Brent is a hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Lady Antebellum, Joe Nichols, Gord Bamford, Ray Stevens, and more. He’s written a top 5 hit in the US and a #1 in Canada… so far.
The room is also full of other songwriters. Some are just lobbing darts in the air. They don’t aim at anything, they just throw. They figure if they throw enough darts, something is bound to land eventually. Some songwriters throw dart after dart after the smallest bullseyes on the wall. Some throw darts at blank spots on the wall, where they would like a bullseye to be. Some are so busy aiming, that the dart never leaves their hand.
Well, how do we do that?
We make choices as songwriters. And the better we are at our craft, the more options are available to us. For example, you can choose to write an idea as a slow ballad, or you can choose to write it as an uptempo (fast song). The uptempo song is the bigger bullseye. You can choose an idea that makes your singer look good (bullseye) or look bad (small bullseye). You can write the song from the point of view of an 85 year old woman (small bullseye) or as a 21 year old girl (bigger bullseye).
How do you know what the big bullseye is? Well, size of the bullseye is simply a measure of how demand there is for a certain type of song. This changes over time, so you need to be aware of the market. Trends shift. What was a big bullseye in the 1990’s might not be a big bullseye anymore.
However, one type of song always seems to be a big bullseye. This is the “first-person uptempo positive love song.” That’s not exactly shocking news, if you pay much attention to country radio. This type of song is probably your best bet to get a cut. I’m not saying, however, to never write a small bullseye. Those can be hit from time to time- it’s just harder to do. What I’m saying is to be aware of the realities. Be intentional. Be aware of the choices you make.
God Bless,
Brent
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Great start here and very articulate! All your stuff is very good! (Teacher as a second trade?)
Brent I’m so Proud of you and Em what a true blessing you are…. keep up the great writing…I so glad you got this page going I love keeping up on all your work…. My mind goes to you and Em and Matt and Beth and the years when you all first started …… Your Faith was strong you desire for your dreams were strong…. And I see you all now and know God has truly blessed you and I know he will continue… Love you all… Hugsss!!! give Em a hug for me and your precious little boy!!!
You do have a gift with words. The metaphor an imagery immediately clicked. I am a geek about brain research (psychology is different btw) and yup, there are certain biological instincts that trigger behavior (listening and buying) more than others. Or more people than others. We know the country audience is women what? 24-43? Forget the demo.
That’s the target AND the bullseye. Your analogy is a good one. As songwriters, and performers, we’re flippin’ those darts – sometimes with our eyes closed in a hurricane…..
