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Inspirations For Songwriters (I F S)
IFS aims to INSPIRE YOU into ACTION
over 3,800 songwriters, music publishers, artists, and
music fans receive IFS
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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:
http://www.SongwriterBlog.com
or
http://www.SongwritingBlog.com

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IFS READERS Take a SongU Course for FREE!

What Is SongU? SongU provides over 40 multi-level online courses developed by
award-winning songwriters in addition to online coaching, co-writing and
pitching opportunities.

What They Say About SongU.

"I love it! You have done such an outstanding job!"
--- Pat Rogers, Senior Vice President, SESAC

"SongU is by far the most detailed, user friendly, online songwriting curriculum
available...this well-rounded distance education provided by SongU.com will
undoubtedly help prepare songwriters for any market no matter their place of
residence."
- Chad Green, Membership Representative, ASCAP

"SongU is the next important evolution for serious aspiring songwriters to grow
in their craft."
-- Bart Herbison, Executive Director, Nashville Songwriters Association
International (NSAI)

"SongU is simply the best organized and most informative songwriting education
site around... and also the most fun!"
-- Rick Carnes, President, Songwriters Guild Of America (SGA)

http://www.SongU.com/IFS

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Dear IFS Readers,

I hope this finds you well.

Yesterday thanks to john Arthur martinez and Steve Seskin I received a check
from ASCAP for radio and cable play of Home Made of Stone.

My friend Brock Goodwin is now living in Nashville and available to sing on
demos.
I'm looking forward to sharing many wonderful reports of his progress. I sent
one writer an mp3 of a song I wrote with Brock. His comments were:

"Thanks for the mp3 Ande. Man! This is about 1,000 times better than what
I usually hear from writers who just moved to town. Shouldn't take him
too long to get up & runnin. :) This is a beautiful song.
Thanks for sharing, Kent"

How was the Texas Songwriter Cruise?
Any attendees care to comment?
http://www.txsongwriterscruise.com/

This Saturday I'm going to Gary Powells to see Helen Darling.

Ande

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Congratulations to Tommy Byrd of Byrd and Street,
The Redman Foundation a non-profit group in Watsonville, CA, found his song
"Just an Old House" online and has requested to license it for their ads and
website to promote the restoration of a Victorian house on Highway 1.
Congratulations Tommy!
http://home.austin.rr.com/byrdstreet/
you can hear Just an Old House at
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/byrdstreet/from/ande

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Austin Music Foundation
http://www.austinmusicfoundation.org/

Don't Miss the Last Boot Camp of the Year!

Do you ever catch yourself watching a movie and wondering who that band is
playing in the background? Have you heard your favorite indie artist's song on
a TV show? What about when you're playing the latests release on XBox? Do you
know you don't have to be the Rolling Stones to get one of your songs in
commercials? There are actually lots of opportunities for independent artists
in the film & TV world and more. Come check out the last Music Industry Boot
Camp of the year and find out how you can earn a few grand AND get more exposure
for your music.

Our national panelists will cover opportunities to get your music into Film,
Television, Games and other out of the box opportunities. The panel discussion
will include dealing with music supervisors, licensing know-how, exposure &
revenue opportunities for independent artists, and how to determine when you
should focus efforts on getting your music licensed.

"The Soundtrack of YOUR Lives" Panelists:

Justin Goldberg - Los Angeles, CA - President, Indie 911
Ed Fair - Austin, TX - Entertainment Attorney
Daylle Deanna Schwartz - New York City, NY - Author, "I Don't Need a Record
Deal!"
Danny Levin - Austin, TX - Co-owner, Tequila Mockingbird Studios

Don't miss this Boot Camp happening Monday, October 24th at Tambaleo, beginning
at 6:30pm. After the seminar, we will host our Round Table Workshop in which
attendees can speak with the panelists one-on-one to ask detailed questions
about their particular concerns. As always, AMF offers Boot Camp seminars as a
public service to the community - they are open to everyone and FREE. All you
need to do is sign in at the door.

Panelist Bios:

Justin Goldberg
is the CEO and founder of indie911, a leading resource center for independent
artists and songwriters. Justin is a fifteen-year music industry veteran who has
held executive positions with Sony Music, Tonos, and Laundry Room Records and
has such long term consulting clients as BMG Music, American Express, and iMesh,
The French Music Office and The Canadian Consulate. A well-known advocate for
independent artists, he has worked with such varied artists as Martin Sexton,
Dee Dee Ramone, Dave Grohl and Willie Nelson. Goldberg is also the author of
the critically acclaimed music industry book, "The Ultimate Guide to the NEW
Music Industry: Handbook for Hell," and is the artist manager for Grace Potter &
The Nocturnals.

Indie911
is a unique, artist driven network dedicated to exposing great independent
music. The company showcases new and interesting personalities with a focus on
emerging talent in the music and film industry through its propriety web based
networking system, live music events, and online radio shows. The company signs
new artists to its music publishing company, and represents copyrights for film
& TV use. Indie911 also has agreements with leading artist services companies
including Mediaguide, Intent Media Works, Business Wire, ASCAP, Songsalive,
NARIP, CD Forge and Songcatalog.

Daylle Deanna Schwartz
is the author of the best-selling Start & Run Your Own Record Label and The Real
Deal: How to Get Signed to a Record Label (Billboard Books). She is a music
industry consultant and also speaks for colleges, organizations, and
corporations. Daylle is currently driving across the country solo on a 3-month
road trip to educate musicians about how to empower themselves to become full
time musicians based on her new book, I Don't Need a Record Deal! Your Survival
Guide for the Indie Music Revolution. She is regularly on TV and radio,
including Oprah, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, and CNN.


Ed Fair
has practiced for nineteen years as an entertainment attorney. He has served for
two years as outside music counsel to Universal Pictures, handled music legal
work on numerous major motion pictures including: Ghostbusters II, Twins, Days
of Thunder and Thelma and Louise. He has also represented film composers in
connection with such films as Kindergarten Cop, The Fisher King, Dangerous
Liaisons, Lonesome Dove, The Hunt for Red October, My Cousin Vinnie and Look
Who's Talking.

Ed's practice is involved with the negotiation and drafting of all types of
agreements relating to music, including the acquisition of music rights for
film, television, video, internet and commercials. His practice also includes
trademark searches and registrations as well as advice to clients in connection
with various intellectual property matters.

Clients include Grammy-winning recording artists, Los Lonely Boys (Epic
Records); Marcia Ball (Alligator Records); Miró Quartet (Artemis Classics);
Scott Szabo, composer for Fox Television's series Texas Justice;
Grammy-nominated musical group, Trout Fishing in America; Austin, Texas
recording artists Trish Murphy, Vallejo and Ruthie Foster; Nashville-based music
publisher, Bluewater Music and Houston-based rap/hip-hop record labels Rap-A-Lot
2K Records and Dope House Records.

Other Work Experience: Worked for seven years with Bill Ham/Lone Wolf
Productions, ZZ Top's management company. Also worked with Wilde Silas
Musicworks in connection with the management of King's X (Atlantic Records) and
Galactic Cowboys (Geffen Records). Formerly president of Elite Management
Corporation, management company for John Kay and Steppenwolf.


Danny Levin,
a two time Grammy winner, was born into a family of bohemian intellectual
artists one of whom worked 33 years for the IRS (his dad). Danny learned cello
as a kid, wrote some classical music in his teens, then joined bar and touring
bands who required him to play country and swing fiddle, then went after jazz
piano chops, gradually acquired arranging skills in lots of styles. He is
currently co-owner of Tequila Mockingbird Studios, which was born in 1994 in a
laundry room in Buda, Texas. Tequila Mockingbird now creates music in a 6,200
sq. ft. studio in downtown Austin. Appropriately, a bathhouse from the
seventies.

Danny, along with his partner Wally Williams, has done music and sound design
for more commercials than you can shake an intern at. They've written hundreds
of scores, beds & short, intelligent lyrical songs, and an occasional jingle-hey
it pays well. They also do ADR and music/sound for films, computer games and
various other projects. And somehow, Danny & Wally seem to be constantly working
on CDs with their friends.

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Opportunity to Expose Your Music

M.E. Television, Austin's New Music and Entertainment Channel, is looking for
music videos, short films, documentaries - anything and everything that
showcases and celebrates the creativity of Austin. All genres of music will be
represented on M.E. Television, which can be seen on Time Warner Cable Channels
15 and 577. The potential viewership for the channel has just expanded from
170,000 households in Austin to over 300,000 in Central Texas. M.E. Television
accepts DVDs, mini-DV, and Beta SP. Send your best work to:

Kevin Connor
V.P./Music and Artist Relations
ME Television
501 North IH-35
Austin TX 78702
P: 512-485-1200
F: 512-485-1205
kevin@...

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SXSW Application Deadline Coming Soon!

SXSW is now accepting applications for showcases! Check out their website, SXSW,
and click through for information on everything you need to know (and then some)
about applying for a SXSW Music Festival showcase slot. You'll find details on
what sort of materials they need from you ('keep it simple' is their motto),
entry fees, etc., as well as a handy online application form. This year all
applications must be completed and paid for online, so have your credit card
handy. They accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and Diners Club.

Apply by October 7, 2005 and save $10 on the application fee.

After October 7, the application fee is $20.
International applications must be RECEIVED by October 24.

All applications and required materials must be RECEIVED by November 7, 2005 to
be considered for a showcase.

SXSW advises you to be wary of any other companies or individuals who offer to
help you get a SXSW showcase for a fee. The ONLY ways to apply for a SXSW
showcase are via their online application or through an official representative
of SXSW. The only cost for applying for a SXSW showcase is the application fee.
If you or your representative is not dealing directly with the SXSW office in
regard to your show, it is unlikely that it is an actual SXSW showcase. If you
have any questions regarding the application process, email: musfest@...

www.sxsw.com

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I've been corresponding with my daughters dance teacher and suggested she
explore Just Plain Folks Awards winners and runner ups to find some truly
outstanding songs to create dance routines.

The Just Plain Folks Awards are like the Indie Grammy's
here's where you can find lists of great independent artists to check out
find an artist then check
http://cdbaby.com/search/from/ande
to try to find them and listen to their songs

begin with the winners lists
http://www.jpfolks.com/MusicAwards/2004/SongWinners.htm
http://www.jpfolks.com/MusicAwards/SongWinners.htm
http://www.jpfolks.com/MusicAwards/2001SongWinners.htm

then branch out to the nominees
http://www.jpfolks.com/MusicAwards/2004/SongNominees.html
http://www.jpfolks.com/MusicAwards/2002JPFSongNominees.htm
http://www.jpfolks.com/MusicAwards/2001JPFSongNominees.htm

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Will Ferrell is filming a Sony NASCAR comedy in which he plays a driver. The
working title to this film was Talladega Nights. The director is director Adam
McKay. Columbia's Matt Tolmach commented, "We love this project and couldn't be
more thrilled about working with Will, Adam, Judd and Jimmy,"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0415306/

IFS readers The Backstretch Boys, Robert Allred and Sonny Bell have a song that
would be perfect for that project, It's called Talladega Shuffle, Lance Miller
sang on it. You can hear it at:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/backstretch2/from/ande

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HEADLINES from Taxi

First Major Label Cut Is Also the First Single
http://www.taxi.com/transmitter/0510/headlineA0510.html

Road Rally 2005: Quickly Coming Down the Pike!
http://www.taxi.com/transmitter/0510/headlineB0510.html

Ralph Murphy: Vice President for ASCAP Nashville
http://www.taxi.com/transmitter/0510/headlineC0510.html


DEALS UPDATE

Member Deals - Deals Our Members Have Scored Through TAXI
http://www.taxi.com/transmitter/0510/deals0510.html


FEATURES

Industry News
http://www.taxi.com/transmitter/0510/industrynews0510.html

Tips - Songwriting as Fun
http://www.taxi.com/transmitter/0510/tips0510.html

Music Biz & Law - How Writers Are Paid
http://www.taxi.com/transmitter/0510/musicbiz0510.html

Letters
http://www.taxi.com/transmitter/0510/qandl0510.html

Tips 2 - The Fine Art of Networking
http://www.taxi.com/transmitter/0510/tipsA0510.html

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You'll find a great overview of the top 9 download music services, on
http://reviews.designtechnica.com/print_guide33.html

from:
http://cdbaby.org/stories/05/10/05/7885957.html

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MEET ONE OF IFS READERS


Charley Stefl is a songwriter who crosses all genres, from bluegrass to blues,
country to rock, and folk to pop. He has had songs recorded by
Garth Brooks (Everytime That It Rains),
Marshall Tucker Band (Walk Outside The Lines),
George Jones (The Visit),
MidSouth (Give What It Takes),
Lee Ann Womack (The Fool),
Chad Brock (The Visit),
Del McCoury Band (All Aboard, Man Can't Live On Bread Alone),
Bobby Osborne (Where I Come From), and
Jill Johnson a Swedish pop star (Just Like You Do).

you can hear him at:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/charleystefl/from/ande

track #4 is "The Fool"

Charley also wrote:
Thanks for asking about the cuts for this year. I've got three, one on Austin's
own Nanci Griffith new CD Hearts In Mind, "Love Conquers All" which I wrote with
Nanci, and two songs on The Grascals, "Where I Come From" and "Mourning Dove"
which I wrote with Jamie Johnson, one of the two singers in the group. I love
both of the albums and would recommend both, even if I didn't have any cuts on
them.

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People were talking about Novelty songs on JPF
here was my comment.

Novelty songs are difficult to pitch and place espcially when the writer isn't
the artist
What's also kind of funny is people who don't know much about country
songwriting
think they need to find some clever cutesy title or concept that usually depends
on some sort of opposite or pun

Most country hits tend to be unique from the heart type songs,

They are often situational and filled with imagery .

they are universal / millions of people can relate to it's message

songs like:

"I'm already there" Lonestar
a man on the road missing his wife and children

"I'm moving on" Rascal Flatts
a person with much self inflicted pain finally decides to

"when you say nothing at all" Keith Whitley
love expressed in quiet moments

"Strawberry wine"
one woman reminisces on becoming a woman / loss of her innocence

"i hope you dance"
what many people wish for those they love

"live like you were dying"
a conversation with someone who was diagnosed with cancer and hearing what he
did, life is short, really live, don't wait for a crisis

"you look so good in love"
running into an ex who's in love and looks great and wishing you were still with
her

"Wide Open Spaces"
a girl going out on her own making her way in the world

"Love Can Build A Bridge"
what love can do

"I Can't Make You Love Me"
coming to terms with the fact that
the person you love doesn't love you

we're better off finding some sort of situation millions of people can relate to
describing it in a slightly unique way
add an unforgettable melody
awesome music and
an artist with a great voice near the top of their career with a powerful
marketing team and you could have a hit.

Ande

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Write On,

Ande Rasmussen



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