the other Top Vocalists of the month:

DIANA LYNN of Sherman Oaks, CA, performng & writing the song "Amazing Perfect
& Beautiful."

JAMIE-LYNN NOON of Danville, CA, performing & writing the song, "Split
Personality."

CLAIRE TOZZIE, performing and co-writing the song, "Every Time, Every Day"
(co-written by Ronnie Wilson & Phil Rigs).

DIANE JESSURUN of Laguna Niguel, CA, performing and writing the song, "You
Wanna Fly".

You can listen to their mp3s, and contact them directly. Their contact info
and links are listed on the Best Vocalist Winners page.
Click here to read this article



Join the Songwriters & Artists Directory for free

You can post your contact info plus email and website links in our
SONGWRITERS & ARTISTS DIRECTORY for free. The listing is by geographic region,
and you
can also list what music genres you perform. Click here to go to the
Songwriters & Artists Directory

Message from Dale Kawashima (head of SongwriterUniverse)

Thanks for reading our latest newsletter. The current music industry news
revolves around the downturn in CD sales over the past few months. Earlier this
year, CD sales had appeared to bottom out, and sales were actually up about 7%
in the first half of 2004, compared to the first half of 2003. Combined with
increased legal download sales from sites like iTunes, things were looking up.
But in the the past few months, CD sales have decreased, and now the overall
increase this year (from 2003) is only 3%. But hopefully sales from Eminem's
new album and other superstar releases will result in a strong fourth quarter.

The SongwriterUniverse & SingerUniverse sites are continuing to grow its
readership. I will be trying to get interviews with the hottest
writer/producers,
singer/songwriters, artists and A&R execs for upcoming articles. For example.
we're working on an interview with the Neptunes. We want to bring the best
music content for our readers.

I'd like to encourage songwriters and vocalists to enter our respective
contests. In particular, because SingerUniverse is a new site, there are fewer
entrants to compete with for the "Best Vocalist Of The Month" Competition.

Lastly, I wanted to announce that I will be doing more speaking engagements
and teaching more workshops (throughout the U.S. & Canada). If you or your
organization are interested in having me speak at your event, you can email me
at
"Dale@...."

Thank you very much for your interest in SongwriterUniverse.

Best regards,
Dale Kawashima
SongwriterUniverse & SingerUniverse
Los Angeles
Please click here to visit the SongwriterUniverse site

To visit our SingerUniverse site, please click this link:  
SingerUniverse

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jack has a Fan

In an October 29, 2004 Entertainment Weekly interview,
author Stephen King commented on the state of FM radio:

"I am just so sick of this crap....never mind that they're killing it
by their steadfast refusal to introduce contemporary artists like
Jack Ingram.... these fools are turning what used to be a refreshing
river into a stagnant swamp."
~ Stephen King

Write on!

Ande Rasmussen
Editor and Publisher of I F S, Inspirations For Songwriters

Contact info is:

Ande Rasmussen
835 Martindale Falls
Martindale, TX 78655
AndeRasmussen@...

You can read my Bio at:
http://www.AndeRasmussen.com/

You can hear a few of my tunes at:
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.soundclick.com/anders

If you want receive IFS or change your email address with IFS
send an email to
difs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

FORWARD IFS to your songwriting friends!

IFS home page is
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DIFS

I F S stands for Inspirations for Songwriters,
I F S is an ezine for songwriters filled with
inspirational and practical information about
the art, craft, and business of songwriting.
We want to help YOU become a more successful songwriter.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
The entire text of
"Inspirations for Songwriters"
(c) 2004 Anders Rasmussen

Does anyone ever read IFS to the very end?


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]