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Gus Wolman, WCCMP
Read more about Gus, and hear some of Gus's work in our
Get Plugged In Song Directory.
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WCCMP FOUNDER GUS A. WOLMAN, III
Gus A. Wolman, III was born in 1950, an Army brat, on Guam, in the Marianas Islands. One of three children, Gus traveled the United States and the globe as a military dependent, accompanying his parents to places like Alaska, Hong Kong, the Phillipines and Japan, while also living in 11 States before he enrolled in Texas A&M University, in 1968.
As a child, Gus flourished as an athlete. His travels allowed him to box competitively as well as to play Rugby, basketball, soccer, badmitton, ping-pong and softball. Gus was constantly exposed to music of all types from Sinatra to Wynette (he has a special fondness for the Texas Aggie “War Hymn”). He learned to play guitar at age 12 and sang and played in a number of bands including Pop, Rock, and Soul while growing up.
Life was not always easy. Gus has battled alcoholism, drug addiction, and compulsive gambling. He has lost two wives and many relationships and friendships in the process, along with most everything that meant anything. But he was ”re-born” in June, 2004, while living on 23 acres near Gainesville, Texas and attending the New Life Bible Church (Ben Averitt, Pastor). Now a believer in the Lord, Jesus Christ, Gus continues his fight with the help of the Lord and his church family.
In 2000, while attending to his very ill father, Gus' dad encouraged him to write songs and to get out and perform them. At this point, Gus found The Fort Worth Songwriter’s Association, and began growing another “family” that loved music as much as he did. Gus has been a strong supporter of FWSA ever since.
In 2001, WINNERS RECORDS and WINNERS CIRCLE COUNTRY MUSIC PUBLISHING became a reality and the companies began to grow. Over time, the record label became overshadowed by WCCMP, and pitching/plugging and publishing country and country/faith music became the number one facet of his business.
As of December, 2007, WCCMP has been blessed to have 15 independent cuts and has developed a strong working relationship with many major labels in Nashville, becoming well known as “The Little Texas Company”.
Today, WCCMP pitches/publishes songwriter associate songs to Nashville Top 40 artists/labels as well as independents across the country and the globe.
Gus truly believes the Lord has every expectation that the efforts of the people at WCCMP will result in significant success, and that any and all success and glory will be attributed to the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Writing Hit Songs – One of the Toughest Games Around |
| Writing Hit Songs – One of the Toughest Games Around
These days, we hear a lot about the “numbers.” Everywhere we look, we see numbers designed to help us make good decisions. Forecasts for rain, lottery odds, gambling lines, stock prices, commodity futures, political polls, “America’s Vote” - numbers seem to be everywhere.
For example, the number .00005. Simply stated, that number represents 5 one thousands of one percent. To my best estimate, those are the approximate odds that a songwriter will have a song pitched to and published by a Top 40 artist . . . at the very best. The formula employs estimates that only 5% of songs submitted to pluggers/publishers are ever cataloged; and, of that, perhaps only one-tenth of one percent of the catalog will be cut by a Top 40 act.
The number .00005 may seem insurmountable to a songwriter who has limited resources. How can a songwriter make a good decision as to whether to spend the money for a song to be professionally produced for presentation to pitchers/publishers in hopes of gaining a Top 40 hit? How does the songwriter know he has the “undeniable song?”
You should only spend money to produce the highest caliber of songs; songs you personally would bet millions of your own dollars on. That is exactly what you are asking the record labels to do. The song has to be so exemplary that producers and labels are certain that it is a song that will make them money. Without question, if the song will not work for a project designed to make millions, it is not one that the label will invest in.
To further qualify your decision, consider whether you would take your mortgage and bet it on your success month after month. You just can’t live that way and neither can record labels and artists. The competition is just too keen.
How do you know if you have that song? You may never know. But, if you don’t write, re-write, re-write again . . . trim, pare, dissect and critique the song, you are on the short end of very long odds.
But, with a little “luck” you might just have a chance. My Daddy would often say that “luck is when hard work meets opportunity.”
Keep writing and keep your eye on the Lord, Jesus Christ. God’s Grace and God Bless.
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| What it takes to Write a Hit Song
Well over five years ago, a very good songwriter friend of mine and his wife came out to my farm and we drank and ate well, and then sat down and talked about “What It Takes to Write A Hit Song”. Then, we wrote a song with that exact title. Today, we both still seek our first hit song, but, so do a lot of other folks.
To start, here are a few words that come to mind when contemplating writing a hit song. These include impossible, frustration, hard work and rejection. But, if you can get past the thought of the task being impossible, if you can weather the frustration that comes from working hard yet experiencing repeated failure, while being oblivious to constant rejection; you might just have a shot.
Now, let’s add the following into the mix.
The world today is very, very educated. So many songs have been written, that the challenge is to say something in a “new and refreshing way”. To be able to communicate an old thought in such a way as to make it fresh, and very memorable.
Let’s see; there is love, marriage, drinking, cheating, lying, dogs, trains, planes, trucks, divorce, heartache, honky tonkin’, fishing, hunting, living, dying, God, family and country. Just think a moment about how many songs have been written about this short list of topics. So, when you write, you must either avoid these common subjects, or write in such as way as to entertain even the most educated mind. You must be able to take something old and make it appear new.
Now, throw in the need for the most incredible melodies, stories, hooks, lines and choruses, and you get a step closer. But, they can’t just be good. They can’t even be great. They have to be the best. If you don’t believe me, just turn the radio on to any channel and listen. Sure, there are always exceptions, but, truly, it is all about the song.
Finally, consider that Nashville continues to be the monster it has been for decades. It chews up and spits out songwriters every day of the week. The major labels do business primarily with local friends, so, if you don’t live in Nashville you have even longer odds. But, then, if you move to Nashville, you become one fish in a pond full of never ending huge schools of very, very talented songwriters.
So, start by deciding that it can, in fact, be done. Then, go about saying something old in a new way, and make your song “the best” through crafting, re-writing and rewriting. Then, have the song professionally produced to be as radio friendly as possible.
Then, you may truly discover “What It Takes to Write a Hit Song”. |
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WHY TOO MANY HIT SONGS NEVER HAD A CHANCE
Picture yourself as the songwriter in this scenario.
After writing your new song, you feel in your gut that you finally have gotten it right. The song came to you quickly, as the great ones often do. It had it all; undeniable hook, great story, unforgettable chorus, and incredible melody.
You are extremely excited, so you call your best friend (who has some equipment in his home) who will lay the song down on a CD for free. Once it is down, you and your friend are captivated by the song.
Now, you play it for friends and family. . . . (MD comment: should only be three dots) all of whom absolutely love it. You even take it to a songwriter association for critique, coming away with great applause (along with some significant concern about the quality of the recording). You showcase the song in an open-mic “new song” contest, and you win!! You decide the song is a sure-fire hit. You’re determined to go for it.
You drive to Nashville and stay in a flea bag (MD comment: should be one word) motel, eat lousy food, knock on a lot of doors, and make a lot of phones ring. Finally, you have the good fortune of setting an appointment with Record Label Z (after you tell him you own a publishing company, which you don’t). But, finally, you will get the song heard on Music Row, a dream come true.
After a brief greeting, the A&R representative at Record Label Z begins to listen to your song. After about twenty seconds, he winces noticeably, hits “eject,” and hands the CD back to you, saying, “I am sorry, but this just won’t do.”.
Being as cool as you can, you offer “thanks, sorry you did not like the song.”.
Your host leans over to you and looks you in the eye and says “no, I liked what I heard, but I could not take the poor production any longer. I am sorry, but, your song is ‘Dead In The Water’.”.
The real bottom line is that the song never had a chance. Publishing companies only catalog and pitch about 5% of the submissions they receive. Too many times they receive a song that they like, but, alas, the production is not presentable. There are professional resources out there that work for very reasonable rates, providing radio friendly production and mix. If you need help on production, look for qualified local professionals. You can also check our website (wccmp.com) for a list of several professionals with whom we have worked. At WINNERS CIRCLE COUNTRY MUSIC PUBLISHING (WCCMP), we catalog and pitch perhaps 5% of submissions. Too many times we hear a song that we like; but alas, the production is not presentable.
There are professional resources out there that work for very reasonable rates, providing radio friendly production and mix. If you need help on production, simply go to our website (wccmp.com) and click on the “Songwriter Resources” button. We have listed several professionals with whom we have worked. Or, simply look for qualified local professionals.
Above all else, keep writing and keep your eye on the Lord, Jesus Christ.
GOD BLESS and GOD’S GRACE, Gus A. Wolman, III Owner WINNERS CIRCLE COUNTRY MUSIC PUBLISHING wccmp.com |
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