FAQ
Q. So, what exactly is the idea behind American SongSpace? Is it kind of like MySpace or Facebook?
A. American SongSpace is a site designed for songwriters—and other groups within the songwriting community, like music publishers—to network, communicate and collaborate with fellow songwriters, and in addition, to provide an easily accessible platform for their songs to be heard by end-user music industry personnel. The site revolves around the craft and business of songwriters, and in theory, will amount to more than posting your music someplace on the web.
Q. I’m a fan of songwriters and good music in general. Am I not welcome on American SongSpace?
A. Wait! Of course, you’re welcomed on the site. That’s a big element of the beauty of the site, actually. We want the songs of songwriters (both ‘non-performing’ and ‘performing’) to find receptive ears and audiences. You don’t have to be a songwriter or industry person to LISTEN. All that we ask is that, in order to become a Writer member and to create a profile, you must have written and recorded at least one piece of original material. Or, you may create an Industry profile if you are a music publisher, record label, manager, music supervisor, entertainment attorney, publicist…and the list goes on. You get the point.
Q. Will I get a record deal or publishing deal if I create a profile? Will my song get placed in a movie/TV show/commercial?
A. If it only were that easy…look at it this way: If you’re a songwriter or artist and you think you have some talent—and other people, besides your family, think you do too—anything’s possible. The objective is to create an online facility that, in time, industry folks will utilize just as much as the songwriters themselves. They’ll go there to find great songs for their label’s artists to cut; they’ll go there to find unsung songwriter talents to sign as staff writers; they’ll go there to find a few tracks to license for their indie—or blockbuster—films; and there are plenty of other scenarios. The thing is, you never know who is going to be surfing around on American SongSpace. If the creative director of an ad agency, the new vocalist/artist signed to a major label, the A&R rep. and the music supervisor for the next hit movie are all browsing, don’t you want to be there to give your songs a fighting chance?
Q. Is American SongSpace a publishing company?
A. No, we aren’t a publishing company, we aren’t interested in representing artists, and we aren’t a record label. Will we go down those roads someday? Maybe, but for now, we are strictly providing a space for songwriters on the Interweb.
Q. Should my songs be copyrighted before I put them on American SongSpace?
A. You don’t need to spend a ton of money getting your songs copyrighted before uploading them on American SongSpace. E-mail copyright@americansongspace.com with any copyright questions.
Q. Can American SongSpace use me to sell American SongSpace products?
A. No way. American SongSpace is prohibited from using any person’s name, likeness or image to promote American SongSpace products (e.g. AS t-shirts or posters,) without their prior approval. The right of publicity prevents the unauthorized commercial use of an individual’s name, likeness, or other recognizable aspects of one’s identity and gives an individual the exclusive right to license the use of their identity for commercial promotion. Once again, we aren’t a label, publisher, booking or management company –we are a space for songwriters to connect.
Q. My songs won’t upload. My photos won’t upload. What’s wrong?
A. For songs: make sure they are mp3s, and not over 5MB. And American SongSpace can only host mp3 files, no wav., mp4s, etc. For photos, files must not be over 1MB. Please upload as jpegs, gif., bmp., or png. files.