The Evolution of Creating: Writing Songs for Sync

WITH

PAMELA SHEYNE
RICHARD HARRIS

MODERATED BY TRACEY & VANCE MARINO

SCL SongArts LA Committee

Screening Link available upon Registration

YouTube Live Stream Q&A:
Wednesday, August 11, 5:00-6:30pm PT

Writing hit songs for artists is a craft in itself, but writing songs for sync and music placements can require a slightly different approach. This process has evolved greatly in recent years. Songwriters/Producers Pamela Sheyne and Richard Harris have had success in the hit song world as well as in the sync licensing world. In this seminar, they will share their tips on how to write and craft songs for today’s ever-changing film, TV, and commercial markets.

Pamela Sheyne is a multi-platinum-selling songwriter, producer, singer, and mentor. Her songwriting career has achieved success on a global scale and includes international hit records and song placements in numerous films and TV shows. With 50+ million record sales, 100+ platinum sales, she is also a prestigious Ivor Novello Award-winning songwriter, as well as having earned seven BMI Airplay citations. Pam is best known for co-writing the global breakthrough single, “Genie In a Bottle,” for Christina Aguilera. She also co-wrote Dream’s debut single, “He Loves U Not,” and Jessica Simpson’s hit, “Irresistible.” Camila Cabello, Demi Lovato, and Backstreet Boys are among the many hit artists to record Pam’s songs. In the TV and film world, Pam has written end titles for Disney’s The Princess Diaries, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, and the Golden Globe-nominated film, The Young Victoria, performed by Sinéad O’Connor. Pam’s songs have been featured in TV films Camp Rock (1 & 2), Jump In, and numerous others. Pam additionally co-wrote and sang the theme song to the NBC series, Dance Your A** Off, and appeared as the songwriting mentor in the BBC TV show, Fame Academy. 

Pam is a founding member of SONA (Songwriters of North America), an advocacy group that fights for songwriter rights. She co-founded SongWriterCamps with Richard Harris.

Richard Harris is a #1 Billboard songwriter, producer, artist, and mentor. Transplanted from the U.K. to Los Angeles, Richard quickly signed a staff-writer publishing deal with peermusic, landing multiple major label song cuts around the world. With several #1 songs, top ten singles, and platinum records, Richard continues to have hits, including two #1 Billboard dance singles. Richard’s songs have been recorded by Katharine McPhee, Radio Disney’s Carly and Martina, and international artists from South Africa to Japan. Richard has landed hundreds of TV, film, and commercial song placements through peermusic and major production music libraries. He has had songs placed in hit TV shows, including Empire, Nashville, Pretty Little Liars, The Bold Type, Good Trouble, One Tree Hill, and movies including, This Means War and Single Moms Club. Among Richard’s highlights are having songs in commercials for eBay, TJ Maxx, and Vivo, and in trailers for NFL and Fox TV.

Richard is also a songwriting mentor and launched SongWriterCamps with long-time collaborator Pamela Sheyne. 

The husband-and-wife music writing team, Tracey and Vance Marino are composers, songwriters, musicians, and producers with more than 3,000 songs and cues in their BMI catalog. Their music is heard daily around the world in TV shows such as The Voice, New Girl, The Tonight Show, Dr. Oz, Oprah, Saturday Night Live, and many more. Their music has been placed in films, documentaries, video games, toys, and commercials. The Marinos have two Pro Tools studios in San Diego, California, and have music signed with over 50 music publishers, sync agencies, and production music libraries. Tracey is a classically trained pianist originally from Boston who sings, plays several keyboard instruments, and directs choirs. She received her B.A. in Professional Studies and Fine Arts from San Diego State University and studied composition from maestros John Garvey and David Ward-Steinman. Vance, originally from Oahu, is also a singer and director. He plays bass, various types of electric and acoustic guitar, ukulele, and many other stringed instruments. Vance studied music at Kamehameha Schools and at UCLA Extension.

Tracey and Vance studied songwriting with Jai Josefs, Jason Blume, and Marty Panzer. The Marinos run the San Diego Chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and are long-time members of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP), the California Copyright Conference (CCC), Friends of the Guild of Music Supervisors (GMS), Songwriters of North America (SONA), and the Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL) SongArts Committee. The Marinos’ new book, Hey! That’s My Song! A Guide to Getting Music Placements in Film, TV, and Media will be available in November 2021. 

*** IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ ***

FREE for current SCL members (click HERE to check membership status).

Attendees will be emailed a Screening Link upon Registration and a Q&A YouTube Live Stream link on Wednesday, August 11, 10 minutes before Q&A start.

Attendees can ask questions on YouTube chat, and the SCL Host will pass them on to the Moderator. The SCL Member Code of Conduct applies to online Q&As.

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