Posts Tagged ‘Articles’
Why AI Will Never Outwrite You — Leaning Into Your Human Advantage
by SongTown Co-founder Clay Mills I’ve been in the music business, producing and writing, since the 1980s. And I’ve been on the cutting edge of music technology for every bit of it. Drum machines were going to put drummers out of work. Then synthesizers. Samplers. ProTools and home computers were going to shut down every…
Read MoreYour Song Is Already Copyrighted — Here’s What Most Songwriters Get Wrong
Did you know your song is already copyrighted the moment you write it? In this lesson, hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson break down what most songwriters get wrong about copyright — including the “poor man’s copyright” myth, why registering with ASCAP or BMI has nothing to do with your copyright, and when pro…
Read MoreYou Can Learn Songwriting (And Why “Born With It” Is a Myth)
The other day, I heard a hit songwriter say: “You can’t teach songwriting. You’re either born with it or you’re not.” I’ll be honest—that hit me wrong. There’s a little ring of superiority in that, don’t you think? As if the people who’ve had hits were sprinkled with some kind of magic dust that everyone…
Read MoreHow to Submit Songs as a Songwriter Without Burning Bridges: 2026 Guide
There’s a lot of confusion around one question I hear all the time: “How do I submit my songs to the music business?” The truth is, there isn’t just one way to submit songs as a songwriter. Different types of song submissions come with very different levels of risk. Some are safe places to learn…
Read MoreReal Songwriting Success
By SongTown Co-founder Marty Dodson I’ve had the privilege of writing songs with many—if not most—of the most successful writers in Nashville. These are people with shelves full of awards, walls lined with gold and platinum records, and calendars booked months in advance. When you’re starting out as a songwriter, that’s the dream, right? To…
Read More10 Major Focus Mistakes That Amateur Songwriters Focus On
by SongTown Co-founder Clay Mills Over the past 10 years of teaching thousands of students in SongTown, I’ve noticed that one of the biggest things holding writers back is what they choose to focus on—both during the writing process and in everything surrounding it. Whether it’s mindset, expectations, or industry myths, these distractions can seriously derail…
Read MoreStop Shooting in the Dark: Why Writing With Intention Can Change Your Songwriting Career
by SongTown co-founder Marty Dodson I see it every day: talented songwriters pouring their hearts into songs, only to watch them gather dust on a hard drive. Why? Because 99% of songwriters are shooting in the dark. When I first started writing songs professionally, I was no different. My goal each day was simple —…
Read MoreWhen the Door Closes, Knock on Another One
By SongTown Co-founder Marty Dodson Years ago, I was doing everything I could to level up my songwriting career. Like a lot of writers trying to break through, I was chasing every opportunity I could find. And there was one particular songwriter in town who was absolutely on fire—cut after cut, hit after hit. Everyone…
Read MoreRejection, Resilience, and Rising Again: What One “No” Taught Me About Songwriting
By SongTown Co-founder Marty Dodson Years ago, I finally worked up the courage to ask a “big” hit songwriter to write with me. I had been grinding away, developing my skills, and building a catalog of songs I was proud of. For the first time, I felt like I could hold my own in a…
Read MoreWhen the Muse Goes Missing: How I Jump-Start Inspiration on “Blah” Days
By SongTown Co-founder Marty Dodson There are days I open a blank Google Doc and feel certain I’ve got nothing left to say. I’ve written all the songs I can possibly write—at least that’s what the voice in my head insists. I’ll pick up my guitar and instead of feeling like an old familiar friend,…
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