SongLink is one of the most acclaimed and widely-used tipsheets for music publishers and songwriters around the world, providing up-to-date and accurate "who's looking" leads and information to its hundreds of satisfied subscribers, many of whom have successfully placed songs and made valuable industry contacts through the London and LA-based service. Edited and published by music business veteran David Stark since 1993, SongLink's subscribers include all the major music publishers, independent companies, professional songwriters (including many top names) along with selected unsigned writers, who must meet certain standards in order to subscribe.
SongLink provides listings on artists in all styles of music, including Pop, Rock, R&B, Dance, Soul, Country, Blues, Jazz and Crossover etc, whatever is required. Our leads are sent out by mail and/or email each month, along with interim updates, and provide the essential information needed to pitch songs, including details about the act and their style of music, links to their website or Myspace, plus - most importantly - direct contact details for their manager, A&R person or producer who has placed the lead. There are also listings for co-writers, masters and licensing deals wanted, plus upcoming events and other items of interest.
Apart from the subscription fees, there are no extra charges for pitching songs through SongLink. However, in order to subscribe to the service, unsigned writers or new publishers must first supply at least 2 sample demos of their work for subscription approval. Writing or co-writing cover songs is a highly competitive and specialized business, and SongLink is not a service for writers with non-suitable material or sub-standard demos. We would prefer such writers to save their money rather than mislead them into thinking their songs could be easily placed. However, for writers with the right kind of material and who have a business-like attitude to pitching (essential these days), SongLink can provide all sorts of opportunities leading to successful placements, as many of our subscribers can confirm.
It's also worth noting that although our leads cover artists all over the world, especially the USA/Canada and UK, much of our success has been in mainland Europe, particularly Germany, Holland, Belgium and Scandinavia, where A&R executives and artist managers are always very keen to find great English-language commercial pop songs, and tend to respond quickly if they like something. We often list local artists whose names may not be known outside their own country, but are often huge stars who can sell truckloads of records, and who regularly use SongLink to help find their new material.
For instance, back in October 1998, SongLink ran a listing for unknown new RCA artist Christina Aguilera, which was spotted by UK subscriber Pam Sheyne. Her LA-based co-writers David Frank and Steve Kipner pitched a certain song to the project entitled 'Genie In A Bottle', and the rest, as they say, is history. Of course it doesn't always happen as easily or fast as that, but without that small mention in SongLink, who knows if that particular song would have been submitted, or if Christina's career would have taken off so enormously...
In January 1998, SongLink acquired the monthly Los Angeles tipsheet "Crossroads," which was merged into SongLink, retaining the services of editor Valerie Jones and her research team, who today still provide many of the US and Canada listings for SongLink. A few years later we also acquired Cuesheet, the Film/TV music tipsheet, which is published twice monthly and has helped many composers & publishers achieve successful placements in Hollywood, London and other movie markets.
We are also proud to continue our longstanding co-operation with Songs Wanted, the Munich/Germany-based newsletter published by Ellie Weinert - our two independent publications regularly exchange new leads and information, and we also share booths at Midem (Cannes/France) and Popkomm (Berlin/Germany), the two biggest music industry trade shows in Europe, where we meet many of our subscribers and advertisers.
SongLink founder David Stark also visits the main USA music centres New York, Nashville and Los Angeles on a regular basis, and over the years has built up relationships with 1000's of publishers, writers, A&R executives, producers, managers and their artists. David also has excellent contacts within all the main industry associations, e.g. ASCAP, BMI, PRS, SESAC, British Academy of Composer & Songwriters, NSAI, APRA, SOCAN , etc. For further information about David's other activities in the music industry, click to About the Editors.
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