NEW HOPE MUSIC - Thoughts on Song Distribution & Publishing

Our background MIDI is "I Will Go",
written by Ralph Merrifield,
arranged by Hiland Overgaard (from Minnesota)

"I will go where You want me to go, I will do what You want me to do
Help me to see where You lead, I will follow You.
Without holding back now, I want to be
fully obedient to Your plans for me..."

Ah, the age-old questions that all of us wrestle with...

My general philosophy is "Bloom where you are planted".
Be faithful in the ministry God has given to you, share your songs with your local fellowship and at retreats, give them to other churches in the region, hand them to people passing through your area (missionaries, visitors). Network with others ministries.

I like the Proverb that says "Do you see a man skillful in his work, he will stand before kings." God will open up doors (big or small, we do not know!) so that you can be a good steward of what He has entrusted to you.

I have done all that I mentioned above, plus developed this web site through which I share our music. With fairly
little ongoing effort and resources on my part, this web site allows
10,000 people a week to come check out the songs.

As with planting seeds, our calling is to write Scripture-based songs (planting),
others water by using them in ministry (worship leaders, Sunday School teachers, publishers), but God alone is the only one who causes the growth and bears the fruit.

Over the years, I've submitted my songs to over 100 publishers and recording artists. Many don't write back. Those that do inform me they "have no projects in the works that match my style" or "don't accept song submissions from anyone but their writers".

Right or wrong, unless you know someone in those organizations, most are not open to outside submissions. Many publishing companies were created by folks like you and me, who needed a vehicle through which they could share their own songs...

Having very limited web space and time
(yes, I have several real jobs and church ministries too!) ,
New Hope Music only has resources to highlight songs written by
musicians in our local church and a hymnwriter in Canada who is
helping me develop MIDIs and PDF songsheets. In addition, many arrangers
and singers around the world contribute to this effort and now minister through our web site.

Keep faithful with all He has entrusted into your hands.
Allow the Body of Christ around you to add their gifts.
Be creative. Trust God for results...

I'm afraid, for now, this is the best I can offer for advice and assistance.

God will open doors for you in His time and wonderful way.

Your partner in encouraging saints around the world,

Thanks Ralph, I REALLY appreciated your article on this page...
It encouraged me a lot, and I appreciated your honesty too!
(Ray, from New Zealand)

Thanks for the article, "How Do I Get Published".

I am a Christian singer/songwriter. I currently lead a Christian band.
We go into prisons, nursing homes, homeless shelters, and wherever God leads us
to reach out to the lost. Sometimes it's easy to lose focus and get caught up in "publishing".
I need to remember that whether one person hears, or 10,000,000, it's still all
for God's glory and all part of His plan.

I am still working hard to share my music with others, and will probably do this
until I breathe my last. This is because I know what God has called me to do,
and I know that the message in my songs can help others.

I pray for your ministry and that God will give you the strength to persevere!
To God be the glory!

(Donna,   www.4ever1music.com )