Writing and reading lessens our isolation and prods our imagination. Music makes our souls dance, and great art leaves an impression that lasts for centuries.   Over my 23 years as a professional songwriter, I’ve read just about every book on creativity I could get my hands on. Though I’m convince I will never fully understand this magical, mythical experience of creative...

  I believe that to be successful as a songwriter, you have to be very versatile. I have had songs recorded by artists as varied as The Oak Ridge Boys and The Plain White T’s. But, the area in which I have had the most success is writing my life. When I have written (well) the experiences that have shaped and...

  I believe that it’s never too late to be what you might have been. I was in my mid thirties when I started trying to write professionally. A friend of mine just landed a starring role (Her first) in a movie with some HUGE actors at age 49. I know someone entering medical school at age 52. Age is just...

Want to become a Master "Songwriting" Yoda? Here are my top 5 tips!   1.Believe As creative people, we tend to be self-doubters. It's what drives us to look inward, to constantly question life around us, and, if channeled properly, will drive us to write great songs. It's perfectly natural to struggle with believing in ourselves and our art, but ultimately, we...

  This is one of the most common questions Marty and I get in the SongTown Mailbox. It seems a common myth exists that says in order to have a record company or artist pick up your songs, you have to produce something that sounds like a finished record. Fortunately for our wallets, this is NOT always the case. Here's what's absolutely essential...

I can't count the number of times I have had songwriters tell me that the music business is "trying to keep them out" or that they can't break into the "cliques" in Nashville, LA, or wherever they are trying to break in. I'd like to give a different perspective on all of that. In my experience, nobody is trying to keep anyone...