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Inspirations For Songwriters (I F S)
IFS aims to INSPIRE YOU into ACTION
over 3,600 songwriters, music publishers, artists, and
music fans receive IFS
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DIFS/
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Please FORWARD IFS to your SONGWRITING friends

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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

Here's an easy way to find the IFS home page, type in:
www.SongwriterBlog.com
or
www.SongwritingBlog.com

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Dear IFS Readers,

I hope your week is going great.

Lately I've been fielding many requests from indie artists who are
thinking about recording for sale and not for sale demos of songs
I've cowritten.

My daughter went in for oral surgery so her orthodontist can guide
her teeth where they need to be.

I spoke to a friend of mine who told me he can't wait till he gets
his first songwriting royalty check because then he will be a
professional songwriter. Even if it's a only a dollar, I will be a
professional.

What a great way to think about it! I've always thought I'd be a pro
when I recouped what I've spent.

There's some good stuff in here I hope you enjoy it.

your friend,

Ande

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UPDATE ON THE TEXAS SONGWRITERS CRUISE

Its not too late to sign up for the 1st Annual Texas Songwriters
Cruise. Carnival Cruise Line notified us that the ship is not sold out
yet and that cabins are still available.
The rate increase that we anticipated was very minimal,
only $25 per person! Costs are now:

Ocean View Cabin - $569.77 per person (dbl occupancy)
Interior Cabin - $519.77 per person (dbl occupancy)
Note, the above costs include the cost of the conference, pitch
opportunities to the industry pro's, the cruise, meals, port fees, and
taxes!!!

D. Vincent Williams, who wrote
Rascal Flatts mega-hit "I'm Moving On" and
Ty Herndon's "Hands Of A Working Man"
just joined the list of industry pro's who will attend the conference
with us, (Thanks BMI!!).

Also, Perry Howard, Associate Director, Writer/Publisher Relations
for BMI will also be attending the conference and will be conducting
pitch/critique sessions on your songs.

For those that aren't aware, the 1st Annual Texas Songwriters Cruise
is a combination cruise and songwriters conference that leaves from
Galveston Texas on
October 8, 2005. Its a 5-day cruise with ports of call in Cozumel
and Playa del Carmen.

go to our website at
www.txsongwriterscruise.com
for more info, but the Industry pros that will be attending the
cruise include:

JOHN AND JOANN BRAHENY (incredible music industry backgrounds,
renowned songwriting instructors)

JASON BLUME (songs on 50 million album sales, amazing songwriting
instructor)

MIKE GEIGER
(Darlene" (T. Graham Brown),
"Adalida" (George Strait),
"The City Put the Country Back In Me" (Neal McCoy),
"Its You Again" (Skip Ewing),
"This Missing You Heart of Mine" (Sawyer Brown),
"Hillbilly Shoes" (Montgomery Gentry).

NORMAN DEVASURE (Norman placed Tracy Byrd's mega-hit "Keeper of The
Stars" and Jeff Bates' current single "Long Slow Kisses")

TED LOWE (credits include the Coors commercial "Guy's Night Out",
Brandy's "Making the Video", "America's Top Model", "Punk'd", an
interactive NCAA Tribute DVD, as well as music in the movies "Kill
Bill 2" and "The Punisher")

Participants will also get the opportunity to pitch their songs to:

3 ACES MUSIC
Owned by Mike Daily and Tom Foote, who are associated with George
Strait and the Ace In The Hole Band. Their company most recently
published songs that were included in Kevin Fowler's latest album.

HOLLY HEFNER
Vice President/Creative Director of Ann Wilson Music/Song Catchers
Music, Nashville.

MONICA BENSON
BOK Music/Wild Pink Music Calabasas, California. Monica has placed
songs in the movies "Barbershop", "Miss Congeniality", "Runaway
Bride", "The Hot Chick", "Power Puff Girls" and "Birthday Girl".

Tim Gaetano (TANGERINE MOON MUSIC) Nashville

If you're a serious songwriter, you can't afford to miss this
opportunity.

Contact Bruce or Shirlee at Brulee Travel at
bruleetravel@... or
(512)930-7111.

Look forward to meeting you at the 1st Annual Texas Songwriters
Cruise!

Lealean Peace

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Hi, Ande:

Are you still putting out your e-mail newsletters?
I used to receive them on a regular basis, but I haven't gotten any
since November. I love hearing about new artists/songwriters with
links to their sites, new songs you've written, plus the other info
you put in the letters. If you're still doing them, please add me to
your list.

Thanks,
Susan

From Ande
Done welcome back

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The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) announces
the 6th Annual CMT/NSAI Song Contest. The 2005 Song Contest Grand
Prize Winner and the CMT Listeners Choice Award Winner, along with
four finalists, will be offered a single-song publishing contract
from one of six major publishers. (Last years publishers included
BMG, SONY, CURB, EMI, Warner Chappell and CAL IV). Winners also
receive prizes from Elixir Strings, Gibson Guitars, Fostex, SHURE
Microphones, MasterWriter, and others. Entry deadline is November
30, 2005.
For more information and an entry form, visit
www.nashvillesongwriters.com
or call
1-800-321-6008.

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DigiTech Songwriting Contest
There's still plenty of time to record your best song using a
DigiTech Guitar Workstation® and submit it to the DigiTech
Songwriting Contest. The first prize is $20,000 worth of gear, as
well as dinner with producer/judge Mark Hudson who will pitch your
song to recording label execs! You have until September 30th to
submit, so don't wait!
http://www.broadjam.com/contests/digitech/

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creativesoul@...
wrote:

Nashville Christian Producer looking for new artists.

Creative Soul is a production company in Nashville, TN, that is
growing into a record label and publishing company with
some great opportunities for artists and songwriters.

Three of our artists are releasing new CDs, being pushed to hundreds
of media outlets, national radio, and getting international
distribution.

We're currently looking for some new clients to begin developing and
bringing to Nashville.

Also, our publishing arm, From the Moment Music, is gearing up with
songpluggers and administration to take the songs we and our artists
have written and get them to a larger audience, including other
artists as well as film and television possibilities.

To be honest, it takes hard work, dedication, and some financial
support to this work. But the dream for new artists and writers has
never been more attainable, especially with the connections and
people we're working with here in Nashville.

If you're interested, check out our site
www.CreativeSoulOnline.com
and tell us what you think.

EC
----------------------------------------------------------------------
--
--
Eric Copeland
Creative Soul, Music Production & Artist Development
www.CreativeSoulOnline.com
Nashville, TN | 615-400-3910

" 'Good enough' is the enemy of anything great."
--------------------------------------------------------------

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New reality show

http://music.channel.aol.com/feature/the_biz/application
Are you ready to enter for a chance to be in THE BIZ? Download the
application (an MS Word file), fill it out, and email it to us at
TheBizCasting@... along with a digital photo of yourself. Enter
now!

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American Idol SEASON 5 AUDITION INFO

Here's where you'll find American Idol SEASON 5 AUDITION INFO
I wonder if any IFS readers will be finalists
http://www.justplainfolks.org/ubb/Forum2/HTML/004346.html

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Prilosec is having a song writing contest

http://www.prilosecotc.com/country/contest.jsp

http://www.prilosecotc.com/country/resources/pdf/pressrelease.pdf

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creativesoul@... writes:

Creative Soul Update - August 2005
(Our semi-monthly update for Christian artists, singers, players,
and
anyone interested in what we can do for God with our music talents)

"For the Creative Soul" is now a fun, easy to use Blog!
Two new posts are up, including the "sequel" to "The Quality Issue",
"When Good Enough isn't Good Enough"
Check it out at www.CreativeSoulOnline.com!

Tom Dolan Getting Radio Play Across the US!
"In A Little While" getting play in Georgia, California, New Mexico,
Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Maine, Pennsylvania, New York, Nevada,
Tennessee, Arizona, Missouri, Mississippi, and New England. And his
single "Don't Turn Away" is getting airplay on over 19 stations
throughout Canada. A Canadian tour is in the works!

Tom also appeared on TCT Live, a national network television show,
and
was been asked back August 4th, and August 24 to talk about his new
book "Bodies in Balance".

Brett Rush Releases "Invitation"
His sophomore rock and praise release hit the streets this week, and
he already has concerts to begin promoting the new CD. We're
currently in talks to figure out which song goes to radio first.

Getting "Out of the Box"
Next up for Creative Soul Records, Erin Hutchison's "Out of the Box"
will hit the streets by the end of the month. The production and
original songs by Erin bring to mind the latest by Nichole Nordeman
and
Sara Groves.

All three these new projects will be pushed to national media
outlets starting September 1, 2005, with the help of Nashville
Publicity, a fantastic publicity firm run by Brian Mayes.

Artists in (and out of) the studio...
Kristyn Leigh, Noel McLeary, Carolyn Russell, and John Crookston are
in the studio this month and next creating some incredible music for
their ministries. Eleanor Riley and Chris Cline are done with final
mixes and you should see sound clips soon from their new albums.

Looking for New Artists
Creative Soul is looking for singers, groups, and bands to fill our
roster. Our artists are starting to have some major success, and
we'd like to find more artists to start long-term relationships
helping build strong music ministries. come find out what we're
about at www.CreativeSoulOnline.com

Is it Time for You to Get to Work?
Been thinking of coming to Nashville and following your dream? Our
one day consults have been helping artists and writers get a start
on a new ministry!

Singer/Songwriter/Piano Player, Delayne Chowen: "It was an eye
opening experience for me in regards to the endless possibilities I
now would have for creating valuable music. I really want to go
through with this and I feel like with your help and if God is
willing that I will end up with something people will truly identify
with."

Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist, Craig Whittaker "I thank you for your
prayers and if nothing else occurs as a result of our meeting, it
was truly an honor to witness a caring Christian person providing
guidance to those of us that need help along this road. I continue
to pray for
God's leading and guidance and I look forward to meeting with you
again in a month or two to pour over material and decide which ones
to
pursue recording on this first CD project."

For more info our consulting, just go to www.CreativeSoulOnline.com

EC

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Dear Recording Academy Member:
We want to make you aware of the first-ever Recording Arts Day on
Capitol Hill, September 7, 2005. This Academy-organized grassroots
advocacy day will connect music professionals with policy makers in
Washington.
For your information, we have attached an advance copy of an
editorial written by Recording Academy President Neil Portnow about
the importance of Recording Arts Day, and the need for artists to
connect to their representatives. This will be published in the July
23 edition of Billboard magazine. We hope you enjoy it.

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CD Baby, along with BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, TAXI, and Roland, is proud to
sponsor the 10th Annual Durango Songwriter's Expo, October 6-8 2005
at The Lodge At Tamarron in the mountains north of Durango, Colorado.
Just in the last few months Expo attendees Ken Johnson, Warren
Sellers, Richard Harris, and Julianne Hansen have been signed to
deals as a direct result of their Expo experience. The Expo is a
combination of workshops, panels, listening sessions, showcases, and
open mics, and with over 40 music industry pros and registration
limited to 200 attendees The Expo is truly a rewarding and intimate
event and a networking opportunity unparalleled. Two #1 songs have
been written at this event by participating hit songwriters. Special
guests include Jeffrey Steele, Al Anderson, Marcus Hummon, Hillary
Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Kim Williams and some very big unannounced
surprises. CD Baby members will receive a discounted registration
rate of $200. For more info check out
http://www.durangosong.com or call 970-259-9747.

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Is CDBABY having a CD Compilation Contest?

I heard but haven't confirmed that CD Baby (the largest independent
online retailer of cds) might be offering a CD Compilation of CD
Baby artists. The top 100 sellers in August will be included in the
compilation. 5,000 CDs will be made and included with every CD Baby
order til they're gone.

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Need singers for CD project.
Hideaway Records is doing an album featuring songs by Wayne Carson.
He wrote several hits including The Letter, Always On My Mind, Soul
Deep, Drinkin Thing.

Female and Male singers wanted. Send resume and audition tapes to:
Hideaway Records
2747b E. McDaniel
Springfield, Mo. 65802
All requests are confidential

Wayne Carson has written over several thousand songs and is a main
stay in the Nashville music scene. This CD is dedicated to him and
the great work he has done.

Michael Brewer of Brewer and Shipley - the producer
Chris Albert and Christian Carson -executive producer
Recorded at Nottingham Studios in Springfield, Mo
Release will include distribution in Europe and the states.

Looking for up and coming artists who are wanting a chance to expand
their resumes.
www.song-smith.com for more info on Hideaway Records and Fernando's
Producttions

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SONGS FROM THE MILITARY CONTEST:
Deadline Nov. 30th, 8 caregories, Lots of Pirzes FREE
http://www.songssoulservice.org

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Dallas Songwriters Group has 2 Yahoo Groups -

One for DSA members ONLY with Pitch Opportunities

An easy way to get timely e-mails about singers and publishers
searching for songs and last minute events. Members may also inform
the group about performance dates and ask industry related questions
of the membership. Members are verified for current membership and
will have paid a membership fee.

and
ANOTHER for ANYONE WHO WANTS E-NEWS:
dallassongwritersassociation@yahoogroups.com . Another general list
for anyone interested in joining to be informed of songwriting events
and other interesting stuff. Generally you will get 1 or 2 emails a
month. I have begun adding emails to this list at 10 a day. I'm down
to the k's. It would be very helpful if you would go and join
yourself.

This is a Distribution only group - meaning that only
the "moderators" (Barbe and Alex Townes at the moment) can send out
emails, and they go out to all the members of the group. The group is
listed in the Yahoo directory, and open for ANYONE to join.
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT NOW.
To continue receiving these informational emails from DSA, please go
to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dallassongwritersassociation
and click on "JOIN THIS GROUP".

Some folks still haven't joined so the folks that have may get two of
these messages and members may get three. I'm sorry for the dups,
especially since I know we are all jammed with spam.
The Dallas Songwriters Asoociation is a non-profit educational
organization dedicated to educating it's members on the craft and
business of Songwriting. Monthly meetings, showcases, workshops,
newsletter, quarterly lyric contest, yearly song contest and
networking events. Join this group to keep up with what's happening
in the music industry.
For more information call 214 750-0916 or visit the
website at
www.dallassongwriters.org.

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Write on,

Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@...

http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.AndeRasmussen.com
512-217-2728 cell
835 Martindale Falls
Martindale, TX 78655