To shed light on the intricacies of the PR landscape, the potential impact of publicity on your release, and what you can realistically anticipate, we spoke with a PR expert, Genna Alexopoulos. This episode offers valuable insights for artists navigating the complex PR decision-making process and the impact of the multifaceted PR world on the artistic journey.

Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. 

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

About Genna Alexopoulos: 
Genna Alexopoulos is the founder of Super Duper, a Melbourne-based music publicity and consulting company. Genna has led PR strategy for artists including Alex the Astronaut, Camp Cope, Jaguar Jonze and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, and programs with Sydney Opera House, City Recital Hall, National Geographic, Zoos Victoria, Taronga Zoo and more. Contact Genna here.

Timestamp:
4:45 - What is a publicist and what is PR?
7:40 - The importance of correctly positioning the pitch
12:10 - Telling people what is happening is not bragging
13:54 - How do artists and PR teams connect?
21:18 - Is PR worth the money it costs?
29:03 - What can an artist do to be their own PR agent?

Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. 

Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! 

Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. 

Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.

Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: 

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Be inspired by Francesca on socials:

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Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence 

If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. 

Thank you for joining us.

Viv Mellish, founding partner from GYROstream, shares how independent artists can best use their digital distribution service and power up their digital marketing game to make the most of release day and reach as many people as possible.

Viv mentions Every Noise At Once as a tool to help you get clear on your genre. 

Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. 

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

About Viv Mellish: 
Viv Mellish is a founding partner and CMO at independent, Queensland-based digital music distribution and artist services companies, GYROstream and DistroDirect. Viv oversees GYROstream and DistroDirect's global marketing and A&R strategy as well as the wider artist promotions team across DSPs, PR and Digital Marketing. Viv has previously held marketing, communications and PR roles in a range of sectors including music, the Commonwealth Games, politics, theatre and film. She is also on the board of QMusic, Queensland’s peak music industry body which also oversees events such as the QMAs and BIGSOUND. Contact Gyrostream here.

Timestamp:
2.00 - What a music distribution company does and how to get your music onto streaming sites 
9.00 - Metadata, DSP backends and choosing your genre
13:30 - Your release checklist 
18:00 - How a pre-save campaign can impact release day 
26.25 - Paid digital advertising - when and when not to use it 
29:50 - Release day and post release campaign insights
 

Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. 

Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! 

Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. 

Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.

Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: 

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Be inspired by Francesca on socials:

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence 

If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. 

Thank you for joining us.

In this industry conversation with Michael Parisi, we look at how he took Celia Pavey from a third-place finish on The Voice to Aussie pop sensation Vera Blue. If you’re still developing your artistic sound and look, or evolving it to the next level, check out this conversation for some practical and inspiring tips to create your unique artist brand. 

Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. 

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

About Michael Parisi: 
Michael Parisi is one of Australia's most renowned A&R people: an acknowledged master of finding and nurturing raw talent and connecting it to successful outcomes. In more than 30 years in all facets of the global music business, the artists he has signed have accounted for sixteen #1 albums and 15 million album sales. From REM and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Muse, Kylie Minogue, and the Whitlams, Michael has helped to forge the musical landscape of the last 30 years. Today, his management, music publishing, and recording and consultancy connections span from The Voice in Australia to the world's largest music conglomerate, Universal Music. Check out Parisi’s podcast, Vinyl Tap here.

Timestamp:
04:31 - Understanding exactly what A&R is 

07:31 - What are A&R reps looking for initially these days? 

08:21 - What about the music? 

08:50 - Understanding your expectations as an artist 

10:04 - How to develop your sound and personality 

14:10 - Making a mood board for the visual aspects of your act 

18:40 - None of this matters without a strong work ethic 

23:30 - Getting a publishing deal 

Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. 

Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! 

Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. 

Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.

Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: 

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Be inspired by Francesca on socials:

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence 

If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. 

Thank you for joining us.

In this industry conversation with music media stalwart Stephen Green, we tackle the question of what marketing is from a macro viewpoint as well as best practices for pitching to media outlets and radio, and how artists can focus their marketing efforts on where it counts most and for maximum impact. 

Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. 

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

About Stephen Green: 
Stephen Green is the CEO of The Music Press, which runs four of Australia's most vital music media outlets, TheMusic.com.au, Purple Sneakers, Kill Your Stereo and Countrytown, speaking to nearly half a million music fans every month. Stephen also runs communications company SGC Media and Radio Monitor, Australia's key B2B airplay statistics platform. Stephen has been working in music media and marketing for over 25 years, with his businesses spearheading campaigns for the likes of Gurrumul, Sheppard, Fire Fight Australia, BIGSOUND, Queensland Music Trails and more. He's also a Dad, husband, vinyl collector, political campaigner and music industry advocate.


Timestamp:
2:45 - You never know who the next big songwriting or artist is going to be 
6:53 - This is what makes a great song 
10:30 - How an enhanced fan opportunity created different audience dynamics on Hansen’s tour 
13:50 - How emotional connection to a song is enhanced by key events in your life 
16:00 - Choosing songs is part of the marketing strategy 
23:40 - Big marketing mistake artists make 
36:05 - What works well when doing your own pitching and publicity
54:00 - Why marketing services cost so much

Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. 

Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! 

Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. 

Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.

Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: 

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Be inspired by Francesca on socials:

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence 

If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. 

Thank you for joining us.

It’s not what you know, it's who you know. If you struggle with networking at music industry events, then be empowered and guided with a few simple tips to help you to stay grounded, present and balanced so that you can build quality relationships for your career.

Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. 

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. 

Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! 

Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. 

Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.

Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: 

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Be inspired by Francesca on socials:

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence 

If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. 

Thank you for joining us.

What does a record label do? How do I get a record label deal? And what are some ways that I can get my songs out to the world without a label? To answer these questions, we chat with Sweetie Zamora, Head of Labels & Promotions at Remote Control Records. Sweetie shares about the role labels play in an artists’ career and what artists should be focusing on regardless of having a label deal or not.

Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. 

Timestamp:
3:13 - What does a record label do?

7.40 - How artists who are not signed can take strong steps forward

12:50 - How to be authentic in your marketing endeavours  

17:10 - Some pathways for radio promotion in Australia

19:26 - What does a label deal look like?

23:00 - How does a label make their money?

24:54 - How to approach labels that you want to work with?

About Sweetie Zamora:
Sweetie is the Head of Labels & Promotions at Remote Control Records, and board member of the Australian Independent Record Label’s Association. With over a decade at Remote Control, Sweetie has delivered multiple ARIA #1 Albums, as well as Gold and Platinum sellers for the likes of Adele, Courtney Barnett, Radiohead, Queens Of The Stone Age, and more, as well as guiding the careers of beloved local artists including Ngaiire, Donny Benet, Memphis LK, Carla Geneve, and many others. In early 2021, she founded Pointer Recordings, her own label imprint, home to Telenova, Glenn Hopper, Jamaica Moana and a number of other genre-bending artists. Check out some of the Remote Control Records artists here.

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. 

Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! 

Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. 

Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.

Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: 

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Be inspired by Francesca on socials:

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence 

If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. 

Thank you for joining us.

Do I need a music manager? When do I need a manager? What does a manager really do? And until I have one, how can I effectively manage myself as an artist? To answer these questions, we chat with Simone Ubaldi, co-director of Sundowner Artists and co-manager of internationally acclaimed, three-time ARIA award winning band, Amyl and The Sniffers. In this conversation, Simone clearly articulates the role of a manager and offers valuable insights on how to build a team. 

Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. 

Timestamp:
5.17 - What is a manager and what do they do?
7:40 - What is a good next team player for an artist after a manager?
9.44 - How do you build an artist’s team as a manager?
13.26 - What are some of the daily activities of a manager?
18.35 - Why be a music manager? The pros and cons. 
25:25 - How do you get the music industry to pay attention to what you’re doing?

About Simon Ubaldi:
Simone Ubaldi was named the Australian Association of Artist Managers’ inaugural ‘Manager of the Year’ in 2022 and won the 2023 Lighthouse Award celebrating Australia’s female and non-binary managers. Simone has pursued, developed and managed The Sniffers’ partnerships with Rough Trade Records/Beggars Group, Universal Music Publishing, ATC Live Agency and Virgin Music Australia, amongst others, and oversaw The Sniffers’ extensive, strategic international touring and a successful international debut album release pre-Covid. She managed the production and release of The Sniffers’ ARIA #2 album ‘Comfort to Me’ (Top 25 Album Charts in the UK, Germany, Spain, Top 20 Billboard Physical Sales Chart USA).

Check out some of the Sundowner Artists here: 
Amyl and the Sniffers 
Grace Cummings 
Girl and Girl 
Nice Biscuit 
Baby Cool


Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. 

Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! 

Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. 

Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.

Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: 

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Be inspired by Francesca on socials:

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence 

If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. 

Thank you for joining us.

How do you fit into the music industry as a songwriter and artist, and how do you build your music industry team? These music industry conversations will offer you a deeper understanding of what support exists in the industry, how you can build your team, what roles different people play to help you take your career to the next level, and how you can take some of those steps yourself.

Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. 

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. 

Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! 

Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. 

Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.

Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: 

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Be inspired by Francesca on socials:

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence 
 

If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. 

Thank you for joining us.

17 year old queer singer songwriter, Kaiyah Mercedes has gone from writing their first song at eleven years old to their debut album being streamed over 200,000 times, just a handful of years later. In this Club Conversation, Kaiyah shares her clear artistic vision and how they manifest this into tangible form with the support of their creative community, and as well as their discovery of sexual identity, and their diagnosis with ADHD and Autism.
 

Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. 

Timestamp:

2:20 – Kaiyah takes us through her songwriting journey from the start to now. 

13.09 – We talk about self-reflection through the lens of her new single “Hindsight” and the wisdom of hindsight. 

16:00 – We talk about self-acceptance and being diagnosed with Autism and ADHD and navigating relationships. 

24:50 - Kaiyah shares her vision for her artistic projects and some of the ways she brings ideas into tangible forms.

29:20 – We discuss the artistic development phase and the process of building an artist brand, putting together release assets, and building a team. 

36:00 - Building trust in collaborative teams.

39:37 – Kaiyah talks about self-discovery and coming to terms with her sexuality and self-identity as a queer person. 

43:56 – Kaiyah shares her song “‘Hide with me”. 

48:00 – A practical path to establishing yourself in a new genre. 
 

About Kaiyah: 

Kaiyah Mercedes is an LGBTQI+ singer/songwriter who, at just 17 years old, has already gained recognition for her deep and introspective music. Her lyrics are crafted with an intention to connect with listeners, touching on relatable themes such as young love, heartbreak, and the struggles of being a teenager in today’s world. Her music is a testament to her ability to capture the universal experiences of adolescence and beyond. Contact Kaiyah: Website / Facebook / Instagram 

Song Credit: “Hide With Me" - Written by Kaiyah Ridgway. Performed live by Kaiyah Mercedes.

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. 

Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. 

Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. 

Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: Instagram / Facebook / YouTube

Be inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / Instagram

Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence 

If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting.

Many artists go quiet when they don’t have a release to promote, but when they do this they miss out on opportunities to continue to develop and build their audience. In this episode, we outline some commonly used and out of the box ways to develop your audience when you’re not promoting a release.

Want Professional Development mentorship to guide and support you to release your songs to the world? Find out more about Level Up Club here. 

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

Get your creativity, confidence, and songwriting output flowing. Join The Club and receive the support and structure to write 10 songs in 10 weeks and get feedback from a private peer community. This is THE essential writing practice that has changed the careers and lives of 1000s of songwriters worldwide. 

Just getting started on your songwriting journey and need more hands-on support? Establish a firm foundation and develop your musical and lyric skills with our Beginner Songwriting Courses. They are the perfect place to begin and cover everything you need to know to write your first songs. You’ll receive lessons from Francesca directly! 

Don’t struggle to write your next album - write an album a year with ease! Watch our Free Songwriting Masterclass. 

Want more for your songwriting but don’t know where to go from here? Take the I Heart Songwriting Club Quiz to discover your next steps and inspire your way to writing better songs.

Get songwriting insights from I Heart Songwriting Club: 

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Be inspired by Francesca on socials:

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence 

If you love this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and tell everyone you know about The Magic of Songwriting. 

Thank you for joining us.