How to Get Song Feedback on Your New Songs

Song feedback. We know we need it. Although it’s easy to have mixed feelings:

Our songs are precious little nuggets that we’re so proud of. Releasing them into the world and asking for criticism seems masochistic and unnecessary. But song feedback is critical for 2 reasons:

1. It makes you a better writer.
2. If you want to write commercial music, you have to learn how.

That being said, not all feedback is created equal.

You have to take into account a few different things, like, who is it coming from? What is their background? What is their relationship to you?

For example, my mom loves just about every song I write. And I love that. I love that my mom loves my music. Her feedback is so important when I’m feeling like all my songs are sh*t. She can restore my faith in my ability to get back up on the horse and keep writing. I go to her when I need that bump of encouragement.

When I need critical, technical feedback related to the craft of songwriting, I look for feedback from my mentors. Other writers. Publishers and industry professionals. They will tell me if the song is commercial, radio-friendly, or otherwise.

Here is a collection of the resources where I personally send my songs when I need feedback. I’ve used each and every one of these services and I recommend them all.

Read on and see which one fits you and your songs:

SongFancy’s Song Feedback + Mini Goal Consult

That’s right, we have our very own song feedback service here at SongFancy! I give you highly thoughtful feedback on your song (I’m talking around 10 pages, people) with really actionable, specific advice that you can act on right away.

What makes our song feedback different from those above is that I also dig into your goals and stumbling blocks – I ask you all about your biggest challenges, your pie-in-the-sky dreams, and give you steps to GET THERE, baby. Because one song is just one song, and you’ll write many more songs, so let’s talk about your next steps with your songwriting!

You can sign up here to get notified ASAP when we open SF+MGC. Hint: it’s usually after a 5 in 5. ;)

And, since we’re not too biased here, let’s look at the pro’s and con’s of our feedback service:

Pro’s

• Highly detailed feedback
• Comprehensive questions to really get into your songwriter heart & soul
• Only song feedback to offer goal consultation

Con’s

• Open for submissions a few times a year
• High-end service

Sheree Spoltore and Crew at Global Songwriters Connection

Sheree Spoltore is one of my most favorite, favorite people in Nashville. Heck, in the music industry! She is an angel and offers incredibly detailed and pointed insight when it comes to your songs. I’ve taken my own songs to her and she knows exactly what my tunes need to become more commercial.

While I highly encourage you to sign up for a membership with GSC, you can purchase song critiques a la cart.

Sheree is the kind of person you want on your team. If you work hard, improve, and are writing killer songs, she will become your biggest cheerleader. I love her to death!

Pros:

• GSC is a small business, run by a very dedicated president
• Great for advanced writers looking for advanced feedback
• One-on-one session with your mentor (in person or Skype) – you don’t have to be in Nashville to use this service

Cons:

• Tends to book up quickly
• You do yourself no favors by not purchasing a yearly membership, as GSC offers many great resources and opportunities for it’s members. Grab a membership, it’s so worth it!

Evaluation Services at NSAI

The Nashville Songwriters Association International is headquartered in Nashville, but provides services for members all across the world. Included in your yearly membership are 12 song evaluations. Yes. 12. Twelve. One two. That’s a lot.

A rep at NSAI will listen to your song, send you feedback, and then, if your song is tops, it has the possibility of being played at their monthly publisher luncheon. This is where they host a group of publishers and pitch their member’s songs on their behalf. Good stuff, especially if you are new to the world of commercial songwriting.

Pro’s:

• Great for folks outside of Nashville
• 12 free sessions included in your $200 yearly membership
• Great for new writers with lots of songs, and those looking for quick feedback
• Possibility to have song presented at a Pitch to Publisher Luncheon, or featured on NSAI’s Top 40 Song Page

Con’s:

• Your evals are bundled into a pricey membership
• And most of the benefits of that membership are only usable for people in Nashville
• Feedback is not highly personal, follows a rubric
• All online, you do not get to talk to your evaluator

Join the online songwriter community, Frettie.com

Frettie is wonderful. I integrate Frettie into my workflow with some of my songs. (disclaimer: affiliate link, cause I love them and they love me!)

Frettie is an online, social network geared toward songwriters who are looking to gain feedback on their songs. You can upload your iphone worktape, a copy of the lyrics, ask for specific responses, and post it up for the community to comment on. It’s awesome for quick feedback when you need it.

Frettie also offers professional feedback from hit songwriters and those working in Nashville.

Pro’s:

• Great for peer-to-peer feedback, and advanced feedback from pro songwriters
• A great community that you can utilize quickly when needed
• Awesome for writers all over the world
• Understanding community who knows you’re uploading worktapes, not demo’s
• Make cowriter friends in a supportive, growing community of like-minded songwriters

Cons:

• Pro songwriter feedback slots fill up fast
• Developing community, with new features in the works

The 5 in 5 Song Challenge Facebook Group

We have a fabulous group of songwriters inside the 5/5 group that are always around to give feedback on any of your 5/5 songs. Join the challenge, dive in, write a tune or 5, and share it with the group! If you ask for feedback, you will get it.

Pro’s

• Great peer-to-peer feedback
• Wonderful place to make cowriter connections
• Immediate ability to post your songs any time
• Free!

Con’s

• 5 in 5 songs only, please

Ask Friends and Cowriters

You can always go to your trusted friends and cowriters for feedback. That’s a given. It’ll usually cost you $Free.99 and you’ll get their honest responses.

Pro’s:

• You’ll get honest feedback, cause they’re your friends and they love you*
• They’re accessible

Cons:

• *You may get sugarcoated feedback, cause they’re your friends and they love you
• Your friend/cowriter might not be advanced beyond you own skills
• You could have written the song together
• It’ll probably take them ages to get back to you

Debut Songs at Open Mic Nights

Open mics are great for testing the waters with a new song. There’s nothing quite like playing your freshly minted tune for a room full of actual, real, breathing people. Suddenly, you realize that you have to own this thing. That half-assed filler line you wrote in “for now, until I think of a better one” becomes a gleaming mar on an otherwise awesome song.

Gauge the audience’s reaction to see if your songs are really killin’ it up there. Remember, the best songs are the ones that still sound amazing, even with just a single instrument and a voice.

Pro’s:

• Easy to get into and play, usually with only a few hours worth of commitment
• Generally free and in every city
• You can step right off the stage and converse with listeners about their opinions
• Every aspect of your song – the good and the bad – is made glaringly obvious

Cons:

• You’ll get a mixed bag of responses from usually beginner writers, friends of writers, bar flies, drunks,  and those who were only half listening

 

Be first in line for Song Feedback + Mini Goal Consults!

Take a look at what our feedback looks like by clicking below. Submit your song today!

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