9 Of The Most Famous Collaborations In Music History

Recently, I’ve read a lot of articles and social media posts about songs that have multiple songwriters. Asserting that co-writing creates bad art.  Seemingly ignoring some of the most famous collaborations throught histroy. What journalist and headline seeking trash-talkers don’t understand is music by nature is a collaborative art … Has nothing to do with quality…

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I’m A Songwriter

Today, I’m sitting in a hotel room in Reno, Nevada. Last night, I played the second of 5 shows in a row at Harrah’s Casino. As I sat on stage, looking out at a crowd I couldn’t even see because of the bright lights, I was thinking about all of the amazing things I have…

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Songwriting Success – How Bad Do You Want It?

Often in my mentoring sessions, I find mysession asking aspiring writers this question, “How bad do you want songwriting success?” “If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse” This quote always hits me right between the eyes. In some areas of my life, I’m still very much…

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How To Blow A Potential Pub Deal In 3 Common Mistakes!

You’ve got the songs… So you’ve been writing and put together a nice collection of songs; and you’re ready for that next step… Finding a publisher. That person who believes in your writing and has the connections to make things happen. Here are 3 common mistakes that can kill your chances of working with a music publisher……

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Songwriters: 4 Good Reasons To Sign Away Your Publishing

how to get a songwriting staff writing deal

Over and over, during my songwriting career, I have been a part of debates over the issue of holding on to publishing vs signing away publishing. As a general rule, keeping your publishing would be preferable. After all, the publishing share is 1/2 of your share of the song. So, why would anyone sign away…

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A Week In The Life: A Surprising Look At The Schedule Of A Pro Songwriter

Marty Dodson- Hit songwriter - Songtown

Several people have asked, so here is an outline of my week. It’s fairly typical with a few twists thrown in. MONDAY 9 AM – Meet with Entertainment Attorney to Sign New Contract 10 AM – Deliver Signed Contracts to Publisher 10:30 AM – Write with a new artist that my publisher set me up…

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Songwriters: What’s A SongTown?

Every now and then, because we have so many new people joining us, we like to remind everyone why Clay and I created Songtown. We built this city on several pillars that we hope will keep it standing for many years. So, in a nutshell, here are the founding principles of SongTown. Community We wanted…

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The Struggle Is Real – A Songwriter’s Journey

Hi! I’m here to introduce myself as a guest blogger here in SongTown …I know my name is already familiar, as I am the blondest member of the Club For People Named Marty/i Dodson. As well as sharing a name and friendship with your illustrious SongTown founder/mentor Marty Dodson, I also share a love for…

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Riding Your Creative Flow: 5 Steps For Enhancing Your Songwriting

What Does Creative Flow Feel Like? 1. You feel completely focused. So much so that you forget your personal needs. You may even  forget to eat for hours while you are working! 2. You have a clear vision of what your art should sound or look like while working on it. 3. You are certain…

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Songwriters: Here’s The Real Way To Get A Publishing Deal

This is one of the top questions filling our ST mailbox! The writer often states that they have songs and just can’t get the right person to listen. They feel their songs are as strong as what’s playing on radio, so how can they get a publishing company to take a chance on them? Well, I’ve…

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