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How
Do I Submit A
Song For Evaluation?
You first have to upload a file to your SongU.com locker. This
can be a lyric only or a complete song (MP3 and lyrics). Just go
to "My Locker" to get started. Once you have uploaded a song to be
evaluated, just go through the steps in "My Coaching" to view the
coach bios, select your coach and submit your song for evaluation.
You can get more detailed information and instructions on how to
get started using coaching in the course, GEN 101 - Orientation.
The orientation course should be in your active course list under "My Courses".
Are Song
Evaluations Free For Members?
No, but as an All-AccessMember, you receive a substantial discount
on the purchase of song evaluations. You can purchase SongU.com Credits which you can use for any type
of song evaluation. The table below summarizes the amount of
SongU.com Credits needed for each type of Song Evaluation.
| How Many Credits Do I Need... | |
| 1 Quickie Evaluation |
6 credits |
| 1 Rewrite Quickie | 6 credits |
| 1 Standard Evaluation | 13 credits |
| 5 Standard Evaluations | 65 credits (value price) |
| 10 Standard Evaluations | 130 credits (value price) |
Tell Me
More About SongU.com Credits And Pricing
SongU.com Credits provide you with flexibility so that you can use
them for different types of song evaluations in our coaching
system. You can purchase
SongU.com Credits in any quantity you need by visiting the "My
Coaching" area. As shown in the table below, there is also a small
discount bulk purchases of 65 or more credits (e.g., 5 Standard
Song Evaluations).
| SongU.com Credits Pricing | |
| Credits | Cost |
| 1-64 credits | $1 per credit |
| 65 or more credits | $.92 per credit (value price) |
Do I
Need To Submit A Professional Demo?
No, definitely not. Unlike for pitching purposes, where you'll need a
professional demo, it's actually better to have your song evaluated
prior to investing in a demo of a song. You
do not need a professional demo to submit to any of our coaches.
Our coaches are used to hearing songs in all different formats and
all different qualities. Just a simple worktape as long as the
melody is audible will be enough for your coach to evaluate your
song.
Do I
Need To Copyright My Song Before Submitting It For Evaluation?
That really depends on you and also the country in which you are
living. In the United States, your song is copyrighted simply by
being in a fixed format. But in order to register that copyright
so that you have official proof should you need it, you register
that copyright with the U.S. Copyright office. The truth is that most publishing companies do not bother
registering the copyright on a song until they know they have
secured a cut or the song is being performed regularly or listened
to regularly on the Internet because of the expense. But it
just depends on how you feel about it. Some people don’t fly
planes because they can crash. It’s rare, but it does happen. So if
you’re nervous about someone stealing your song and you live in
the United States, you should register the copyright. Note that
you can save some money if you register several copyrights at the same time
as a folio. You can find out more about current copyright fees and
additional information at:
http://www.copyright.gov/register/
What is a Standard, Quickie and Rewrite Evaluation?
You have a choice of three different types of evaluations when
submitting a song to a coach:
- Standard Evaluation – This is exactly the same evaluation form as you have been using. Members receive specific information on several areas of the song or lyric they submit (e.g., music, lyrics, etc.). This is best used when you are looking for specific guidance on how to improve your song. We’ve updated the look and colors a bit to match the new format, but the evaluation form itself contains the same information.
- Quickie Evaluation – This is meant to be a quick impression from a coach. This evaluation provides a simple list of the categories (e.g. lyrics, music, commerciality, etc). Members receive a letter grade mark (e.g. A, B, C) along with an option "+" grade in each category. There is also an open-ended comment area where a coach can briefly summarize their impression of the song. Quickie Evaluations are best used when you are looking for a general sense of how an audience or industry professional feels about a given song. For example, you might send a Quickie evaluation when you’ve already gotten a standard evaluation from a coach or a feedback instructor. Or, you might submit a Quickie Evaluation if you want second opinions on your song from a few other coaches.
- Rewrite Quickie – This is an avenue to submit your rewrites (for about half the cost of the Standard Evaluation). Any time within 60 days of receiving an evaluation, you can submit a rewrite of the song to the same coach. Just upload your "rewrite" to your locker as a new file (e.g., "I Love You Loving Me -- Rewrite") and then submit it through coaching as a Rewrite Quickie. You'll be asked to select which song in your locker this new rewrite is based upon and the rest happens automatically. Your coach will automatically see both your previous version and your rewrite version of the song as well as their original comments on the song. This will allow them to form an impression of your rewrite and comment on it.
Can I Mail
In A CD Or Tape For Evaluation?
No. Our coaches are scattered around the world and our entire
system was programmed and designed for online use only. The truth
is that learning how to work with MP3's is part of the job
description for a songwriter these days. The good news is that if
you have a song already on CD, the process to get it ready for an
online submission isn't too difficult.
You can get more detailed information and instructions on how
to create an MP3 of your song from CD in the course, GEN 110 -
Preparing Your Audio For Uploading, which should be in your active
course list under "My Courses".
Can I Submit A Lyric Only?
Sure. Just go to "My Locker" and create an entry for the lyric.
After you copy/paste your lyric into your locker, you can go to
the "My Coaching" page where you'll be able to select your coach
and the song (lyric) you wish to be evaluated. Your coach will
automatically know that the submission is a lyric only. Also, be
sure to check the
coach bios when choosing your coach since there may be a coach
that has indicated that they prefer to not evaluate lyric only.
Can I Send A Note To My
Coach?
Yes. When you upload your evaluation, you will have a place to
type in a note to your coach if you want to ask a specific
question. If you need to send your coach a note after the
evaluation has been completed, you will have a link next to the
completed evaluation that is available during the first 14 days
after the evaluation is completed. The link "Send Note" next to
the evaluation will allow you to send a short note to your coach
(without expecting a reply) to either answer a question they may
have asked, or to simply say, "Thanks for the evaluation of my
song". Coaches are provided with your email address so if they
need to continue the correspondence, they have the ability to do
so. Please note that this is not to be used for rewrite
submissions, only short notes to the coach. For rewrite
submissions, you should submit the song through the coaching
system as a
Rewrite Quickie.
Can I
Work With More Than One Coach?
Definitely. That's one of the reasons every coach has a brief bio
online. This will help you select the most appropriate coach for
each song you write. You can even submit the same song to different coaches
to get two opinions on the same song. It's completely up to you.
How Long
Before I Receive My Evaluation?
Most coaches will turn around the evaluation in 5-7 days. Some coaches
regularly turn around song evaluations in 2-5 days. However, some
coaches operate on a longer turnaround time simply because of
their schedules or other reasons (e.g., touring out of town, working on another project,
etc.). Check the coach bio and information to view the current turnaround time for
the coach. If you have not received your evaluation after 14 days,
please submit a support request so we can check on the status of your evaluation.
Be sure to specify the song title and your coach's number so we
can quickly follow-up.
Can I Cancel An Evaluation
That's Pending?
Yes as long as your coach hasn't begun the evaluation of your
song. Just go to the "Pending Evaluations" area on the
"My Coaching"
page and if your coach hasn't begun evaluation your song, you'll
have a link that you can click to remove the evaluation. That will
automatically cancel the evaluation and re-adjust your song
evaluation count. If your coach has already begun evaluating your
song, the link to remove your song will not be present.
What's This "Best Of SongU.com"
Thing?
Currently, coaches can nominate songs for “Best Of SongU.com” that come
through the song evaluation service that they feel strongly about
(only songs that go through the song evaluation service are
eligible). All “Best Of SongU.com” songs are placed in a special
password-protected listening area on the site where invited publishers and pluggers can listen to them. If a publisher or plugger expresses
interest in the song, you will be automatically contacted via
email and placed in contact with that publisher or plugger. Note that
a "Best Of" designation is added exposure for your song.
And while "Best Of SongU.com" certainly means your coach thought
highly of your song and it will be placed in the "Best Of"
listening area, it
is not a guarantee of something happening with your song. Like
anything else with the music business, you should continue
exploring all other opportunities for this song as well and
continue pitching it until something happens with the song.
What's This "Rising
Star Designation"?
Songs submitted to Special Event pitch opportunities can
earn the designation of the "Rising Star" if their song is
marked "maybe" by a special event guest. This designation
indicates that in a highly competitive pitch, the song
stood out and caught the guests interest. Note that this
special designation is not used for Street Pitches or Fast
Track Pitches. Only songs submitted for Special Event
Pitches such as the Triple Blitz or Goldent Ticket are
eligible for this designation.
Can I Revise My Song After I've
Submitted It?
Yes, just go to your locker and revise your song using the
"View/edit locker files" option. Be sure to use the View/edit
files option and not simply add a new locker file for your
re-write. As long as
your coach hasn't finished your evaluation, any changes to the
song in your locker
using view/edit will automatically be reflected in the evaluation you submitted.
Can I Update My "Best Of" Song With My New Demo?
If one of your songs was nominated for "Best Of SongU.com", you'll
see a link in the completed evaluations area where you can
update either the MP3 or the lyric. Just click on the
appropriate link and you'll be able to update it.
The "Remove Evaluation" link and "Edit Notes" link have
disappeared for my song in the "Pending Evaluations" area.
Why?
This means that your coach has begun the process of evaluating
your song. They may have simply given the song a first listen or
they may be working on your evaluation. Keep in mind that coaches
will often listen to a song, but not actually complete the
evaluation until a later date. Some coaches will listen a couple
of times before they begin completing the evaluation. If you still
haven't received your evaluation after 14 days, please complete a
support request so that we can check on the status of your
evaluation.
I know the coach
has looked at my song. But I still haven't received my
evaluation. Is there a problem?
Often coaches will listen to a song, but not actually complete
the evaluation until a later date. Some coaches like to listen a
couple of times before they complete their evaluation. If you
still haven't received your evaluation after 14 days, please
complete a support request so that we can check on the status of
your evaluation.
Help! I'm Having Problems Uploading My
MP3
You can get more detailed information and instructions on how
to create and/or compress an MP3 in the course, GEN 110 -
Preparing Your Audio For Uploading, which should be in your active
course list under "My Courses". But generally speaking, if you have a problem uploading an
MP3, it's usually due to one of the following reasons listed
below.
- Strange characters in the filename - Be sure that the filename itself isn't over 40 characters and doesn't have any strange characters in it like an question mark or exclamation mark. If your song title is "Why Don't They Stay Together?", one example of a filename that might be appropriate might be stayTogether.mp3.
- The file is too big - If the file in question is at CD quality MP3 compression (256k), it may be too large to upload or take too long on your connection. There is a 6M limit on any uploads to the site, so it's important to compress the MP3 file before uploading it. For more information on how to compress the MP3 file, see the course GEN 110 - Preparing Your Audio For Uploading.
- The file actually uploaded but the notification didn't work - Sometimes, that pop-up won't that tells you that your file is uploading either doesn't appear or doesn't disappear even thought the file uploads correctly. Make sure your pop-up blocker is off. Don't forget that you can always check your file by looking at the pending evaluation to see if it appears and whether or not the file plays correctly. If it plays correctly, then it uploaded properly and the notification simply didn't appear/disappear.
- The file isn't actually an MP3 - Make sure the file in question is an MP3 file. Simply renaming a file and putting MP3 on the file extension won't make it an MP3.
Help! My Song
Sounds Like The Chipmunks
There's a bug in the Flash Player audio streamer that causes this
effect sometimes. It's not a SongU.com bug, but a Flash player
bug. This bug often appears if the sampling rate is not a multiple
of the common rates of 11khz, 22khz or 44khz. We are aware of this
bug and have provided all coaches an alternate means to listen to
the song without using the Flash player in the event this happens.
So you don't know need to worry about it because the coach will be
able to hear your song normally.
I'm Getting Different Opinions On The Same Song
Like movies, everyone has an opinion on every song and often they
don't agree. This is a dilemma that every professional songwriter faces. I'd love to tell you it gets better or goes away, but it
never does. You play something for the producer and he loves it,
but A&R doesn't. You play something for one plugger at your
company and he loves it and pitches it while the other plugger at
your company isn't in to the song. A&R, the producer and the lead
singer of the band love the song, but the artist's wife doesn't
like the song so it doesn't get cut. Sometimes you play the song
for the same person who rejected it two months ago and suddenly
they love it. Generally speaking, if you get two different
opinions, you might want to try for a third opinion to see if you
can get a consensus about the song. You can always get another opinion
from a different coach or by bringing the song to one of the
SongU.com feedback courses.
How Do I Create An MP3 In iTunes Using The Right Settings?
You can find detailed information on converting to MP3 formats in
the SongU.com course,
GEN 110 - Preparing Your Audio For Uploading. But
I've included below
a quick run down of the steps to create your MP3 using iTunes. iTunes is a great little MP3 player/converter that's
available for both PC and Mac (you can download iTunes for free
from www.iTunes.com).
- STEP I: Set iTunes to the proper MP3 compression (you only need to do this once)
- Start up iTunes
- Go under edit -> preferences -> advanced
- Click on the "importing" tab
- Make sure the "import using" dropdown box has "MP3 encoder" selected
- Under the setting dropdown box, choose "custom". A box with settings will pop-up
- In the customs settings box, set it to 64kbps (or some value less than 128kbps)
- Uncheck the VBR checkbox if it's checked
- Leave the sample rate dropdown box at "auto"
- Change the channels to "mono"
- Click "ok"
- STEP
II: Create and
Save The MP3:
- Pop in your CD with your song and it should appear in the iTunes playlist
- Right-click on it and you can choose "convert to MP3". Note that it will save it in whatever location on your computer is specified in the settings in iTunes
- You can change that or see where it is by going to edit -> preferences -> advanced and then clicking on the "general" tab
- You should now have an MP3 of your song that you can upload!
What
If I Have Other Problems Or Questions?
Submit a support request and we'll try to
assist.
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