NEWSLETTER 12-13-25 (click to open)
- TSAI
- 5 days ago
- 8 min read
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There's a lot of new information throughout please read the entire Newsletter so you're up to speed on everything TSAI
We've been getting feedback that some people are missing out on information that is in these newsletters. Please read the entire message even if it looks like a repeat, It may not be:
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We Want To Hear From YOU! Come to our Tuesday Meetings and Give Us Suggestions on What You Want To Get Out Of TSAI and let's make it happen
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Breaking News:
******************************************************************************************** Important Info With Deadlines.
Have you been pitching songs with TSAI in 2025?
It's time to put together the Ballot for the TSAI Awards.
Have you had a song cut by an artist and released in 2025? Submit it to the Record/Cut of the year Category to be voted on by our supporters. Your song could be just like
Imperfect Prayer
&
Hate That You Love Me Winners at the 2025 Awards Show
Have you had a song placed in Sync in 2025? Submit it to the Sync Placement Category to be voted on by our supporters Your song could be just like Hate That You Love Me Placed as a bumper on the Fox show "The Five" Winner at the 2025 Awards Show
Send your song submissions to TsaiNashville@gmail.com Include this information where applicable Mp3 Song Title All Writers Artist that released the song Where the Sync was placed Use Subject Line: Record/Cut of the Year Submission Sync Placement Submission If you have both submissions use Subject Line: Cut & Sync Submissions If you do not follow those guidelines and subject headers your submission may be overlooked and not added to the ballot. We Don't Want That
Song Submission Deadline is 12/31/2025 No submissions will be accepted after that date
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Tuesday 12/16/25
TSAI Annual Holiday Party
YOU DO NOT need to be a pitch supporter to attend.
ALL MAY ATTEND
Food, Beverages, Music, Networking, Prizes.
Tone Central has been gracious enough to donate some items for giveaway. Arrive and receive an entry to the giveaway. Must be present upon drawing to win
Bring your favorite holiday Dish or Desert for a potluck.
Let's make this the most festive event you'll go to this year.
Remember we can't do any of this without You!
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12/18 Ri'chard is BACK Our time is moving at Romeo Records from 3-6 to 5-8 to coincide with the holiday pop up market Come out, Shop, Play your favorite Holiday Tunes or just sit back, get a nice beverage and treat, Relax and Enjoy The Music
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DID YOU KNOW?
TSAI Has Merchandise on our website!
Use Coupon Code Newsletter at Checkout to receive 10% off your donation purchase
Coupon Code DOES NOT apply to the annual or monthly pitch program signups
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Here is an Interesting YouTube Video talking about AI in Songwriting Check it Out
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Here Is Another Interesting Update On Registering Your AI Recordings With Your PRO:
ASCAP, BMI and SOCAN Announce Alignment on AI Registration Policies
The Three Major North American PROs will now accept registrations of partially AI-generated musical works
NEW YORK and TORONTO, Oct. 28, 2025 – ASCAP, BMI and SOCAN today announced they have each adopted policies to accept registrations of musical compositions partially generated using artificial intelligence (AI) tools. These works can now be registered directly with the individual societies.
All three PRO registration policies define a partially AI-generated musical work as one that combines elements of AI-generated musical content with elements of human authorship. These works will now be included as part of the full repertories licensed by each society. Musical compositions that are entirely created using AI tools are not eligible for registration with any of the individual societies.
Policy alignment among the three major North American PROs reflects the fact that songwriters and composers increasingly incorporate a variety of AI tools into their creative process and workflow.
The Big Picture
ASCAP, BMI, and SOCAN (the 3 biggest songwriter organizations in North America) have all agreed on a new rule:
They will now let you register songs that include some AI help, as long as a human (you) made a real creative contribution to the song.
What You Can Register
You can register your song if:
You wrote the lyrics, melody, chords, or made other creative decisions,
But used AI tools to help you — for example:
Generating backing tracks or demo music,
Helping with production or arrangement ideas,
Using AI to polish or enhance your lyrics or vocals.
In other words:
If you’re the creative mind and the AI is just a tool, you can register it.
What You Can’t Register
You cannot register a song that was:
Completely made by AI with no real human input,
(like typing “write and sing a country song about heartbreak” into an AI tool and doing nothing else).
Those would be considered AI-only works — and not eligible for copyright or PRO registration.
What Happens When You Register
When you register a song with ASCAP, BMI, or SOCAN now:
You’ll likely need to indicate which parts were created by a human and which were AI-assisted.
The PROs will credit only the human-created portion when it comes to royalties.
(The AI part doesn’t get copyright or royalty credit.)
So, your human authorship — lyrics, melody ideas, structure, production direction — will still be protected and paid.
What This Means for Songwriters Using AI (Like You)
This is good news. It means:
You can safely use AI tools (like Suno or ChatGPT) in your creative process,
You can still register your songs with ASCAP, BMI, or SOCAN,
You can still collect royalties on your portion as a songwriter.
The key is to make sure your human creativity is clear and significant — that you’re not just pressing “generate” and claiming ownership.
Simple Rule of Thumb
If you could explain to someone what you personally created or decided in the song —
you’re fine to register it.
If the song would still exist exactly the same without any of your input, you can’t.
IMPORTANT: Keep Documentation
PROs may audit or ask questions in the future. Keep a record of your workflow:
Screenshots of AI prompts and outputs.
Notes on which parts you edited or created.
Rough drafts showing your human input.
This protects your claim to full authorship of the human portions.
CONTACTS:
Cathy Halgas Nevins, ASCAP
Jodie Thomas, BMI
Nicole Van Severen, SOCAN
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TSAI Supporter, Randy Barnette has some info we'd like to share:
American Idol Alumni and Songwriter Meghan Woods has a new artist development company called Branded Development Co. She has a lot of really cool things in the works including over the next few months. Heavy industry hitters are pretty excited. Randy is the Director of A&R and he's working with developing songwriters as well. Are you an artist looking to take the next step in the industry? Check Them Out!
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Serious Question!
Who Would You Like To See Receive Next Years
Life-Time Achievement
Award?
We've Already Given It To Tony Brown & Bill Anderson!
Email Us and Let Us Know
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Don't Miss
The Headlines!
It's Been 5+ Years in the Making But...
TSAI's
Real Country Music on Radio
Campaign is Seeing the Light of Day!
The Grammy's Have Announced They Are Splitting the Country Music Awards into Traditional Country & Contemporary Country
We Know the Best Way to Do That IS To Split the Billboard Charts
Best Traditional Country Album for albums vocal or instrumental:
"Traditional country includes country recordings that adhere to the more traditional sound structures of the country genre, including rhythm and singing style, lyrical content, as well as traditional country instrumentation such as acoustic guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, piano, electric guitar, and live drums," the Academy states.
The category includes "sub-genres such as Western, Western Swing, and Outlaw country
Best Contemporary Country Album for albums vocal or instrumental:
"The Recording Academy and our voters have had many lengthy debates about how production choices impact musical styles," Mason Jr. said. "However, we want to find as many ways as possible to accurately and honestly honor amazing art. If that requires us to make more space, then we do so. Primarily because we recognize that we do not always have the lines that people use to separate genres perfectly defined, we continually need to refine those standards by listening to the individuals who work within those musical communities to serve them best."
It's not quite the Billboard Charts but It's a Start
And it Started Here At TSAI
Former Executive Director Paul Castoe just did an interview on "In Your Corner" referencing this very topic. Check it out!
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Join us at our meeting spot
TONE CENTRAL STATION
"Vibin', baby!"
By Grimey's, next to
Living Waters coffee bar
Reminder, all times given
are Nashville/Central time.
Please adjust to your local time,
we don't want you to miss anything
just because the Earth is round.
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--- IMPORTANT ---
Are you a pitch supporter and want to get your songs in our playlist for pitching Opportunities?
You must be a "Pitch Program"
supporter to participate.
Almost all other services are FREE
and open to everyone!
Mail your flash drives to:
TSAI
P.O. Box 140044
Nashville, Tn 37214
*
Twitter (X)
Our account has been revised.
SAME handle as before,
@TennesseesongW1
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NEWS!
TSAI YouTube Channel
"TSAI Nashville" on YouTube
"Songwriters Workshop, Tips from TSAI"
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!
*
Remember, you are now on our website.
Back up and look around!
"Stroll around the grounds
until you feel at home..."
Meeting Calendar
= Tuesday Night Meetings =
Tone Central Station
6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Tuesday 12/16/25 TSAI Annual Holiday Party YOU DO NOT need to be a pitch supporter to attend. ALL MAY ATTEND Food, Beverages, Music, Networking, Prizes Tone Central has been gracious enough to donate some items for giveaway. Arrive and receive an entry to the giveaway. Must be present upon drawing to win Bring your favorite holiday Dish or Desert for a potluck. Let's make this the most festive event you'll go to this year Remember we can't do any of this without You!
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== TSAI Around Town Presents ==
Every Thursday from 3 pm-6 pm 12/18 will be a Holiday jam from 5-8pm
Music, Mocha & Mayhem
With Ri'chard Trest
and a Bevy of Hosts!
@Romeo Records & Cafe
Hermitage TN
Get a Beverage, Pastry, Shop Vinyl & Listen to ALL Original Live Music
Ri'chard will not be hosting for a few weeks, Come support these great and generous hosts
Contact us for Details: RichardsCafe@Gmail.com
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SUNO Shawn the AI Jedi has written an amazing 2nd blog discussing AI usage. It's posted on the Blogs/Newsletter Home Page. Check It Out
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OTHER NEWS
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Hey folks, the Government
"raised" the mechanical
license rate from 12.7 cents to
13.1 cents! Hooray!
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TSAI is partnering with our friend
(Award Winning Hit Writer) Chris Wallin,
to get you his fantastic "Building Great Songs!"
See our Home page for details, TSAI supporters
get a discount, too!
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TSAI on NCTVN on ROKU TV
TSAI channel on
Nashville Country Television Network
Our Around Town shows and Awards Shows
are up now, with more coming!
You may need to add NCTVN to your ROKU
On the Home page, scroll down past the
premier networks to "Add a Channel"
Type Nashville Country Television in
the search box,
select the Logo on the right, and let it load.
Scroll across to the TSAI Channel, and enjoy!
We're under "TV Shows".
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Special news for our performing supporters!
If you're looking for a great option for
merch, contact our sponsor Helen's Pop Art!
We have worked out a deal for you
as a supporter of TSAI! Links above
and on the website.
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TSAI now has an Instagram account!
TSAI Nashville
Twitter, X: TennesseesongW1
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SKILLS WE NEED:
Help Us Implement The Changes You Want to See
TSAI needs help with: IT, website development,
Blog writing, Video editing,
photography, social media, accounting, and more.
If you'd like to get involved, we'd love
to have you! SHARE-(Volunteer) YOUR SKILLS!
We could get a lot more done,
if we could get more help!
Contact Us: tsainashville@gmail.com
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REAL COUNTRY MUSIC ON RADIO
wristbands are
available at tsainashville.com
Please help us convince Radio there should be
2 separate Country Music formats,
Pop Country and Traditional Country
Twice as much room for all of us! We've already got the Grammy's Doing It
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RESOURCES
Some recommended
Recording Studios
Cash Creek kimo@cashcreekband.com
Dave Smith makinmusictn1970@gmail.com
Pat Lassiter patsbass@gmail.com
Kevin Key kkproductions@gmail.com
John Heinrich johnsteelsax@aol.com
Billy Coane billycoane@gmail.com
Paul Bowen paulbowenmusic@yahoo.com
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Tennessee Songwriters Association, International
615-582-0176
PO Box 140044,
Nashville, Tn, 37214-0044
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