2002 Songwriter's Market (Songwriter's Market, 2002)

ANY SONGWRITER WHO HASN'T READ THIS BOOK IS AN AMATEUR - If you want to look and sound like a pro - this book is the FIRST STEP.

If you are an aspiring songwriter, this book is for you. It has great articles from people in the industry on copyrights, publishing, contracts and royalties, as well as lists of publishers, labels, managers and agents. I think it's a fine place to start your quest on becoming a hit songwriter. If you're realistic about your goals and your approach to getting your songs out there, this book, in my opinion, is a neccessary tool to use. If you want more detail on any of the topics covered in this book, you'll need to get books that specifically address those topics.

If you are a songwriter and you do not have this book on your shelf - it is like a toolbox without a screwdriver. You just have to get this book - It tells you everything you need to know to get better results as you work toward your personal success. Most important: It has the latest names, addresses, phone numbers - What people want and sometimes WHAT THEY DON'T WANT! As always, every edition includes new articles on the Song Market and I usually turn there FIRST when I buy each new edition. Don't go on without this book - you will be glad you bought it!

Most women and 50% of the men in the United States have probably written a lyric to be composed to music. If they are musicians they may do it themselves. Then where do you go? Read Songwriter's Market. If you live in New York, or Nashville, or Los Angeles, or any major city, it's good to get around a bit along with the reading. The bigness of the book may be confusing to some. Where do you start anyway? You start with the Table of Contents. Initiative and persistence do not guarantee success, but it is a more interesting road if you possess these qualities.

Songwriter's Market 2001 is an updated edition of only the best publishers for your potentially written songs. The book also contains very helpful hints on almost every aspect of writing and publishing a song. It even contains a key to show which publishers are accepting beginning writers, intermediate writers, professional writers, and tolerable publishers that do not accept unsolicited material at all. I'm glad I waited for the 2001 - every issue is always better than the last.