Breakthrough Writers
Monthly Mentorship to Elevate Your Songwriting
You know what it's like. You pitch your best song and they pass. If you're like most of us, they almost always pass. Why? Because we don't know the publisher very well, nor the artists they pitch songs to either. Ugh!
We want to write songs that publishers want to represent, artists want to record and the world wants to sing. Why spend years trying to figure it out on our own when you can get you there faster?
Breakthrough Writers helps level up your songwriting and industry knowledge through personalized mentoring with a major publisher who wants to work with you.
🎵 Breakthrough to Songwriting Excellence!
🌟 Breakthrough to a Network of Like-minded Creatives!
🚀 Breakthrough to Career-Changing Relationships!
Program Overview
Unlock your songwriting potential!
Breakthrough to Your Best Songwriting Self!
🎵 Expert Guidance: Every month your publisher mentor will carefully review your song, offer valuable insight, identify areas for improvement and give constructive suggestions in a small group setting.
💡 Learn What Works: Gain an understanding of what songs publishers really want and get guidance that boosts your confidence.
🤝Belong: Meet other songwriters and potential collaborators.
🚀Form a Lasting Relationship with an industry insider who'll level-up your skills and help you take steps that will move your career forward.
HowItWorks
📚 Publisher chooses the writers they want to work with.
📅 Monthly one-hour group meeting with a top publisher and fellow writers.
🎶 During each session, you play one song and receive feedback to further your song's potential.
📝 Get monthly writing assignments.
🎤 Receive monthly pitch lists of artists currently looking for songs (if applicable).
🤝 Receive a single song agreement if the publisher wants to represent your song.
TheDetails
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Cost: $60/mo, cancel anytime. No refunds
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Small group 4-7 writers
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Play one song and get feedback
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Get a pitch sheet and writing assignment
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If the publisher decides to pitch your song, they'll sign it to an exclusive single song publishing agreement. Details discussed at that time.
Choose a Music Professional
Debbie Zavitson Publisher
Genres: Focus on Country
(also Pop, Rock & Americana)
Get pitch sheet and assignment
When: 2nd Tuesday 5-6pm central
1 spot open
Finding and developing talent is Debbie Zavitson's passion. Previously the Senior Director of A&R at Sony Records under Doug Johnson, Debbie signed ACM Award winning duo “The Kinleys” and co-wrote their hit single “Just Between You and Me”.
She played a pivotal role in signing multi-platinum recording artist Blake Shelton managing the crucial initial years of his career. Her contributions have been instrumental in shaping his success.
Debbie is a dedicated advocate for songwriters. She tirelessly champions their cause, working to ensure they achieve and maintain a sustainable livelihood..
Donna Britton Bukevicz
Music Supervisor
Sync Group
This program offers a mix of mentoring and hands-on writing opportunities.
Each month, you will either play a song to receive feedback from the music supervisor or collaborate with fellow Breakthrough Writers in a team under the guidance of the music supervisor.
When composing, you'll write and produce a song inspired by a film clip, script, call-to-action brief, scene from a movie, etc., depending on the music supervisor's immediate requirements.
If your finished song meets the music supervisor's requirements, it will be represented by a sync agent and signed to both their catalog and the music supervisor's.
Genres :Pop, Rock, Americana, HipHop, Acoustic, Soul, Singer/Songwriter, etc.
When: 3rd Wednesday 5-6 pm central
4 spots open
Donna Britton Bukevic is an award-winning singer-songwriter and music supervisor.. With over 1500+ TV & Film placements, Donna's music has been heard on Sony Pictures, Fox Sports, Amazon Prime, Peacock, Hulu, Tubi, Rock Band video games, Showtime "The L Word", Access Hollywood, VH1's "House of Consignment", MTV, and TVO's Green Heroes web series.
Donna is an Associate Member of the Guild of Music Supervisors, Voting Member of Hollywood Music in Media (HMMA), a 2022 Silver Telly Award Winner, 2021 HMMA Best Song Nominee. Learn more at IMDB.
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Music
Prepare a link to 3 original songs
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Apply
$20
non-refundable application fee.
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Get Notified
Receive email with your status in 7 days
FAQs
What skill level do I need to be accepted?
This is for beginners, intermediate, or anyone who just wants to know the music professionals better. Most importantly, have an open heart ready to receive advice, and be good to be "in the room" which means be a positive person.
Once I apply what happens?
We send your info to the publisher. Once you are approved, we'll add you to the zoom invite and show you how to submit your song each month.
Can I play voice memos for the publisher or does it have to be a demo?
Getting feedback before recording the song is a smart move. Anything you want to play is fine. Just make sure the lyrics are available.
What if I can't make it to one of the scheduled meetings?
Send your song in as usual and we'll send feedback by video.
Can I share a subscription with another songwriters?
No.
In the Breakthrough Writer's Group for Sync who owns the composition and recording?
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Composition Ownership (C): All writers on the song will equally share ownership of the composition.
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Master Recording Ownership (P): All writers have equal ownership of the recording. However, considering the extensive time the producer/track-writer invests in song production, in case of additional expenses for achieving broadcast quality, the other team members will contribute the initial $200. Beyond that threshold, the entire team will share expenses equally.
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Recording Costs: Each team has a producer responsible for developing the recording at no cost. However, additional expenses such as demo singers for the right "voice," extra instruments, mixing, mastering, etc., may apply.
Q: Who is the Sync Agent in the Breakthrough Writers Group for Sync?
A: Nancy Deckant publisher with Nashville Cool and CEO of Discover Sooner.
Q: What is the Sync Agent's commission?
A: We work on commission, publishing is not requested. The commission is 20% and writers retain 80% on the composition and recording placed in the Breakthrough Writers projects. If you wish your song will be represented for outside the Breakthrough Writers projects, the commission is 40 or 50% depending. Details available upon request.