Have YOU check out songU? Some IFS readers are making great strides
because of it. Take a free course.
http://www.SongU.com/ifs

~ ~ ~

Are you one myspace.com yet?

My site is
http://myspace.com/anders
You can now pick your top 8 friends
link to me as a friend

~ ~ ~

Dear IFS readers

Thanks for submitting to the Ad Opp
Now I get to listen to clips and pick.
I'll get in done in a week or two.

You'll find a Singer Searching for Songs (SSFS) Opp in this issue.

Today I handed a CD of songs I cowrote to the Governor of Texas.

on myspace.com, I found an artist who was looking for songs and
she's now interested in a few of mine.

Ask and you may receive.
Don't wait for artists to find you
find them.

Ande

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

you might enjoy "George" at Spokengroove.com
http://www.spokengroove.com/george.htm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If you're talented and country
Consider auditioning for Nashville Star

Here's info on open calls.
http://www.usanetwork.com/series/nashvillestar/auditions/opencalls/in
dex.html

Here's the part on submitting home videos
http://www.usanetwork.com/series/nashvillestar/auditions/homevideos/i
ndex.html

here's one FAQ artist wants to use one of your songs in an NS
audition,

I have a publishing agreement for songs that were previously written
by me.
Am I still eligible to attend a casting call?
And can I perform these songs on the show?
You are eligible to compete even if you have a publishing agreement.
And yes, you may perform these songs on the show as long as the
publisher signs the "Original Song Grant of Rights" Form included as
part of the Long Form Application (NOTE: you will receive a Long
Form Application if you are selected to move on to Round 2).

Here's more on Original songs

ORIGINAL SONGS

What is an "original song"?
An Original Song is defined as a musical composition that has not
been previously commercially released, or any other musical
composition (other than an Approved Cover Song) that is approved by
Producer for the contestant's performance in the competition as an
original song. An Original Song must be written in whole or in part
by the contestant. Contestants must be able to prove ownership of
the song (see next question for details).

How do I prove ownership of my Original Song?
Ownership of all original material must be documented. You MUST
present the following to Producer PRIOR to performing any Original
Song:
1. Certificate of copyright, proof of song registration with BMI,
ASCAP, etc., OR a notarized copy of the application applying for the
copyright* (this is required regardless of whether you wrote or co-
wrote the song).
2. Original Song Acknowledgement Form, which is attached to the Long
Form Application** as Exhibit "A" (to be completed by contestant)
3. Original Song Information Table, which is attached to the Long
Form Application** as Schedule "A" (to be completed by contestant)
4. Original Song Grant of Rights Form, which attached to the Long
Form Application** as Exhibit "B" (any individual who owns all of or
part of the Original Song must complete this form.)
* The copyright application (called a Form PA) is available for
download at http://www.copyright.gov/register/performing.html
** You will receive a Long Form Application if you are selected to
move on to Round 2

Do I need an attorney at any point during the competition?
If you are invited to participate as a Finalist on the televised
series, we encourage you to get a music industry attorney to review
all of the papers you will be asked to sign.

By signing the Original Song Grant of Rights, am I (or the person
who co-wrote the song with me) giving up the copyright to the
Original Song?
No. You (and your co-writer if applicable) keep the copyright and
retain your rights to exploit the song subject to the rights that
are granted to Producer (i.e. broadcasting, publicly performing,
distributing, advertising, and promoting the television program in
any and all audio-visual devices, by any and all means, and in any
and all media now known or hereafter devised, free of charge,
throughout the universe, in perpetuity).

Does the Original Song Grant of Rights Form (Exhibit "B") allow
Producer to sell my Original Song to anyone or have it recorded on
another artists' album?
No. You are only granting Producer rights to the Original Song in
the televised program and for related uses.

Whether I am a finalist or just attended a casting call, if my
Original Song gets played in part or in whole on the Program, am I
paid a fee for this use of my song?
No. By signing the Original Song Grant of Rights Form (Exhibit "B"),
you are giving Producer the right to use the song in the televised
program free of charge.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

on the NS BB Walnut Valley Gal shared this tip

I sent an email to the producer thanking him for his time in OKC.
He asked that I share the following.

BEGIN QUOTE
Do me a favor - if anyone on the board ever asks advice on what they
should do at auditions - please stress to them that they should

be a STAR right when they step up on stage for their 30 second
audition!

I wish I could tell every peson that.

If you have a great voice - let us know right away -

come out of the gate on fire.

Make us notice you, because in 30 seconds,

we don't have time to search for that star inside of you.

END QUOTE

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

there was quite a Bruhah on CDBaby.org
about the AmericanIdolUnderground.com Contract

Here's where you can read the threads

What are your thoughts?
Send them to me

http://cdbaby.org/stories/05/10/29/2841659.html

Bob Buch (AIU's founder) thread
http://cdbaby.org/stories/05/10/30/2636339.html


This all began on JULY 13, 2005.
when CD Baby sent the following blurb to members.


"Sometimes we get the opportunity to send your music somewhere as an
optional free favor to you.

See below for an offer from American Idol Underground. Please read
his email, and if you're interested, use the links we've set up here
to submit your music to them:

First, LOG IN to your account, here:
https://members.cdbaby.com/

After you log in, click this link to jump right to the opt-in page:
https://members.cdbaby.com/dd-optin?opt-in=63

If you do that, we will upload the album of your choice to them,
(one album per artist, please) - and we will give them your email
address, so they can email you directly for more info (like which
song to use, etc).

NOTE: This is NOT a part of our regular digital distribution. This
is just a one-time promotion. We will NOT be the
agent/distributor/contact for them. IF YOU DO THIS, your
relationship will be directly with them. We will just be the ones
that sent them your music, up front, as a convenience to you.

=====

Dear CD Baby Artists,

My name is Bob Buch, and I am the Co-Founder of Fluid Audio
Networks - the company that is producing American Idol Underground.
(I am also a CD Baby Artist.) Like Derek, my colleagues and I were
motivated to start this business by the fact that there was too much
great music that was not getting heard. We are committed to the
democratization of the music business and our promise to emerging
artists is to "get your music heard."

American Idol Underground is open to artists of any age, (can be
bands, too, not just singers!), with original or cover songs, and
has a place for every musical genre, including Rock, Rap, R&B, Co
untry, Pop, Folk, Electronica, Jazz, Classical, World, Christian,
Spoken Word and Comedy.

All music submitted to the American Idol Underground online radio
network is guaranteed airplay, and listeners are incentivised to
rate music accurately and fairly. The better songs get more airplay
and the best songs win prizes which include musical equipment, high
profile concert tours, and recording contracts.

Ordinarily the submission cost is $50 per song, but because of our
partnership with CD Baby, we are offering free membership to CD Baby
artists through August 31st.

If you opt-in through CD Baby's link by August 31, your music will
be included in our radio programs when the American Idol Underground
service launches in October. Once you opt-in, we will contact you
with details about accessing your account and viewing statistics on
your song's spin count and ratings.

For more information, you can visit http://www.idolunderground.com -
and if you have any questions, you can contact us at
cdbaby@...

We hope you will join this historic initiative to democratize the
music business.

Thank you,

Bob Buch
Co-Founder and COO
Fluid Audio Networks
bbuch@...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Recently an aspiring singer-songwriter asked me to forward his "I'm
searching for a manager" blurb to IFS readers. But his blurb didn't
offer much information for anyone to generate much curiosity or
interest, so I asked him to rewrite his blurb and if he'd ever read
chapter 13 and 14 from Simon Cowell book "I hate to be rude but" so
I thought I would share those notes with you

hope you enjoy them
what do you think about them?

Ande


chapter 13. "So You wanna be a pop star"

Simon wrote I always start by giving people the same advice

"Don't Bother"

"the odds of succeeding are absolutely astronomical."

Drive, ambition and being convinced of your talent is the first test.

Any entertainment career requires ridiculous amounts of hard work
and difficult sacrifices.

It helps if you can write great songs, there are thousands of
publishing companies who will snap you up with in seconds.

if you are signed as a performer record labels are banking that you
have the charisma focus, energy and x factor to be able to sell
millions of records.

If you're talented, you need writers and direction

If a record company signs you up as a solo artists and commits to a
deal they have to invest millions of dollars in you. No company is
going to do that unless they see something really special about you.
And if the first single doesn't perform the game may be over.

Trying to launch a solo artist who doesn't write his or her own
material is the hardest thing in the world.

with that said there are some basic rules singers and entertainers
should follow, they will help you maximize your chances but they
don't guarantee success


CREATE A PLATFORM
Pop artists don't appear out of thin air. The truth is they all come
from somewhere else with in the entertainment industry.
place yourself in a band or as part of an act
You can't leap from being a waiter to being a pop star
Lionel Richie was first part of the commodores
Ricky Martin was part of menudo

bobby brown was in New edition
Beyonce was in Destiny's Child
Diana Ross was in the supremes
Annie lennox was in the eurythmics
bjork was in the sugar cubes
George Michael was in wham
Robbie Williams was in take that
Justin Timberlake was in nsync
Michael jackson was in the jackson 5

you can count the pop super stars who emerged fully formed on one
had
Elvis, Prince, Madonna and a few others

if Justin Timberlake hadn't been in nsync no record company would
have invested millions in him.

Janet jackson followed another course
she began her career on television
there are many more opportunities for small spots on tv than empty
spots for artists
Alanis Morisette did this on the Canadian kids show "you can't do
that on television"
Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera were on the Mickey Mouse club.
Kylie minougue
Natalie Imbruglia
Jennifer Lopez

were all entertainers, they had an existing platform
if you have a chance for a small part on a TV show take it.

labels are under tremendous pressure to find and market the right
stars
and they aren't willing to take risks

they are looking for talent with a head start
labels are thinking make my job easy for me


USE YOUR CONNECTIONS

FIND GOOD MATERIAL
find career songs
put yourself in the place of the writer
great songs don't come along often, why should they waste one on an
unknown?
when they can direct it to an artist who could sell millions of CDs
In the end I think the song is more powerful than the performer

GET REPRESENTATION
you're gonna need someone to fight for you
a singer with a credible agent looks more legitimate


PUT IN THE HARD WORK


Chapter 14. Reaching The Finish Line

if you decide to devote yourself to a pop career

1. don't copy another performer

2. don't overstyle yourself / don't over dress / just show your
talent don't rely on gimmicks

3. don't sing and dance at the same time

4. make eye contact when performing

5. choose the right song for your personality

6. don't grovel when you first come in

7. believe in yourself

8. eat and drink prior to your audition

9. rehearse

10. listen to feedback from judges and industry professionals.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gilli Moon does an excellent newsletter and website
http://www.gillimoon.com/
check it out

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Females On Fire CD Compilation II
applications close Nov 15

http://www.femalesonfire.com

The FEMALES ON FIRE CD celebrates talented female artists from
around the world, delivering songs in a tapestry of different genres
& styles of music dedicated to messages empowering femininity, human
equality, love, communication and vitality.
Promotional distribution includes music supervisors (film and
television), music publishers, national music conferences and
seminars, record labels, the media (print and radio), producers, and
artists looking for songs. The Females On Fire Cd is released
through Warrior Girl Music.
The Females on Fire CD is a perfect vehicle for artists to access
the music industry, the media and make potential long lasting
business relationships for their music.
ARTISTS WANTED DEADLINE NOVEMBER 15
Females On Fire CD Compilation II application deadline is November
15 through our partnership with Sonicbids. APPLY NOW: Looking for
wonderful artists. If you are interested in submitting your music
for the Second Females on Fire CD, GO to
http://www.femalesonfire.com

GET YOUR COPY OF FEMALES ON FIRE 1
30 fabulous female artists
Warrior Girl Music has released the first "Females On Fire" CD
compilation - part of a series of music compilation CDs igniting 30
talented female artists and their songs to the world. To mark the
celebration, we launched the double CD in both Los Angeles CA and
New York NY and was exhibited at the recent Independent Music
Conference, Philadelphia, New England Music Expo, CT and Nemo Music
Festival, Boston MA. It will be exhibited at the upcoming Rockrgrl
conference in Seattle in November.
Buy your copy of the Females On Fire CD and support independent
music by wonderful female artists.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/femalesonfire/from/ande

Listen to the songs online:
http://www.cdbaby.com/group/warriorgirlmusic/from/ande

Sponsors include Oasis CD Manufacturing, Go Girls Music ,
Songsalive! , Mastering Solutions and Sonicbids

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Christian Artists Might want to check out
http://www.indieheaven.com/

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

SINGER SEARCHING FOR SONGS

Date: Oct/27/2005
By: Bruce Hill
E-mail: brucesings@...
Title: Solo Vocalist
Company: www.brucesings.com
Address: 6401 Sunny Day Ct NW
Albuquerque NM 87120
Telephone: 505 688 4888

Subject: Looking for song writers

Comment:
If you're looking for an opportunity to find the right vocalist for
your music, please look at my website: www.brucesings.com. I'm a
vocalist who began singing three years ago and have already been
reviewed and recieved high vocal quality marks by Grammy Award
winning songwriter, Ital Shur, and Atlantic Records Exec, Kevin
Weaver. Only thing is, I need original music and I'm not a
songwriter. I'm a male solo vocalist with a very wide vocal range
and ability to sing a variety of music, I publicly performed the
broadway song "Anthem" from the soundtrack chess and performed
country music on stage in Branson, Missouri my first two years in
the industry. Song clips and contact information is accessible
through my website. I would like to perform your song on Make A
Star.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

~ ~ ~

Here is my actual email reply to him:

hello bruce,

I'm a songwriter
please browse through my catalog
maybe you'll find a song or two you love
http://songramp.com/ande
ande
Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@...
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.AndeRasmussen.com

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My blurb is simple, short, and invites the artist to browse through
my catalog.
I didn't hype my music.
Sometimes I'll point an artist to a particular song
Test the links you provide to make sure they work.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If you want to see what's happening on THE BIZ
Drop by
http://music.aol.com/feature/the_biz/show?defaultTab=12

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Write On,

Ande

<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
Ande Rasmussen's Inspirations for Songwriters (I F S)
www.SongwriterBlog.com
IFS aims to INSPIRE YOU into ACTION
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