Songwriter Magazine      Songwriter Update          Songwriter Yearbook

SONGWRITER MAGAZINE Songwriter Magazine is the International Songwriters Association's publication.

Every issue includes an exclusive multi-thousand word interview with a songwriter who has written at least one million-seller. Interviewees have included such writers as George Harrison (My Sweet Lord), Billy Joel (Still Rock & Roll To Me), Chris DeBurgh (Lady In Red),  Barry Mason (Delilah),  Bob Gaudio (December 63, Oh What A Night),  Sonny Curtis (I Fought The Law"), Hal Shaper (Softly As I Leave You), Bryan Adams,  Leonard Cohen,  Burt Bacharach,  Bernie Taupin,  George Michael,  Paul Williams,  Andrew Lloyd Webber , Gene Pitney,  Don McLean,  Jonathan King, and many more.

Songwriter Magazine also includes a full news page, giving the latest songwriting stories, as well as information on song contests, industry events, and collaboration offers. It tells you which acts are signing for which companies, and names the stars planning new albums this year.

In addition. Songwriter Magazine interviews music publishers, asking them about the type of material their companies are looking for, as well as a songwriter who is having his first successes right now.There are also technical articles on such subjects as putting your songs online, thinking up titles, getting story line ideas etc.

Finally, every issue of Songwriter Magazine includes a two-page SongSeller® section, which names the publishing and record companies, along with the singers, who are looking for songs right now.  Each tip is accompanied by full contact details, and our own comment on the source.

SONGWRITER UPDATE This weekly publication contains the latest song contest news,a full news section, contact information,  plus tips on who is looking for what along with contact information for every act entering the charts this week etc!  Each issue averages 15 pages, so over a year, you get approximately 800 extra pages of information.

SONGWRITER YEARBOOK This is the collection of Songwriter Magazine interviews which all new ISA subscribers receive.

The current edition includes a 6,000 word interview with Roger Cook - who in the 60's wrote countless pop hits, before quitting England for Nashville where he proceeded to become one of the hottest country songwriters around!  Also included is an interview with one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time - Gordon Lightfoot, whose songs have been covered by everybody from Presley to Dylan.

We also talk to Barry Mason whose songs have been recorded by everybody from Tom Jones to Elvis Presley, as well as country songwriter Tom T Hall whose beautiful lyrics have earned him the nickname of "The Storyteller". Bruce Welch was once a member of The Shadows, but was also a very successful songwriter, penning hits for Olivia Newton John, Cliff Richard and many more, before setting up an independent music publishing company. He tells us how he did it.

Mike Batt tells us how he made his name writing for television and movies,  while Tony Hatch has written some of the finest pop songs of recent years, (as well as the theme for such TV series as Neighbours). Finally, Julie Gold tells us how she wrote one of the most successful songs of all time - almost by accident while Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber talks about Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Whistle Down The Wind, Cats, Sunset Boulevard and Phantom Of The Opera

SONG ASSESSMENT Some song assessment services charge $15 per song, but the ISA Assessment Service is free, and post free (as indeed are all our services).If you have a song but are unsure of its commercial potential, we will advise you on this as well as tell you how suitable your recording is. If we advise you to proceed, then we will also list nine or ten companies which are seeking new songs this week, with full addresses and contact names.

SONG COPYRIGHT Before promotion, you should always copyright material. Some Song Copyright Services charge from £20 or $30 per song. However, the ISA Copyright Service is free and post free. Send us the material, and a Copyright Certificate will be with you by return.

DIRECTORY INFORMATION If you need further promotion advice or contact information, Directory Information maintains a giant database of every recording act since 1967, and can give you the relevant address by return post.  Again, this is free and post free.

ADVICE Then, if you get an offer of a contract, our free Advisory service will be ready to advise,  and point you in the right direction, so that you can maximise your income from your work.  Again, this is free and post free. Our advice service also include a separate Investigations service,  where we can check out discreetly any problems you may be having.  Again, this is free.

COLLABORATION Nowadays, more writers collaborate than used be the case. Whether you are a lyric writer seeking a melody writer, or a songwriter seeking  collaboration with another, then the Collaboration Service  is there to put writers in touch with each other.  Again, this is free.

DEMOS Finally, if you cannot make your own professional DEMO recordings, the ISA sister  company, Musical Records Ltd can record them for you. 

1 SONGWRITER YEARBOOK The current issue of the Songwriter Yearbook, comprising in-depth exclusive interviews with star songwriters Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Barry Mason, Tom T Hall, Gordon Lightfoot,  Bruce Welch, Mike Batt, Tony Hatch, Julie Gold and Roger Cooke.

2 SONGWRITER MAGAZINE This month's issue of Songwriter Magazine Newsletter including interviews with music publishers, two SongSeller® tipsheet columns listing companies looking for songs, a full news page, hit listings from around the world, a UK record label roster of all its acts, song contests etc.

3 THE MCPS The brochure explaining how the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society, the MCPS, works

4 THE PRS Explaining the role and function of the Performing Rights Society - the PRS

5 DEMO BROCHURE Information on making demos, and on using the Musical Records Demo Service.

6 "FREE DEMOS" LEAFLET A leaflet explaining how you can get free demos from Musical Records Ltd!

7 SONG CONTEST ENTRY FORM An entry form for a current international song contest, open to all songwriters and lyricists.

8 PROMOTION FILE SHEET The ISA-designed promotion sheet for all songwriters

9 PRINTPACK OFFER A very special offer for songwriters who need letterheadings, contracts, cassette labels, cassette inlay cards, or lyric sheets printed with their own name and address

10 PROMOTION ADVICE BROCHURE Fifteen points of advice for members about to start promoting their songs for the first time

11 REGISTER OF COMPOSERS Lyricists seeking composers, or composers looking for lyrics, this explains how the ISA Register of Composers operates

12 ADVICE FOR LYRIC WRITERS Eight points of advice for lyric writers

13 CONTACT INFORMATION SHEET Detailed explanation on who to contact if you have a song ready to roll. Examines the role of managers, publishers, labels, producers etc

14 COMPILATION CDs LEAFLET Examines  what deals are being offered new songwriters  in this complex, often profitable, but frequently dangerous field

15 TAX & THE SONGWRITER  Don't wait until your first royalty cheque arrives before regularising your tax affairs. This shows you how to be ready for the taxman

16 A JOB IN MUSIC PUBLISHING Many writers would like to work in music publishing while continuing to write songs. This leaflet looks at the opportunities, and pitfalls, of such a move

17 A MUSIC PUBLISHER GIVES THE INSIDE STORY A UK Music Publisher tells you how he deals with songs and how to improve your chances

18 SONGWRITERS & THE INTERNET Everyone thinks the Internet is the next big market for songwriters. But is it - and can it help you?

19 HINTS ON MAKING GREAT DEMOS Examines and evaluates the three methods of making demo recordings!

20 SONG CONTEST LISTING A listing of the major song contests at present operating in Europe, Asia, Australia and the USA

21 SHARK ATTACK A look at some of the odder fish infesting the songwriting waters

22 SONGWRITER  UPDATE Our free internet e-mail newsletter, the "Songwriter Update", published once a week. The Update gives tips on who is looking for new songs, and also lists the current song contests and conditions of entry, plus contact information for every act entering the charts this week.