Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Light Reading about Copyrights from ASCAP

Hi there,

I wanted to fill you in on some music news, but be warned. This is a very meaty article lots of fancy terms and such about the wonderful world of music copyrights (and other copyrights).  I got it from an ASCAP email I received, and thought some of you who are musicians or music supporters would want to read what's happening in the big world of music copyrights. These are some thoughts supporting artists and artists rights (which as an artist and songwriter, I also support!), which are being debated now in the US and elsewhere around the world since the advent of the internet and free downloads, music streaming, etc.


http://illusionofmore.com/copyright-critics-dont-get-artists/


Anyways, enjoy this "light" reading!
Musically yours,
DeDe :)
www.DeDe-Music.com
www.facebook.com/DeDeWedekind
www.youtube.com/1dwedekind

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Thanks for making Ave Maria Medley #5 on Broadjam Classical Chart!

Please listen to my original medley below:

Connect to Independent Music

Many have called this medley one of my most beautiful songs. Thanks! DeDe :)



Ave Maria Medley by DeDe is from her album World of Christmas which won HOLIDAY ALBUM of the YEAR at the 2014 IMEA Awards in Oct. 2014!  Makes a great gift! www.DeDe-Music.com

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Fall News for DeDe


  
  
 It's fall here once again, and it amazes me that just like the seasons, how many changes are all around us...I've been taking a little bit of a break in August & Sept. traveling and working on my music. We've got 2 close friends who are new parents/grandparents for the 1st time! Aren't babies the absolute best? They're so cute and so innocent. They remind us all of how sweet yet fragile life is, and how fast time flies!  Speaking of, I recently co-wrote a song with my new team at Dominion, about dealing with life's changes and time passing, and I hope you like it. It's going to be on my new album slated to be released in Spring/Summer 2015.

      We've been traveling a lot for work, and taking some time to be with friends and family. Starting to think about things like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas...Holidays, and spending more time together and doing more of the things that matter. Speaking of, Kevin D., the President of my new label, has been spreading the word about my Christmas album "World of Christmas" out in LA. He says "This's probably one of the best Christmas albums of the past 10 years. Whenever I'm tired or a little out of sorts, I listen and it cheers me right up!" (Yes, he's been listening to Christmas music in California in September, in all that heat!) I know it may sound crazy, but to me as a songwriter, that's the best part of doing this: when my music can make a difference and brighten someone's day.  So hopefully I'll continue to write more and more relevant music that moves and inspires people.

     Did I mention how much I appreciate you for being my fan? Below are a few fun things going on with me in Sept./Oct. Please come/listen/join if you can!  And, I always like hearing from my fans, so please send me a quick note with your news, okay? Oh, and a free download is below, just for you :)
Thanks!!  DeDe :)


Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014  Chief Guests & Performers at the new Gujarato Samag Indian Community Center Project Fundraiser in Houston TX, at Moguls Restaurant in Clear Lake.

Oct. 4th:  IMEA Awards in Ashland KY. I'm nominated in 9 Categories...I'll also be traveling there as a presenter. To join the IMEA: http://www.imeaawards.com

DeDe performs at the Purple Ribbon Luncheon benefitting Family Time, Friday Oct. 10, 10:30am-1pm  
(Kingwood Country Club). Tickets: $60 per person:  http://Familytimeccc.org/Purple-Ribbon-Luncheon/

Kingwood Trade Days in Town Center Sunday Nov. 2, 2-4pm 
-FREE event! Food, music, fun, shopping...Bring your family and get your Holiday shopping done early and support great local vendors! http://www.kingwoodmarket.com

Alive in the Park, Sunday Nov. 9, time TBA. 
An Inspirational Concert and Speaker event for the entire family! FREE EVENT! Http://Www.kingwood.com/Events/Event_details.php?Event_id=3518&Event_date_id=14521

DeDe @ Amedeos for Post Thanksgiving Holiday Dinner & Show! Friday Nov. 28, 2014 6:30-9:30pm. Last year this was a sellout, why cook? Bring your family to a great meal with appetizer and drink specials and Holiday, Original & All-Hit music! www.Amedeos.net

DeDe @ Liberty Opry CHRISTMAS SHOW, Saturday, Dec. 20th 2pm & 7pm!  Join the fantastic band and guests DeDe & Larry Wedekind for a fun and memorable country Christmas with a touch of classics and rock and roll!  Get your tickets NOW before they sell out: 936-336-5830 or www.libertyopry.com

Please Visit my website here:  http://www.DeDe-Music.com

See my New inspiring VIDEO: "The Plans I Have for You": Https://Www.youtube.com/Watch?V=L5QkeeIXO8s&List=UUX18J5CYy2m3_wTIUqvrsgg

Get FREE MP3 download, SIGNUP for NEWS & HEAR DeDe's MUSIC: Http://Www.reverbnation.com/Deborahwedekind/Songs scroll down to "Blame It On the Summertime" and click on DOWNLOAD (the 2nd time you see it, near the bottom). 

Sunday, September 14, 2014

What does U2’s Deal With Apple Mean for the Music Industry?



Hi, DeDe here,

Personally, I love U2, and I think this was a very smart move for them. Bono has proven over and over through the years that he's not just a super-talented musician, he's also a true marketing genius. Look how he keeps re-creating his music, yet keeps it true to the U2 sound, and it's stayed more or less, quite popular...for almost 30 years.

However, this just shows how truly bad the situation has gotten for almost all of the artists in the music industry. What everyone's not telling you is that U2 got a huge paycheck (~100Million) behind the scenes from iTunes, Apple, etc. But for us non-famous, unknown, hardworking musicians and songwriters, this may be a signal of the final kiss of death for album and CD sales, which 99.9% of us still rely on for survival and in order to keep creating music....

There's got to be a solution here that protects artists, and pays us a fair amount for our new music-keeping copyright protections in place, while at the same time keeping music affordable and available to consumers. I'm open to your thoughts on this, any suggestions or ideas?... http://www.DeDe-Music.com



What does U2’s Deal With Apple Mean for the Music Industry? The world's biggest band have given their new album away for free on iTunes. But what's in it for them?

-From entertainment.ie, Sept. 2014

U2 sent shockwaves through the music industry last night by announcing at the launch of the new iPhone 6 that their new album 'Songs of Innocence' was to be given away completely free of charge on Apple's iTunes online music store.

To say that this is an unconventional method to release new material would be an understatement and it could potentially be seen as a seismic shift in the way music is delivered to its audience. Since the advent of iTunes and, more lately Spotify, the means by which people experience music has been subverted. Purists suggest that this is to the detriment to the concept of the album as a standalone collection of music, as today's listeners seem more content to download or stream a series of individual tracks as they grow their personally curated collections. It's the musical equivalent of separating the wheat from the chaff.

By partnering with Apple and giving their entire record away for free, U2 have embraced the digital age in a way that many of their contemporaries have appeared so hesitant to do and also encouraged fans to download and listen to the albums as a whole rather than to cherry-pick their way through it by downloading the odd single here or there.

But what exactly is in this for U2? Quite a lot, it turns out. Bono has said on many occasions, and as recently as last week, that he doesn't believe in "free" music so it would be naive to suggest that this is an entirely philanthropic gesture by U2. Various figures are traversing the internet this morning about exactly how much U2 will earn from their "free" album and it's entirely possible that this could generate Bono and co. more than any other album they've released in the last two decades.

The Wall Street Journal quotes a source "familiar with the talks" who said U2 were paid an astonishing $100 million for their participation, with Apple only too happy to realign with the group they previously worked with ten years ago to release a special U2 iPod. This move was also presumably designed to incentivise the purchase of U2's back catalogue in iTunes to a younger audience and to highlight ticket sales for the eventual tour on the back of 'Songs of Innocence' (though it's unlikely they would have needed to much help in that regard).

Jimmy Iovine, record producer and co-founder of Beats, explained Bono's intentions further to Time.

"The charts are broken", he said. "The old music industry has reached a low point and hasn't kept up with the digital world. He wants to see the artists' reach measured by how much they're listened to, by whatever medium or method."
U2 are following the lead of Beyonce, Jay Z and Radiohead who in the past have released music either unannounced, packaged with a tech company or free. In fact, Beyonce sold around 800,000 units of her last album within a week (though fans had to pay for it) when it was made instantly available on iTunes and U2 are expected to far eclipse that figure.
What can we take from this? It's a pretty strong indicator from U2 that they think the traditional means for music distribution is broken and what they have done with 'Songs of Innocence' is set a very appealing, if completely unsustainable, precedent. When the sales figures are released in a week or so we expect there'll be a few happy faces around the Vico Road but where does this leave the bands who are relying on album sales to generate income or recoup losses?
Releasing an album for free (or by having Apple write you a Euro Millions sized cheque) is a luxury only afforded to the 1%, leaving countless other bands trying to keep their balance on the shaky ground that is today's music industry.When the world's biggest band acknowledges that the system in place to sell music to the public is broken, where does that leave the little guy? U2's free album will no doubt be a delight to many but it might just be the clearest indicator yet that the system we have in place is irreparably damaged.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

We Miss You Robin!

My sister, actress Missi Pyle, shares a hug with Robin Williams on the set of "The Crazy Ones" in Spring 2014


This is a sweet photo of my sister, actress Missi Pyle, sharing a heartfelt hug with Robin Williams on the set of "The Crazy Ones" this spring.  Robin was really on fire during that episode-the one where he presented the crazy eulogy at client 'Conrad's' funeral. Missi played Conrad's daughter...it was an excellent episode and the whole cast was great.  Missi's thoughts about meeting and working with Robin are posted below, a fitting tribute to a very worthy man. Didn't he make us all feel as if we knew him? -DeDe 


from Missi Pyle: 

     "I didn't know him. I just worked with him. One week last year. He was a huge light. I feel so lucky. He brought so much to us. All of us. So personally. I loved him as a kid watched him in Mork and Mindy. He was fearless and on fire. He inspired me to no end. I wish someone could have convinced him to stick around. We need him. Alas. I hope he finally finds peace. Rest in peace you beautiful man."


All the best music, blessings & peace to you!  DeDe :)



Tuesday, August 12, 2014

The Plans I Have For You by DeDe Wedekind


Please click above to watch & share my inspiring new video of my *Award-Winning song, "The Plans I Have for You" by DeDe Wedekind. 

To hear all my music and purchase visit:  http://www.DeDe-Music.com/Music

*This song just won 2nd PLACE in the 2014 Dallas Songwriting Awards in Dec. 2014. 

*Plans also was a Finalist in the 2013 UK Songwriting Contest. 

-Thanks so much!   DeDe

Monday, July 21, 2014

The Music (Ministry) Business: What Labels Are Looking For

A great post from my friend, Eric Copeland, producer extraordinaire and CEO/Owner of Creative Soul Records up in Nashville.
-DeDe :)

(Okay, so this is about the music biz, but is also applicable to a lot of other opportunities/relationships in life...)

The Music (Ministry) Business: What Labels Are Looking For: "A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament." - Oscar Wilde So as a Christian artist, you perhaps may thi...

Friday, July 11, 2014

A GREAT ARTICLE from TAYLOR SWIFT about Where The Music Industry is Headed...


Where is the Music Industry Headed?
Well, I have to hand it to her, Taylor Swift has managed to write a pretty decent article about the music industry now vs. 10-20 years ago, and where it's headed. Although I'm not sure such a youngster with so much success so early on isn't bit skewed in her thinking, (but aren't we all?), I do think there's a lot of truth to what she says. She basically says that the music industry has completely changed over the past 10 or so years. Its a lot harder to make it and for even good artists to sell their music. And since truly talented artists are rare, it makes sense that our music should be held in high regard. Therefore it should be bought at a price and NOT be free! I never thought I'd say this about Taylor Swift, but I agree!
Read more here: Taylor Swift's WSJ Article about Music

Thanks for reading/Subscribing and talk soon!  DeDe :)

Monday, June 16, 2014

How to Make a Cool (Cheap or FREE Music) Video!


Hi there Friends, Musicians, and Assorted Countrymen (and women!),

Well, now that I sort of have your attention once again, here's some loving advice from a good friend regarding making music videos, or any videos really.  This falls into that new category that I call: TRUE THAT.  You NEED to be on YouTube if you are a musician or songwriter. Period. Yes, ahem I'll say it again: "True That".  If you are not on YouTube you will fall by the wayside if you're trying to promote yourself, your music or a song, etc. Long gone are the days when you could avoid Social Media like the plague and still make it or try to make it (well, you can still TRY...)

You can even do fun lifestyle-type videos for your fans (or even your family & friends), or one to promote a new business or something, but whatever you do, be sure that you make them look and sound as professional as possible. And, there's no need to spend megabucks on them right now. That is, unless you are a super-mega watt superstar raking in the cash-ola, and in that case you should be making them really really professionally (read: totally expensive!), or you may just look cheap.

DeDe :)  www.youtube.com/1dwedekind       www.DeDe-Music.com
Personal Disclaimer: If you look at my vids, some of them are professional like "One Child" and "The Fairy Tale Song", and some are more, shall we say, amateur. But I TRIED to only post ones that I thought had interesting content, and good sound/video, but this isn't always the case! :)

Written by: Gregory Douglass

So many bands and musicians have had success through viral music video outlets like Youtube. The demand for video is only increasing so it’s time for you to get in on the action. Youtube is still the second largest search engine in the world, and in case you forgot, that’s how Justin Bieber was discovered (how could you forget?) You could easily spend thousands of dollars on a sharp looking, professionally-produced music video – but if you’re just getting started, you probably can’t afford that. That’s no excuse for bypassing music videos altogether though. As a musician, you can’t afford not to have them these days, so here are six steps on how to make a music video on your own for free for those of you who are brand new to the world video:

1. Choose your strongest song. Assuming that you’re a recording artist, you probably have a least a handful of brilliant songs already recorded that you can choose from. Be sure to pick your strongest song, but don’t just take your own word for it – get some second opinions! Chances are, your favorite song isn’t necessarily your strongest song – at least not according to everyone else. Ask your fans, friends, and family what they think is your strongest – then do yourself a favor and take their word for it. This should set the stage for more consistent results from the music video you’re about to make. Understand that your music video will be an incredibly powerful promotional vehicle for whatever song you choose, so make it a strong one!

2. Choose your video equipment. Assuming that you already have a laptop, computer, smartphone, tablet, or camera with video capabilities – you’ll have plenty of equipment options to choose from. If you don’t have access to any of these devices, you probably have a friend who would be kind enough to let you borrow something. All of these devices come with some sort of internal camera and video recording capability, so choose whatever works for you. Since you’re making a music video, the audio component of whatever device you choose won’t matter because you’re eventually going to replace the audio with the pre-recorded audio of your strongest song. I use a Canon Vixia consumer camcorder myself – which is HD quality for a reasonable price – but you can use your shiny new iPhone 5MacBook Pro, or something as affordable and easy to use as a Flip MinoHD Camera.

3. Create your concept. What kind of imagery comes to mind from the song you’ve selected? What kind of music video do you want to create? For example, you can choose to create a more traditional, story-driven music video, or a live performance-style music video. With a story-driven music video, you might consider doing some acting or filming various places, people, things, or circumstances that support your storyline or imagery. Get creative here and make the most out of what you have to work with already. Is there anything just lying around the house that you can incorporate? Include footage of you lip-syncing a performance, lip-syncing a studio recording session, or capture footage your band performing the song. This will also work exclusively for a live performance-style music video, and you’ll be better off lip-syncing to your pre-recorded song verses singing it live for sake of better audio quality.

4. Choose your locations. Keep it simple and stick to 1-3 locations for your music video. They can be anywhere that supports your storyline or imagery – even three different rooms in the same house works. Is your song dark and brooding? Consider darker locations with softer lighting. Is your song happy and inspiring? Consider brighter locations with wide, open spaces. Shooting outside during the day always offers ample lighting, and cloudy days are particularly helpful in regulating the light because clouds act as natural light diffusers – so long as it’s not raining on your video equipment! If you want more indoor lighting regulation, be sure to have some good lighting options on hand – such as strong overhead lights with dimmers or spotlight lamps – and experiment with each lighting source.

5. Shoot your video. Experiment with various camera angles and positions before you start recording full takes. You might discover you have a more visually striking side or angle, and you might discover the same about your location. Once you’re ready to press record, plan to perform or lip-sync to your song 2-4 times, and aim for 2-4 takes for everything you decide to film as a general rule of thumb. This will give you more than one option for every point in the song, just in case you had something between your teeth during the first take. Nothing is more discouraging than putting the time and effort into filming just to realize you have to do it all over again, so always create options! This rule of thumb is particularly helpful when you’re filming yourself because no one will be behind the camera to keep an eye on things while the camera is rolling. Consider various different angles for each take so your options are diverse when it comes time to edit. Different angles might include a wide shot, a waist shot, a close-up shot, and a handheld shot.

6. Edit your video. Editing your own music video can be as much fun as creating a concept and shooting your music video, so don’t be afraid to learn. It’s exciting to bring your footage to life, and it requires more of your own creativity. There are some powerful video editing software options available for premium prices – such as Final Cut and Adobe Premiere – but since we’re talking about making a music video for free, lets take a loot at the freemium alternatives. If you have a computer, you should already have access to free video editing software that is easy to use and simple to figure out on your own. If you’re on a mac for example, you should already have iMovie, and Windows Movie Maker for PC.Youtube even has its own built-in video editing application, though I can’t say I’ve tried it yet. Whatever software you use should have the option to eventually mute or disable the audio from your video footage once you import/upload it into a new project. You might want to keep it enabled until you’re finished editing though, as it will be a necessary point of reference for the song as you extract each clip you want to use to lay over the recording of your song. Once a clip is added to your video timeline and matched up correctly to the appropriate section of your recorded song, you can then disable the video clip’s audio channel. Get creative and play around with all the different takes and angles you’ve captured until you have built a completed music video that you’re happy with, free of charge!

Sunday, June 1, 2014

DeDe's Latest Radio Interview...Thoughts on Obamacare, Songwriting, Lyrics, & Other Fun Stuff!

This is the latest Blog Talk Radio show from the famous chef Dr. Geo in Detroit & DeDe!  Music starts at 3 minutes, talk show starts at 31 minutes:

http://Www.blogtalkradio.com/georap/2014/05/06/mothers-day-with-dr-geo-and-dede

Hear DeDe's thoughts on Obamacare & how it can & needs to be fixed!
Hear DeDe & Geo's songwriting and lyrics talk...who writes the best lyrics?
And for Mother's Day...DeDe & Dr. Geo talk about mothers and the importance of celebrating the people & purpose of Mother's Day with all those who are special in your life.
...And how Baaklava... "it's like a stick of butter!"...plus MUCH more! :)

www.DeDe-Music.com
www.Facebook.com/DeDeWedekind
www.youtube.com/1dwedekind

Saturday, May 31, 2014

The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the...Plane? DeDe's May/June News!

DeDe's May/June News!
View this email in your browser

The Rain in Spain...

...falls mainly on the plane! As in every time I travel it's been raining.  So please have safe (& fun) travels now that school's almost out!

Aren't you happy to finally see some good rain here in Houston after the last few summers of drought? Everything's blooming, the lake's high, and spring has finally sprung!
Just a few dates to keep you posted with what's happening here & around Houston for me:

Thurs. May 29, 6-9pm DeDe Live @ Cafe du Bois in Town Center-Kingwood! Hit covers, hot originals & haute cuisine served up 6-9pm!  New management. No reservations required, bring yourself, family & friends out to relax and enjoy your Thursday night-you deserve a break!  www.CafeduBois.com

Sunday June 1st,  2-4pm  DeDe @ Town Center Park, Kingwood Market Days
Okay so it's time to bring the whole family for some serious FREE fun: shopping, booths, vendors, handmade & other crafts/goodies/gifts.  Bouncy houses for the kids, food, shopping & music for everyone, and as Mama always says, "the looking's free". Doors open at 10 and close at 6 (well, there aren't any doors, but if there were this's when they'd be open!)

Sunday July 6th,  2-4pm  DeDe @ Town Center Park, Kingwood, TX.
(Ditto as above)....Please come out & support your LOCAL vendors, businesses, musicians & neighbors: this's a fun, free event and plenty of parking-plus central to most of us right in Town Center Park.  Kid & Pet-Friendly: www.kingwoodmarket.com

Saturday July 12th, 7pm  DeDe @ Liberty Opry's Annual Patriotic & Country Hits Show!
Bring the whole family for some good clean fun and great hit music! This's a Texas legend only 25 minutes from Humble/N. Houston: Liberty Opry (w/ full Band!) on the Square is an air-conditioned auditorium where many music legends in Texas have gotten their start. Tickets are $12 at the door or advance discount: www.libertyopry.com

Well, that's about it for now. Been traveling to LA, Nashville, etc, and have a few label things cooking.  I've also been busy writing for an acoustic album hoping to release this year.  Would love to hear from you, or even better -see you at a show!  And I would love to play at your home, company or church: for a party, fundraiser, gathering, wedding or any other event- and my rates are great. (Really!) Christmas & New Year's dates still available!

Blessings & Peace to you this Spring!
DeDe :)
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http://www.Facebook.com/DeDeWedekind
http://www.youtube.com/1dwedekind
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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

How to Write Really Great Songs...by DeDe

Okay, now that I have your attention, my name is DeDe, and I'm a singer songwriter from Texas.  However, (as you may have guessed!) I 'm certainly NOT going to be able to tell you how to write great songs in one blog, no matter how experienced a songwriter I am!  However, I can give you some basics, so here they are:

First of all, you have to write songs that other people can relate to, and that will move people. They also should be about things you've experienced yourself.  For example, real life experiences like:  love, breaking up, having fun, friendship, a certain relationship, learning lessons, etc.  You should be carrying and jotting down ideas daily in a notepad, notebook PC, or phone for this very purpose.  For example, I went to a class on relationships and they said that love is really about giving.  So I jotted down "It's All About Giving" as a potential song title/idea.  Here are 5 questions to ask yourself:  Do people or can people relate to this song idea/title?  Do people want to hear about this song idea/title?  Can I write enough interesting things about this song idea to make it into a complete song?  Am I able to use this song idea/title to tell a story?  Will it illicit emotions in the listener?  If you answered "YES" to all the above, congratulations, you have the start of a great song!

For example, "I lost my Jimmy Choo shoe, and now I'm hoppin' mad"-Get it? Hoppin!...Well.  Sadly, that's not really an interesting story to most people, sorry!  We just don't care about your shoe, (even if it was really gorgeous and/or overpriced)! You also just can't write that much about an inanimate object, I'm sorry to say, unless it's like the moon or something really poetic. So stick to emotions and experiences that you can tell a great story about.  It is okay to talk about the girl or guy you lost- or even your mother or father...but again, keep it interesting and relatable as to why you are talking about something like that.  And please, please DON'T be depressing! (a BIG pitfall of teen songwriters in angst!)  Also try to find unique ways of saying things and avoid cliches like: "she was like the sun"or "he was the love of my life", etc.  Saying "she had a smile that could outshine the sun", or "I belonged to him, from the moment our eyes met" is much more interesting for example...(These are some actual examples from some of my songs, so please don't steal my stuff!)

Also, you have to have a story that builds on itself. You can't write one line about that great girl you lost last year, and the next line about what you love about your new job.  It has to make sense, and also needs to tell the listener a story that makes them want to stick around to hear what happened next! Also, keep it as simple as possible (stick to one short story that you can tell in 1 song!).  A bad topic for a song story idea would be World War II or something, it's just too broad!  And I have a favor to ask: please also use words that rhyme- whatever scheme you use.  I like them to rhyme, most of the time- at least every other line (okay so that was an example of a rhyme!), but also so true.  Your song should rhyme, and tell a story, stay simple, and what else?  It should also be in matching meter.

Besides not telling a story at all, (or maybe a boring and not real cohesive story) with their songs, this is where a lot of new songwriters totally jump ship- thereby sending their songs permanently to a deep salty ocean grave.  Meter is something you need to use, and if you don't know what it is, you have to learn it correctly and apply it, or frankly, your songs will stink. All it requires is the discipline to put the same number of syllables in line 1 that you have in line 2, or line 3, or whatever your meter is.  For example: "She sells sea shells by the sea shore" has 8 syllables.  So your next line would have 8 syllables (or you can do every other line with 8 and the other 2 lines with another meter scheme, like 9 which I used below for example):

She sells sea shells by the sea shore (8 syllable meter)
Is she a saint or is she a bore?  (9 syllable meter) And wasn't I nice to use the word "bore"?! :)
I've only seen her once before  (8 syllable meter)
But I sure wish she'd knock on my door.  (9 syllable meter)

It can be whatever meter length you have in mind, but all the verses and lines, should at least "match", and not be random in length.  Plus as an experienced songwriter, a shorter meter is less complex and easier to use, and usually sounds better.

Lastly, song structure is another important feature of songwriting. You should have the same (or very similar) meter between all of your verses, and also for each chorus that comes around (the chorus can be in a different meter from the verses, but all chorus's should probably be the same!)  Likewise, you should also have the same (or very similar) melody too each time a verse (or chorus) rolls around, otherwise you risk losing the listener.  This is because with music it's all about the repetition. Our minds like repetition and are drawn towards it -think "It's a Small World After All"...I rest my case. However, as a general rule, the chorus should also have a different melody from the verses; this is just good songwriting and creates some variety for the listener. The typical structure of songs has changed a lot during the years, but today there's one structure (and a few variations of this structure) that like 90% of all pop & country songs you hear on the radio use:
Intro
Verse 1
Chorus
Verse 2
Chorus
Verse 3
Bridge
Chorus
(Tag) Optional

There are variations of course, like omitting the first chorus and doing verses 1 and 2 in a row, but this is the basic way to write today's popular music.  There also needs to be a hook which is at home in and anchors the chorus. The average time the hook repeats should be around 5-7 times minimum throughout the song. For example, if my hook is: "I'm so glad he's mine", I'd repeat this hook 7 times or more throughout the song, mainly in the chorus, and at the end of each chorus to get listeners "hooked" on what I'm trying to say. You can also repeat the hook in the tag at the very end:
Chorus: He's got a smile like a ray of sun
Reminds me of when we'd just begun
And I'm so glad he's mine.  (Hook)
His sparkling eyes so full of sunshine
His heart of gold and his skin so fine
And I'm so glad he's mine, (Hook)
Yeah, I'm so glad he's mine. (Tag/Hook)

So, in review: first you need a good story, keep it simple, avoid cliches, use a consistent rhyme scheme and meter scheme, use proper song structure with a verse, chorus and bridge, and a be sure you have a great "hook" in your chorus.  Now that you have all the basics, let's get out there and write some really great new songs, okay??  And, please feel free to send me a sample of your writing in the "comments" below, and I'll help you with any areas that may need attention, okay?

Also, I would appreciate it if you would Subscribe /go to to my Music Stuff Blog, scroll down, and hit the "Join this Site" button on the lower left hand side of the page so you can get updates, okay?
Take care and all the best music to you!
DeDe :)
http://www.DeDe-Music.com/Signup  SignUp for news and free MP3's!









Friday, May 2, 2014

How TWEET It Is to Be #TAGGED by You! (News from the TWITTER Guru)!

From the Twitter Guru: 3 Twitter Hashtag Secrets

A Guest Post by Bobby Owsinski

Hashtag image from Bobby Owsinski's Music 3.0 blog
If you've been reading this blog for a while you know that I'm a big proponent using Twitter as a promotional tool. The key to using Twitter that way is by including hashtags in your tweets, or the # symbol before a keyword (like "#musicmarketing" which I'll be using when I tweet about this blog). This is one of the ways that people can find your tweet when they do a such for a particular topic.

If you're using them already and you don't find your followers increasing, check out the following "secrets:"

1. Don't be ironic. I know that it's the cheeky thing to post something like #badcupofcoffee or #rudepeople, but that doesn't help you reach the people that you want to reach. To find the right keyword, go to search.twitter.com, plug in the keyword that you think will work, then check out how popular it is and what some of the other keywords that people are using.

2. Limit the number. It's been proven that using more than 2 hashtags in a tweet is counterproductive. It just confuses people reading the tweet. Stick to only 1 or 2.

3. Target your audience. Once again, do a search to find which hashtags fit for the audience that you're trying to reach. I have a list of about 20 that I can mix and match depending upon the nature of the tweet and which audience might like it more. For instance, the list is different for the tweets from this blog, which is about the music business, than for my Big Picture blog, which is about music production. To narrow it down further on that blog, I have a list that's targeted to musicians (#drums, #drummers, #guitars, etc.) or recording (#recording, #producers, etc.).

Using hashtags isn't hard and they can bring results beyond anything you might expect. All you have to do is use them correctly.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

DeDe is a Singer/Songwriter from Texas who uses TWITTER daily to connect with her #fans and the #music industry, check her out at: https://twitter.com/DeDeWMusic and http://www.DeDe-Music.com.  Thanks for the guest post Bobby!

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Absolutely THE BEST Advice I've Ever Seen Online about Artists, their Music, Making Demos, Record Labels and "Making It"! -DeDe :)


What If The Label Says “YES”?
A guest post by Johnny Dwinell of Daredevil Production



So Kelly and I are at a private party with Anthony Orio & friends and we end up in a conversation over beers and cigars about artist development and the damage that happens when artists and/or songwriters get their lucky break too early.  What if you get the opportunity of a lifetime to take a big step towards your dream and you’re not developed enough, ill prepared, or worse, searching only for fame?  In short, what if the label says YES?!?!

That’s right, I said it.  What if the record label or publishing company says “yes”?  Are you ready?

Do you know where you’re going artistically?

Are you prepared to fight for your vision or will you be lost in the crowd with your hat in your hand?

Do you understand the hustle of the business and how to operate intelligently within it so you can capitalize on the coming momentum?

The NFL has classes that all rookies are required to take to deal with this instantaneous rise in the players brand awareness and cash flow, but they certainly DON’T offer this in the music business.  In fact, they would prefer you don’t know; more money for the powers that be.

You can’t just stick your toes in the water; you have to be ALL IN.  To make a living, you have to be a student of the game.  If you don’t know your business, you’re being lazy.  Trust me, THEY WILL know your business because they’re professionals and you will suffer for your lack of knowledge one way or the other.

What if the Publishing Company Says YES?