Two New ole Writers Discovered in Hitsville Demo Critique Sessions

The second annual ole Hitsville demo competition at the 2009 CCMA's has produced two promising new songwriters.

Shane Chisholm's song, "Kickin' Up Dust," and Rona Goodman's "Love Can," "have great potential," says ole attorney, Chris Taylor. "I think ole could find welcoming homes for both songs." The two winners have both been plying their craft for some time.

At Hitsville, songwriters were instructed to bring one song on a CD, printed lyrics, and their ID, to ole's seminar room at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. Any co-writers had to be present for their presentation at "first base," as well. If the judges—which included members of ole's creative staff, the Hitsville winners from last year, and executives from ole's co-venture partnerships—felt their song was a "hit," writers made it to second base, where ole's team would judge the song to be worthy to move forward to third. At this point, the artist would move to home plate, where Robert Ott and Chris Taylor would have the final say as to whether the writer had hit a "home run" and earned the opportunity to sign a single-song publishing deal with ole.

Evaluating talent were 2008 Hitsville winners, Courtney and Stephanie Fera and Ron McNeill; Senior Creative Manager, Elizabeth Spear; Creative Director, Shane Barrett; ole President, Michael McCarty, Co-Venture partners Ron Kitchener & Chris Taylor; and ole CEO and Chairman, Robert Ott.

Spear recounts: "Over 25 writers came through this year's Hitsville session in over two hours.. Candidates were lined up before the registration even started and we had a full house for the entire seminar session, while Gilles Godard, our Chief Creative Officer acted as Master of Ceremonies. It was a very exciting and informative session. "It's really important that we show it is possible [to break into the music business] to these people who are literally sitting in their living rooms writing songs all the time."

Appropriately enough, ole writer, Willie Mack, performed 'Places I Ain't Never Been' (from his new CD) to kick off the event. This song was written by Ron McNeill and won at last year's Hitsville event, proving that success can come out of the entire process for writers determined to fulfill their dreams.