Podcast
Success, Failure and the Drive to Keep Writing Songs
Marty and Clay walk through six things every songwriter hits on the way up — starting with the one nobody warns you about: a first taste of success can knock you sideways just as hard as a failure can. Along the way there’s the guaranteed Carrie Underwood single that never came out, the week Marty…
Read MoreYour Songwriting Could Be Growing 10x (5 Toxic Amateur Mistakes)
Marty and Clay count down five toxic habits that quietly stall a songwriter’s growth — including a couple they were guilty of themselves early on. There’s a Nile Rodgers story in here that changed how he heard music for good, and a song that sat 15 years before it got cut. Write on. Get your…
Read MoreWhat Most Songwriters Get Wrong About Writing Every Day
A comment on the “10,000 songs” episode claimed nobody songwriting at that volume could possibly write anything good — so Marty and Clay take it head on. They make the case for volume as a songwriting craft habit: it forces you past your three obvious ideas, it keeps your skills and creative flow sharp, and…
Read MoreAre You A Good Songwriter?
Marty and Clay take on the question they get asked more than any other in SongTown: “Am I a good songwriter?” They walk through the Dunning-Kruger arc every writer goes through — the early overconfidence, the crash, and the long climb — then lay out five real ways to gauge where your craft actually is,…
Read MoreWe Wrote 10,000 Songs — Our Top 3 Lessons
After more than 10,000 songs between them, Marty and Clay break down the three lessons that shaped their careers most: trading reactive listening for inspired listening, taking ownership instead of blaming co-writers and publishers, and why no song you ever write is wasted. Plus, details on spending a day with them in Nashville at the…
Read MoreHow Frustration Can Make You a Better Songwriter
A broken piano, an ugly font, a wandering mind, and an awkward co-write — Marty and Clay dig into four ways frustration and limitations can actually make you a better songwriter. From Keith Jarrett turning a rehearsal piano into the best-selling piano solo album of all time, to Michael McDonald writing a classic on a…
Read More4 Ways Pro Songwriters Outwrite You Every Time
Clay Mills and Marty Dodson break down four habits that separate pro songwriters from everybody else — starting with the big one: pros don’t wait on inspiration. Along the way they get into Jack Tempchin and Glenn Frey lighting a candle to “invite the muse,” Chris Wallin on replacing an incredible line with the right…
Read More3 Songwriting Workouts From 3 Decades of Writing Hits
In this episode Clay Mills and Marty Dodson share three powerful “songwriting workouts” designed to break through creative dry spells and sharpen your writing skills. Drawing from their decades of experience writing hits, they dive into techniques for improving your melodies, lyrics, and harmonic choices. Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will…
Read More5 Huge Hits That Broke All The Songwriting Rules
Clay and Marty break down five massive hits — “Lovely Day,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “When Doves Cry,” and “Before He Cheats” — that violate core songwriting rules they normally teach. Find out what they did wrong, and why these worked anyway! Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video series will help you level-up…
Read MoreClay and Marty’s Mount Rushmore of Songwriters
Clay and Marty reveal their personal Mount Rushmore of songwriters — from legendary artist-writers to behind-the-scenes hitmakers who changed the way great songs are written. In this SongTown songwriting lesson, they break down what makes these writers timeless, emotional, original, and worth studying for any serious songwriter. Clay & Marty’s 10-day video series: This video…
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