Great Links

I want all of you who visit my website to have access to some of the great songwriter resources that are available on the Internet. I shall try to update this regularly, and will be happy to consider any links you wish to suggest to me. Please send suggested links of general interest on the 'Contact Pamela' form.

STUDYING SONGWRITING:

SONGU.COM

Many of you have written to me and asked for information as to where you can study songwriting. It is especially difficult if you do not live in one of the areas where the music business is centered, such as Los Angeles, Nashville, or New York. Thus, I'm happy to tell you that there is a new alternative for you. It is called SongU. It is literally a songwriter's online university. You can access it at www.songu.com

At www.songu.com you can take classes at your own pace, interact with teachers and with each other, find chat rooms in which you can meet other songwriters for collaborations. It can really open up your horizons! Tell them I sent you!

I have created a course at SongU.com entitled "Thinking As A Lyricist" which has now been instituted. It is a four-part course to help songwriters "think outside the blocks" and be more inventive. Think you know all the rules? Here's a whole new perspective on songwriting for you! Join SongU.com and take this and many other excellent songwriting courses in this virtual songwriters' university.

LEARNING ANNEX

I have given two classes, and been invited to join a panel discussion for this worthy organization. They get some wonderful teachers in every subject imaginable. Those of you lucky enough to be in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York, and Toronto areas: Watch the Learning Annex's website http://www.learningannex.com for great music industry classes all year round!

U.S. Performing Rights Societies:

www.ASCAP.com (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is a P.R.O wholly owned by songwriters and music publishers)

www.SESAC.com (This is a privately held P.R.O.)

www.BMI.com (Broadcast Music, Inc. is a P.R.O. owned by broadcasters)

The Library of Congress:

For copyright basic information: Copyright basics

To download copyright forms (Form PA) for copyrighting individual songs or song collections, go to Download Form PA

SONG PLUGGING:

TAXI:

It can be difficult to decide what to do with your songs once they're written. "Song plugging" is in many ways a lost art. Since many artists write their own songs, and there are only a few slots open on any album, you need a way to have your songs evaluated for commerciality, and to get them into the hands of those who can potentially place them.

http://www.taxi.com TAXI is the leading independent A&R company helping unsigned bands, artists and songwriters get record deals, publishing deals and placement in films and TV shows.

SONGWRITER ORGANIZATIONS:

SONGWRITERS RESOURCE NETWORK:

Go to the www.songwritersresourcenetwork.com website to find a great support group, with all sorts of information and help for aspiring songwriters, along with their wonderful Great American Song Contest which they sponsor every year. Check them out!

SONGWRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA

A most valuable resource for songwriters, an organization that has been around for decades, founded by some of the greatest songwriters in the business, it is national in scope, with offices in L.A., New York and Nashville. They have seminars and up to date info on Industry news. Check out SGA at http://www.songwritersguild.com/