Songwriter software, resources online...

Hi have a lot of links, mainly dealing with country songwriting and publishers etc, some up to date, some I'm not sure of. If you want them let me know.

i'd love to check them out... thanks!!

Check some of these out for starters, not sure what ones are updated, although DIFS always is.
www.countrymusicbusiness.com www.songpublishers.com/roster.asp. www.songwriters.org http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DIFS/ www.songwritersresourcenetwork.com/index.html

Dolores, Bumper, just looked at these resources and some of em look great. Hours of fun to be had. Just checked out John B on sending out demos and learnt a lot already. Thanks a lot for this. Nice to see some positive stuff still happening around here!

same here. Most, nearly all in my head; write first draft on paper, and finally, when it's finished (almost) I get it in my database and review the song.

I like the pen in hand approach.

Hey this thread just reminded me, a few months ago when we got stuck for lyrics we fired up a programme at me mate's place, some sort of poetry generator. Don't know the package, think it was online somwhere, think there are a few out there. It came up with some wacky lyrics but it got us going and we got a melody and then just changed bits as we went back over it. Started with a great line 'convince me to love you slowly' and we took it from there. Sort of kick started us and then our creative wotsits fired in hth

I don't see how using a program is writing? Wouldn't the software be doing half of it for you? Thus the software share in the writing credits?

To me it seems there is little difference between using software to help create than using a dictionary, thesaurus, rhyming dictionary, etc. The software I've been describing just automates these processes and other processes the artist does already, though laboriously so. Certainly any difference between using the software I've been describing and just using a paperback dictionary, thesaurus, and rhyming dictionary is quantitative rather than qualitative (although I would agree that the quality of work produced might be different).

Until software could actually write and produce an entire song (And we are nowhere near that point today), most of the work still has to be done by an artist.

Using a program to aid in writing does make it any less writing than any other tool an artist uses. The program is simply a tool. It will not produce anything without a person, and it will not produce anything but crap without a skilled artist using it.

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: I don't see how using a program is writing? Wouldn't the software be doing half : of it for you? Thus the software share in the writing credits?

Tools, just tools. I don't give Microsoft credit when I use their word processor, nor Roget for using a thesaurus, not Webster for using the dictionary.

=Bob= bob -at- threestrands -dot- com

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: >Tools, just tools. I don't give Microsoft credit when : >I use their word processor, nor Roget for using : >a thesaurus, not Webster for using the dictionary. : >=Bob= : >bob -at- threestrands -dot- com : : Maybe I'm not understanding. Didn't someone say the program in question comes : up with phrases and sentences and such to match/fit your rhyme? If so and the : writer used those lines, that to me is the software doing the thinking and part : of the writing. I think under those conditions I would agree with Jon that some : writing isn't from the heart.

A knitting needle can be a weapon, and can be used to create items of beauty. But the needle is not making anything at all, the person using it is. Making things that, without the knitting needle, might be impossible to create otherwise. And if we use your own words, if they love what they are doing, it's from the heart.

=Bob= bob -at- threestrands -dot- com

What you said was 'a program'. But the specific circumstances you describe with the program that was referenced, yes, that particular line would not be 'by the author' but the fact they decide to use it, they fit other things around it, and so on, makes it thier work. And probably 95% of what such a program would give you you wouldn't use. So it generates ideas but doesn't necessarily 'write for you'... a junior cowriter that doesn't expect to share credit.

If someone borrows a line or two or a plot from the Bible, or a newspaper Headline, or a famous old (public domain) book, and uses it in a song, is this plagerism? Or would in this case the Bible or Headline or old book be doing the thinking and part of the writing?

I don't think the software amnesiac jimmy mentioned or the kurzweil cyberpoet can write things that are good enough to be used without significant tweaking and rewrites. but they can give you good ideas i'd