How to be a Hitmaker in Three Easy Steps... Maybe...

When Seeking advice at confabs like the ASCAP Expo which concluded recently, the conversations inevitably cover seemingly straight forward advice such as "be yourself", "don't write to the market", "have your own sound", etc. And the articles generated, usually covering those who have made it in the biz, expound on what it takes to write a hit, and the hard work, and the hope that perseverance will win out the day, at some point, and you'll be all the wiser, and so on...

And while there is interesting stuff here, some of it celebrity based, and some of it industry related. what is almost never stated out loud is how important it is to have a big-assed label pushing your song, which means being heard above all the other voices out there.

That's a big deal, if you're dreaming of being, or writing for, the star.

Often, some of this is happenstance- you meet the right person, talent, at the right time, and you have the time to develop a relationship that will get you in the door, on the lips of the people looking for talent, and doing enough work to be heard by enough of the right, i.e. connected people to give you a chance to be successful, which can mean anything from that's my song on the radio, streaming platform, to I'm on so-and-so's writing team.

Assuming so-and-so is known and has the power of a big label to get the word out, to grab the ears of the managers programing the playlists, and on and on.

Yes, you've made it!

But then... you have to be productive. One song ain't going to do it. The machine needs more and more and you have to produce.

Now you may assume that I'm rather jaded when it comes to these things, but that's not true. I would never tell someone not to try, or go for it, or anything like that, but everyone who's made it or hasn't, knows this song and dance. It's how the business works. There's no easy way in, and yes, I'm including the people who explode out of YouTube, or some social media outlet. Instant fame can also instantly flame out. Finding yourself on TMZ doesn't mean you'll be anything tomorrow.

Here's all the advice you'll ever need:
Keep your eyes and ears open, make as many connections as you can, and never sign anything before you consult an attorney who knows the music business!

That's all it takes.
©2019 David William Pearce