Corelli's Music Box, BMI

Corelli's Music Box, BMI

Now it was clear to me that if I was going to go back into music I needed to go all the way. I needed something that would cause me to not throw my hands up and say, "I quit". Corelli's Music Box was the answer. Back in 1996, before the internet, everything was done by snail mail. I wrote BMI about what it would take for me to start my own publishing company and they sent contracts and info back to me. The process took a couple of months but on September 16, 1996 Corelli's Music Box, BMI was offical. So I figured if I was going to record again, since no one was jumping at the chance to record my songs, I'd make sure they were published even if it was through my own publishing company.

I never dreamed of publishing anyone elses songs nor did I realize what a valuble learning tool having my own publishing company would be. Then one day my cousin Brett Helling sent me a song called, I am Runnin' and I realized I wanted to record the song. "I am Runnin'" became the first song I published that had been written by someone else.

I am Runnin - Jerry Corelli

Everything in the song was recorded by Brett. All I had to do was record the vocals at my studio. Bretts writing style is very similar to mine so it was a no brainer that I should record and publish the song.

When CMB (Corelli's Music Box) started going I got an invitation to post it in "The Songwriter's Market" book. After the book came out I started getting cassette tape after cassette tape from songwriters. Back then the common songwriter didn't have the capability to burn CD's so it was mostly cassettes. I can't tell you the wealth of information I learned from getting demos from songwriters. Well, actually I can through my book "The Songwriter's Guide to Submitting a demo" If I've learned anything it's to not give away valuable information. The fact is that the book isn't expensive and contains a lot of info for songwriters who, to this day, make the same mistakes over and over again when they send their demos to me. I'll admit it isn't selling off the shelves though. The reason for that, I believe, is the beginning songwriter mentality. Believe me I had it too. There's an arrogance I've seen in myself and a lot of songwriters who have sent me demos that says, "You can't teach me anything."

The book isn't about writing a HIT song. It's about the does and don'ts when sending your demo. Believe it or not songwriter after songwriter make the SAME mistakes time after time. Then they sit back and wonder why they don't hear back from a publisher, good or bad. This book will help songwriters.