This is a great interview with loads of tips about everything you need to know about writing songs for TV & Film and getting them placed.

Good Luck with your music.

Here are a couple of information sources where you can search for opportunities to pitch your music.  Maybe you have a song already written that you want to find a placement for; or, find the place then write the song.  That’s up to you but here is where to look:

IMDb Pro  An Insider View of the Entertainment World.

In Baseline  Provider of Film and Television Information.

TV By The Numbers  TV Ratings, News and Information.

Good luck placing your music!

Here are some tips for getting your music placed in TV shows, films, and other media:

• The best title for a song is the one that describes the song, not a new-agey title;
• A song must quickly evoke a mood or feeling;
• Always have an instrumental version available;
• Songs written and sung by female song writers are desirable but often too specific or emotional making them difficult to place: if you are a female songwriter, write a song about nothing;

Good luck writing songs for TV & Film.  It can be a wonderful way to earn some money on your songs and provide a venue for people to hear your music.

Booking your first tour, for most, is a daunting task to say the least. In the beginning it will be next to impossible to find a booking agent to book you into a great venue in your favorite cities.  It’s all you baby!

Here is a brief, step-by-step process for booking your band’s tour.  It’s tough work, requires a lot of phone calling and follow-up but this is what it’s all about.

A tour is the single best way to get your band noticed, spread the work, meet new friends, and have some fun.  Fun, yeah!  That’s what its about.

Let’s get started:

• Plan Ahead/Choose a Date Range: You are going to have to plan at least 4 to 6 months ahead.  Most clubs book 6 months in advance.  It will take you months to make cold calls to all of the venues, call them again, and again, then follow up once you finally reach the booking person.  Once booked, you’ll also need time to market and promote each show in each city and town.
• Choose a General Route: Start with a general plan of the Cities you want to hit.  You’ll no doubt change it as you book, or don’t book, a city.  Decide on drive time and whether or not you want days off in between.  Some cities are easier than others and some venues might have a “pay-to-play” policy.
• Choose and Contact Venues: Start by searching for venues along your tour route.  Look at show lists from some of your favorite bands and see where they play.  Check websites like Indie On The Move, byofl.org, and onlinegigs.com for free searchable lists.You can also pay for Billboard’s tour guide, the Indie Venue Bible, and more. Use the phone, email, and venue websites to contact the venue.  Some have different preferences so find those out.  I recommend making an excel spreadsheet to keep track of all contact info and make notes about each contact and follow-up you make. Be ready to answer the question of how many people you expect at the show.  That’s how the venue makes money (and how you will too).
• Follow-Up, Follow-Up, Follow-Up. Follow-up with the person often until you get your gig.  When you do: make sure it is confirmed.  Check their website to be sure you are listed.  Contact local media people to get your gig listed.  Then, follow-up just before you leave for the tour.
• Book Gaps.  You will find you have some gaps between the shows you have booked. Sometimes these gaps happen while you are on the road too if a venue cancels you.  Get creative to find other venues where you might be able to present your music.  Book stores, churches, record stores, and other spots.
• Book Travel and Lodging. Hopefully you will be able to stay with friends and fans along the way.  Sometimes that doesn’t always work out and you will have to pay for hotels.  Many bands find new friends at the gig and go home with them.  Some just plan to sleep in the van and take whatever comes when it comes.  Its up to you.
• Promote Your Shows. Once the tour is booked, start working on marketing and promoting your shows.  Use your Facebook connections: tell your fans about the tour and ask them to tell their friends in your tour cities you will be coming and urge them to go to the show.  Call the local newspaper or other media that may have concert listings and be sure you are on those.  Contact radio stations to see if you can do an interview when passing through their town.  Be sure to be on the phone while you are touring too staying in contact with your venues, publicity contacts, and fans.

After the pain of booking your first tour, you will find later tours to be much easier,  You will have made new contacts and friends along the road that you can call on again to jump start your next tour not to mention the wonderful new fans you will have made who will be waiting for you to come to their town again.

Good Luck and Have Fun!

Don’t really need to say much about this.  This is what musicians are supposed to do!

Musicians are the people who can comment on society.  Ask questions.  Shine light on issues.  With all that is going on today, Bob wants to know:

Where is The Fucking Rage?!?

He is so right.  With the crazy times we are living in today, there is so much to say and so much to questions.  Where are the musicians who are taking chances and making statements?

Is it you?

Mike Masnick has a great new study about the growth of the entertainment industry. The large movie studios and record labels complain to the media and to Congress constantly about what they see as the negative effects of the Internet—specifically, illegal file-sharing—on content companies.

For years, we’ve been hearing doom and gloom reports about how the industry is dying, how customers just want stuff for free, about analog dollars turning into digital dimes… and (all too frequently) about how new laws are needed to save these industries.

Yet, what we find when looking through the research — from a variety of sources to corroborate and back up any research we found — is that the overall entertainment ecosystem is in a real renaissance period.

The sky truly is rising, not falling: the industry is growing both in terms of revenue and content.

Read More At: The Sky Is Rising: The Entertainment Industry Is Large & Growing… Not Shrinking

In a recent Time Magazine article, two brothers who front the indie rock band Two Lights tell how they have been doing some cool things over the past year but have spent a $100,000 doing it.

In the article they say:

This is our dream.  We’re living it.

No, we haven’t spent all our earnings on drugs and limos and parties (although we have definitely been to some parties…). So far, there haven’t really been any earnings.

Instead, there have been big expenses. It turns out that breaking into the world of rock and roll is like launching any career in a field with high barriers to entry: It’s expensive. And unlike law school or medical school, the school of rock doesn’t offer financial aid (not even loans).

No, we haven’t spent all our earnings on drugs and limos and parties (although we have definitely been to some parties…). So far, there haven’t really been any earnings.

Instead, there have been big expenses. It turns out that breaking into the world of rock and roll is like launching any career in a field with high barriers to entry: It’s expensive. And unlike law school or medical school, the school of rock doesn’t offer financial aid (not even loans).

And yeah, we’re learning a lot — but some of the lessons are pretty daunting.

Here’s a quick run-down on our expenses to date:

• Training: $250 to $500 p/month on voice lessons.  Total $30,000
• Rehearsal Space: $50 for each 3-hour session in Brooklyn.  Total $3,000
• Gear; Total $25,000
• Recording: Total $6,000
• Performing: Total $1,000
• Promotion: Total $1,000
• Lost Wages: Total $25,000 (I’m not sure this is fair to count)
• Living Expenses in Brooklyn: Total $18,000

Total $109,000

Abner and Harper Willis are brothers. They grew up in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and now live in New York City, where they front the indie band Two Lights. Abner, 22, is finishing up at New York University. Harper, 25, works part-time as a freelance writer. Find Two Lights’ music on iTunes or download their debut single, “Summer,” for free HERE. Follow us on twitter @twolightsband.

Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal Interviewed Neil Young recently at this year’s D: Dive Into Media conference.

You can check out the entire video on their site with the link below if you want to where Neil also talks passionately about wanting higher resolution in sound recordings on our iPods.

All Things D

KRS-One has a lot to say but make sure you pay careful attention around 4:00.

“Don’t Just Think Its Just About Money, Those Days Will Come…..”

“It’s Scary To Learn Your Whole Career May Be Temporary….”

“We Can Look At The Past And See The Major Recording Artists That Didn’t Last….”

In Order To Last, Be The Real You Man, Take Off The Mask….”

Just Like That….!