Posts by Marty Dodson
5 Ways To Write Songs Outside The Box
Most of us tend to gravitate toward the same kinds of things when we write. We write grooves and feels that we like. And we tend to write topics we like as well. Here are 5 tips for songwriting outside your box. Use these exercises to stretch your writing boundaries. Write songs from the point of…
Read MoreSongwriting Tips For Writing A Great Second Verse
Writing a great second verse is often the difference in a good song and a killer song. Here are my tips for leveling-up your second verses. Map out an outline of the song as soon as you decide on a hook. Knowing where you are going helps you avoid saying too much before you get…
Read MoreWho’s In Charge of Your Songwriting Destiny?
I can’t count the times that I’ve heard a songwriter blame their lack of success on the radio, publishers, a “closed circle in the music business”, A&R people who “can’t hear a hit”, bad co-writers, just plain bad luck and the list goes on and on and on. While any of those factors COULD potentially…
Read MoreSongTown Year End Message 2021
As we come to the end of 2021 we celebrate a year of SongTown successes! We are so proud of our members and all the hard work they have put in this year! We look forward to teaching, mentoring and cheering everyone on in 2022! Get a jump start on your 2022 songwriting goals with…
Read MoreCan You Teach Songwriting?
Can songwriting really be taught or do you just have to have “it”? In this episode Clay and Marty debunk the myth that songwriting can’t be taught and give examples of how they themselves have learned songwriting from mentors who have taught them and made them better songwriters. Learn more about SongTown’s MasterClasses and make…
Read MoreHandling Song Feedback Constructively
Getting feedback on your songs can sometimes be very overwhelming. Then, once you get the feedback you have the questions of “should I re-write this song, leave it as it is or just write another song completely?” In this episode Clay and Marty talk about how to handle feedback and use it to your advantage…
Read MoreAnatomy of a Sync Song
Randall Foster is Vice President of Business Development and GM of the Nashville office of a digital distribution company called Symphonic Distribution. Prior to his current role, Randall was the leader of the Creative Sync & Licensing for ole music publishing where he oversaw a vast catalog of music copyrights and intellectual property and managed…
Read MoreWhat Keeps Songwriters from Succeeding?
Multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson sit down to talk about what keeps songwriters from succeeding in the music business. With a combined 50+ years of songwriting and music business experience, both Marty and Clay have seen the highs and lows of the business, people come and go, and have had to reinvent themselves…
Read MoreHow Are Music Royalties Divided On A Song?
10 Time #1 Song Songwriter, Marty Dodson, has written songs for artists such as Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Carrie Underwood and many others. In this Quick Tip video Marty explains how songwriting royalties are divided among songwriters and publishers. For a more in-depth breakdown, checkout the SongTown video How SongWriters Get Paid.
Read MoreSmithfield – Making Your Own Way In The Music Business
Marty talks with Smithfield, a modern country duo successfully making their own way within the music business! As independent artists, Smithfield shares about the highs and lows of their career as well as the pros and cons of record labels. If you are an independent artist, this episode is for you! Write better songs faster!…
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