Some of you may have noticed I shared that one of my songs is officially on hold with an artist - and I want to explain what that actually means, because it’s one of the most misunderstood parts of the music business. Yes, the artist is Joe Nichols (so cool!) - but I’m not talking about it publicly on Facebook yet. That’s intentional. :) Here’s why: When a song is “on hold,” it means: *the artist has expressed serious interest *the writer has likely entered into a contract with their publisher for the song which will be in effect as soon as the artist cuts it. *the song is being considered for a recording/album *other artists are typically paused from cutting it *the writer's demo of song is removed from all online sources so the song isn't leaked early *nothing is guaranteed yet Until the song is officially recorded and released, things can change. The artist could change their mind completely.... they could decide to put it on a later album... they could decide they didn't like the way they sounded on it and scrap it... etc. Talking too loudly, too early can actually hurt the process - which is why you’ll often see writers stay quiet even when exciting things are happening. This is one of those areas where patience, discretion, and professionalism matter more than hype. I’ll share to the general public when it’s appropriate - and when there’s something solid to share. The last thing I want is people to think I'm making things up if something happens and the song doesn’t get cut after all. For now, I wanted you to understand how this part of the industry actually works, because it’s rarely explained clearly. P.S. I'm told he'll be in the studio this month to cut it! If you have questions about holds, cuts, contracts, or pitching, feel free to ask them here. This is exactly the kind of thing this community is for.

This is an open thread. You can ask about: - technique (voice, piano, songwriting) - the music business (copyrights, publishing, getting songs cut) - creative direction (next steps, burnout, finding your lane) If I know the answer, I’ll explain it clearly. If I don’t, I’ll tell you - and point you in the right direction. No question is too basic or too specific.

I wanted to share this here because it’s a good example of how slow, unglamorous, real progress in the music industry often looks. After decades of writing, pitching, teaching, and learning, I signed a single-song contract recently. The artist is expected to cut the song this month. I’ll share more about the process - what worked, what didn’t, and what actually mattered - once things are finalized. If you’re working toward cuts, pitches, or placements and feel behind, you’re not. This is a long game - and I’m happy to answer questions when you’re ready.