12th Annual Creative Xperience Workshop & Birthday Bash
Friday, October 16, 2026 - Nashville, TN
📍 Riverside Revival | East Nashville
An Unforgettable Day of Songwriting & Industry Connections!
Friday, Oct. 16, 2026
One room. Two multi-#1 songwriters. Three A&R execs listening to attendee songs live.
Then we hand out the Townie Awards and play till they kick us out!
All-Day Creative Xperience
Exclusive Pro Sessions with Industry Experts!
Doors Open: 8:30 AM
9:00 - 10:15 AM | Welcome & Hit Songwriting Workshop w/Clay Mills & Marty Dodson
10:15 - 11:00 AM | Marketing and Self Promotion for Indie Artist & Songwriters w/Clay Myers
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM | Speed Co-write Line Dance
12:00 - 1:30 PM | Lunch
1:30 - 2:45 PM | Play for Publisher Panel
Get Your Song Heard! Selected attendee songs will be played live for top music publishers; Lindsey Thompson, Elizabeth Brahan & Casadie Pederson
3:00 - 4:15 PM | Lyric & Melody Exercise w/Clay Mills & Marty Dodson
Network, Collaborate & Get Inspired! Connect with fellow songwriters, publishers, and industry insiders. This is your chance to take your songwriting career to the next level!
SongTown 12th Annual Birthday Bash & Townie Awards!
An Evening of Incredible Music & Celebration!
Doors Open: 5:30 PM
6:00 - 6:30 PM | Mix & Mingle
6:30 - 8:00 PM | Member Rounds
SongTown members take the stage!
8:00 - 8:30 PM | Hit Writers Round
Clay, Marty & Special Guests perform!
Townie Awards – Recognizing outstanding members in the SongTown community! (Awards given throughout the night)
Door Prizes – Amazing giveaways all night!
Cash Bar Available – Sip, socialize & celebrate!
Both events held at the beautiful
Riverside Revival venue in East Nashville!
Watch Our Recap Video!
This Year's Industry Pro Lineup
Casadie Pederson
Owner, Muse Creative / A&R Consultant, Concord Music Publishing
Casadie Pederson moved to Nashville in 2019 where she opened Muse Creative Management, providing artist management, A&R Services, as well as royalty rights admin services. Over the years she has served as a creative consultant for multiple prominent publishing companies in Nashville. She continues to provide A&R services for projects, finding artists great songs with her strong ties to the publishing community.
Lindsey Thompson
Vice President Of Creative A&R, Anotherland
Lindsey Thompson (Formerly O’Halloran) is a creative executive and A&R shaping the next generation of songwriters and collaborative communities within faith-based and worship music.
Elizabeth Brahan
VP, Publishing / Artist Management, Nashville at 10th Street Entertainment
In her role at 10th Street, Elizabeth is spearheading the Nashville publishing division of the company. She’s currently working with Nashville writer/artists: Lecade, Kanaan Brock, Justin Holt, and more.
Clay Myers
Founder & CEO of Nashville Music Consultants
Clay Myers is a music industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience in artist development, music publishing, artist management, and television production.
Marty Dodson
13x #1 Songwriter
SongTown Co-founder
Hits include:
“Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven” (Kenny Chesney)
“Must Be Doing Something Right” (Billy Currington)
Visit: martydodson.com
Clay Mills
Multi #1 Songwriter/ 2x Grammy Nominee
SongTown Co-founder
Hits include:
“Beautiful Mess” (Diamond Rio)
“Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” (Darius Rucker)
"History In The Making" (Darius Rucker)
Visit: claymills.com
Thank You To Our Sponsors!
What's On Tap For The Creative Xperience Workshop 2026...
- Hit Writing Workshop - Multi-#1 songwriters Marty Dodson & Clay Mills will take you through an exciting workshop to level up your songwriting in a big way in a short time!
- Industry Panel Discussion - Marketing and Self Promotion for Indie Artist & Songwriters. Learn how to effectively promote your music and cut through the noise.
- Chance to Get Heard! - Attendees will be sent a link to submit their best song for the Creative Xperience Publisher Panel. We will listen to as many songs as possible during the session. This is a great opportunity to possibly get your song played for some of the industry's best publishers.
- Meet Co-writers! - Break the ice and meet potential co-writers in our fun, interactive co-writing "speed date/line dance" activity.
- Mix & Mingle - The Creative Xperience Workshop is a great place to meet potential collaborators and industry pros.
- Have A Blast! - Marty and Clay believe there is nothing better than waking up every day and chasing your passions. This day is dedicated to the art of songwriting and you!
Pricing:
Creative Workshop and Bash Pass: $149
Birthday Bash Only: $25
After the Creative Xperience Workshop, join us for the...
12th Annual ST Birthday Bash & Townie Awards!
Townie Awards will be given out throughout the evening!
This year's ST Birthday Bash extravaganza & Creative Xperience Workshop will be held at the beautiful Riverside Revival venue in East Nashville.
Friday, Oct 16th
Riverside Revival
1600 Riverside Drive
Nashville, TN 37216
(Parking is limited, so you may want to carpool or take Uber/Lyft)
FAQ
Q: Do I have to be a SongTown member to attend?
No. The Creative Xperience and the Birthday Bash are open to every songwriter — members and non-members alike. Plenty of people come for the first time, meet their people, and end up joining afterward.
Q: Is this for beginners, or do I need to be further along?
Both. Marty and Clay have taught rooms with first-year writers and staff writers sitting side by side, and the workshop is built to give each of them something to take home. If you write songs and you want to get better and meet people who are doing the same, you belong in the room.
Q: What exactly do I get with the $149 Workshop & Bash Pass?
The full day — the Hit Writing Workshop with Marty Dodson and Clay Mills, the marketing and self-promotion session with Clay Myers, the Speed Co-write Line Dance, the Lyric & Melody exercise, a submission slot for the Publisher Panel, and your ticket to the Birthday Bash and Townie Awards that night. One price, whole day, start to finish.
Q: What's the difference between the $149 pass and the $25 ticket?
The $25 ticket gets you into the Birthday Bash only — the evening rounds, the Townie Awards, the door prizes, and the party. The $149 pass includes all of that plus the entire workshop day and your shot at the Publisher Panel. If you can get the day off work, take the day off work.
Q: How does the Publisher Panel song submission work?
Once you register for the Workshop & Bash Pass, we'll send you a link to submit your best song. During the afternoon session we play as many submissions as we can live for Lindsey Thompson, Elizabeth Brahan, and Casadie Pederson — real Nashville A&R and publishing executives — and you hear their honest feedback in the room.
Q: What if I don't have a song ready to submit?
Submit the best thing you have. Every writer in that room has the same worry, and the feedback on a song you're unsure about is often worth more than praise for one you already know works. And you're never required to submit — it's included, not mandatory.
Q: What about parking?
Parking at the venue is limited, so carpool or grab an Uber/Lyft if you can.
Q: Can I bring my spouse or a friend to the Bash?
Absolutely — grab them a $25 Bash-only ticket and they can join you for the music, the awards, and the party.
Q: Is there food and drink?
Lunch on-site is officially closed and submitted to our caterer. You're welcome to grab something nearby during the 12:00–1:30 break. There's a cash bar at the Bash. Dinner is on your own before the Bash, and East Nashville has no shortage of good options within a few minutes of the venue.
Q: Is there a dress code?
Nashville casual. Wear whatever you'd wear to a writers' round.
All Day Workshop & Bash Party - $149
Bash Ticket Only - $25
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