Preshias Pointers Archives - Nashville Music Line

Seven things you can do now as a singer/songwriter to keep your career on track during the Covid-19 Virus

by Preshias Harris

In these uncertain times, it’s not easy to stay focused. Here are some ‘Momma P idea starters’ to help you keep your music career movin’ on up…

1. Keep your hook book going, whether it’s in a notebook or on your phone. Constantly add thoughts, phrases, overheard snatches of conversation, something you read or heard… that could spark a new song or turn around a song you’re kinda stuck on. It will be an invaluable resource later on.

2. Practice, practice, practice. Whether it’s guitar or keyboard, play every day. Don’t let your skills get rusty. Try something different when playing the familiar becomes boring. You’ll want to put your improved playing to work when you are back on stage or in a writer’s room.

3. Watch tutorials on YouTube. There are hundreds of videos available from basic to advanced guitar and keyboard playing. This is another great way to turn ‘down time’ into something positive for your career.

4. Sing like no one can hear you! Right now, there are no gigs so there IS no one to hear you! Sing every day. Keep your voice active. You’ll want it sounding good when you are back out there.

5. Network. Even when you can’t meet face-to-face, you can stay in contact with other songwriters by Skype, FaceTime and by phone. A lot of great songs have been written on FaceTime! Just staying in touch with other songwriters can raise your spirits, and a call from you can help someone else feel better too.

6. Stay positive: This too shall pass. Of course, stay up to date with news that will keep you safe (REAL news from trusted sources medical sources, not online alarms and rumors) but kick back and watch a funny movie or escape into a sci-fi or action movie if that’s your thing. You need to lighten the load if you feel everything you hear and see is too depressing.

7. Maintain your social Media presence. Use your downtime to build on your social media accounts to make new fans, engage, post and re-share fellow singer/songwriters. Create a tik-tok account if you don’t already have one. Under normal circumstances, it’s not easy to devote time to keeping social media current, but now it’s the perfect opportunity. Everyone needs the positive vibe that music brings to the table.

Thousands of songwriters, artists and musicians are in the same challenging situation. Let’s support each other musically and emotionally. When all this is over, we’ll be so glad we did!

=> Remember, I’m always here for you. If you want me to hear something you’ve written, if you need some advice or if you just want to talk, I’m here so just email, text or call me. If you can’t reach me right away, leave a message and I’ll get back to you.

The music lives on!

Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com

How to build community with YouTube

Official Artist Channels ‘pull it all together’

YouTube wants artists and musicians to build a home on their platform. And they’re telling you how to do it.

YouTube made a concerted effort to reach music creators with PowerPoint presentations at both Music Biz 2018 and Summer NAMM in recent weeks. The company is aware that both music creators and music listeners/viewers are increasingly seeing YouTube as a go-to music platform. In the presentation titled ‘Creating a Home for Music on YouTube,’ the company showed how artists and songwriters can effectively showcase their work and connect and engage with fans.

Benefits of your own Official Artist Channel

The key, according to YouTube’s Nathan Sheppard*, is building and maintaining your Official Artist Channel (OAC). Most music creators probably have some kind of presence on YouTube, perhaps even their own channel. But YouTube believes that your OAC can be your prime marketing tool – if you take advantage of all its possibilities.

Among the benefits of a fully-functioning OAC:

‘Direct to Fan’ features: Your OAC unites your full body of work under one banner. Your fans and followers now have a single place to subscribe.
Attribution: Visitors will see a music note icon next your name (or your OAC name) so they know everything posted here comes officially from you.
Search optimization: When visitors search for any of your output on YouTube, your OAC shows up at the top.

The parts of an OAC

As Nathan pointed out, an OAC isn’t a new channel. It is a new layout that can be used on any channel that is owned and operated by you the artist, your management or your record label. He showed the ‘parts’ of an OAC: Continue reading “How to build community with YouTube”

Nashville is a ten-year town

7 inspiring stories from stars who stayed the course – and won

If you are an aspiring artist or songwriter, there will be times when it feels like your creative career is going nowhere. A little voice in your head is telling you that if you’re going to ‘make it,’ you’d have done it by now. Worse still, that voice might be coming from a well-meaning family member nudging you to give it up and come back home. Right now, you need inspiration and encouragement. And maybe some stories about ‘making it in Music City’ to tell the folks back home.

“Success isn’t overnight. It’s when every day you get a little better than the day before. It all adds up.” – Dwayne Johnson

Nashville is a ten-year town. If we needed any proof, we need look no further than the recent spate of Number One parties and the artists and songwriters whose songs were being honored.

Jon Pardi

During the celebration for his two No. 1 hits, ‘Dirt on My Boots’ and ‘Heartache on the Dance Floor,’ Jon Pardi mentioned that he arrived in Music City ten years ago and even before that, he was writing songs and playing in bands from his early teens. In fact, it has taken him well over a decade to get where he is today, as an established artist with a solid track record.

“Thank you so much for believing in me. I’ve been here for a while now and Feb. 23, 2008 is when I moved to town. Ten years later, I have three number ones and we’re at a double number one party. Thank you. Thanks for believing in me.” – Jon Pardi

Kip Moore

A few days earlier, Kip Moore and the writers of ‘More Girls Like You’ were being honored for their chart-topping success. Moore had moved to Nashville in 2004 and signed a songwriting deal. It was eight more years before he was signed to a recording contract with MCA.

It wasn’t an easy time for Moore, but he kept his eyes on the prize as the years progressed. He told me during the Number One party what kept him going: “It was knowing I wasn’t going to be happy doing anything else. There was no Plan B.” He also noted, “It was a battle to keep one foot in front of the other.”

Brett Young

Brett Young co-wrote his recent No. 1, ‘Like I Love You,’ with Jesse Lee and both have paid their dues on the road to success. Young had been writing songs and performing for fourteen years before he even got to Nashville and signed a record deal with BMLG.

Young’s previous chart-topper, ‘In Case You Didn’t Know,’ marked him as the first Country artist to gain an RIAA Platinum certification in 2017, and the song went on to reach the 2X Platinum sales mark.

Jesse Lee

Jesse Lee had to overcome disappointment on her way to becoming a hit songwriter. She had signed a recording contract with Atlantic Nashville in 2007, but her releases met with only limited success. However, she was not about to let this discourage her.

As she said at the Number One party, “People didn’t want me on the radio! So I reinvented myself and started to write. Then I realized I was getting into publishing companies because of my writing not my artist talents.” Her change of direction paid off, co-writing Kelsea Ballerini’s first No. 1, ‘Peter Pan.’

“it’s been more than a ten-year town for me. It’s been eleven!” – Jesse Lee

Dustin Lynch

Dustin Lynch recently scored his fifth Number One with ‘Small Town Boy,’ but he has invested many years of his young life moving toward that level of success. He grabbed the chance to perform at Nashville’s famed Bluebird Café at the age of sixteen, moving full-time to Nashville in 2003. While studying at Lipscomb University, he continued to write songs and perform at every opportunity. When he graduated with a B.S. degree in biology in 2007, he decided to stay in Nashville and focus on his music career.

Persistence paid off, and Lynch was signed to Valory Music Group, moving to Broken Bow Records in 2011. It was ten years between that first performance at the Bluebird and signing the record deal with Broken Bow, and a further seven years to this point, establishing him as a successful artist with a string of hits to his credit.

Carly Pearce

Carly Pearce achieved her first Number One, ‘Every Little Thing,’ at the age of twenty-eight. She was sure that her future would be in music: at the age of nine, she visualized herself singing on a stage and never gave up on that goal. At sixteen, she was working at Dollywood, learning stagecraft from more experienced performers.

She moved to Nashville, taking menial day jobs while she worked on building her skills as a songwriter and a singer in the evenings. She remembers sitting at home watching the CMA Awards on TV. She made it her goal to be on that show one day. Her tenacity paid off with a nomination in the ‘New Female Vocalist of the Year’ category at the 2018 CMA Awards.

“I wouldn’t change anything about my personal journey in the industry. I had to figure out who I was as an artist. I’m glad this didn’t happen when I was twenty-one. I wouldn’t have appreciated it as much as I do now.” – Carly Pearce

Buddy Jewell

Think about Buddy Jewell if you want to know about persistence! He started pursuing a career in music in Arkansas in 1982. He learned his craft the hard way, working in gunfighting shows at Six Flags Over Texas and entering talent shows, including one sponsored by the band Alabama. He moved to Nashville in 1993 and found work singing more than 5,000 demos for songs that became hits for artists such as George Strait, Clay Walker and Gary Allan.

Jewell spent years perfecting his vocal skills, networking and preparing for the success that he knew would come if he stayed the course. When his big opportunity presented itself he was ready, winning the first season of Nashville Star. This led to a recording contract with Columbia Records and a self-titled, GOLD-certified Number One album.

Success takes an investment of time

Talent alone is just the starting point to a career in music just as in any other endeavor. Pushing too hard, too fast means you are more likely to trip and fall.

Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Brett Young, Jesse Lee, Dustin Lynch, Carly Pearce, Buddy Jewell. Scroll up and look again at when they arrived in Nashville, when they began to achieve success and what they did in between.

Their stories are just a few examples of artists and songwriters who understand that the road to success is a marathon not a sprint. If ever you need encouragement, go online and research the timeline of almost any star singer or songwriter. Quite often, ‘ten years’ is the least they invested in pursuit of their goals. Remember that you are studying for a ‘Doctorate in Songology’(R) and every day is one more investment in your own success story!

In my next post, I’ll suggest ten ways to stay focused on success by moving your career forward, one day at a time.

Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com

Why songwriters should focus on ‘presence’ in writing session

Presence: part of your “Pod of Seven P’s”

Having presence is more than your physical body simply being in a given place at any given time. Just because you are standing in a particular spot or sitting on a specific chair in a certain location, doesn’t mean that you have presence.

When you have presence, your complete attention and every fiber of your being is focused on where you are and what you are doing. Taken to an extreme, all five of your senses are brought to bear with laser-like concentration on that specific moment in time and what you are doing there.

Note: this is one part of my seven-part series “The ‘P’ Pod: Seven characteristics shared by the most successful people in the music industry.” It is currently being serialized at MusicStartsHere.org

In reality, a total state of presence is virtually impossible to achieve and would probably make us unaware if the house was burning down around us! However, developing your sense of presence is an essential element in your own professional growth and in your relationship with others.

Songwriting needs you to ‘be here now’

On a personal basis, any act of creation – a song, for example – requires your total presence, or at least as total as is practical. If you’re constantly checking your email, responding to texts or (AAAaargh!) listening to someone else’s music on your earbuds, you don’t have presence in your creation and it will suffer.

Worse still, if you are in a writing session with co-writers and you’re answering phone calls because “I gotta take this” or you’re saying, “Wait! You gotta see this video someone just sent me,” you’re not only destroying your own presence but also that of your co-writers. That’s unproductive, but it’s also inconsiderate in the extreme and is disrespectful to your colleagues.

Continue reading the ‘Presence’ chapter at MusicStartsHere.org. MusicStartsHere is a great resource for singers and songwriters that I highly recommend!

Proactivity keeps your career ahead of the curve

Proactivity is part of a singer or songwriter’s “Pod of Seven P’s”

Being proactive is not the same as merely being active. When you are proactive, you take action in advance of a situation. That might mean taking action to make a good situation even more beneficial to you, or taking action to prevent or minimize the effects of a bad situation.

Note: this is one part of my seven-part series “The ‘P’ Pod: Seven characteristics shared by the most successful people in the music industry.” It is currently being serialized at MusicStartsHere.org

Here are two scenarios:

You’ve been asked to open for a fairly well-known act in a nearby town, and, although the money isn’t great, it could be an opportunity to make more people aware of who you are and what you do….

Continue reading the ‘Proactivity’ chapter (and another chapter, ‘Positivity,’ in the same post) at MusicStartsHere.org MusicStartsHere is the go-to place for news and information for artists, songwriters and anyone interested in the music.

Songwriters: ‘hard work’ is the key

Hall of Famer Gary Burr’s advice to rising songwriters

“You have to go to work every day. You just have to go to work. I went to the office every morning, I went to the office every afternoon. If I had something good, it wasn’t going to be good enough ‘til I went over it with a fine-tooth comb several times. You just work hard. The ones [songwriters] who are making it today are just working really, really hard.”

Gary Burr. Photo: Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

Those words came from Gary Burr, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame during an interview on the Public Television show, The Songwriters, produced the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in conjunction with Middle Tennessee State University. MTSU professor Robert Gordon Jr. directs the episodes, which are filmed by students from the school’s College of Media and Entertainment. Ken Paulson, Dean of MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment, hosts the new show and interviewed Burr during a recently televised episode.

Songs for Garth, Ringo, Skynyrd and more

Gary Burr backstage with Ringo Starr. Photo: Mark Mirando

Burr has been honored with Songwriter of the Year Awards from Billboard Magazine and ASCAP in addition to the Hall of Fame recognition. In a 40+ year career, he has written or co-written literally hundreds of songs that have been cut by major artists including Garth Brooks, Collin Raye, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Tim McGraw, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ringo Starr and more. Many of those cuts are also Number One hits. Take a look at the Discography at his website.

In his interview with Paulson, he emphasized that there’s no ‘trick’ to songwriting. As with any other creative enterprise, it takes a commitment to working at it every day, just like a ‘regular’ job because it is your job. You can’t wait for inspiration, said Burr. You simply sit down, either alone or with your co-writer and start work. That’s where hits are born.

‘The Songwriters’ currently airs in Nashville on WNPT Channel 8 on Saturday evenings. Check local TV schedules for air dates and times in other areas.

Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban show us how it’s done

Carrie and Keith overcome setbacks, never lose sight of ‘The Prize’

Two country artists have chalked up remarkable career achievements in the past few days. And both can serve as an inspiration to those who are just beginning a career in music.

Carrie Underwood

First of all, congrats and kudos to Carrie Underwood who is celebrating a major career milestone. The CMA Vocalist of the Year has scored her 25th Number One with her current single, “Dirty Laundry.” The song marks Underwood’s 22nd chart-topping hit on country radio, but when you add in a Billboard Hot 100 Number One (“Inside Your Heaven”) plus her two Number Ones on the Hot Country Songs chart (“Something Bad” and “Something in the Water”), she has scored a total of twenty five chart toppers.

Meanwhile, a few days ago, Keith Urban made certain of a spot in music history when his single, “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” simultaneously topped FOUR major charts. The song was Number One on Billboard Country Airplay, Hot Country Songs, Country Digital Song Sales and Country Streaming charts.

Keith Urban. Photo credit: American Idol

Urban is only the third artist to achieve this feat, following Jason Aldean (“Burning It Down,” 2014) and Luke Bryan (Play It Again,” 2014). “Blue Ain’t Your Color” is Urban’s twenty-first Billbioard Country Airplay Number One.

It might seem that both Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban are just plain lucky but that is definitely NOT the case. Both artists had to overcome disappointments and setbacks before they achieved the success they enjoy today.

Record deal falls apart

Underwood was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where her father worked in a sawmill and her mom taught elementary school. At age 14, she went to Nashville and auditioned for Capitol Records. She must have felt she was on the way to fame when Capitol prepared to sign her to the label. But it wasn’t to be: the label’s management changed and, as a result, the plans for her record deal were scrapped.

That might have been enough to discourage most young artists, but not Underwood. Looking back on that roadblock, she said, “I honestly think it’s a lot better that nothing came out of it now, because I wouldn’t have been ready then. Everything has a way of working out.”

She went back to Oklahoma, finished her high school and college education, graduating magna cum laude from Northeastern State University with a degree in mass communication. But music was still her passion and, having polished her musical experience over the years, she auditioned for American Idol and went on to win Season Four, becoming one of the most successful artists, not only in Idol history but also in all of country music.

Urban makes the big move

Keith Urban found a measure of ‘local’ success in Australia after moving there from his native New Zealand. Like Underwood, Urban saw talent contests as a way to further his career, competing in Australia’s ‘New Faces’ show. In 1992, he made the momentous decision to leave behind that local fame and move to the USA where he was a virtual unknown, finding work as a session guitarist and then starting a band, The Ranch, that had some success on Capitol Records. Meanwhile, he was becoming an increasingly successful songwriter, scoring cuts on Toby Keith and 4 Runner, among others.

His solo career took off with a self-titled album that produced his first Number One single with more to follow. But success took its toll and Urban became addicted to cocaine. For many artists, this would be the beginning of the end; the start of a spiral into obscurity.

However, Urban found the strength to fight and overcome his addiction with the help of a rehab program and the support of a loving wife and family. He has gone on to become one of country music’s most consistently successful stars with a string of Number One hits and a mantle full of industry awards. Echoing his own career-launching participation in talent shows, he has served as judge on The Voice in Australia and American Idol in the USA.

Setbacks are opportunities in disguise

In many ways, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban serve as inspirations for aspiring artists and songwriters. In Underwood’s case, she saw the collapse of her initial record deal not as a career-killer but as an opportunity to go back and work on improving her skills as a performer so she was truly ready for the big time when the Idol opportunity came her way. Urban had the strength of faith in his abilities to leave his homeland and start over in the USA… and then virtually re-start again after beating his addiction.

Both had the perseverance to keep their eyes on the prize. Your music career will inevitably face obstacles but if you see each obstacle as a learning experience rather than as a career-ender, you will be better prepared when the next opportunity presents itself. Make a pledge to yourself to persevere, to develop ‘staying power,’ to persist in achieving your goal of a rewarding career in music. Remind yourself that all of today’s top stars faced times of despair and disappointment. But they persevered until they achieved the success of which they never lost sight!

Protect your online presence!

Check out carrieunderwoodofficial.com – and note the ‘official’ in the address if you want to reach the ‘correct’ Carrie! And also check out keithurban.net, because the site named ‘keithurban.com’ belongs to somebody selling paintings, not to ‘our’ Keith. As a further object lesson, let these situations remind you of the importance of protecting your name and establishing ‘official’ websites and social media before anyone has the chance to beat you to it!

Those darn noisy guitars!

Did your dad ever complain about you playing your guitar too loud in your bedroom? Or get upset about ‘that weird music the kids are playing nowadays’? Well, he wasn’t the first to think guitars are the beginning of the end of the world as we know it.

Read these comments by French musicologist Pierre Trichet (1586 – 1644):

“Even in France, one finds courtesans and ladies who turn themselves into Spanish monkeys. Still there are some in our nation who leave everything behind in order to take up and study the guitar… is it because it has a certain something which is feminine and pleasing to women, flattering their hearts and making them inclined to voluptuousness?”

Monsieur Trichet wasn’t the only 17^th century musician to view the guitar as an abomination. Here are the thoughts of Sebastian Covarrubias Orosco, writing in 1611, on the matter:

“Since the invention of the guitar there are very few who study the vihuela… the guitar is nothing but a cow-bell, so easy to play, especially when strummed, that there is not a stable-boy who is not a musician of the guitar.”

In case you’re wondering, the vihuela was a string instrument from the 15^th and 16^th centuries, played in Spain, Portugal and Italy. Those ‘stable boys’ knew a good thing when they saw it. And how many people do you ever see playing ‘air vihuela’?

Guitars: driving people crazy for over 400 years!

Hmmm… the more things change, the more they stay the same! I saw these quotes in Nigel Cawthorne’s “Guitars: Amazing Facts & Trivia,” a book that will fascinate anyone who loves guitars, be they acoustic or electric. You can find the book here at Amazon.

Your music IS your business

Don’t leave your career in the hands of others

“With an artist, everything is hunky-dory until he wakes up and can’t pay his rent. Everything is hunky-dory until he wakes up and realizes he got ripped off. I mean, you always get these artists who say, ‘I dunno man, I just play the music. I don’t know anything about the business.’ But if you ask a guy who owns a restaurant and he says, ‘Oh, I just cook the food, I don’t know anything about the business’ – that restaurant is gonna fail, y’know?”

— Joe Bonamassa, blues guitarist and songwriter, interviewed by Henry Yates in The Blues Magazine.

Blues guitarist and songwriter, Joe Bonamassa

Everyone starting out on a career in music should pay attention to those words of wisdom from Joe Bonamasso, who began playing the guitar at the age of four and opened for blues icon B.B. King when he was twelve years old. It would have been easy for him to concentrate solely on his guitar playing and leave the business side of his career in the hands of others.

But, from an early age, he saw what happened to artists who knew little or nothing about the business side of their own careers. When other people are controlling your management, your bookings, your publishing, your copyrights and your royalties, there’s a good chance that they are more focused on their own interests rather than on yours.

Your music is your business

Of course, as your career expands, you won’t be able to personally handle absolutely everything entirely by yourself: you will need to utilize the expertise of others who are professionals in their field. But it is still essential that you have at least a working knowledge of the major aspects of the music business.

With that knowledge, you can protect yourself from being taken advantage of; you can review documents before you sign, ask questions that demonstrate your familiarity with the subject. In short, treat your music career as your business – because that’s what it is – and you greatly reduce the risk of getting ripped off.

The “I” in ROI for songwriters

The difference between a hobby and a career

Preshias music notes graphic crop pink purple ROI stands for Return on Investment. To put it another way, it means what you get out from what you put in. You might think that a phrase like ROI is only relevant to stockbrokers and bankers but it definitely affects you as a songwriter or artist.

There’s a difference between songwriting as a hobby and songwriting as a a career. Here’s a way to look at the difference:

When you do something you don’t particularly enjoy and you get paid for it… that’s a job.
When you do something you love but you don’t get paid… that’s a hobby.
When you do something you love and you DO get paid… that’s a CAREER.

Can you see the difference? Your career is music, because that’s what you love, but it’s only a career when it provides some sort of income for you, otherwise it’s just a hobby. Yes, songwriting, for most people, begins as a part-time career, often supplementing the dreaded ‘job,’ but it is still your career, if you choose to make it so.

It takes more than talent

To have any kind of success in that career, it takes a commitment to invest in your God-given talent. Your talent is the raw material, the lump of clay, the pile of bricks. What you choose to do with that raw material is the element that determines your success.

“Effort without talent is a depressing situation, but talent without effort is a tragedy.” – Mike Ditka

I wish I could tell you that you can make it to the top on nothing but talent, but I can’t because it flat-out isn’t going to happen. Talent alone is not enough; it’s just the beginning.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a disgruntled parent say, “My son/daughter has much more talent than [insert star’s name here]. How come they made it and my kid can’t?”

A variation on that is the songwriter who is consumed with envy for “that lucky guy” who is getting all the cuts on the top acts.

Lucky? Okay, I’ll admit that sometimes luck does play a part in success. But one thing is certain: The better prepared you are, the luckier you’ll get.

There’s almost no such thing as an overnight success, at least not one that lasts longer than a flash in the pan. That “lucky” person, that “overnight success” had almost certainly invested in their talent so that when the opportunity presented itself, they were prepared and were able to confidently take full advantage of the situation.

Invest in your talent

As you develop your career as a songwriter, you will need to commit to making an investment in your talent. It’s an investment in both time and money, but the part to always keep in mind is the ROI… the return that you will reap on that investment of time and money in your career.

Make a commitment to go to Writers’ Nights, network with other writers, ask questions, read books, take classes, set up co-writing sessions and write, write, write!