Songwriting Workshops

Online Interactive Song Critique Webinars

Limited to (8) attendees.

Thursday, May 19th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm (CDT— Nashville time)

Wednesday, May 25th, 7:00pm - 9:00pm (CDT - Nashville time)

Wednesday, July 13th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm (CDT – Nashvilletime)

Thursday, July 21st, 7:00pm – 9:00pm (CDT – Nashville time)

Thursday, July 28th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm (CDT – Nashville time)

FUTURE DATES POSTED SOON. If you’d like to be notified in advance, please email Neil at jbsongdoc@gmail.com

Each participant will receive an in-depth, detailed critique by Jason Blume -- including melody, lyric, and commercial potential. You can ask questions and make comments about your critique. All attendees will have an opportunity to share comments and suggestions about every song, so you will receive a full critique by Jason, as well as feedback by your peers.

This is not only a song critique; as issues come up, Jason will share lessons, tools, and techniques that will benefit all attendees.

Cost: $75 (per song; one song per person)

Jason will discuss what publishers and recording artists are looking for, and the melodic and lyric qualities that he will be steering you toward. He will also address how to best benefit from a critique—and what not to do.

Each attendee will receive a copy of every song and lyric being critiqued during the session. Why? Because the webinar sound quality is not terrific and this way everyone will be able to hear your song clearly and follow along with the lyric.

FYI, you will be able to re-watch the webinar for one month after the online event.

TO REGISTER:

SEND AN EMAIL TO NEIL AT JBSONGDOC@GMAIL.COM

YOU WILL RECEIVE A PAYPAL INVOICE AND INFORMATION ABOUT SENDING YOUR SONG.

F.A.Q.:

Which song(s) should I play?

Play the song you want help with. There is no benefit in playing a song you have already released, unless you are willing to revise it.

Does it have to be a full demo?

No. Jason urges you to submit rough recordings. Why spend time and money recording something that you might need to change? All he needs to hear is the melody and lyrics. If you don’t have chords, sing it a capella.

What styles of music will you be dealing with?

All types of pop, country, rock, and Americana/singer-songwriter songs. At this time, no rap, jazz, Broadway, or instrumentals.

What if I only have a lyric?

That’s fine. Jason can critique a lyric.

Should I have the song copyrighted first? Can someone steal my song?

Someone can steal your concept and your title anytime you play your song anywhere—or post it online. Titles and concepts are not protected by copyright. However, having a song stolen happens far more rarely than most people think.

The moment your song is in a “fixed” form (i.e., a rough recording) you own the vast majority of rights to the song. Registering your song with the copyright office confers some additional rights, but most professional songwriters and music publishers do NOT copyright their songs until they are being commercially released. You will have nine witnesses and a recording to prove that you played your song during the webinar. In the extremely unlikely event that there is an infringement case you will be well protected. But ultimately, you have to decide whether you are comfortable with others hearing your work before you have registered it with the copyright office.

Can I sign up just to get my own song critiqued? I don’t want to hear other writers’ songs.

Yes, but we do not advise it. This is a learning and networking opportunity and there is much that will be gleaned by hearing what works—and what does not work—in other writers’ songs.

BMI MusicWorld magazine articles by Jason Blume:

“5 Tips for Songwriting Success in the New Year”

http://tinyurl.com/zs626ed

* * *

“Are Your Song Pitches as Perfect as They Should Be”

http://tinyurl.com/gozq9fb

* * *

"Writing and Placing Christmas & Holiday Songs"

http://tinyurl.com/hroukhx

* * *

"How To Get the Demo You Need"

http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/how_to_get_the_demo_you_need1

* * *

“5 Tips for a Happy Marriage of Music and Lyrics”

http://tinyurl.com/juxfkmp

* * *

“The Good, the Bad, and the Hits That Come From Collaboration”

http://tinyurl.com/job8tbt

* * *

“How Much Would You Pay To Advance Your Songwriting Career?”

http://tinyurl.com/guwcune

* * *

“Pitch Perfect: The Do’s and Don’ts of Pitching Songs”

http://tinyurl.com/qhh88a3

* * *

"Writing and Placing Songs Internationally"
http://tinyurl.com/jozp78u

* * *

"The Top 5 Demo Pitfalls -- and Their Remedies"
http://tinyurl.com/zjb88le

* * *

"The Top 5 Melody Pitfalls -- and How to Avoid Them”

http://tinyurl.com/psg82oj

* * *

"The Top 5 Lyric Pitfalls--and How to Avoid Them."

http://tinyurl.com/jt2wy79

* * *

“I Know I have a GREAT song....now what?”

http://tinyurl.com/gkv3h93

* * *

“Placing Music On TV and in Films”

http://tinyurl.com/mvvmuec

* * *

“5 Tips to Turn Good Songs to HIT Songs”

http://tinyurl.com/ot5afw7

* * *

“Finding Great Song Titles and Fresh Angles”

http://tinyurl.com/p6g658c

* * *

“Show – Don’t Tell; 3 Steps to Writing Better Lyrics”

http://tinyurl.com/pn97ymv

* * *

"What Kinds of Songs Work Best for TV and Film Placements – and How Do You Find Them?"

http://tinyurl.com/m2y4lsw

* * *

"The Art of Rewriting"

http://tinyurl.com/o4oau23

* * *
“Current Trends in Country Music: What’s Hot & What’s Not”
http://tinyurl.com/o3h5tha

Online Interactive Song Critique Webinars

Limited to (8) attendees.

Monday, January 9, 7 pm - 9+ pm CST (Nashville time)

Thursday, January 19, 7 pm - 9+ pm CST (Nashville time)

FUTURE DATES POSTED SOON. If you’d like to be notified in advance, please email Neil at jbsongdoc@gmail.com

Each participant will receive an in-depth, detailed critique by Jason Blume -- including melody, lyric, and commercial potential. You can ask questions and make comments about your critique. All attendees will have an opportunity to share comments and suggestions about every song, so you will receive a full critique by Jason, as well as feedback by your peers.

This is not only a song critique; as issues come up, Jason will share lessons, tools, and techniques that will benefit all attendees.

Cost: $75 (per song; one song per person)

Jason will discuss what publishers and recording artists are looking for, and the melodic and lyric qualities that he will be steering you toward. He will also address how to best benefit from a critique—and what not to do.

Each attendee will receive a copy of every song and lyric being critiqued during the session. Why? Because the webinar sound quality is not terrific and this way everyone will be able to hear your song clearly and follow along with the lyric.

FYI, you will be able to re-watch the webinar for one month after the online event.

TO REGISTER:

SEND AN EMAIL TO NEIL AT JBSONGDOC@GMAIL.COM

YOU WILL RECEIVE A PAYPAL INVOICE AND INFORMATION ABOUT SENDING YOUR SONG.

F.A.Q.:

Which song(s) should I play?

Play the song you want help with. There is no benefit in playing a song you have already released, unless you are willing to revise it.

Does it have to be a full demo?

No. Jason urges you to submit rough recordings. Why spend time and money recording something that you might need to change? All he needs to hear is the melody and lyrics. If you don’t have chords, sing it a capella.

What styles of music will you be dealing with?

All types of pop, country, rock, and Americana/singer-songwriter songs. At this time, no rap, jazz, Broadway, or instrumentals.

What if I only have a lyric?

That’s fine. Jason can critique a lyric.

Should I have the song copyrighted first? Can someone steal my song?

Someone can steal your concept and your title anytime you play your song anywhere—or post it online. Titles and concepts are not protected by copyright. However, having a song stolen happens far more rarely than most people think.

The moment your song is in a “fixed” form (i.e., a rough recording) you own the vast majority of rights to the song. Registering your song with the copyright office confers some additional rights, but most professional songwriters and music publishers do NOT copyright their songs until they are being commercially released. You will have nine witnesses and a recording to prove that you played your song during the webinar. In the extremely unlikely event that there is an infringement case you will be well protected. But ultimately, you have to decide whether you are comfortable with others hearing your work before you have registered it with the copyright office.

Can I sign up just to get my ow

WORKSHOPS & EVENTS

BMI SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS

Jason Blume will provide a constructive critique of one song from each participant and will share a melody or lyric technique. Selected songs are forwarded to up to (10) publishers (depending on genre).

During the more than 30 years that Jason has been teaching this workshop, attendees have had #1 singles, signed staff-writing deals, and placed songs with artists, publishers, and in TV and films. But only a small percentage of songs are forwarded. This event is primarily an educational and networking opportunity; a chance to make your song as strong as it can possibly be. It is not intended as a pitch. These interactive workshops are ONLINE and typically run more than 4 hours. Advance registration is required and these events always fill within minutes.

$75 Registration Fee

Contact Neil at JBSongdoc@gmail.com with any questions.

NEXT WORKSHOP:

A NEW WORKSHOP DATE

AND REGISTRATION DATE

WILL BE POSTED

WHEN AVAILABLE.

* * *

BMI does NOT handle registration for these events.

NOTE: PARTICIPATING PUBLISHERS HAVE REQUESTED THAT JASON NOT FORWARD THE KINDS OF SONGS THEIR OWN STAFF-WRITERS MIGHT HAVE WRITTEN. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR FRESH, ORIGINAL LYRICS, CONCEPTS, MELODIES AND RHYTHMS THAT SOUND LIKE FUTURE HITS.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A BMI MEMBER TO ATTEND –

OR TO HAVE YOUR SONG CONSIDERED.

Online Interactive Song Critique Webinars

Limited to (7) attendees on AUDITION BASIS.

These webinars run approximately 3 hours.

To audition and be notified of future dates,

email an MP3 or link to your song

and a lyric sheet to Neil at jbsongdoc@gmail.com.

Each participant receives an in-depth, detailed critique by Jason Blume -- including melody, lyric, and commercial potential. You can ask questions and make comments about your critique. All attendees can share comments and suggestions about every song, so you get Jason’s critique, as well as peer feedback.

As issues come up, Jason shares lessons, tools, and techniques that will benefit all attendees.

Cost: $75 (per song; one song per person)

You will be able to re-watch the webinar for a limited time after the online event.

F.A.Q.

Which song(s) should I play?

Play the song you want help with. There is no benefit in playing a song you have already released, unless you are willing to revise it.

Does it have to be a full demo?

No. Jason urges you to submit rough recordings. Why spend time and money recording something that you might need to change? All he needs to hear is the melody and lyrics. If you don’t have chords, sing it a capella.

What styles of music will you be dealing with?

All types of pop, country, rock, and Americana/singer-songwriter songs, Broadway/Cabaret, and instrumentals. At this time, no rap or jazz.

What if I only have a lyric?

That’s fine. Jason can critique a lyric.

Should I have the song copyrighted first?

Can someone steal my song?

Someone can steal your concept and your title anytime you play your song anywhere—or post it online. Titles and concepts are not protected by copyright. However, having a song stolen happens far more rarely than most people think.

The moment your song is in a “fixed” form (i.e., a rough recording) you own the vast majority of rights to the song. Registering your song with the copyright office confers some additional rights, but many professional songwriters and music publishers do NOT copyright their songs until they are being commercially released. You will have eight witnesses and a recording to prove that you played your song during the webinar. In the extremely unlikely event that there is an infringement case you will be well protected. But ultimately, you have to decide whether you are comfortable with others hearing your work before you have registered it with the copyright office.

Can I sign up just to get my own song critiqued?

I don’t want to hear other writers’ songs.

Yes, but we do not advise it. This is a learning and networking opportunity

and there is much that will be gleaned by hearing what works, and what does not work

in other writers’ songs.