Then there is also competitiveness and cliquishness. So there is a lot more going on than simply the quality of the songs. 

I try to figure out what makes one song especially great while another song is boring or annoying. Songs really do have an effect on our soul, whether good or bad.

The music business is more or less a long distance marathon relay. The singer/writer do things first. Usually today most artists that are getting viral attention will come into the radar of someone involved with record companies or in todays world publishers or production companies. There are a variety of "deals" that go on. There are small deals that involve releasing an artists existing material under the banner of a company. There are smaller or intermediate companies, some with ties to larger companies.
At any one time a label might have dozens or hundreds of acts in some form of development. Thousands of singles are "released" each year. Very similar to television pilots, commericals, movies. etc. There are hundreds of thousands of these things that float around all the time. 

There are many things that happen. Sometimes celebrities will "discover" someone and lend their reputation to the artist. Sometimes they are played up in some of the blogs, collumns, etc. They do the festival circuit. They get opening slots on tours. They get "One Off" gigs (just a single show here or there)They do label showcases. 

In Nashville, artists go through a publisher, usually for a year or more, in the background. They go to songwriter's retreats, again the festivals are a large part of this. They co-write with dozens of established and hit writers. This is the point where you are trying to get in on the ground floor with an artist before they  take off.  If you are in the rock, pop, alternative, EDM (Electronic Dance Media) rap, hip hop, etc. there will be industry events like SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST in Austin Texas each year. That now has also morphed into a film festival as well where the new movies are shown for distributors. In Nashville, we have TIN PAN SOUTH for songwriters and THE COUNTRY MUSIC RADIO SEMINAR for country artists. There are also independent and Americana and "Roots" music festivals. Folk has their own festivals, such as Kerrville. A lot of festivals now mix up music, movies, Internet things. STuff like the "Tribeca film festival, Comicon festivals, in San Diego and other places, have various musical events too, each year, where newcomers are showcased, and introduced around at all the "right parties" and industry dog and pony shows. Some of those are done in private parties put on by labels, production companies etc. It;'s all very involved and not "who YOU know, but WHO KNOWS YOU." 

Some artists will be taken to certain areas, to do things, and show the labels or producers how they hold up. I worked with one main artist, Frankie Ballard, for a while before he was signed to Warner Brothers as an artist. This was in 2008, but the same things happen today. Essentially it is very political and very much networking. Frankie, was from Michigan, so he toured in areas through the Midwest, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, doing fairs, festivals large clubs and concert openings for people like Dierks' Bently and Shooter Jennnings. At the same time he came to Nashville to work with me and meet and work with other writers. Tbis developed him in Nashville as well as on the road. He shows were visited by label people and he was showcased in many different places He also booked private corporate functions which paid very very well. 

All  of this takes place over a period of months or probably years. Right now, artists who the public will see in 2022, 23, or 24' are going through this exact process. Word of mouth among the power players at any label have to take place and a lot of other things have to fall into place, mainly luck. Along the way, smaller projects are done, singles are released to radio and it is a constant struggle to fight for airplay and attention. The artists will work 14-16 hour days traveling, doing interviews, showcasing, meeting local and regional television and radio people as well as advertisers, and money people. 

The majority are weeded out as they go. For one reason or another. Sometimes has nothing to do with the artist. Their "teams" may run into trouble with other of their artists. Labels change and fold. Corporate takeover happens. The more you know about it, the less you want to know about it. There are so many things that can sideline an artists career it's very daunting. But you can be assured one thing. If you see or hear someone "out there", someone in the higher levels of the labels, production companies, publishers, managers, etc. know it and are arranging for great amounts of money to be spent on these projects. A new mainstream artist can cost upwards of $2-$5 million dollars to pitch and promote. And they spend that for the artists that fail as well. 

Hopefully the artist catches with the public. With someone like Billie English, she is part of the "Woke Sisterhood" out there these days. This gets her in a lot of ears and eyes in the Social circles, the politically correct things, political rallies, etc. She makes all those magazines you see at the Grocery store, when you check out.  She is at all the "right parties", and this past couple of years that is political events. She gets the odd television exposure. And then I believe the Grammy's American Music Awards, the OSCARS, etc. And the after parties for those. Wherever they find their significant fan base that will purchase their product or merchandise or lead them on to newer venues and outlets.

That, in a nutshell, is more or less how it is done. Songs have about 15% of it. The rest are the power of celebrity, who is behind the artist and the overal viral and public presence they have. 

MAB

You guys have hit on a lot of things that have occurred to m too, especially the thought that the last hundred years when people could earn a lot of money and fame by recording rather than performing might have been an aberration. I don't get the Billie Eilish thing either. I hear better music every day, but I guess it's promotion and production. If you listen to a lot of pop today, the song itself is unimaginative - it's the producer who makes it interesting to the audience and is the star.

As for getting people to listen to your songs. One practical thing I did this year was a musical advent calendar on my Facebook page, a song a day until Christmas. Of course, it's mostly friends and acquaintances who listen, but, if it's one they like, they share it and it's fun to do. That's really all I ask.

Oh, and MAB, not all of us can agree that Elvis was amazing. I can't stand his voice LOL.

Gavin,there were many that agree with you on Elvis. Everyone is turned down. The Beatles, Elvis, Garth Brooks, were all turned down by labels. Elvis was told to "go back to driving a truck." The Beatles were told they would never be more than a club band. Garth was turned down by 19 lables before he was signed ,and was actually signed the day after one of the labels turned him down, by the guy who turned him down. Taylor Swift was turned down by so many record labels because she would never get anywhere without the "Nashville Big Machine" behind her. They named her record label "BIG MACHINE." 

The "Big Money" was probably an abberation. Now it is going to be harder and harder than ever to monetize anything. But since that is part of any part of the industry inside the business, publishers, labels, managers, venues, advertisers, etc. money is a component, it has to be considered, Mostly with those of us who are creators, we have to be concerned with money as to what we spend. 

It's all relative.
MAB

@mabbo

Wow, I never knew it was that complicated. Thank you so much for that summary, which is all news to me. I was mystified about Billie Eilish, but  now it makes sense. Somehow she had the tenacity and luck to make it through that maze. And the political stuff now days is a big thing. Wokeness is so popular now, so if you can parrot the woke narrative that could get you fans.

So I guess that means there are songwriters making a living at it, but only a very tiny fraction of the ones who try. I imagine that most songwriters are introverts, like me, and would not have the confidence or shmoozing skills that are required. 

@gavin

Elvis, and the Beatles, had a kind of energy that was new at the time. Women, especially, could get bowled over by it and have screaming fits. I never screamed when hearing the early Beatles, because I would have felt silly, but I sure wanted to. 

@mabbo

That's interesting that so many big stars were turned down, I never knew that. Imagine how many were just as good but couldn't take all that rejection. Maybe having someone rooting for you makes a difference. Maybe Taylor Swift (who I don't like either) had parents keeping her going through the rejections.

There is always the "IT" factor. That can't be taught or manufactured. You have it or you don't. But a lot can be developed. But being able to ride through all the rejections and down times (which are far more numerous than anything else) is a difficult thing. It is why you build "teams." In our town of Nashville, that has a lot to do with co-writers. There are two reasons to co-write, one being the exchange of ideas and abilites. But also joining the political teams, which are the cliques and inside areas. 

I know a good deal about Garth and Taylor's journey's because I was around for both of those. Garth and I moved around the same time, him a year ahead of me, and we did several demo sessions, shows, and other things, but I did not see him perform until the night at the Bluebird where his deal came together. I did meet him there. We had the same ASCAP representative and had been talked about to both of us in an effort to get us together. It turned out that he had seen me on a couple of times and I even was approached by him and his manager, and they even asked about one of my songs. He was signed the day after the Bluebird show and became the legend.

Taylor was introduced to me along with her mother, her "Momanger" at an ASCAP party a couple years before she exploded. She was one of about 30 pairs of Mother/Daughters all trying to get attention. She was heavily supported by her Father, who helped put an investment group around her. They built the label, the publishing company, production company all around her. She was also signed as a writer to SONY, at 14 years old. She was very well known and very respected at that time. Everyone knew about her, and were expecting some big things from her. She was an amazing writer for her age and basically pretty much blew every one away. I blew off the opportunity to work with her because my age limit was 18 of working with people. Before that, most are imature and have very little that you can do with them. Also usually a LOT of EGO. It is not very pleasent. But she got great comments from everyone including my friend who was a very established hit writer who had written with her. But keep in mind, that there are a LOT of these companies. So just because someone gets help from parents, doesn't garantee anything. Most of those fail miserably.

I just missed on that one. But that is what happens. Always a lot of ups and downs. You just have to enjoy the ride and try to adjust to it. Much is "behind the scenes." And that is very difficult to explain how it works or doesn't. And a lot of time when you are in the middle of it, it's hard to easy to get bogged down in the minutia of life. The key is to never let your highs be too high or your lows be too low. 

MAB

@mabbo

I listened to the beginning of this new Taylor Swift video

I don't hear anything special about this song, and the videos they make now are ridiculous. 

Granted I didn't hear the whole thing and maybe it gets better, but I am sure it doesn't. This is NOT country, and t's not even a good example of popular music. 

Once someone becomes famous, they don't have to be good anymore.

Well, that is different. But Taylor has leading more in the CULTURAL department than anything else. And while you might not be that interested in her songwriting skills on this, you are actually not her target audience. I assure you there is NO ONE that understands her target audience better than Taylor Swift. And far from being the "hiring the right directors, producers, managers, etc. that is ALL TAYLOR. That is the one thing that has been said about her by people that have worked with her, SHE RUNS HER SHOW. She has always done that. 

One of her first big hits was called TIM McGRAW. That was a song she wrote by herself when she was 13 years old. I have met and talked to a lot of people who have helped her get to where she is. But they all claim that SHE is the one responsible for her success. She just has a vision that most people did not. 
Now, she is much more an ICON and involved with the HOLLYWOOD set. But at 13, 14, 15, and 16 where she really kicked off, she demonstrated writing skills that were far beyond her years. I bought her first CD for my daughter (who is named TAELOR, same name, spell it different. Shes three years older than Taylor but was a big fan of hers.) 
Taylor Swift was able to tap into not only HER generation, but the generation of her MOTHER'S and her GRANDMOTHERS. She actually expanded the boundries of country music. Before her, we all gave younger people (and I was one of these too) short shirft because they drifted into the "too young to have life experiences" or came of Disney esque" too much for country. 

But she redefined what was considered country and took over the market. Everyone was following her lead and for good or bad, the era of younger people in country music. all came with her. She allowed her audience to develop with her. Mostly young girls trying to deal with the trying teenage and early 20's ages. She used everything as woman empowerment, and became THE CELEBRITY. 

But we can't judge by our own tastes. We are not in her wheelhouse as far as fans. But you can appreciate things that she can do. I am not thrilled with the current treck she is on, but what does that matter? She is her own person and whatever she does, she seems to do well.

MAB

@mabbo

Her fans probably love this video because it's her, and because of the silly visuals. I believe you that she is a born entertainer and knows how to relate to her fans. I remember having heard a couple of her old songs and I thought they were good. A 13-year-old can write great songs, why not? Could be reincarnation or whatever. 

But now it's just commercial and boring. But I don't like commercial sounding music, so maybe it's good I would not be able to tell.

Hello Polly,

Nice to hear from you. Your last line pretty much says everything.

"But I don't like commercial sounding music, so maybe it's good I would not be able to tell."

That 's really the entire point. This music is not for you. So it stands to reason that it has no appeal to you. I'm very similar. My respect for Taylor Swift, is very similar to my respect for Garth Brooks, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, Stephen Speilberg, Elvis, The Beatles, etc. They all elevated what they did around them, and took it to different levels, making their art accessable to people not nessasarily interested in what they did. They also did it with longevity.

Taylor came out with a level of writing that was unheard of for her age. Frankly for any age. I always point to one song above others that impressed me. One of her first big hits was called "OUR SONG." It was the usual teenage love song and was cute. But she did something we all tried to do, and I always confess I missed it completely. The actual purpose for music is not to do something new." That is physically impossible. So it is more "to present the same thing we've heard a billion times before in a fresh, new light." That is where it gets really hard.

The Phrase "OUR SONG." has been a well worn phrase dating back over a hundred years. Except that it has always been portrayed as "our song was playing when we fell in love, got married, on the radio when Im in a bar thinking about you and our love which is now dead, and of course now, at your funeral" kind of always that sort of thing.
Taylor did it with NOISES. "A slamming door, talking on the phone so your mama don't know..." She did it with sounds and just about every girl from the ages of 14 to 22 said "THAT'S EXACTLY HOW MY LIFE IS!!!" And Oddly enough, those girls MOTHERS said "yes, that is EXACTLY YOUR LIFE!!!!" and then, the GRANDMOTHERS SAID TO THEIR DAUGHTERS, "HEY THAT WAS YOUR LIFE TOO!!!"

So she did the two things that is the hardest to do, yet the most important thing in Music to do: Present the same information in a different way, and present it in a way that their audience could see themselves in the song and feel like she was speaking directly to THEM!

That is why DETAILS and SPECIFICS are so important to today's listeners. Because we are in the biggest ME GENERATION in history and if the audience doesn't hear themselves in these songs, done in a way they have not heard a billion times before, they move on to other songs, writers and audiences IMMEDIATELY.People have an 8 second attention span, and the older style of writing, is a very hard sell now. Modern audiences are more sophisticated than the old days. And the older people don't really get into new music. So that is why it is important to make sure your music appeals to as many people as possible. 

Taylor did that, and as she grew, allowed her audience to grow with her. She was at the beginning of the Social media wave that we all have to deal with now. She had amassed a following of around 250,000 people BEFORE she got her record deal. Before she got her deal she had toured constantly, spending weekends performing at shopping malls and other opportunities to get in front of audiences. She was relentless. And it was mostly Taylor. She understood her audience and related directly to them.

As she has grown she has done the same thing. And while her music is not  MY CUP OF TEA either, I understand why she does it and how she is so far above everyone else in her peer group. She went from a teenager to cultural ICON and has not looked back. 

You can see the parallels in the careers of Elvis, a white man singing black man's music, the BEATLES, a group writing their own songs in an era that no one did that, and Garth Brooks bringing rock energy, stage shows, and excitement into country music, which was usually much more subdude and stoic. AND, doing it consistently over time, and transending their categories. While I don't compare the music, I do compare the career trajectory. Always reinventing always moving forward and always achieving more than anyone else.  

In Basketball, Michael Jordan brought millions to the NBA, that had never been interested before. In Golf, Tiger Woods, the same and in movies, Spielberg introduced the world to BLOCKBUSTERS, quality movies with huge, Universal appeal. I would include he and George Lucas in that category.

In business, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, Technology, Mark Zukerberg, and the pioneers of those industries. for good and bad. They re-invented their particular "wheels." 

MAB

@mabbo

Yes MAB, absolutely, everything you said. 

The actual purpose for music is not to do something new." That is physically impossible. So it is more "to present the same thing we've heard a billion times before in a fresh, new light." 

That is so true, but I already believed it. My goal in writing a song is usually to express something traditional and universal in my own way. I seldom try to be clever or completely different. I love traditional music, the sounds and the themes, and that is the foundation of most of my ideas.

The songwriters I know mostly don't do that. They don't even know what the traditional themes are, and their songs often sound like self-help advice manuals. They have no sense of history, they are living in the modern moment. 

As for Taylor Swift -- yes she started out very creative, and knew her audience and could speak to them. And it doesn't hurt to be pretty (although not necessary). But I think fame can damage a person's creativity and they started churning out songs that could have been written by a machine, without soulfulness. For example, when the Beatles were young they were intense and even their stupid songs could sound amazing. After they got older and broke up, John and Paul's songs were nothing special, in my opinion. 

I don't think it depends on age, I think it depends on already being famous and just riding along on that, no longer needing to pour your heart into the songwriting process. 

Sometimes I am glad that I am not usually appreciated, because it makes me try harder (like Avis). My songs and my singing will have to be BETTER than the famous songs and singers to get people to listen. And their message will have to be universal and touch people's souls in a slightly new way.

So I will keep trying for that until I die. I don't have to reach that goal, I just have to keep trying for it.

I just listened to your song Can't Blame Nobody But Me on youtube, and that's a good example of a universal theme done in your own way. 

I'm not a huge fan of Taylor Swift, not because she is bad, but because there are so many wonderful songwriters and musicians to listen to. However, of all those who are commercially super-successful today, she is one of my favorites. At least her songs say something, and some are catchy.

I was brought up on traditional music. Scottish, Irish, Breton. Fiddle tunes, laments, emigration songs. It's what I listened to most, growing up, and it never leaves you. That doesn't mean you can't appreciate and try other things, of course. Also, one thing I've noticed here and elsewhere is that a lot of the folks who write country seem to be frozen in time. The themes may be universal, but it doesn't hurt to update the furniture 🙂

I like your idea of always trying, never reaching your goal. I have two goals, an everyday one and an unreachable one. The everyday one is to write something that moves the listener in some way, whether it be to laugh, smile, cry, think about something in a new way, dance (or at least tap their feet), take action or whatever. Self expression is all very well, but only in so far as it contributes to that goal.Sometimes I read a lyric or listen to a song and wonder, "Why did he/she write this? What am I meant to feel?"

The unreachable goal is simple - to create something of beauty.

@gavin

Creating something of beauty can be an everyday goal. Beauty is subjective so if I feel my song is beautiful, others can disagree. We have to feel that what we are writing is beautiful. Sort of like cooking -- you want what you are cooking to taste good, not bad. It's the same thing.

One problem though is that when I have worked for hours and days on a song I can get tired of it and can't tell if it's beautiful or boring or just no good. And then when I finally get it finished I might be so relieved and elated that I think it's better than it actually is. So being objective can be a constant challenge.

Then I try to figure out what other people think of my songs, which is another challenge. Some of them say "awesome, love it" after everyone's songs, no matter how bad. 

The best compliment, for me, is "Did you write that?" That means it sounds like a real professional song. But by now most of them know that I write all my own songs, so if they don't ask that could be why.