Someone Is Singing Along
I have had a number of amazing experiences because of songwriting. I’ve been able to travel the world and see places like Barcelona, Malmo, Nassau, Vancouver, and Toronto simply because I wrote songs that became hits. I’ve met and worked with people from all over the globe. Those experiences have shaped who I am and…
Read MoreWhen Should I Give Up My Songwriting Dream?
About two years after I started trying to write professionally, a friend of mine staged an intervention of sorts. He approached me very kindly and asked me how my writing was going. I told him my frustrations and I told him the truth – I didn’t have much of anything going on. He asked me…
Read MoreWriting Up: How The Pros Approach Songwriting
Clay Mills and Marty Dodson share one of the biggest mistakes aspiring songwriters make. What is “Writing Up” and why will it keep you from achieving your goals in the songwriting biz.. The SongTown on Songwriting podcast is not “tips and tricks” for songwriters. It’s real-world techniques used by top pros day in and day…
Read MoreDon’t Lose Your Songwriting Innocence
Your innocence is a major asset… One of the things I love about working with young writers and artists is just the innocence they bring to the writing process. They aren’t bitter or jaded. They aren’t worried about what radio will think (this can be good or bad). They just want to write a great…
Read MoreSongwriters: How To Lose A Co-Writer (And Friend)
There are a number of quick ways but these are my top 9 on how to lose a co-writer and friend… 1) Show up late, drunk or hungover regularly. I can’t count the times co-writers have shown up in bad shape and I consider that wasting my time. Be professional. Be on time. in other…
Read MoreHow Long Does It Take To Make It As A Songwriter?
Hit songwriters Marty Dodson and Clay Mills give real pro songwriting advice on how long it takes to make it in the music business. They say Nashville is a ten year town… Making your songs rise above the the curve is crucial in shortening that time. Let’s get your pro mindset right with SongTown’s real-world…
Read More5 Stinking Thinking Songwriter Thoughts
Negative songwriting thoughts keep a heavy cloud over you and your writing AND they actually decrease your chances of success. If these thoughts creep into your head, kick them to the curb before they derail your creativity and your forward progress. 1) “My songs are better than….” It doesn’t matter at the end of the…
Read MoreSongwriters: Eat The Big Frog First
“If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” Mark Twain Author Brian Tracy wrote a book called “Eat That Frog“. He took the idea from the Mark Twain…
Read MoreWhy Publishers Can’t Save Songwriters (2024)
In this episode “Why Publishers Can’t Save Songwriters (2024)”, we delve into the roles of music publishers and the reality of how they impact songwriters. Join multi #1 songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson as they share valuable insights and pro songwriter tips to help you navigate the business of hit songwriting. This is a…
Read MoreDid He Steal My Song Title?
A few years ago, I was searching for song titles by reading through quotes on the internet. I found what I thought was an amazing quote. It said something like “How can you be old and wise if you were never young and crazy”. The next day, I threw that title out and my…
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