Posts by Marty Dodson
How Songwriters Get Paid: The 5 Minute Overview Of Songwriting Income Streams
Several people have asked about the different ways songwriters get paid. So, here’s the 5 minute overview: Publishing Draws for Songwriters. This is a monthly amount a publisher pays to a writer that is on a staff publishing deal. These are really advances on royalties that have to be repaid out of incoming royalties. Once your catalog…
Read MoreThe #1 Rule Of Songwriting – The Song Is King
If you’ve been hanging around SongTown for a while, you’ve heard Clay and I talk about the idea that “The Song Is King”. When we say that, we mean that, when we write, we are there to serve the song, NOT to serve our own interests. I believe that music and songs have a “life”…
Read More“Stay The Course” With Curb Recording Artist Hannah Ellis
Curb Records recording artist and country music singer/songwriter Hannah Ellis joins Hit Songwriter Marty Dodson on the SongTown on Songwriting Podcast. Hannah talks about her journey in the music business, from networking and internships to publishing deals and eventually signing a deal as an artist. She shares useful tips to help you get an idea…
Read More4 Ways To Keep Your Songs Fresh
The longer I write songs, the more I realize the importance of keeping your songs fresh and mixing things up from time to time. Here are some ways that I do that: 1. Booking 2-way co-writes with my regular co-writers. I always look for new 3rds to add to the mix. That way, I don’t…
Read MoreHow Is SongTown Different From Other Songwriting Communities?
There are a lot of songwriting sites out there. We appreciate you stopping by our “town”. If you are new to us, we want to let you know a little bit about who we are and the SongTown difference. The SongTown Difference begins with walking the walk… SongTown was founded by and is curated by…
Read MoreHow And When To Go “Beth Dutton” On The Music Business
Hit Songwriter Marty Dodson talks about when you should go “Beth Dutton” and stand up for yourself when dealing in the music business. Songwriters often don’t feel like they have a say in what happens to their songs, but they do. Marty shares stories and examples from his own experience that will help you in…
Read MoreDo You HAVE To Write With Artists To Get Songs Recorded?
Do you HAVE to write with artists to get songs recorded? Listen in as Hit Songwriters Marty Dodson and Clay Mills discuss two different viewpoints on this topic! Marty and Clay also offer tips and advice on how to write with artists and how you can get one step closer to getting your songs cut!…
Read MoreSongwriters: Are You Pitching Your Songs With A Shotgun Or A Rifle?
One of the most popular questions we get at SongTown is “how many songs should I send to a producer or publisher?” The prevailing myth for aspiring songwriters is that “more shots equals a better chance of something great happening”. I want to dispel that myth and to explain why pitching your songs with a…
Read MoreThe Songwriter’s Code
The Songwriter’s Code From the Brill Building in New York, to Music Row in Nashville, songwriters have been operating under this “code” for many years. If you hope to join the professional ranks, you MUST learn the code and go by it. If you are just wanting to co-write in general, it’s good to know…
Read MoreWhy You Gotta Know How To Write To Tracks
Why is it so important to know how to write to music tracks?! Hit Songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson discuss the way that songwriting rooms have changed dramatically over the last few years and what you need to know to create great songs in today’s market. Want to dive even deeper into writing to…
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