Louis Walsh gives top music tips

As part of Radio 1's careers week, Take Control, X Factor judge Louis Walsh has been sharing a few of his top music industry tips. The Westlife manager took time out to answer questions and advised wannabe musicians to "just go for it".

Walsh discovered the winner of the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest, Johnny Logan

We've just had a text in from a band called Paradox. Will you manage us please?

I can only manage a band if I totally believe in them and believe that they can be successful.

What if you don't like them but they can make you loads of money?

That hasn't really happened with me. I have to like them. You have to care about them. If a young band are listening in now, they just have to find one person to believe in them - like someone in a record company - doesn't have to be the top person, but everyone has to hustle to make it. I remember U2 doing small gigs. Everyone I know who's made it started at the bottom.

Let's take some listener calls…

Nathan: I'm in a band and we've just been taken on by a management company and we've signed a contract. Are there certain things you should avoid?

You find the best publishing companies, do up all of your CDs, go around and flog them Advice from Louis Walsh on getting a music writing deal

Well Nathan, it's a bit late because you've signed the contract. The number one thing in this business is to get a really good lawyer. If you get the Music Week yearbook, everyone's in that. There are a handful of really good music lawyers. You're better off signing with someone who has a track record.

Nathan, you have to sign with somebody who totally believes in your band, because your manager is like your salesman, he sells you. If he believes in it, he's going to go the extra mile for you so it's better to be with somebody who's done it before. He's usually the fifth member of the band. Listen, if it doesn't work, you can always get out of it, but always get a good music lawyer.

Paul: Myself and my friend have been writing songs in and out of bands for years and we're getting on in years now but we've come up with half a dozen catchy songs. We're past the band stage but we're really keen on getting the songs to an agency to sell.

Well, you don't sell them. There are a handful of really good publishing companies in London. You find the best publishing companies, do up all of your CDs, go around and flog them.

Chris Moyles: Paul, who could you see recording one of your songs?

Paul: A decent male or female solo artist I suppose.

Chris Moyles: Let's say Paul has a song that he thinks has Westlife written all over it.

Then he should get it to Simon Cowell, because Simon Cowell's their A&R man. He has to go via the publisher.

Chris Moyles: At the moment your jobs are; a judge on X Factor, you manage Westlife, you manage Shane Ward, you manage Boyzone, you got fired from Girls Aloud.

I love Girls Aloud - I'm a fan of theirs. By the way - Nicola? Stop giving her a hard time! Or I'll set Cheryl on you. She's actually very nice.

Louis Walsh sticks up for Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud (right)

Would you not agree that maybe she could smile a bit more?

It's hard to smile all the time.

You know, if you're not enjoying it, get out…

It's a tough business! It's very tough when you slag them off publically.

Says YOU! Are you serious? You slagged off Girls Aloud and you were managing them!

Yeah, but in fun. I wasn't serious. It's a tough business out there. A lot of people want to be famous, that's the problem nowadays. You have to work and you have to have the talent and you have to have good songs. I mean, look at Britney [Spears] - who's on our show Saturday week by the way - she's got great songs. Yeah, "the Brit" is live in the studio doing her new song.

So Saturday night X Factor: JLS, your boys…

I want them in the final.