After 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…
Read MoreBad Songwriting Advice That HURTS Aspiring Writers
In this episode of the SongTown Podcast, Multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson BAD songwriting advice floating around that you’l have to un-learn if you want to be a great writer. C & M will help you cut through the noise and focus on what is important on your songwriting journey. Transcript: Bad Songwriting…
Read MoreMy Tribe: A Songwriter’s Sanctuary
As a songwriter, I have always felt like I was a little bit “different”. I have never seen things the way other people see them. I related to the story of the “Emperor’s New Clothes” because I think I’m that guy. When everyone else is saying things are clearly “white”, I’m seeing “black”. When things are logically…
Read MoreIt’s Never Too Late When It Comes To Your Songwriting Dreams
I believe that it’s never too late to be what you might have been and to chase your songwriting dreams. In my case, I was in my mid-thirties when I started trying to write professionally. I got a much later start than some others who pursued their songwriting passion right out of high school. But,…
Read MoreSongwriters: How To Increase Your Chances If You Live Outside A Music Center
As a mentor and coach, I am often helping many songwriters that don’t live in a music town. Here are my ideas for increasing your chances of success as a songwriter if you live outside a music center: 1) Visit as often as you can. Even if it’s just once a year. Some wisely planned…
Read MoreWe Wrote 15,000 Songs (Here’s What We Learned)
Multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson have written 15,000 songs over their careers. These are the most important keys they’ve learned for writing great songs and hit songs. 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…
Read MoreMelody Hacks For Lyricist Songwriters
I have been primarily a lyricist for almost 25 years. To survive that long in the music business, I have had to stretch my boundaries to come up with ways to evolve my lyric writing along with changing music landscapes. Over those years, I’ve developed what I like to think of as melody hacks for…
Read MoreWhat Makes A Song Great?
I’m often asked the question, “What makes a song great?” So, here are the answers, in my opinion: A great song will usually be relatable and relevant many years after it was written. So let’s take a look at what makes a song great… A great song connects with people. Timeless songs connect to millions of…
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