“Gambler” Writer, Don Schlitz, to Be Inducted Into Songwriters Hall of Fame
February 22nd, 2012
What do all songwriters hope to achieve? Whether they admit it or not, they all would like to achieve fame and fortune. Like maybe this one:
Don Schlitz, whose songwriting credits include Kenny Rogers “The Gambler,” will be inducted into the national Songwriters Hall of Fame during ceremonies on June 14 in New York City. This years inductees also include Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Seger, Jim Steinman and the songwriting team of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones. “The Gambler,” Schlitzs first recorded song, won a Grammy for country song of the year in 1978. He and co-writer Paul Overstreet won another Grammy for country song of the year in 1988 for Randy Travis “Forever and Ever, Amen.” Schlitzs other songwriting credits include “On the Other Hand,” “I Feel Lucky,” “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” “Rockin With the Rhythm of the Rain,” “Deeper Than the Holler” and “When You Say Nothing at All.”
via CMT : News : Don Schlitz to Be Inducted Into Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City.
Lessons for Emerging Songwriters from the Grammys
February 13th, 2012
For you who are interested in the Grammys, and what aspiring songwriter wouldn’t be, you probably watched it, or at least have heard the news. So we won’t go through a recap explaining what happened. but do have a couple of observations of value to any songwriter: how a song that doesn’t seem terribly important to begin with can turn into a huge hit and a lasting classic, and the importance of co-writing.
The first appeared in the tributes to Whitney Houston. The song that kept coming up was “I Will Always Love You,” written by Dolly Parton. The song was originally recorded by Dolly and gained little notice outside her country music world at the time.
Then it was picked up for inclusion in Whitney’s signature movie “The Bodyguard.” Whitney of course sang it in the movie and made it an absolute killer of a hit and the classic that became her signature song. Dolly remarked that the IRS loved her for all the taxes she had to pay on the royalties for that one song.
Item two and and a most important lesson for the many lyricists we work with: Adele’s Grammy winning song of the year was a co-write. She had the idea, got the song started, then got with a pro, Dan Wilson to finish it. Some of the nominated songs were written by more than two co-writers.
And yet there are lyricists who tell us they don’t want a co-writer, because the music writer gets a share of the copyright. Really, people, thats the way the music business works. Co-writing is standard, with just a small minority of writers who write both lyrics and melody going it alone. But anybody who writes only lyrics obviously must have somebody do the music. And guess what: a demo service willing to co-write your music and give you all the rights doesn’t count. They obviously don’t think much of their writing skills if they’re willing to give up all rights for the price of a demo. Or they may be using the same melody for a lot of different songs. That does happen.
Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, Coldplay, Foo Fighters to Perform @ MusiCares Person of the Year Event
February 1st, 2012
When Paul McCartney is honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year during Grammy week next Friday night, hell be the biggest name in an otherwise stellar lineup of performers. In addition to a special McCartney performance to highlight the night, multiple-Grammy Award winners Tony Bennett, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and current Grammy nominee Katy Perry will all perform at the event, which will be hosted by British comedian Eddie Izzard.
More at Tony Bennett, Coldplay, Foo Fighters to Perform @ MusiCares Person of the Year Event | Billboard.biz.
Dumb Rules Eliminate Top Artists/Writers From Oscars
January 25th, 2012
It’s unimaginable how the artists people really want to see and hear have been eliminated from the Academy Awards this year. If a major audience is any part of the show’s goals, then this is a major shot in the foot. As the LA Times puts it,
“The consolation for Elton John, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley, Chris Cornell, Zooey Deschanel and other superstar pop, rock and country musicians who got snubbed in the best song Academy Award nominations announced Tuesday is that they’re in pretty stellar company.
With just two songs earning nominations —“Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets” and “Real in Rio” from “Rio” — the list of also-rans includes a bounty of heavyweight performers and songwriters.
via Elton John, Lady Gaga among pop stars snubbed in Oscar best song category – latimes.com.
Academy of Country Music to Announce Nominees for the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards Via First-Ever Digital Press Conference
January 24th, 2012
ENCINO, Calif., Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
WHAT: The first-ever ACM digital press conference, hosted by the Academy of Country Music, CBS Television and dick clark productions via ACM social media channels, to announce the nominees for the 47th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, Country Music’s Party of the Year® to be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
WHO: Superstar and Academy of Country Music Awards co-host REBA will participate leading up to the event, with more VIP SURPRISE GUESTS to announce categories via videos posted in real time to fans and media simultaneously. The press conference will culminate with country music FANS announcing the nominees for Entertainer of the Year (see below).
WHEN: Thursday, January 26th, 2012
6:30 AM PST Nominations announced via social media followed by a press release posted on the Academy's newly
www.ACMcountry.com ALL DAY Nominee reaction videos will be posted throughout the day!