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Here is the latest ISG newsletter. Please reply with “Remove” in the subject line
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July 2014
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 19, No. 7
NEXT MEETING - 5:00pm Sunday, July 6th, 2014
The International Songwriter’s Guild meets at 5 PM on the first Sunday of every month at the
Central Florida Musician’s Union building, 3020 East Robinson (at the extreme east end of
Robinson, near Orlando Executive Airport ) in Orlando.
Songwriters, composers, performers, publishers, and the curious are encouraged to join us. Non-
members are invited to attend a meeting or two to get a feel for our group and what we do. For
more information, visit our website at www.tinyurl.com/isgsongs or myspace page at
The meetings will be structured as follows: 5:00 to 5:30, business and introductions. 5:30 to
6:00, presentation by a guest speaker (when scheduled), 5:30 or 6:00 to 8:00, song critiques.
Please bring a CD or I-phone or mp3 player or perform your song live, and bring 10 or more lyric
sheets. If we have at least 5 songs by members who wish to be scored, and 6 members scoring, then
we will have them entered in the Monthly competition. Everyone is encouraged to write
constructive comments on the lyric sheets.
Visit from JoAnne Pepitone
We are preparing for a visit from Joanne. She is a local producer/artist development/composer.
She has agreed to give us a short talk about her adventures in the Music Biz.
Here is an excerpt from her website.
"Classically trained composer and producer JoAnne Pepitone has led a very interesting life thus
far. Her Brooklyn College musical education was only the beginning.
She cut her teeth in the New York City music scene of the 70′s and 80′s working with an eclectic
variety of super producers. JoAnne began covering popular music in the NYC club scene, working
from background singer, to keyboardist, to fronting her own group, the Anja BakerBand. Featuring
JoAnn (aka Anja Baker)
In the early 90′s her energies shifted to writing and arranging for others, this endeavor led to
her penning a contract with Philadelphia International Records, home of Gamble and Huff (The
Philadelphia Sound).
Beyond the producer, the composer, the co-writer and arranger, is also her passion to develop
young and rising talent. She developed the amazing voice and talent of pop songstress Cassandra
Simpson whose Christmas album received impressive sales on independent merchants CD Baby and many
other independent retailers, as well as several other artists through the years. She also worked
with Colby O’Donis, known thanks to his feature in Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance”."
Songwriting Questions #2
By Jeff Mason
Robin Frederick has an informative article on her web page entitled “What To Do
After You Write Your Song?” Here I think you will find the answer to ISG member Loi Head’s
question: How do you propose a song to a company or project? The following is a paragraph from
the article: “The best way to approach a contact is with a polite, well informed email. Let them
know you’re familiar with their work or their catalog and you feel you have the music that could
fit their needs. Remember, it’s about what you can do for them, not what they can do for you.”
She suggests that you ask the question before you write your song. “Then you’ll be able to shape
your song as you go along for the best chance of marketing it afterwards.” She advises that you
know the genre you’re writing, that you aim your song for a use and that you know which
contemporary artists are similar to you. You may find the article by typing the following in
your browser “mysongcoach.com/what-to-do-after-you-write-your-song/
Another question that Loi asked: Are there any regular (or non-regular) local
opportunities? The short answer is yes. There are endless opportunities if you are prepared to
roll up your sleeves and do the work.
I was watching a local news program and discovered that there is a twice Grammy nominated
producer living in Winter Park. Tim Coons is the founder and CEO of Atlantic Hill Music. Some
very big name artists have recorded at the Recording and Production facility, including the
Backstreet Boys, NSYNC and JoJo. Coons is currently working with boy band Far Young who are being
touted as the “next big thing.” Let me speculate for a moment. What if a songwriter familiarized
him or her self with that genre of music? What if you tried writing in that style? What have you
got to lose by sending a “polite, well informed email” to Atlantic Hill Music? You should be
able to find out if Atlantic Hill Music accepts unsolicited submissions. Try the 2014
Songwriter’s Market for that information. http://www.atlantichill.com/
98.9 WMMO has an Acoustic Showcase on a Sunday morning from 8 am to noon. You
can submit a demo and perhaps have your song featured on the show. Each Sunday three local
artists are chosen to perform on Sunday Morning Acoustic segment
“Songwriters Showcases of America(SSA) is a music event production organization
that produces quality events from large city music festivals, to small intimate concerts. The
national artists roster comprises of mostly independent artists of all styles of music (see SSA
Artists Roster). The Annual Festivals currently include the Deland Original Music Festival
(fall), Delandapalooza (spring), Daytona’s Mainstreet Live (winter), the Jacksonville Original
Music Festival (fall) and the NYC New Music Festival (summer/ biannual).” These festivals are a
useful way for a solo artist or a band to show case their original songs. Making use of a variety
of stage venues from small, local clubs and restaurants to larger outdoor stages. Any style of
music can be heard. There is a fee to play: $25 Songwriter Fee (one person), $35 Band Fee (2 or
more people). That fee can be easily covered by selling your allotment of $10 tickets. In
addition, you can sell your own merchandise at the event. As I looked at the artist’s roster for
the Deland Original Music Festival, I recognized many central Florida performers. It is, also, a
good event to network and make new connections. Even for those songwriters who don’t perform it
is a good place to advance your career. http://www.ssa.cc/deland.htm This is the SSA mission
statement: “ To increase and enhance the quality of performance opportunities for songwriters and
original bands.”
Roadkill Ghost Choir played at the Deland Festival a few years ago on the
Court House Main Stage. They are a 6 piece band formed in 2010 and recently played on the David
Letterman show: Jan 17th, 2014.
They are recording at North Avenue Studio in Port Orange. They are touring the USA, at this time
of writing. They have a folk sound which is reminiscent of current popular groups like Mumford
and Sons or Glossary.
http://www.northavenuestudios.com/ http://roadkillghostchoir.com/ It is good to see them doing so
well!
I hope I have answered some of Loi’s Questions and, perhaps, inspired some
of you. See you next month.
ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space 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 announced here? Call us with your appearance schedule!
Current members please send us your website info if you would like your site to be listed in the
ISG members page. Also if you have any songs that have placed first in the monthly critiques,
please send the mp3's to isgorlando@gmail.com if you would like to have them featured in the ISG
MySpace page. https://myspace.com/21075001
Song Contest results for June
1. "Content is King" by Loi Head
2. "Sugar" by Matthew Campbell
3. (3 way tie exactly) "Down the Road" by Phil Pye
"Florida is Great" by Susan and Kent Trewick
"Down to my last Heartbreak" by Will Campbell
New members always welcome!
Any Details not in this newsletter are at:
www.tinyurl.com/isgsongs
© 2014 ISG