Why Do I Need A Song Plugger?

Many years ago it was possible for unknown songwriters to get their songs heard by major label recording artists. Stars such as Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Roger Miller, and others of that time did not have bodyguards. You could get backstage, walk up to them, reach into your pocket, pull out your cassette, and hand it to them.

Things have changed. Celebrities and their staffs are much more worried about security. Getting backstage now requires a security clearance. If you are allowed backstage, you are almost certain to be told, "Don't approach the stars." If you ignore these instructions and try to approach a star, a bodyguard is almost sure to stop you. If you get within touching distance and put your hand into your pocket, you may be wrestled to the floor and searched.

Many years ago, it was possible for unknown songwriters to get their songs heard by major label A&R people. Most large A&R departments had someone assigned to review songs that had been mailed in or dropped off at the front desk.

Things have changed. Anthrax spores were mailed to the U. S. Senate and some media offices. Large companies are hesitant to open an unsolicited package. One never knows what it might contain.

Many years ago, the amount of money a hit song could earn was not common knowledge. When Michael Jackson paid six hundred million dollars for the publishing rights to songs recorded by the Beetles, the media coverage awakened trial lawyers. Copyright infringement court cases have became much more common in recent years. There were six copyright infringement cases filed on Billy Ray Cyrus' hit, "Achy Breaky Heart." Six different unknown songwriters from different parts of the United States each found a trial lawyer willing to roll the dice in court. The odds of winning such a case were slim. However; the huge payoff a win would generate made the gamble worthwhile. Each of those cases had to be defended by the true owners of the song. One way to avoid some of these frivolous copyright infringement suits is to return all unsolicited song packages unopened.

Royalties are equally divided between the songwriter and the music publisher. Many years ago, a small music publishing company could afford to pay a song plugger to get their songs reviewed by stars and their staffs. The stars would record a hit song and allow all the royalties to flow to the songwriter and the music publishing company. The stars were happy with record sales and concert appearances generated by hit songs.

Things have changed. It's now common for a hit song to earn royalties well into six figures. It's becoming more common for big hit songs to earn royalties into seven figures. Stars and their staffs know this to be true. It has became normal industry practice for stars to demand 75% or more of the publishing royalties on any song they agree to record. Songwriters still get their share of the royalties.  Large international publishers such as Sony Music, MCA Music, etc., have the clout to avoid being cut out.  Small music publishing companies can invest a lot of time, effort, and money to end up with a very small piece of the pie. As this practice has became more widespread, most small music publishing companies have abandoned the market. The successful ones are chasing the movie, television, and advertising industries.

So, how do unknown songwriters get their songs reviewed and recorded by major label stars?
They hire song pluggers who work on a fee for service basis. This leaves publishing royalties under the control of the songwriter. The writer can then negotiate directly with the star's staff.

Great song pluggers have usually had long and successful careers as backup singers, audio engineers, music promoters or some behind the scenes aspect of the music industry. They are people who have established close working and personal relationships with the stars or members of their staffs. Great song pluggers are known, trusted, and respected people who can get an appointment to walk into an office and get a song heard. Great song pluggers can get security clearance to be backstage at concerts. Great song pluggers can approach a star, stick their hand into their pocket, and pull out a song without getting wrestled to the floor. They do it all for a fee. You maintain total control of both the songwriter's and the publisher's royalties. You can sign publishing royalties over to the star and still receive your six figure writer's royalties.