Posts by Marty Dodson
A Lifetime of Learning For Songwriters
One of the things I love most about being a songwriter is that it is one of the few things in life that you can never totally “figure out”. You can always write a better song than you wrote today. No matter how successful you get, it requires you still be a lifetime songwriting student.…
Read More5 Things Amateur Songwriters Worry About (That Pros Don’t!)
In this week’s SongTown Songwriting Podcast episode, multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson cover five things amateur writers often worry about that prevent them from becoming better writers. Fix these five simple things, and you’ll have more fun and reach your goals more quickly! Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will…
Read MoreOur Top 12 Songwriting Tips! | Advice That Changed How We Write
In this week’s episode of the SongTown Podcast, multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson share their top 12 Songwriting tips that changed the way they write. Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will help you level-up your songs and finish them faster. CLICK HERE to begin! SongTown Press Books: Mastering Melody Writing : Check…
Read MoreHow To Write Great Lyrics Every Time (5 Pro Tips)
Writing great lyrics isn’t about waiting for inspiration to strike—it’s about consistently honing your craft and approaching songwriting with intention and strategy. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to co-write with some of the best in the business, and I’ve learned a few truths that can make the difference between an okay song and a…
Read MorePeople To Thank This Thanksgiving: A Songwriter’s Perspective
Being grateful and giving thanks is a discipline that I try to practice daily. 🙏 From a songwriting perspective, here are some things I believe all of us creative types need to be thankful for: The Believers My mom was a huge believer in me and my music. When everyone else was telling me…
Read MoreOur Top 5 Setup Lines (Pro Songwriting Tips)
In this week’s episode of the SongTown Podcast, Multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson reveal their all-time top 5 setup lines for lyric writing. Set-up lines are an underused songwriting technique used by top-level writers that will instantly level up the emotional punch of your songs. Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video…
Read More10 Mistakes that Peg You as an Amateur Songwriter
In this week’s SongTown Podcast episode, multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson, who’ve critiqued thousands of songs at SongTown, break down the 10 most common mistakes that peg a songwriter as an amateur. Correct these 10 simple things and you will be quickly writing your best songs! Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This…
Read MoreAfter Co-Writing with Dozens of Hit Artists (Top 5 Things We Learned)
In this week’s episode of the SongTown Podcast, multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson, who’ve collaborated with dozens of hit artists, reveal the top 5 lessons they learned the hard way-so you don’t have to! Write on! Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will help you level-up your songs and finish…
Read MoreWe Co-Wrote Songs with 4,000 People (Here’s What We Learned)
In this episode of the SongTown Podcast: Multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson have co-written with 4,000 plus people in their careers. These are the most common co-writing mistakes and best advice on how to avoid bad sessions. Write On.. or better yet, Co-Write On! Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series…
Read MoreCommercial Vs. Creative Music: The Debate Goes On
One of the big questions we get over and over is whether writing commercial music requires you to sell your soul, abandon creativity, and forsake all that is good in this world. As if there are two sides at war with each other … Commercial Vs. Creative Music Any time this debate arises, there are…
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