Brent Baxter is a hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Lady Antebellum, Joe Nichols, Gord Bamford, Ruthie Collins, Ray Stevens, and more. He’s written a top 5 hit in the US and a #1 in Canada… so far.

Here’s the upward spiral of songwriting:

Writing good songs leads to relationships and opportunities, which lead to writing better songs, which leads to more relationships and opportunities, etc.

Writing good songs leads to relationships and opportunities. Why? Because writers and publishers have a problem. They need hits- either to write them or to publish them. The better you write, the more potential you have to solve their problems. People like people who can solve their problems. And they will give you the opportunity to provide them with hits by writing with them or with someone on their team. Their problem is your opportunity.

These relationships can also lead to better songs. How? Publishers are more likely to invest in you in two ways: 1) giving you deeper feedback, speeding up your learning curve and 2) setting you up to write with better writers, which leads to more learning and better songs. And even without a publisher, you can hook up with better writers on your own (or through your existing cowriters).

These newer, better songs lead to even better and stronger relationships, which lead to better songs, which lead to more relationships… you get the idea. It takes time. You have to be patient, but that’ll be the general trend of your songwriting if you consistently work to get better and network in a professional manner.

It doesn’t just happen, though. Beware. You can short circuit the upward spiral if you get lazy or don’t treat people well. Word will get around, and your career will suffer for it. Enjoy the journey!

God Bless,

Brent