Regular Columnists

Join our columnists for discussions about the creative process and business of writing songs. Ask them questions! Read a few music reviews or send in your own music to be reviewed. If you know of someone who would make a good columnist, please feel free to make a suggestion!

Rhythm Without the Blues
Vibraphonist, percussionist and composer Paul Babelay, aka "The Vibe Guy," shares tips and experiences to help songwriters,instrumentalists and vocalists with all things musical - especially rhythm. Whatever the genre, whatever your ability in music technology or your level of musicianship -- these tools and concepts will inspire and improve your song writing and musical skills.

Music Career Success
Artist development specialist Draven Grey helps you develop key elements to your music career’s success.

Biz Talk
Straight forward, candid discussions about all things related to the music industry. From how to book a gig, to the top 10 things A&R Representatives look for when signing new talent. Guitarist, Producer, A&R Representative Cyrus Rhodes takes you inside the Music Industry, and puts everything into perspective.

Tom Hess Guitar Lessons
Tom Hess, a professionally touring guitarist and recording artist, gives you useful tips on how to be a better guitarist and how to use your guitar skills to better advantage in your songwriting.

Bass Guitar Tips
Professional musician Scott Morris is a 30 year plus music veteran who is the author of the You Can Play Guitar instruction method. This column will feature basic easy information for the beginning bass guitarist and will also include advanced information about scales

Why Not Me?
Paula Carpenter addresses issues such as how technology has changed EVERYTHING (for the good AND the bad, as we all know), publishing ins and outs, and lots more.  Feel free to email her with requests for topics!

Hypnotic Audio Secrets
Grammy Award winning engineer Khaliq Glover aka Khaliq-O-Vision reveals insider tips and secrets from over 25 years of working with the world’s top recording artists.  Khaliq wants to pass on what he has learned about what makes music "hypnotic". A select few people know the secret - that there ARE things that you can do to make your music IRRESISTABLE. Advertisers know these tricks, and so do the stars.  Learn how to inject your recording, songwriting, and lyrics, with the subtle things that compel people to PAY ATTENTION - and they won't even know why. Learn Hypnotic Audio Secrets.

In a Muse's Shoes
Jan Fabyankovic, an established entertainment reviewer and writer, songwriter, fan club president and publicist's column will explain why songwriters create, how they are inspired and how you can tap into the creative zone of your own imagination. The author will be interviewing songwriters in various genres and levels of success to inquire how they plant their seeds of an idea to bloom into a great song. She will give insight into how inspiration is all around us if you are tuned into the habit of being present in every moment.

The Indie Frontier
To navigate the wilderness, it helps to have a map.  Come explore the new landscape of the music industry with Carley Baer.  Add your own insights and watch the picture emerge as you blaze the trail together.

Music Life
Want to devote your life to your music, but the selling of your soul has your personal life in shambles?  Brian Donovan talks about how to make your creative life and your everyday life peacefully, and productively, co-exist.

Nothin' But The Truth
Written by Bronson Herrmuth, this column contains articles he has written about many facets of the music business, many of which focus on or directly relate to songwriting. In addition he shares one on one studio interviews that he conducts in Nashville with Music Row veteran songwriters, musicians, producers, artists and music publishers.

Songwriting Techniques and Theories
Kole is a professional Musician, Guitarist, and Instructor living in the Los Angeles area.  This column deals with all things pertaining to the topics like songwriting inspiration and composition techniques.

Singer's Corner
This monthly column brought to you by Jeannie Deva, will give you tips, tools, encouragement and exercises to help develop your vocals and bring out the singer in you.

Blue Collar Rockin'
With over thirty years experience as a local amp tech, studio musician, music teacher, songwriter,and performer, Mick Polich knows a thing or two about what it takes to survive in the music business at a local level. You, too, can benefit from Mick's monthly insights, stories, and tips on being an "old school rocker" in the ever evolving "new business" of pursuing your craft, even if you're a spouse with a family and a mortgage!

Adventures of a Songwriter
Jerry Flattum's column is based on his book, Bridge On Fire: A Holistic Journey In Song Creation, being published in 2005 by Publish America. For Jerry, songwriting is an adventure, and to get a song from creation to market is like crossing a burning bridge. Once you get to the other side...there ain't no turnin' back.  For more information, you can visit his website.

The Brit File
This column will report on the activities and successes of Trevor Krueger as a songwriter and of other up and coming talent from the English side of the pond.

Sounding Off
Cheryl Mullen introduces us to talented artists and bands that we really do need to hear about.

The Shallow End
JJ Biener provides a hitch-hiker's guide through the vast ocean of Internet resources available to the independent musician/songwriter. The aim is to help you produce professional quality sound without getting in over your head.

Mary's Musings: Advice for the Independent Songwriter
Mary Dawson, author of the book, "How to Get Somewhere in the Music Business from Nowhere with Nothing," and instructor of songwriting and commercial music at Southern Methodist University, offers up her articles and advice on subjects near and dear to the independent's heart. Regular articles will pop up here but you are - of course - welcome to ask her questions of your own.