Song Demo Production

If your goal is to produce recordings that have a chance of being heard by the music industry, we must FIRST look at:

Are the songs the right length for commercial release, and do the songs use a song form that is accepted by the music industry today? If they have too many verses, are in an odd song form, or worse, too long, it is game over. They will be rejected before anyone ever hears them. So getting this right is the first vital step.

Song Length

For song demos, it is best NOT to exceed 3:30. Sure, you will find the occasional song out there that does, several from before 1980, but very rare today. When you do see one today, it was most likely written by the artist themselves, and that artist is well established. Unless you are already a well established artist doing your own material (or someone who routinely wins the Lottery), do yourself a favor and keep it under 3:30.

Song Forms

Having your songs in one of the song forms in use today is critical to giving your material a chance to be heard. Most common mistake songwriters make when writing songs for commercial release is TOO many lyrics. Too many lyrics results in songs that do not fit within song forms that are in use in commercial music today. And if your songs are too long, they will be rejected BEFORE anybody ever listens to them. Why? Because even if you have written the best song ever conjured, the industry can not pitch or use it, so they won't waste their time listening. Remember, your songs are just one of hundreds to be reviewed. They will simply move on to the next one that does have a marketable song form.

The most popular song forms in use in country music (lyrically speaking, meaning not taking into account intros and instrumental solo sections) today are (last Chorus being repeated out):

• Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus/Bridge/Chorus
• Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus
• Chorus/Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus (usually an uptempo song)
• Verse/Pre-Chorus/Chorus/Verse/Pre-Chorus/Chorus
• Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus (rarer today)

Of course there are other song forms, but these are the most popular today. As stated earlier, you will find some songs that do not follow these structures, but if you dig a little deeper, they are probably written by the artist themselves, and that artist is already established. Again, unless you are already an established artist (or someone who routinely wins the Lottery), do yourself a favor and use one of the most popular song forms in use today.

Do Your Own Research

By all means, do some research for yourself, don't take my word for any of this. See it for yourself. Analyze the Top 40 Country songs in Billboard magazine, write down their song forms, and discover this for yourself (again remember, these song forms pertain to the lyrical content of songs and do NOT take into account elements such as intros and solo breaks).

Conclusion

If your songs do not fit within these parameters, they are NOT ready to be recorded. While there are ample producers out there who would have no problem recording songs that stand no chance of being heard due to missing the mark on song length and song form, I am not one of them. I will only record (meaning accept money for) songs that have a chance of being heard. The reality is, if the songs are too long, or have excessive lyrics, they will be rejected BEFORE anyone listens. Why? Because it makes no sense to bother listening to something that could never be placed anyway.

I hope you find this information helpful. If you have any questions, or your songs are ready for recording, please use the contact form or call.