They Write for Beyoncé, the National, Miranda Lambert: The Secrets of Songwriters – WSJ.com
At the Sony/ATV writers’ quarters, near portraits of writers such as Red Lane and Rodney Crowell, the sound of music leaks out of rooms that writers have booked to work in teams. One of the most recent releases with Mr. (Tom) Douglas’s name on it, “The House That Built Me,” gestated for six years, starting when co-writer Allen Shamblin mentioned a line he’d read somewhere: “We don’t build houses, they build us.” The writers sketched out a song about someone visiting their childhood home, looking for direction in life. But it felt unfocused and the writers put it aside for four years until 2008, when the song gelled around a new refrain: “If I could just come in, I swear I’ll leave, won’t take nothing but a memory, from the house that built me.”
The response from Sony/ATV’s song pluggers, who play matchmaker between writers and recording artists, was immediate. “It was one of the five days a year where the flares go up and the beacons sound,” Mr. Douglas says. The song went to country star Miranda Lambert. It was pushed as a single and spent four weeks at No. 1 on country radio.
more via They Write for Beyoncé, the National, Miranda Lambert: The Secrets of Songwriters – WSJ.com.
I’m having a problem up loading my songs/lyrics.
All my stuff is on my iPhone. And it doesn’t have those types of formats. Is there any kind of email address I could send some lyrics to so I could get your thoughts on if I’m on the right track? I’ve preformed a number of my songs for different groups of people with very good reviews but ya never know if their just being nice or not.
how do i get my demoed lyrics out to be read &
heard?
thanks, ray j. (lyricman1)
please listen to this family band out of Paris, AR.
Hello,
I’m sure you have heard this many times before but I love Country music and it’s roots I have several songs that I have wrote over the years but I’m not sure how to showcase them or submit them to artist. Do we need to get a copywrite on all songs before submissions?? thank you for your help.
Brian Allen Granum
Question… I received a reply stating I live to close to Nashville to pursue any kind of avenue with Paramount Nashville. Could you point me in the right direction? As I live here now I am originally from MI I do not have music contacts and not sure on the etiquette of approaching someone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfHlxHuKmv4
I was thinking about the song by Miranda Lambert about going back to her old house. I just wanted to share a song I wrote about what it is like to lose your home.
Barry
I have been writing songs for about ten years now.Some I’d say are great some not so great,I just recently had my song played on the radio with the song director saying it sounds great.So I must be doing something right with writing them.Can’t seem to find a popular artist to sing them.Still looking.I want to thank paramont group for puting together my lyrics with a good voice and great music,which helped my song be played on the radio.
Even if I did write this song I would still don’t
get it published, nor would be anyone interested in it.
For example the [chorus]only mention three times
even if it did took me twelve years to write it with my luck no chance.
Delroy Neita
i too like alot of others in the city of nashville strictly write song lyrics .but however i have just written one with a lady out of ga nmaed julie bumgarner in which we feel good about. looking for a radio staion or producer whom can let some of the top female artist of country music here it however. wade smith 219-670-8045
everyone that has heard the song says it is a hit. people whom do know us and those whom don’t are saying ther same thing.
Paramount group produced great songs too. Miranda
Lambert she is star in her own right, not everyone will be so lucky.
hey joy counts i sent a song in and they didn’t like it did this ever happen to you?
Also what’s your song called I want to hear sometime.
Please give me a # that I can call so I can get in touch with this group and see if they like my voice.
I just wanted to say thanks to David and everyone involved in my Demo “LET’S JUST BE FRIENDS”.
I work in the radio business in Canada and I know how hard it can be to get Air Play. But I do believe this demo will help me get on the right track. And the response from other Radio professionals in this area has been good. And trust me when they don’t like something they tell you about it no matter who you are. So I’m looking forward to the future of this Parmount Demo. I have another one being submitted for production and plenty more I intend to submit.
Again great job on the Demo. THANKS
Tim R Scott
robert bell writing and singing is my srong point all need is someone to write for i want to make a difference in the new sound of today laid back.contact relaxsmart@hotmail.com ideals is my name if you are looking for change.need help cause i do have the that is designed for you.
I HAVE MY SONG LYRICS NOW PROTECTED AND WANT TIO KNOW HOW I GO ABOUT GETTING IT TO SOME ONE TO SING OR IF I NEED TO SING IT FIRST BEFORE I SEND IT TO YOU TO GET THE MUSIC PUT WITH IT I NEED MORE INFO ON THE COST & PROCEDURES TO TO NEXT! TIM POINDEXTER tim35@comcast.net
I have been writing songs from the age of 14 years but was not able to do anything with the lyrics till I came across Paramount with David Robinson and his team. I done 9 songs and they
have really done a GREAT job of the music, I just can’t believe that they are my words and now my songs.
Thanks a MILLION !!!
IM A SINGER SONG WRITER AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I FIND A REPUTABLE PRODUCER TO RECORD MY WORK THAT SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST QUESTION TO GET ANSWERED
I havent heard this song yet but I will check it out. I enjoy writing songs of life,hope,and and even my worst and best of whats taken place. For all u writers, never quit tryin and know God has great plans for all u….. Keep writing!! Lov ya, danielle canup
I have written a song 2 years after my father passed. A book company has been wanting to publish it but I refused until it is patten. I think that it awesome song to sing about my daddy tells what he was and wheres he at now.
It makes me cry but then again it makes me happy as a child growing up! People have read the words to it and I see tears come to there eyes but then as I did they smiled at the end. All songs tell a story but when it referrs to someone close to them they sing it forever! One day I would love to have it sung to the public but until it is it is mine for the moments untill then!
i have a few songs, one of which is, nothing is better than something, its a song about the happiness of growing up and not having a lot, then when you make it big, and have all the money you need, you find out ,it really does not bring you happiness
listen to fool’s paradise that will tear out your heart…guaranteed……written by rob mckay
To the Writers for Beyonce I say what an honor.
I too write for Beyonce,Monica,Celin,Michael Bolton,Alicia Keys. The battle comes in at winning at writing. Nothing frustrates me more than to know you have hits lying like tombs in your computer walls. I’m not guessing or hoping this I know. Everyday I pray that someone will step outside of celebrity and give a hard,low income, working woman a chance. I have well over 3oo songs in my library. I put in the work because i’m hungry for this opportunity. Any Celebrity looking to give a seasoned amatuer a chance contact me by my email ersm225@yahoo.com
Thanks.I love the article. To the Dream I say go. I’m tired of being a dreamer.
I’ve been writing songs off and on since I was 15 and now I’m almost 50. The problem is that I want to sing them myself. However, I wasn’t willing to give up my family to take off to Nashville, so I still entertain on a lower scale than the stars. Now, I’m considering publishing them because I would like to hand down a legacy to my grandchildren. (I won’t live forever.) What’s the best route?
Getting directly to publishers on getting your songs published can be difficult, Barbara Jean. The don’t accept songs from writers they don’t know because of time constraints and fear of lawsuits. However ParamountSong will be happy to listen and advise you. To find out how to get your work to us go to the Contact Us page on this website. There’s also a page labeled Song Publishers that explains more of the process. Best of luck to you.
Joseph…you and everybody who has songs, lyrics or poems you want to get into the music business should send us a copy. You never know what we might be able to do and what success you could have until you try. Unfortunately, nobody in the music business is going to come to you. How would they know to do that unless you get to them and let them hear and see what you have?
Go to our contact page, Paul. We explain there how to get the process started. We have the producers to do exactly what you want to do.
Lisa…since you’re already in Nashville, we suggest you go to some of the many songwriter nights and network with the writers you’ll see there. That’s the way many successful writers got started.
Send us some of your work and you’ll receive lots of info from us. To find out how to get stuff to us, go to our contact page:
We have contacts with a number of reputable producers, Paul. You can find out more on our contact page: “>
To get the info you need, go to our contact page at:
To find out how to get stuff to us and to artists, go to our contact page:
Go to our contact page at and enter your name and email address. We’ll send you all the info you need.
You can start with us, Barbara Jean. We have a publishing partner, ParMusic Group, and also are able to help you get connected with other publishers. Check out our publisher page at: