Today we’d like to introduce you to Corey Lee Barker.
Hi Corey Lee, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started out writing songs and performing in Memphis and moved to Nashville in 1998 where I knew exactly zero people, 23 years and six staff deals later, I have over 900 songs on different albums, TV shows, and movies.
The last few years, I’ve been concentrating on Christmas songs and have been dubbed “Christmas Corey” by much of the Nashville community, which is fine by me. I’ve been lucky enough to have multiple nominations/wins for Songwriter of the year by the ICMA, The Tennessee Songwriters Association, The Josie Music Awards, KCMA, The Texas Country Music Association, and the NACMAI over the years. My 3rd book in the series “HIT HAPPENS” is set to come out this Christmas, which focuses on the basics of writing for TV and sync.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was a very long tough road waiting tables for 14 years and working at a bank for nine years while writing after work and burning both ends of the candle. It took 20 years to the exact day of moving to the town where I could land a music job that paid enough to quit everything long term and focus on the dream. Early on I even got fired from a place I was playing for free.
That was a real confidence builder for sure! One of the biggest struggles was most certainly affording to demo the songs properly for pitching purposes. Major publishing companies are often spending $1,000 on the demo and that’s tough to compete with when you are a waiter, teller, etc.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m most known for my writing and song plugging. I write around 450 songs per year and pitch 3,000 times per year including TV and film. My worst year in the last decade was a 30 cut year. That’s the beauty of pitching 3,000 times, however.
Even if you fail 99% of the time you still land 30 songs on artist albums. My proud moments include winning the ICMA songwriter of the year at the Grand Ole Opry, getting eight songs on William Shatner’s album, landing a song in my favorite TV show at the time SMALLVILLE, and my first Hallmark placement because my sister is the biggest fan on the planet.
I think what sets me apart from most is that I don’t know where the off button is. I write with different recording artists for their projects or for TV and film every day, twice a day, and then pitch at night. I write over 100 Christmas songs per year to compete in the Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas movie market, which is highly unusual for Nashville writers, or any writer that I know for that matter.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
There is power in numbers. Surround yourself with a team of hard-working, talented, big-hearted go-getters and hold each other accountable for your progress. Share your incite and connections and pull each other up.
Always celebrate the small victories and the large ones won’t seem so few and far between. In an industry where thousands upon thousands are competing against you, every accomplishment should be cherished and not taken lightly.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.reverbnation.com/christmascorey
- Facebook: corey lee barker
- Youtube: corey lee barker
