I am a country songwriter in need of advice

The stories of instant stardom is an elusive mistress my friend. Most publishers won't even consider songs unles they're a quality demo. Now that's not to say that there aren't options availiable to a beginner taking the first steps in what they hope will be a rewarding dream. Since I am also a beginner in that I'm just now starting to write my own songs. I'll do my best to address some of your questions as I have already found out so much in regards to them.
So you live outside of Nashville thats not nessacerily a bad thing a good bit of todays top song of any genre live outside of Nashville. Try searching the web for the closest local songwriting associations and join them Thats where you'll get a ton of the information. Also try searching singer songwriter representation in Nashville There are some artist developement and managerial companies that offer song evaluations (important note if they charge for an evaluation it's probably a scam). You'll find that thier is a lot you can do from the comfort of your own home.
As for copyrighting. A law was passed in I believe in 1976 that basically means that the minute you put words,music poetry etc... down on paper. It becomes your intellectual property there by copyrighting it.On your lyric sheet It is suggested that before you submit it it you either right copyright and then the year that you wrote it or the copyright symbol then the year. I think a common mistake is that people think that they have to send off to Washington to get a copyright when in fact the copyright is already there . What you are doing when you send it to Washington is registering your copyright. Good luck!

PEACE OUT
Steve

There are countless places to submit you music. Be certain that when you do to follow protocal and submit in a professional manner. You should at least have a decent quality demo. This doesn't mean that you need to spend money on a full project and if your goal is to have your material recorded by an artists, a full blown project would be tossing money out of the window and besides you want whoever listens to not be confused by too much instrumentation. Make sure everything is packaged correctly with a clearly marked CD and lyric sheets. DO NOT submit more than 3 songs and in most cases it is better to write and ask to submit first. Many times you will receive a "mail code" that ensures your music will get listened to. You can do some internet research or purchase a "Songwriters Guide" for a list of addresses and phone numbers but either way you will need to find contact information. It's best to not call the publishers or labels and you probably won't speak to anyone of significance anyway. Of course it is always best to be in Nashville but don't let your not being here stop you. A good song is a good song and with enough effort you can get the right people to listen just don't give up.

Well I told Luke Bryan the idea for one of my songs and he said he liked it but couldn't look at it for legal reasons then he gave me his managements info I e-mailed his manager and she hasn't got back to me yet. But using your advice I googled singer songwriter representation and I came across ParMusic Group or Paramount and they are affiliated with Music Row.com, They seem legitimate what do you know of them? P.S. Sending yourself music or documents certified mail or notarizing holds up in court as copyright I always thought different.

It doesn't so much prove anything one way or another it establishes a time line to show that you created it before anyone else when you are registering something you're making public your creation.