- 1). Write marketable songs in the genre of your choice. For example, if you're a pop songwriter, you should write simple songs with a catchy hook intended for a mass audience. On the other hand, if you're a folk songwriter, you might want to write memorable songs that involve more personal, thought-provoking lyrics.
- 2). Look up music publishers that publish the type of songs that you write. Make sure you choose a genre-appropriate publisher who understands and markets the genre you prefer. You can find this information by looking at music magazines, CD liner notes, in the pages of the "Songwriter's Market" series and in the databases of the United States Copyright Office and performing rights organizations like ASCAP or BMI.
- 3). Find out the requirements for submitting demos to the music publisher(s) you've chosen to contact. For example, some music publishers want you to submit three songs, while others might ask for more.
- 4). Contact the music publisher(s) you want to submit your songs to by phone, as it's best to talk to a real person. Do a little research to determine the best contact person, if possible, and prepare to make a big impression in the few minutes you'll have to catch their interest. Once you have it, ask for permission to submit your demos. Be courteous and enthusiastic, but don't be pushy. Plenty of other songwriters are vying for publishing deals, and politeness pays!
- 5). Record professional-quality demos of your best, most marketable songs. These can be simple guitar/vocal or piano/vocal versions, but it's best to send fully produced recordings, to give the music publisher a better idea of the song.
- 6). Unless asked for an online submission, submit your demos on CD in standard MP3 format to the music publisher. Include some information about your songwriting history, such as any songs you have had published elsewhere, any TV shows or movies they have appeared in, chart success, and suggested artists the songs would work with. Make sure you include the song titles and their corresponding lyrics, track numbers and track lengths.
- 7). Contact the music publisher and ask about the status of your demo, unless you are advised beforehand not to follow up on your status. Make sure you wait for a reasonable period of time, and when you call, remember the names of the folks on the other side of the line. Simple courtesy can go a long way toward getting your foot in the door.
- 8). Negotiate a contract with the interested music publisher(s).
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