Articles written by John Durant

What is Helium

About me - John Durant

I'm a songwriter(BMI) and Indie recording artist residing in Nashville, Tennessee. I'm originally from Niagara Falls, New York, but my wife and I relocated here so I could pursue my music publishing career.

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Entertainment > Music Business The future of the music industry: 3 of 47
The future of the music industry is a constant subject of debate among many of my peers in Music City USA. Record labels and publishers on Nashville's Music Row are overhauling traditional business strategies to stay competitive in an industry that is changing by the day. For many years, major labels have had a stranglehold o... More..
Pets & Animals > Cat Care & Health How to save money on cat care: 1 of 10

How can you love your cats and save money at the same time? I'm going to share a few tips I've learned over the years that will help you provide a wonderful loving home and quality care for your furry little feline buddies on a relatively small budget.Cat food will probably be the biggest expense in your weekly budget. Do you... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Christian Beliefs & Culture Should Christians watch rated R movies?: 4 of 39

Should Christians watch R-rated movies? Should Christians eat lunch at Hooters? Should Christians do anything that would be considered a temptation to commit sin if they're serious about their faith?There are many denominations in the Christian faith that range from liberal to ultra-conservative, and I'm sure each one of them... More..
Entertainment > Music Business What to consider before entering the music biz: 2 of 19
Every night many talented people dream about the day when they'll be out under the concert lights singing to thousands of adoring fans. They dream about the fame and riches they'll enjoy when they sign that big record deal, and are completely convinced that it's only a matter of time before their amazing talent is discovered.... More..
Entertainment > Music Business Great ways to promote your band: 3 of 21
Promotion is the key to the success or failure of any aspiring artist or band. Talent can get you noticed, but promotion is what sells CD's, digital downloads, and concert tickets. All you have to do is watch a few episodes of "American Idol" to see that even the "marginally talented" can be successful if exposed to a large a... More..
Entertainment > Music Business Music file-sharing: An artist's perspective: 4 of 15
You roll out of bed every workday morning, take a hot shower, get dressed, chomp into some fruity-nutty breakfast bar, and wash it down with a half a pot of black coffee as you watch the carnage on the morning traffic report. At 7:30AM sharp, you get in your car and desperately battle the legions of rush hour maniacs, just to... More..
Entertainment > Music (Other) Downloading music for free helps unheard musicians: 2 of 7

Downloading music for free can help aspiring unheard artists get much needed publicity, but only if you're downloading music that the artist has authorized for that purpose. Downloading free unauthorized copies of music that the artist only offers for sale is stealing, no matter how you want to justify it.Most recording artis... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Resources How to create great works through collaborative writing: 2 of 7
Are two heads really better than one? I'm going to give you a songwriter's perspective on collaborative writing.I've written with many co-writers over the years, and some collaborations were much more productive than others. I've learned to be more selective about the people I write with, because I have to make the most of my... More..
Entertainment > Music Business What to study and how to train to become a music producer: 2 of 6

I could write volumes about the training required to become a music producer, but I'm only going to focus on a limited area of study for the folks who just want to get their feet wet. You don't need a college degree to get a basic understanding of music production, but formal studies in music production and audio engineering ... More..
Entertainment > Musical Instruments Do you want to be a lead guitar or rhythm guitar player?: 6 of 17
There are those that were born to play lead guitar, and then there are those who are content to take on the less glamorous role of playing rhythm guitar. Lead guitarists get most of the fame and attention, and are usually in much higher demand than guitarists who specialize in playing rhythm guitar. Guitar players equally ade... More..