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Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 30, No. 08
August 2025
The next zoom feedback session will be
Sunday August 3rd at 5pm. Please see the zoom details
at the end of this newsletter.
We will also send details closer to the date, under a separate e-mail,
and an announcement on the Facebook group page.
please e-mail us at isgorlando@gmail.com if you have any questions.
We are asking members to renew their dues for 2025. It costs only $5 per year,
and it helps us to defray costs for the zoom meetings.
We have 2 methods of payment. Either paypal to our treasurer Asli Goncer's
paypal account. The paypal access is at aslivision@gmail.com
or you can snail mail a $5 check to:
Asli Goncer
2849 Babylon Court
Oviedo, FL 32765
Either way, we appreciate your continued support.
Any Details not in this newsletter are at:
If you wish to join our Facebook group, please check us out at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/internationalsongwritersguild
Emotional Drift
By Jackie Mason
I had an intuition about creating cues. I realized the importance of putting emotions into our music creations.
I had seen a listing for tension cues. While playing around with my guitar, I started to come up with some
interesting fingerpicking patterns that might work for the listing. It’s certainly a project worth developing.
In the process of researching for this article I caught myself writing two articles at the same time. It happens
a lot. It also happens when I am writing songs. The trick is to be aware of the issue and self correct before
you waste time. This article will be about the importance of connecting with an audience via emotions.
I found this discussion on YouTube. It’s between two master songwriters, Clay Mills and Marty Dodson who
host the “Songtown” podcast. “How to Write Emotionally Charged Song Lyrics like a Pro”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAFabq48c8Y July 4th, 2003.
Clay begins with the statement, “inspiration needs direction.” He states that lyric writers try to be too “clever.”
I can understand this from my own experience. It’s a trap beginner songwriters tend to fall into. Clay continues
to say that in today’s world subtlety isn’t your best friend. You have to be in the “listeners” face.” Marty says
“you have to dig for your feelings” and overstate that emotion. As stated previously it’s all about connection.
He says he circles his feeling words and talks about “The Feelings Thesaurus.” It’s actually called
“The Emotions Thesaurus” by Becca Puglis and Angela Ackerman.
To save you some time here is my list of feeling words saved from my time in therapy.
http://www.psychpage.com/learning/library/assess/feelings.html
So many of us have attended songwriter seminars and been told to add furniture to the song.
“Should I Always Have “Furniture” In My Lyrics?” An article written by Marty for “American Songwriter.”
https://americansongwriter.com/should-i-always-have-furniture-in-my-lyrics/
“One of the most common questions I get is “How much furniture does my song need?” What the writer means is
“How many concrete nouns and adjectives do I need to write into my song?” For instance, if I talk about my
rusty blue Ford truck, I have painted you a picture. If I just mention my truck with no details, then you might not
picture my truck as accurately. You might be imagining a brand new Dodge Ram with chrome everywhere.
But my descriptive words “rusty”, “blue” and “Ford” give you a more exact image of my beat up old truck.
You can SEE my lyrics, like a movie.” Marty Dodson October 20, 2020.
Too much “furniture” in a song makes it cluttered and buries the emotional hit. Keep it simple. Keep it concise.
Marty refers to the song “Ghost In This House” as an example of a clear, concise, sparingly furnitured song.
It was written by Hugh Prestwood and released in 1990 by the country group Shenandoah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyvCL4PMVlk&list=RDZyvCL4PMVlk&start_radio=1
The first verse is an excellent example of simple writing. The emotion is sadness.
“I don't pick up the mail, I don't pick up the phone
I don't answer the door, I'd just as soon be alone
I don't keep this place up, I just keep the lights down
I don't live in these rooms, I just rattle around”
That’s what I have for you this month.
Have a great month from the Song Motel and for this month only “SongTown.”
WebChatter
by CyberToad
Here is something that Lisa Firestone has shared about AI and copyright.
This is all subject to change, but is a guideline.
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For songwriters in the music industry, the current laws regarding AI and
copyright in the US can be summarized simply: Human authorship is key.
Fully AI-generated songs cannot be copyrighted. The U.S. Copyright Office maintains that
copyright protection only applies to works created by a human author.
Songs with "meaningful human authorship" that also use AI can be copyrighted. If a songwriter
uses AI as a tool to assist in the creative process (e.g., for ideas, arrangements, or to refine
elements), the human-created portions of the work can be copyrighted. However, the
AI-generated parts themselves are not protected.
Disclosure is required. When applying for copyright registration, songwriters must disclose if
AI was used in the creation of the work.
Training data is a big issue. There are ongoing lawsuits and discussions about whether AI
companies infringe on copyrights when they train their AI models on existing copyrighted music
without permission or compensation.
"Digital replicas" (AI voice/likeness) are a growing concern. Legislation like the proposed
NO FAKES Act aims to protect individuals from having their voice or likeness used in
AI-generated content without their consent.
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ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space was graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association,
Local 389. You are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the
interests of the professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more
information. You may reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
Why isn't your gig or live stream announced here?
Members in good standing call SusieCool with your appearance schedule!
407-760-2153 or e-mail her the details at isgorlando@gmail.com
If you are interested in open mics in the Central Florida area, SusieCool has compiled a list.
Steve Hodak hosts several newly listed open mics on the Florida East coast.
Please call ahead before making any long trips.
https://sites.google.com/site/susiecoolsongs/open-mic-directory-central-florida
SusieCool is the admin for a Facebook group called "Orlando Creative Music Network"
where we give out info on songwriter meetings, playing circles, open mics, workshops and
concerts. We have a Facebook page for this group if you want to join.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/orlandocreativemusicnetwork
Central Florida Folk ( https://cffolk.org/ ) is a massive supporter of Musicians, and have monthly concerts at the
Winter Park Library. The requested donation is $15, or $10 if you are a member. Here is the Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/centralflorida.folk/
New members and guests are always welcome!
© 2025 ISG
ZOOM DETAILS Sun August 3rd 5pm
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Central Florida Folk Inc. is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: ISG Song Feedback sessions. First Sundays 5pm
Time: Sunday August 3rd, 2025 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Every month on the First Sunday
Please submit your mp3 and lyrics to isgorlando@gmail.com by noon of the day.