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'One Minute With Dec'

The widest read, 'delivered to your Email box', weekly music Ezine on the Music Net.

The Archive - '3'

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Written by Dec Cluskey with a little bit of help from his friends.

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This Email first mailed to all Members of 'The Serious Writers Guild' and subscribers to 'One Minute With Dec' on

17 Jan 2008

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'One Minute With Dec'

The Music Industry's Insider.

Since 1996

Dedicated to Multiplying your Music Income!

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[-The views of any contributor to 'One Minute with Dec' are not necessarily the views of Dec Cluskey-]

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"My Emails Are Written With Good Humour And Should Be Read With A Smile"

[-The views of any contributor to 'One Minute with Dec' are not necessarily the views of Dec Cluskey-]

"A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more
than much knowledge that is idle." Helen Keller

Menu:

What is a Producer [for once and for all?]
How about a competition? [ the entries are rolling in]
CEntrance announces AxePort USB Direct Box [good news for recording guitar to computer]
Pandora, blocks access to UK users from today.[ is PRS right? ]:
Success Stories [MEGA!]
Subscriber's Section [ Should I have companies do demos for my lyrics? ]
The gags: ..... Willy again! SENIOR DATING?

What is a Producer [for once and for all?]

I get a call at least once a week asking me how to get out of the embarrassing mess which occurs when a 'deal' is not agreed with a 'producer' before the studio lights are switched on. I put the word producer in inverted commas for a reason.

A PROGRAMMER is not a producer.... let's start by getting that straight for once and for all. Sadly, in the past few years guys have blurred the definition of 'producer' by making this tragic and often made mistake. Most programmers like to call themselves producers.... they are definitely not! UNLESS the project is a sole project [say a dance or chill track].with no one else involved [he may co-produce it with a colleague]. A remix guy could be 'borderline' a producer.

A producer does the following [after satisfying himself that the track has Hit Potential]:

1) Does a deal up front with the artist or label for a small 'out of pocket' expenses amount plus a percentage of the sale price of the record and sometimes a percentage of the writing royalties if he substantially changes or adds to the already written tune [this always has to be agreed]. I give precise methods for dealing with this in 'How To Make A $Million From Your Music'

2) Acquires the song [either from the artist he is producing but more often from a 'hit writing' source with a good track record of hits - which he has access to]

3) Books the studio, the engineer, mix engineer [but usually the producer mixes], the musicians, session singers, arranger [if using musicians and/or a full orchestra] programmer and the Mastering facility [separate to the studio]

4) Oversees the music session, getting the very best from the arrangement/programming. Directs the vocal session/overdubbing and usually designs and executes [probably with the arranger] the vocal arrangement. This is the most important function of a Hit Producer: creating and moulding the Hit performance of the vocals. It would be extremely rare for a programmer to have any of this knowledge.

5) Organises the payment of all concerned, keeping careful notes, receipts, invoices etc. He may have a budget to work to [usually does]

6) Mix all the various mixes required to the satisfaction of the client/record company ... although, if he has had many hits, it is wise not to interfere.

7) Arrange the schedule for Mastering the mixes. This is one of the most important parts of the whole process and a great producer will know to book the best Mastering Engineer and leave it to him.

8) Although not in his remit, if the track stinks of a hit, he will take it immediately to his tame record companies who rely on guys like him for potential hits. He will then acquire a small percentage from the record company [an introducing fee/percentage] or negotiate the same with the client/artist.

So there you have it .... let me repeat: "A PROGRAMMER is not a producer". And certainly Harry, who owns the studio, and has been the resident engineer for 17 years is not a producer. Not by a long shot [ask him how many Number Ones has he produced?]

The programmer is entitled to a fee, [as an arranger would get a fee] just the same as the arranger, musicians, session singers and the engineer. He is NOT entitled to any royalties whatsoever [except PPL - but we won't go into that here. If he doesn't know about PPL then he should join The Serious Writers Guild and find out!]. PPL royalties are paid to all the musicians etc. who play on the track who let their involvement in the track be known to PPL - not YOUR responsibility ... it is theirs.

The only one concerned who may get a percentage [agreed up front] is the dedicated 'producer' ... as described above. If you are commissioning the work on the project and booking the producer, make sure to pay for EVERYTHING ... that way YOU own EVERYTHING! Whoever pays OWNS!

And finally, you would be surprised how little the percentage that a proper producer earns. But when he is producing, say, twenty hits in a year, those percentage points add up to serious dosh. And also it creates a rather large pension for him.

"The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no
vision." Helen Keller

How about a competition? [ the entries are rolling in]

Have you entered our competition for 2008? The most questions I always get are about equipment that will improve a vocal.

So I thought I would lay out a list of all the ways that most guys feel a vocal can be improved .... I will post what the Industry considers to be the most important .... in order ... on a site page within www.makehits.com with the reasoning's. I will reveal the page when I announce the winners - so you know that it is all for real. the order will be determined by a bunch of my Successful Industry studio pals.

The winners will be those who guess the right order or get closest to it. The winners will be published in 'One Minute'.

PRIZES: First Prize: A full Demo Consultation [value $97 - £57.70] Plus "57 Secrets of a Hit Record" [value $100 - £57] Plus "So You're Thinking of Recording Guitar" [value $73.97 - £37.77]

Second Prize: "57 Secrets of a Hit Record" [value $100 £57] Plus "So You're Thinking of Recording Guitar" [value $73.97 £37.77]

Third Prize: "So You're Thinking of Recording Guitar" [value $73.97 £37.77]

Simply put the following list in order, cut and paste and email back to mailto:dec@makehits.com .CLOSING DATE 24 Jan 2008

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< cut and paste below

The Microphone, the preamp, the digital recording medium, the compressor, the effects unit/units, the monitor speakers, the ambience [acoustics] of the monitoring area, the earphones used, the ambience [acoustics] of the recording space, the performance of the vocalist, the experience of the producer, the mastering of the finished product, the skill of the vocal track editor, the amount of rehearsal time used by the vocalist.

<<<<<<<<<<<<< cut and paste above

"Demo Consultation" details: http://www.makehits.co.uk/demo.htm

"57 Secrets of a Hit Record" details: http://www.makehits.com/57Secrets.htm

"So You're Thinking of Recording Guitar" details: http://www.makehits.com/recordingguitar.htm

"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."

Helen Keller

CEntrance announces AxePort USB Direct Box [good news for recording guitar to computer]

CEntrance has announced a new hardware product: the AxePort Pro USB Direct Box, ideal for all guitar and bass players who want to record at home or on the road.

Though more tubular than a traditional direct box, AxePort Pro offers 24-bit/96kHz performance and a USB interface for guitar and bass players. AxePort Pro offers a complete package for recording with almost any DAW on Windows VP/Vista and Mac OSX. Plug a 1/4-inch cord into AxePort from your electric guitar or bass - or acoustic with built-in pick-up - and start recording immediately.

Musicians recording on the road will especially appreciate AxePort Pro's compact size, rugged aluminum chassis and USB bus power drawn straight from your computer, even laptops (no wall warts or batteries). AxePort Pro features the same loud headphone preamp and knobs for input and output level as sister product designed for XLR microphones, MicPort Pro.

AxePort Pro is also bundled with Guitar Combos amp emulation software from Native Instruments, the CEntrance ASIO/GSIF Universal Driver, a handy belt clip, 3-foot guitar cable, 6-foot USB cable, and a velvet carrying pouch. For more information, visit www.AxePort.com

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief
duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."

Helen Keller

Pandora, blocks access to UK users from today.[ is PRS right? ]:

15th January was a sad – and frustrating – day for UK music fans. Pandora, the fabulous online music recommendation service, blocks access to UK users from today. Excessive royalty fees imposed by PPL and MCPS/PRS means that the non-subscription, advertising-supported business model just won't work. Tim Westergren, Pandora's founder, wrote to the user list, stating, "We have been told to sign these totally unworkable license rates or switch off, non-negotiable… so that is what we are doing."

I read elsewhere that in the US, the RIAA are charging internet broadcasters a flat fee per song, a fee that will increase every year, and this is also damaging Pandora.

Let's hope these rather uncompromising moves by royalty collection agencies around the world don't kill free, ad-supported internet radio stations. How would that benefit anybody?

"I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because
I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I
can do." Helen Keller

Success Story [Mega!]

Hi Dec

Brand new song 'In The Town' - featured on the trailer of the New York movie maker James C ferguson's 'Happy Holidays'

Harry Williams

"Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may
come tomorrow. You have set yourself a difficult task, but you
will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy in
overcoming obstacles." Helen Keller

Subscriber's Section [ Should I have companies do demos for my lyrics? ]

Hi Dec,

My name is J ***

I had a few questions I would like to ask. I only write lyrics how can I get them seen. Should I have companies do demos for them. Should I have someone private make melodies for my song. I know at the present i'm not a known song writer but I see myself as a big time artist. I am working on learning to play instuments as well as singing. Should I try to join a major label or what.

Thanks
J***

My Reply:

Our rules are "one short reply to ONE question FOR NON-MEMBERS, Members of 'The Serious Writers Guild' have unlimited personal access to Dec by direct telephone, Fax and Email, apply at https://secure.mistral.co.uk/makehits/swgappsecure.htm ".

J ***

It would be good to know your age? Very important. [since found out he is 27]

<<<<<< I only write lyrics how can I get them seen.>>>>>>>>>

Commercial, potential hit lyics are the gold dust of our business. Where would Elton John be without his lyricist Bernie Taupin? My good friend Don Black told me that currently he is earning from over 7,000 titles ... he only writes lyrics ...he wrote 'Phanton of the Opera' lyrics.

The most important thing you have to do is find a collaborator ... as Sir Paul McCartney said: "Words without music are poetry"

The Serious Writers Guild [ http://www.makehits.co.uk/swgintro.htm ] at any time, has over 100 Members actively looking to co operatate with others in songwriting and music making. http://www.makehits.com/collaboration.htm

<<<<<<<Should I have companies do demos for them.>>>>>>>

In my experience, the companies, who do this sort of service, supply a very competent product but sadly the music bears little resemblance to what is required in 2008. In other words, it does not stand up to comparison with the top three today. They do it to a price and at £85 - £150 you wouldn't even get me out of bed !!!!!!!!!!!!! And they have 4 musicians, usually, the time taken writing the music parts, the singer's time in learning the song .... oh by the way, the most important part is that they never have vocal arrangement [back singers etc.] which is an ESSENTIAL part of a today record/demo.

<<<<<<<<Should I have someone private make melodies for my song>>>>>>>>

I would say that was essential ... but 'audition' any prospective collaborator. They have to be 'hungry to make a $fortune' in our business ... the last thing you want is an 'open mike guy' who is intent on making 'good music' [whatever that may be?]

<<<<<<<< I know at the present i'm not a known song writer but I see myself as a big time artist.>>>>>>>>>

So you have to understand that you are up against the guys who have studied and dedicated their whole lives to writing commercial, sellable, dosh making potential hit music. Ask yourself the simple question: "where would Leona Lewis's producer go to for her next Number one ... you?" ... or the guys who have dedicated their lives to studying and learning the skills and methods of writing and making Number One Records?

<<<<<<<< I working on learning to play instuments as well as singing. Should I try to join a major label or what. >>>>>>

It is essential to have a working knowledge of all the aspects of making hit records to be even looked on as being serious.

'Trying to join a major label' is well nigh impossible without proving that you actually know what you are doing as regards writing and making hit music.

The only place I know to get the knowledge necessary is 'The Serious Writers Guild' ... a bunch of successful writers and music makers who have direct access to me for all their worries and questions.

Simply apply for membership by purchasing 'How to Make A $Million From your Music' at https://secure.mistral.co.uk/makehits/swgappsecure.htm

Regards

DEC [Cluskey]
mailto:dec@makehits.com

The best product list in the 'success in music' business:

http://www.makehits.com/products090707/index.html

https://secure.mistral.co.uk/makehits/swgappsecure.htm or fast cred*it card line: +44 1323.728005 or UK 01323.728005

Make it a Great Week ......

Dec contact Dec direct at dec@makehits.com He answers every Email.

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The gags: ..... Willy again! SENIOR DATING?

Dorothy and Edna, two 'senior' widows, are talking.

Dorothy: 'That nice George Johnson asked me out for a date. I know you went out with him last week, and I wanted to talk with you about him before I give him my answer.'

Edna: 'Well, I'll tell you. He shows up at my apartment punctually at 7 P.M., dressed like such a gentleman in a fine suit, and he brings me such beautiful flowers! Then he takes me downstairs, and what's there but a stretch limo... a limousine, uniformed chauffeur and all. Then he takes me out for dinner... a marvellous dinner... lobster, champagne, dessert, and after-dinner drinks. Then we go see a show.

Let me tell you, Dorothy, I enjoyed it so much I could have just died from pleasure! So then we are coming back to my apartment and he turns into an ANIMAL. Completely crazy, he tears off my expensive new dress and has his way with me two times!'

Dorothy: 'Goodness gracious!... so you are telling me I shouldn't go out with him?'

Edna: 'No, no, no... I'm just saying, wear an old dress.'

============================================

How to set up a Demo consultation with Dec?

The Professional service the Professionals use. Even available for voice and guitar!

Simply get in touch by Email - click this link: demo@makehits.co.uk and tell me that you want to send your material for a full critique and appraisal. We will then send you a unique PIN number to put on your letter or Jiffy Bag. This will ensure you get immediate attention. This is also for security reasons. We do not open unsolicited Jiffy Bags.

For full details click on this link: www.makehits.co.uk/demo.htm

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