One of the most common requests I get from readers of this blog, many of whom are musicians and most of whom are somehow involved in the music business, is to review music. My solution is to have people send a CD to this address:
Tuned In Broadcasting, Inc.
ATTN: Music Business Radio
1310 Clinton St. Suite 200
Nashville, TN 37203
Yes, send a CD. Yes, via postal mail.
I know attaching an mp3 file to an email is faster. I know it's a pain in the ass to burn a CD, put it in a padded envelope, and go to the post office. I have my reasons though...
The big one is that I need some kind of filter from music that shouldn't be released, because the majority of musicians and writers aren't taking that responsibility upon themselves. They have a "churn and burn" philosophy and will send everything they've got, even if it's not ready to be released, hoping that something will break through the noise. They treat the music business and songwriting like a lottery -- the more "entries" you submit, the better your odds are.
The way to break through the noise isn't by adding more noise.
I once did a film project and had an offer from a writer to send "1000 songs."
Music doesn't work that way. Less is more.
A good songwriter isn't like a guy on an assembly line, who gets paid by the piece, and can double his money by working twice as much. "1000 songs" isn't worth anything compared to a single great song, because unlike widgets made on an assembly line, songs aren't identical in either quality or earning potential.
Think about this the next time you submit your music for something. Focus on the great, not the average.
And that brings me to my second reason for taking CDs via postal mail...
By not accepting digital files, I'm giving you an opportunity to be great. You can only stand out so much when you submit a text email that looks like what everybody else is sending. But when you send a physical package in the mail, you have an opportunity to get both creative and personal in ways that email can't come close to.
So get your best song together, get your best package together, and send something memorable to me at the address above. I'll play it on Music Business Radio and review both your package and your music on the air alongside one of my music industry guests.