Citizen Staff/Hank Snyder
In addition to her publishing business, Marsha Brown has started a new record label; Jandar Records. She's shown here with CDs of Stephanie Anne singing "When the Wind Blows Through," at Helens Kitchen in Waupun. The song was written by Brown and Mike Heath, and published by Brown.
WAUPUN — From Christian to country to pop, music publisher Marsha Brown listens to all kinds of music. Most submissions get one shot, but if a lyric or melody stays with her, she’ll listen again.
“My suggestion to songwriters is, if you think your song is good, rewrite it anyway,” said Brown who entered the publishing field four years ago. “And before submitting it, it’s always good to have your song critiqued by professionals, especially if you’re making a demo. At least go to a local song-writing group, otherwise you’re wasting your money, throwing it out the window.
“Getting the song right the first time is important because publishers don’t critique songs. They say ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ We don’t have time to critique.”
Brown’s day starts at 5:30 a.m. She tries ending it at 5:30 p.m., but confesses that she often finds herself working late into the night.
“I’ve always loved music,” said Brown, “and I’ve been writing music 20 years.”
Seven years ago she met Mike Heath at a Songwriters of Wisconsin International conference, and they started writing together.
“He’s from Menasha. We met regularly every month to write,” she said.
Eventually they started the publishing company, Brandon Hills Music.
“Mike left publishing in 2007 but I still write songs with him,” said Brown.
As a publisher, Brown advertises for writers to submit their work to her.
“I can be found on www.brandonhillsmusic.com,” she said. “I also depend on word-of-mouth.
“Songwriters send me songs from all over the world. We get the lyric and song on CD. We never take tapes. We listen to see if it’s good melodically, lyrically, and if it has a good hook; a great story. If it’s good, then the writer is offered a song publishing contract for that song. My contracts are for three years, but sometimes they get extended.”
From there Brown pitches the song all over the world.
“I work with major labels, and I have a friend I use in New York City who works with Sony who also works major labels,” she said.
Brown said sometimes an artist or agent might like to try a particular song, but is in the middle of another project and not be able to get to it for six months.
“We only pitch what a singer is looking for. In this business it’s the time. It can take years to make a connection. It can be a huge waiting game,” she said.
Brown said lots of her work is behind-the-scenes action, like filing, labeling and making endless contacts.
“I told my husband I’m going to have a phone implanted in my ear. I absolutely love this business. I like meeting different people. Learning the ropes is interesting and it’s fun to help new people in the business,” she said.
Meanwhile, as if she wasn’t busy enough, Brown has just started her own record label Jandar Records and is in the process of signing up several performers, one of which is her husband’s niece Stephanie Brown-Wendt. She appeared at the Beaver Dam Heritage Village Mall last week under the stage name Stephanie Anne.
Brown said the only down side of having a recording label and publishing business is that she has no time for writing.
“Otherwise, this business is fun.”
For more information about publishing or recording, call Marsha Brown at Brandon Hills Music, (920) 570-1076. or go to brandonhillsmusic.com.