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Interviews · music business · music industry interview · Music2Deal.com

Eurovision: why should songwriters care?

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LeaHy is a songwriter, lyricist, and long-standing Music2Deal member with an international perspective on the music business. Over the years, he has written for acts such as 2 Unlimited and CB Milton and collaborated with various artists across Europe. With his deep knowledge of both the creative and business sides of music, LeaHy brings valuable insights into how songwriters can view opportunities like the Eurovision. In this interview, he shares his personal experience, perspectives, and advice for anyone curious about writing for one of the world’s biggest music stages.

You opened a forum on Music2Deal about the Eurovision. What prompted you?

Like many people my age, I have memories of watching the Eurovision as a family – at the time there were not many channels and so not much choice on TV.

Much later, I wrote for 2 Unlimited, CB Milton and others. So you could also say that I’m not scared of pop. I also submitted songs twice. Both fell at the first hurdle – no regrets. But the only people actually debating Eurovision are the hyperfans; songwriters don’t actually talk about Eurovision much.

That’s why I created the forum on Music2Deal (see below).

Who runs the Eurovision?

The Eurovision is run by the European Broadcasters Union – a body that manages supernational sports and TV events for its members, national TV stations. Any station can join, which explains why Australia, Israel and Turkiye are members and can participate and send in their candidates.

Question from a colleague: Why has Eurovision deteriorated so badly?

It’s worth talking about this. On the one hand, it you turn down the volume of your TV set, Eurovision has never been this good. The staging – and very often the choreographies – are among the best you will see anywhere in the world. Plus, the audience continues to grow.

But then there is the music. And that is more… complex. I wish more broadcasters would remember that it’s the Eurovision SONG contest. There is a very strong temptation for them to aim at the spectacle: larger-than-life singers; fake “catchy” choruses; and lots of flesh. So you get a lot of gimmicky acts. They definitely appeal to the live crowd, but they don’t build careers.

But that leads to another point: more than anything else, the Eurovision is a massive TV event whose job is to get people to turn the TV sets on. Their brief is not to create stars, and don’t forget that many of the performers are technically amateurs.

If you have the patience, there are nonetheless still some great songs and performances each year.

What does it take to write a Eurovision song?

Every year, you can see there are a bunch of people (and broadcasters) that figure it’s easy. Churning out music has never been that hard. Creating a potential hit is hard. My personal favourite of the past few years, “Tattoo” by Loreen (Sweden), had six writers, 30 musicians and one of the best vocalists in Europe. And there is not one note or word too many on the track. That’s your competition if you’re aiming for the top level.

There is much talk of the Eurovision formula. If I knew of one that worked, I’d create an app and sell it! One thing I would say that not many people talk about is that songs that catch people’s attention are often very authentic, for want of a better word. The storytelling aspect is important. This could be a “little guy just there for the laughs” to the sympathy vote for Ukraine or the block voting for Israel last year. If you can convince enough people that it’s important to you, a large number will follow you.

How much money can writers earn with Eurovision?
Let’s imagine that you get as far the semi-finals. By now you have earned a couple of thousand euros for airplay and streams. There’s a strong possibility that you will have spent far more than that on studios, session musicians, a good mix and haircuts 😉. Let’s say that you get to the finals and you get some moderate international airplay and streams. Then you’re looking at between €15-50,000. For top five finalists, think about €50-170,000. For the number one winner that goes on to catch people’s attention (not all of them do), you can start at €175,000 and the sky is the limit. As someone noted in other circumstances, “The winner takes it all”. Bear in mind that you will be sharing this money with the broadcaster and then dividing the rest between your co-writers.

How do I write for Eurovision?

As Eurovision is run by national TV stations, you’ll have to go through their submission process. Many require that all the writers and performers be from their country. Others require at least one person be from that country, while some do not specify any constraints.

Now for the reality check: an amazing 10,000 songs are submitted overall per year. Around 300 will make it to the local finals and some 30 or so will compete in the final finals.

The biggest countries obviously receive the most songs. So if you want to increase your chances mathematically, target smaller countries. But I really do recommend having some sort of local connection, be it a writer or a singer. If you get selected, check the contracts closely. Some will require that the writers and performers cover transport and other costs!

Whatever happens, take it as a learning experience and have fun. If you have a great song that needs lyrics, get in touch.

https://www.music2deal.com/groups/Eurovision

https://a-lyric.com
https://3hatsmusic.com
LeaHy´s Profil on Music2Deal

This & That

How Musicians Can Catapult to Stardom: A Strategic Blueprint for Success

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Articel by Courtney Rosenfeld

Courtney started Gig Spark to be a resource and the first step for people who are looking to join the gig economy, either to supplement their income or as a way to fulfill their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur.”

In the whirlwind world of music, carving a distinct niche and gaining recognition demands a blend of talent, strategy, and unwavering dedication. Courtesy of The Music2Deal Blog, this guide is your compass, navigating you through the crucial steps to elevate your music career from a whisper in the wind to a resounding anthem heard across the industry.

The Digital Stage: Crafting a Virtual Persona

In today’s digital era, your online presence is your stage, resonating with echoes of your musical identity. Start by sculpting a professional website, a digital haven where your music lives, breathes, and interacts with your audience. But don’t halt there. Dive into the ocean of social media, where platforms become your amplifiers, extending your reach, connecting with fans, and echoing your artistic voice across the digital realm.

Make it Official: the Importance of Contracts

Musicians should embrace digital contracts for their efficiency, accessibility, and security. These contracts streamline negotiations and signings, enabling artists to finalize agreements from anywhere in the world, without the delays associated with traditional paper-based processes. Digital contracts offer enhanced security features, such as encryption and digital signatures, ensuring the authenticity and confidentiality of sensitive information. Additionally, they facilitate better organization and easy retrieval of documents, which is crucial for managing multiple contracts and agreements.

The transparency and immediacy of digital contracts also foster trust between parties, as edits and updates can be made in real time. For musicians, who often juggle various projects and collaborations, the adoption of digital contracts can lead to smoother operations, better protection of their rights, and more time to focus on their art.

Expanding Your Reach: The Art of Music Promotion

Imagine your music as a river, seeking new paths, flowing into diverse landscapes. Platforms like Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube are your tributaries, channeling your music to unexplored territories. Engage with these platforms not just as repositories but as active tools to expand your audience, creating ripples that turn into waves in the vast sea of listeners.

Behind the Curtain: Understanding the Music Industry

Your art is your heart, but the music industry is the body that sustains it. Grasping the anatomy of this industry is crucial. Dive deep into the intricacies of contracts, royalties, and marketing. This knowledge is your armor and sword on the battlefield of the music world, ensuring your talent is not just seen but also protected and rewarded.

The Business Side: Going Back to School

Being a successful musician takes more than talent and hard work; it also takes a working understanding of the business world. Luckily, by going back to school for a business degree, you can give yourself a big advantage over the competition. And thanks to the flexibility of online learning platforms, you’ll be able to proceed at your own pace and implement what you’ve learned into your career in real time.

Seeking Wisdom: The Mentorship Pathway

In your journey, you’re not alone. The music industry, vast and complex, can be navigated with the aid of those who’ve charted these waters before. Mentorship is more than advice; it’s a lantern in the dark, guiding you through industry intricacies, helping you sidestep pitfalls, and shining light on opportunities you might otherwise miss.

Maximize Creativity and Efficiency: Shape a Home Music Room

Having a dedicated home music room is essential for musicians, offering a sanctuary where creativity can flourish without bounds. This space allows for uninterrupted practice and experimentation, critical for honing skills and developing new sounds. Moreover, it serves as a personal archive where instruments, equipment, and records can be stored safely and accessed easily. What’s more, a music room provides an ideal environment for recording, free from outside noise and distractions, ensuring high-quality sound production. These types of home renovations also boost your home’s overall value, too.

The physical separation of a music room from the rest of the living space helps in mentally transitioning into a creative mindset, fostering focus and inspiration. For musicians, a home music room isn’t just a luxury; it’s a vital component of their artistic process, enabling them to explore their craft deeply and produce their best work.

Harmonious Alliances: The Power of Collaboration

In the world of music, collaboration is akin to a dance of creativity, each step a fusion of diverse artistic expressions. Working alongside fellow artists not only opens doors to new styles and ideas but also introduces you to broader audiences. These collaborations are more than mere joint projects; they are vital bridges. They connect your musical world with others, enriching your work with diverse influences and expanding your fan base through shared platforms.

Your Portfolio: Your Musical Mosaic

Your portfolio is more than a collection; it’s your personal story expressed in the language of chords and melodies. It forms a diverse tapestry, vividly showcasing your artistic range, from deeply soul-stirring tracks to electrifying live performances. This curated compilation stands as undeniable proof of your artistry and skill. Its appeal extends beyond your fans, reaching and impressing industry gatekeepers.

Leave Your Mark: Showcase Yourself on Music2Deal

In the modern music industry, aspiring artists need to take advantage of online platforms that can help them showcase their talents and connect with key players in the business. One such platform is Music2Deal, which has become a go-to resource for musicians looking to take their careers to the next level. By joining this unique online community, artists can create profiles that highlight their music, share their work with producers, managers, and fellow musicians, and discover exciting opportunities that might be difficult to find elsewhere. Engaging with a platform like Music2Deal can be a game-changer for up-and-coming artists, helping them build their reputation, form valuable collaborations, and ultimately break into the world of music.

Your path to musical fame is a symphony composed of multiple notes – each step is a critical chord in the grand composition of your career. Embrace these strategies with passion and perseverance, and watch as your music transcends boundaries, reaching new heights and resonating with audiences far and wide. Remember, in the symphony of your career, you are the conductor, and the world awaits your music.

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music industry · Tips

Digitizing analogue tapes: why and how

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There are vast amounts of recordings out there that in some cases are musical or historical treasure troves. Labels that go back beyond 30 years or so might have material that is just begging to be either re-mastered for streaming or fully remixed for commercial release. As Ben Schwag, a producer that is currently digitizing work performed by Johnny Guitar Watson, Sly Stone and George Clinton says, “Is the time right for a 90s revival? If so, the recordings are most likely packed away on tape somewhere in a storage room.”

Schwag notes a number of reasons that people ask to digitize and/or restore magnetic tapes:

  • To make your music assets available in a digital format (Spotify, advertising etc)
  • The need to be able to mix or otherwise re-use them (if a revival happens, it’s important to be able to act quickly)
  • The need to properly archive them
  • The need to preserve the recordings in a format that is less fragile than magnetic tape.

But before starting, here are some important steps you need to plan.

Digitizing magnetic tapes: the quick guide for better results

Loading a tape on a 3M 24-track recorder
Loading tapes on a 24-track recorder

1. Assess the Tape Condition: Before starting the digitization process, take a good look at each tape. Look for physical damage. Mould, dirt, or sticky residues can affect playback and sound quality. Additionally, check for any signs of degradation, such as oxide shedding.

2. Clean the Tapes: Use a specialized cleaning solution and a lint-free cloth to gently wipe the tape surface. Ensure that you don’t damage the tape or erase any data when you do this.

3. Prepare the tapes: Older tapes more often than not suffer from some degree of “sticky shed syndrome”, when the recorded surface risks being scraped off the tape when you play it. “Baking” is a technique used to address this. The tapes are placed in a temperature-controlled oven, the heat stabilizes the tape’s binder, temporarily allowing proper playback and transfer of the data on the tape surface.

4. Digital Transfer: To fully restore magnetic tapes, we recommend that you transfer the audio content to a digital format. Connect the tape deck to a high-quality audio interface or converter and use professional-grade software to capture the audio in a lossless format such as WAV or FLAC. Ensure proper calibration and adjustment to achieve accurate reproduction. Proceed with care, as some tapes can only be played once.

5. Noise Reduction: One common issue with older magnetic tapes is the presence of background noise, hiss, or hum. Use noise reduction tools, such as spectral editing or adaptive filtering, to minimize unwanted noise while preserving the original audio quality.

6. Equalization and Dynamic Range Control: During digitization, equalization can help correct any frequency imbalances or tonal inconsistencies in the source audio. Use parametric equalizers to adjust frequencies selectively and enhance the overall tonal balance.

7. Deal with Dropouts and Errors: Magnetic tapes sometimes suffer from dropouts or errors that result in gaps or glitches in the audio. Use specialized software to repair these through interpolation or error concealment.

8. Metadata and Documentation: As part of the digitization, don’t forget to document all the relevant metadata associated with the tapes. This includes information about the recording, such as artist, date, and location, as well as details about any restoration techniques applied.

9. Storage and Preservation: Once the restoration is complete, make sure that the tapes go back into proper storage and preservation. You might also want to make backups of the restored audio files to prevent loss due to hardware failure or accidental damage.

Producer Ben Schwag addressing a conference audience.
Producer Ben Schwag

3 Hats Music runs a studio based in Brussels that features an extensive range of language formats and equipment. The team includes people that have worked with artists as varied as Curtis Mayfield, Johnny Guitar Watson and 2 Unlimited.

Full details about tape digitization can be found on the digitization page of 3 Hats. For more information call Ben Schwag directly on +32 488 41 7272