LYRIC HOUSE PUBLISHING- You Don’t Need a Label to be Successful

Jenn Cohen | June 1, 2013 | 0 Comments

by Jenn Cohen

Success [suhk-ses]: (noun) achievement of intention, attainment of fame, wealth, or power.

About seven years ago, Jessica Cole graduated from college with a Music Business degree, moved to Nashville, worked at Country Music Television (CMT), and got into song writing. Missing Denver, and remembering the great collective of talent in the area, she wanted to start a collaboration among local songwriters. “I knew about the Nashville and L.A. scene, and I really wanted to bring a little bit of both to Denver, and see if we could work here as a hub, while reaching those places,” says Cole. What began as a songwriting association where artists get together to write and talk about how to get better, and nurture their craft, quickly turned into Lyric House Publishing company. Says Cole, “I thought I wanted to be a manager, but with publishing, you’re managing their songs and creativity, not the artist, and it’s a beautiful thing.”

So what is the role of a Publishing Company? Essentially, their basic function is to promote songs where they are needed, whether it’s a T.V. program, commercial, etc. It’s the starting point for a songwriter to get his/her song pitched to the “right” people. “There’s a different process here that doesn’t necessarily have to be the old traditional way of having to get signed to a label, and you don’t have to leave Colorado,” says Cole, adding that, “Denver is a great city, and I don’t want people to think they have to leave to become what they want to be.”

Lyric House began building their catalog by signing Denver artists, (their first client was Input). Then they expanded to artists outside of Denver, and eventually outside of Colorado. Currently, they have artists all over the country, and leading music publishers in every territory of the world represent their catalog. “We represent the artist’s composition,” says Cole. “When we place a song on a T.V. show, it helps drive sales for that artist, as well as for a label. The way we make our money is when we make money for the artist. We don’t ask for anything up front, you don’t have to worry about paying back an advance, or if your label is going to drop you, or not.

“We’ve had some great placements and success over the last year, and have blossomed into a full-service, fully-staffed publishing company very quickly,” says Cole. “Our most recent placements (just this month) include: Hallmark, E! Network, MTV, CBS, a new music app, and we have a song on hold with a major artist. This industry moves so quickly, so placements can be unpredictable and come in waves.”

Lyric House is now globally connected, with sub-publishing partners in many territories that represent and pitch their catalog (France, Germany, Nordic Territories, Australia, South Africa, Spain, Canada, Brazil, Netherlands, and the UK). They’ve recently launched an Artist Development branch that provides complimentary PR and Development services to their roster artists. Services vary from branding, music videos, song selection, and online presence.

If you feel like you have a place-able song, and are ready to reach a wider audience, contact Lyric Publishing House at [email protected] . Send three songs, or links to songs, and a one-sheet including who you are, where you’re from, and what you hope to achieve. “We always guarantee to get our artists’ music in front of the biggest players in the industry,” states Cole. “Song placement is just one great part of publishing: when we are not pitching and placing music, we are tracking and collecting royalties from past placements, etc. or putting together co-writes and writing sessions.”

“We want to help people pursue their dreams, that’s always been the main priority.”