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April 3, 2024 20 mins

Not every songwriter will get a publishing deal, so we pose some questions to Mark Sholtez that may help songwriters understand how they can succeed as a songwriter without a music publishing deal.  Having had success both as a published and self-published songwriter, Mark offers invaluable insights to this question.

Timestamp:
3:00 - What is an essential element of being a songwriter?
5:25 - Tips for getting in a room with other artists
8:06 - What does having a publisher mean for a songwriter and is it still necessary to have a publisher?
10:40 - How can you make the most of your publishing deal if you’re not an artist?
12:25 - What quality of demos do you need for pitching your songs to artists?
13:39 - Mark shares the key steps that enabled him to get his publishing deal 

About Mark Sholtez: 

Mark Sholtez is an ARIA nominated and APRA award-winning songwriter and recording artist currently signed to EMI Music Publishing Australia. He was the first Australian artist to record for the legendary Verve record label in New York, and his career to date has included collaborations with music industry icons including Tommy LiPuma (Barbra Streisand, George Benson, Miles Davis), Grammy Lifetime Achievement recipient and noted veteran engineer Al Schmitt (Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson), multiple Grammy winning producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Tracy Chapman), as well as internationally renowned artists and songwriters including Don Walker (Cold Chisel), The Veronicas, Iain Archer (Snow Patrol), Troy Cassar-Daley, and Wendy Mathews. Contact Mark Sholtez: Website / Facebook / Instagram 

This episode was recorded at the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival. 

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. 

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Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence 

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