Just thought of another interesting point regarding the quality of demo's; I set up a meeting with a publisher after they had heard (and liked) some of the songs we'd previously sent them - which were all professionally recorded and produced.
However when we met up with them they also wanted to hear the songs live (just simple guitar and vocals) so its good to see that they're not bamboozled by production and are understandably very keen to hear what the raw song is like.
I would stick my neck out and say that the only reason you were in this position was because of the original, professionally recorded, demos
If you had sent in the "raw" demo first I do not think you would have got as far as a meeting
The bottom line is (IMHO) that if you are intending to write for others (ie pitch songs to publishers etc.) then you really do have to have a GUARANTEED hit song - that also
sounds like a guaranteed hit song
This means a VERY good song (saleable/marketable rather than a "technically" good song) with top notch performance and production
The people likely to hear your song are most often NOT musicians or producers - so they won't be able to "imagine" a full production or "get" what you were going for - you need to put it ALL on a plate for them (or rather a disc
)
As others have rightly said you need to invest an awful lot to get a track to this standard - either in session musicians and studio time or in your own equipment, skills and knowledge
Unlike the recruitment of "artists" where a label might "take a punt" on a raw talent that needs developing (although this doesn't really happen any more) with pitching songs you are pitching against the big boys & girls with their own studios and track records
To break through you need something super super special - all they are looking for is GUARANTEED hit songs, not album tracks (it is the album tracks where the artist usually gets the chance for a writing credit with their own stuff or a callab with a writer)
So the question is - what is a GUARANTEED hit song?
Obviously nobody knows for sure, and there have obviously been some absolute howlers released, but in general I am sure we have all heard a new release and thought "that track is gonna be huge!"
The sales chart of your chosen genre is also a good place to hear what hits sound like - eg if you are pitching pop songs that do not sound like anything in the current top 40 you are probably barking up the wrong tree - and remember to exclude the "singer/songwriter" songs that an artist has written themselves as they have a little more leeway in what they can release, do some research and look for the artists singing other people's songs
Until you have something like this then pitching sites are most likely going to be a waste of time, money and energy
I know I personally haven't written a song I felt strongly would be a guaranteed hit - but when I do I think I will recognise it and give it all of the TLC it will need to break through...
