Question 1

Who runs Nashville Song Pitcher?

Accepted Answer

Nashville Song Pitcher was created and operated by Keith Mohr, a 30+ year veteran of the music industry who has worn nearly every hat imaginable. Keith operated a successful recording studio in Pennsylvania, working with top names in the business, including the hard rock mega-group Halestorm, who recorded some of their earliest songs in his studio. He also mixed a project for guitar legend and hitmaker Rick Derringer ("Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo"). On the tech side, Keith created one of the first-ever websites for independent artists to self-promote, IndieHeaven, which served thousands of musicians for over 20 years. IndieHeaven was the first site to offer single-song downloads (predating Apple, MP3.com, and others) and pioneered many of the features now standard on music promotion platforms. After relocating to Nashville in 2003, Keith launched the popular songwriter open-mic competition Nashville Rising Song, which gave unknown singer-songwriters a chance to perform on major Nashville stages. Industry professionals attended each round, selecting a winner, while audiences voted for their favorite performers. The contest ran from 2006 until 2020, when live venues closed due to the pandemic. Over the years, several contestants went on to notable careers, including Kelsea Ballerini, now a Grand Ole Opry member, and Jason Wyatt, former lead vocalist of The Lost Trailers and co-writer of "We the People" with Kid Rock. Another artist discovered at his contest was "Gayle" (ABCDE-FU) who has gone on to break into the pop world. Through Nashville Rising Song, Keith built deep relationships with many of Nashville's top industry figures, who eagerly supported his mission of discovering new talent. When the pandemic halted live events, Keith adapted once again. In 2020, he launched Global Rising Song, the first crowdfunding songwriter contest anywhere. Fans voted by donating $1 per vote, and the songwriters received their vote money. Music industry professionals selected a winner for each contest. Across 22 contests over two years it raised more than $225,000 for writers worldwide, and with live music stopped, that money paid rent and kept the lights on. Most recently, Keith created Free For All Music, the first fan-centric song contest celebrating creators who use AI in their music. The weekly competitions continue to engage a fast-growing global community of AI-powered musicians. Check it out at: www.FreeForAllMusic.com. Keith also previously served as President and head of A&R for Broken Records, an indie label combining publishing, promotion, and distribution services. That label is no longer operating. In January 2026, Keith launched SongRefiners.com, a smart, intuitive platform that analyzes songs the way industry pros do. Using advanced technology and dynamic evaluation tools, it delivers powerful insights on composition, melody, production quality, and commercial potential.

Question 2

What is song pitching?

Accepted Answer

"Pitching" is a term used in the music industry and is synonymous with "presenting." It is also called "plugging." I like pitching, because if there isn't a pitch first, then there aren't any hits. And this whole thing is about hits.

Question 3

What genres do you represent?

Accepted Answer

Being that I am located in Music City, Nashville, TN, most of my industry contacts are within the country and Christian genres. However, it is not hard these days to find opportunities across the genre spectrum.

Question 4

What is your criteria for reviewing a song to determine if it is pitch ready?

Accepted Answer

I listen for six things: the title, the intro (ten to twelve seconds is best, and starting on verse one is even better), the story and lyrics, the melody and top line, the chords and arrangement, and the commercial value. On top of that, I consider whether I believe I can obtain a placement.

Question 5

Is the submission for song preview/review free?

Accepted Answer

There is a preview/review fee of $25 per song. The reason for this is if it were free, many people would send entire song catalogs, and there is simply not enough time to review catalogs. A small fee increases the value for both the songwriter and for Nashville Song Pitcher. Remember, I don't just listen to your song one time and give you a thumbs up or down. You get a detailed written review of your song, so you can re-read it and work from it during your rewrite. And if I determine the song is pitch ready, we will discuss a song pitch agreement. Here is the offer: if your song is pitch ready and we agree to partner together representing your song, the $25 fee is credited back to you.

Question 6

How to submit your song for review

Accepted Answer

Great question. Here is the step-by-step process: Step 1: Create your account - Click the "Signup" button on the website to create your songwriter account. You'll need to provide a username, email address, and password. Step 2: Complete your profile - After signing up, you'll be prompted to fill out your songwriter profile with your name and contact information. Step 3: Complete the songwriter questionnaire - Next, you'll complete a brief questionnaire that helps me understand your background and goals as a songwriter. Step 4: Purchase a review package or redeem a coupon - Once your profile and questionnaire are complete, you can purchase a song review package (1, 2, 3, or 4 songs). If you have a coupon code, you can redeem it instead of purchasing. Step 5: Submit your song - After payment is confirmed, go to your Songwriter Dashboard and click "Submit a Song." You'll need to provide: Your song title, an audio file (MP3, WAV, or M4A), your lyrics (paste them directly or upload a file), some background about your song's story and inspiration, information about any AI usage in writing/production, and agreement to the Song Preview terms. That is it. Once you submit, I review your song and send you detailed written feedback. You can track the status of your review and message me directly through your dashboard.

Question 7

Can I submit more than 1 song?

Accepted Answer

You can submit up to 4 songs at a time.

Question 8

Do you accept AI produced songs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I accept AI produced songs, but I encourage songwriters to write 100% of the lyric, the chords/arrangement, and melody line. Industry people know what AI produced songs sound like, and depending on the industry, some are more accepting than others to AI produced songs. I will let you know in the evaluation if I think the song will pass industry scrutiny.

Question 9

Can I contact you to discuss my review?

Accepted Answer

I do not discuss a song and/or a review after I send the review. My review and my decision to represent a song are final. Feel free to submit a revision review if you want me to listen to updates/changes/rewrites.

Question 10

How much does it cost to pitch my song?

Accepted Answer

I'll negotiate a fee based on various factors. There can be a per song fee for a specific amount of time (if the songwriter wants exclusive representation and management), or a percentage of income if a song is placed and generates revenue (usually 10%). There are no rules when it comes to pitching songs, but there are acceptable practices. The goal is a win-win deal and a mutually beneficial relationship.

Question 11

What happens if one of my songs gets placed, licensed or cut?

Accepted Answer

That is an easy answer. We celebrate. It is impossible to determine how much income a particular song will generate. It is not as much as it used to be, but there are songwriters who still receive considerable income for songs cut by popular artists. You never know if a song will do well unless it is first pitched, and the song has to be a strike.

Question 12

Have you had a song placed and cut?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I have had songs cut by artists. The plan is to have many songs I discover placed, cut, used, and generating income for the writers. The more success stories, the more value Nashville Song Pitcher has for everyone.

Question 13

Can you help me demo my song?

Accepted Answer

Sure, but as stated above, this all takes time. There are other fee based services. Check out the Services section on this website to learn more, and contact me if you want details on the work and the fees.

Question 14

I am an industry person. How do I peruse your catalog?

Accepted Answer

Start on the industry page at nashvillesongpitcher.com/industry to see how catalog access works, then submit a catalog access request.

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