Yodelgoat

One of the reasons for signing up here is to see if I cant get more motivated to actually finish a song. I have over 2 hours of mostly completed music, that I have not been able to get done in over 5 years. Over the past 5 years I've been building a studio in my barn including building an acoustic drum kit that one day I hope, will actually sound good. So far its been less than what I'd like to hear. Not completely terrible, just not as good as I need to get it before it is used on one of my songs. One thing I have learned over the years is I hate finishing a song, and then later realize I should have done better - not Could have done, but "should" have done better. In 2005 I finished an album using programmed drums, and it got picked up for distribution by a label, - I find myself wishing I had used real drums now, and I'll probably redo the drums on that album just for my own pleasure, once I have the sound down. I really enjoy creating music, I work out of my home and often pick up my guitar when things get slow during the day. I'm always composing long songs that are more like soundtracks than a normal 4 minute long song. I love epic music. Over the years I have written many short songs that I was trying to turn into radio hits. I have discovered that I'm not destined to be a hit songwriter - if such a thing even exists anymore, so rather than follow the normal models of writing commercial music - I write music that is more free flowing - 10 to 25 minutes long. More like Music was before the advent of radio, when you made songs to fit between commercials. Classical music followed longer - and more complex musical structures. I like applying that to Rock/folk/whatever themed music - I guess that makes me a "progressive music" songwriter. Though I prefer melodies over a series of oddly arrainged time signatures and notes played by odd, but superbly talented musicians. I do have some samples of my songs from 2005 at: www.myspace.com/jaugernautad

Too many people have unrealistic expectations about getting rich in todays music environment - or to even break even. Exceptional music will always be appreciated, but it will not always make money. Think of your favorite song - chances are, the person who wrote it didnt make any money on it - or very little money. If that song is under 10 years old, chances are, they lost their shirt on it. Doesnt mean they regret they ever wrote it, but you have to approach the business of music with your feet firmly on terra-firma. There is more great music than there are buyers. I wanted to append this post because I have some pretty strong I deas about how labels are surviving in the age of downloads and dwindling CD sales. A label always considers its own survival as being superior to the survival of its artists - its obvious, without them, you are nothing, so, the will do whatever it takes to stay in business. Remeber that they will always pay themselves before they pay you what they have agreed to pay you. If you were on a typical small to mid sized label, you will likely see "expenses" increase as your CD sales increase - just enough to keep them from having to send you a check. You are at their mercy as far as reporting sales. My label also sells my CD in electronic format - funny, how Ive never seen a single electronic sale on my Quarterly report, though I've sold over a thousand CD units. the math just simply indicates that the label is pocketing the digital sales and not reporting them to me. electronic sales account for about 20 percent of all sales and having zero electronic sales and over 1000 units sold simply makes no sense whatsoever. This may not be the case with all labels. The sad reality is, I think my label is pretty typical. They simply do not believe our contract is enforceable from my end. I have to request my quarterly reports - usually several times, before they are sent. This year I have only seen one. After multiple complaints I have determined that I just need to move on and not bother with them any more. Every label will pay itself before it pays you, and then somehow the books always reflect enough expenses that you still owe them. I'm not stupid, I can tell when I've been owned. The rule I will live by is that an agreement or contract is only as good as the person you make the agreement with. Trying to enforce a contract using the force of law is simply not feasable unless you have more money than you know what to do with. Labels arent going to do more than they are forced to do. Thats general music business knowledge. My label would defend itself by saying " you made the agreement, We were assuming you are a grown up and knew what you were getting into" - I was strongly encouraged not to sign, but just continue on my own, but I thought: " Unless I try, I will always wonder what could have been" So I went for it. I've lost around 10k. I'm past the point of complaining - its just a fact now. Please, dont get tied up with a label unless they are sharing in your sacrifice ( with money up front, or putting up manufacturing costs). My label has, and is still making money off my CD. I havent, nor do I expect to anymore. My sales could be higher than have been reported. I will never know. You are much better off with 850 CD's in your own basement, than 4000 in someone elses.

I am always composing and recording my own music and I'm looking for someplace to perhaps find a little inspiration, talk about why an old man would still be composing music after 30+ years. I'm not selling anything here, just would like to talk to others who may be up to the same thing, perhaps talk a little technology, recording methodology, songwriting skills, lyrics,- whatever. I have been doing this for a long time and have released material from the early 80's onward. Not really interested in creating CD's anymore, but love creative process. At this point I seriously believe that the "industry" side of music is a broken business model. I have an ongoing distribution agreement with a label, but I've decided to just write music without commercial consideration and certainly I would advise anyone to avoid going the traditional label route. Anyway plenty of time to discuss that. I just wanted to introduce myself and see if anyone is interested in music- and songwriting/composition part - in other words... the important parts.