Songwriting Pro

Do you know what kind of songs are trending RIGHT NOW on the top 15 of Billboard’s Country Charts? What are the artists and labels looking for in today’s market? Information like this can keep your songwriting skills on point with the trending market.

Keep your finger on the pulse of what’s selling right now as Brent and Johnny analyze the similarities of the top 15 songs from Billboard’s May 25^th, 2019 Country chart.

If you want the world to hear your music, you wanna hear this! The link to listen is above and below.

The C.L.I.M.B. Podcast is proud to partner with Disc Makers- who have been supporting indie musicians before indie music was even a thing.

When you’re ready to make CDs, DVDs, vinyl- or distribute your music and videos with customized USBs- www.discmakers.com is the only place you need to go.

And while you’re there, click the “Guides and Resources” tab and download some of their excellent free guides. They’ve just revised and expanded their Home Studio Handbook, which has got a ton of great advice and information for newbies and studio veterans.

Find them online at www.discmakers.com or give them a call at 800-468-9353.

The C.L.I.M.B. stands for “Creating Leverage In The Music Business,” and that’s the goal of this podcast- to help singers, indie artists and songwriters like YOU to create leverage in the music business. What is leverage? It’s “strategic advantage; the power to act effectively.” We want to help YOU make stuff happen in the music biz.

It’s exciting to see how folks are digging the show- and being helped on their CLIMB. If YOU like it, we’d really appreciate it if you’d subscribe and leave a rating or review on iTunes. Positive ratings and reviews help us to climb the iTunes rankings so more people become aware of the show and we can help more singers, songwriters, and indie artists like you make The CLIMB!

If you aren’t on iTunes, you can listen to the show at our website:

If you have an Android phone, you can subscribe to the show on:

DON’T MISS OUT- CLICK HERE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

Thanks for your time. It means a lot to me, and hopefully it’ll be a lot of help for you!

God Bless and keep C.L.I.M.B.ing,

Brent

Building A Hit, Write Like A Pro

Building A Hit: Billboard Country Chart Breakdown

June 3, 2019 Brent Baxter 3 Comments

Want to land one of YOUR songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart? Then an important step is to study what kind of songs already DO land on the chart. If you want to hit a target, you gotta know where the target is.

Today, let’s dive into the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of May 25, 2019. We’re going to look at some of the important qualities of those songs- qualities that can help YOUR song get on this chart someday.

If you want to write hits… read on!

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To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro, and this FREE ebook will help transform your thinking, your songwriting, and your success. Get it today!

Click Here For The Book

_________________________________

I focused on the top 15 country songs on the chart. I looked the writers, the tempos, the overall vibe, point-of-view, and a few other aspects of these songs. Here are my biggest takeaways.

1. Keep It Positive!

Of the top 15 country songs, not a single one was a “downer.” There were a couple of lost-love or breakup songs: “Whiskey Glasses,” “Beer Never Broke My Heart” and “Miss Me More.” But even those songs felt really good or were empowering. None of them was a cry-in-your-beer song.

So that’s the biggest takeaway: keep it positive. Even if it’s a breakup song, it doesn’t have to feel sad or make you wanna cry. True, some downer songs can still be hits, no doubt. But look at the math. Most hits – and EVERY SINGLE ONE of these 15 songs are feel-good or positive songs.

2. Write Tempo!

Of the top 15 country songs, 11 were mid-tempo or up-tempo. This means they have a good groove to them or have a beat you can rock out or dance to. Energy!

Even looking at the 4 songs I listed as “slow,” they aren’t all sloooow ballads. “Beautiful Crazy” is the most ballad of them. After that, “Good As You” “Speechless” and “Talk You Out Of It” each have some R&B elements to them. They don’t just sit there. They have groove and make you want to move, even if they aren’t true tempos. And they’re sexy, makeout songs. That’s different than a slow, contemplative ballad about the singer’s grandpa or how the singer’s girl left him.

Bottom line: Radio loves tempo, so it’s hard to beat a good beat.

3. Write With The Artist.

Yeah, this one is the most painful. But I’m not doing you any favors by hiding the truth. Of the top 15 country songs, 9 were cowritten by the artist.

Let that sink in for a moment.

The hard truth is that it’s hard to get a cut of any kind. And it’s REALLY, REALLY hard to get a hit single without writing with the artist.

Does this mean you should quit? Give up right now and go back to that cubicle? No. But you do have to be honest with yourself about reality. For one thing, some songs still become hits without the artist in the writing room. But you do yourself no favors by ignoring that your odds go up dramatically when an artist IS in the room.

So, as you build your songwriting career, it’s wise to 1) start cowriting if you don’t already. It’s gonna be extra hard to write with an artist if you don’t write with anyone. 2) Try to identify and write with future stars- while they’re fairly unknown and still accessible. 3) Build your music business network. The more people you know who also know you, the better chance they’ll connect you to an artist someday.

However, one of the best ways to eventually attract an artist cowrite is by writing songs that are hit-worthy. It IS so much about relationships, but relationships are a whole lot easier to make if you’re writing commercial, compelling, hit-worthy songs.

Great commercial songs will solve so many of your problems.

So, there you go. These are some of my biggest takeaways from a recent hit country singles chart. If YOU want to discover even more of the elements of building a hit song, I have an awesome opportunity for you.

In the month of July, I’m hosting a transformative online songwriting event called, “Building A Hit: From Blank Page To Finished Lyric.” In this powerful 4-week online workshop, I reveal:

How to find great song ideas. Kill writers block and fill up that blank page again and again.

How to focus your ideas for maximum impact. Don’t waste any more great ideas by leaving them under-developed or confusing.

How to frame your idea for maximum commercial appeal. Having a great, compelling idea isn’t enough. You have to build your song in a way that an artist will want to sing it and an audience will want to hear it.

How to finish your song. Stop leaving your best ideas unfinished. Nobody loves a song they never hear, and a song that’s only 99% finished will never get recorded, never get on the radio, and never change your life.

If you want to join me on a journey that will help you think and write like a pro songwriter, click on the link below. Spots are limited for this event, and I only host it twice a year. Miss out, and it’s gone for another 6 months. Don’t delay. Transform your songwriting today..

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

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, a #1 in Canada & a top 10 in Texas… so far. He also hosts a top-rated songwriting and music business podcast called, “The C.L.I.M.B.” which can be found on iTunes or your favorite podcast app.

The C.L.I.M.B., Think Like A Pro, Write Like A Pro

Song Title Challenge #41: God And My Mama

May 31, 2019 Brent Baxter Leave a comment

Get into a pro songwriter’s mind!

Johnny takes a title submitted by a CLIMBer like you, and he springs it on me live! Then I have to figure out how to make it a hit… yikes! Watch me blow up or flame out.

If you want to submit a title, send it to Johnny at info@daredevilproduction.com.

It’s not a cowrite. You keep 100% ownership of whatever you write, and you’re free to use any ideas I throw out. I am NOT a cowriter on this. Any ideas are simply my gift to you!

If you’re a singer, songwriter or indie artist who wants to grow your career, THIS is the podcast for you!

The C.L.I.M.B. Podcast is proud to partner with Disc Makers- who have been supporting indie musicians before indie music was even a thing.

When you’re ready to make CDs, DVDs, vinyl- or distribute your music and videos with customized USBs- www.discmakers.com is the only place you need to go.

And while you’re there, click the “Guides and Resources” tab and download some of their excellent free guides. They’ve just revised and expanded their Home Studio Handbook, which has got a ton of great advice and information for newbies and studio veterans.

Find them online at www.discmakers.com or give them a call at 800-468-9353.

If you aren’t on iTunes, you can listen to the show at our website:

If you have an Android phone, you can subscribe to the show on:

Thanks for your time. It means a lot to me, and hopefully it’ll be a lot of help for you!

God Bless and keep C.L.I.M.B.ing,

Brent

Frettie, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #293

May 30, 2019 Brent Baxter Leave a comment

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

Here’s a word or phrase to put in your lyric. Feel free to use it to start off YOUR song. It could be in the first line of your song, or not. You can get serious or silly. Whatever gets you going!

“power”

I’d love to hear what you come up with, so please share in the comments. Oh, and please keep your posts below an R-rating. It’s a family show, after all!

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT FRETTIE!

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

Do Business Like A Pro, The C.L.I.M.B.

The C.L.I.M.B. #172: Interview w/ Vocal Coach to the Stars, Mindy Pack

May 28, 2019 Brent Baxter Leave a comment

This is a MUST LISTEN if you’re a singer.

Mindy Pack is the vocal coach for Justin Timberlake, Pharrell, Martina McBride, and Halsey just to name a few. In this interview we discuss vocal health, common vocal cord problems, and how to shop for a vocal coach.

If you want the world to hear your music, you wanna hear this! The link to listen is above and below.

The C.L.I.M.B. Podcast is proud to partner with Disc Makers- who have been supporting indie musicians before indie music was even a thing.

When you’re ready to make CDs, DVDs, vinyl- or distribute your music and videos with customized USBs- www.discmakers.com is the only place you need to go.

And while you’re there, click the “Guides and Resources” tab and download some of their excellent free guides. They’ve just revised and expanded their Home Studio Handbook, which has got a ton of great advice and information for newbies and studio veterans.

Find them online at www.discmakers.com or give them a call at 800-468-9353.

If you aren’t on iTunes, you can listen to the show at our website:

If you have an Android phone, you can subscribe to the show on:

CLICK HERE TO GET ALL THE DETAILS AND SEND IN YOUR SONG!

Thanks for your time. It means a lot to me, and hopefully it’ll be a lot of help for you!

God Bless and keep C.L.I.M.B.ing,

Brent

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 10 in Texas, a top 5 hit in the US and a #1 in Canada… so far.

P4P, Write Like A Pro

Songwriting: If You Can’t W.R.A.P. It, You Should SCRAP It.

May 27, 2019 Brent Baxter Leave a comment

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your songwriting career is to NOT write. Sometimes, writing a song actually hurts your chances for songwriting success more than it helps.

Wanna know why? Read on below.

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To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro, and this FREE ebook will help transform your thinking, your songwriting, and your success. Get it today!

Click Here For The Book

_________________________________

There are only so many hours in the day, and you’re chasing a BIG dream with a ton of competition and a low chance of success. So you sure better be spending your time on the right things. But are you? How do you know?

Here’s what I used to focus my time wisely: “W.R.A.P.”

You know how I like acronyms, and it just so happens that the four cornerstones of professional songwriting success happen to fall neatly into “W.R.A.P.” This makes my heart so happy. Let’s dive in.

1. Writing

This one’s pretty obvious. We’re songwriters, aren’t we? If you’re a writer… write. If you don’t write, there’s nothing to get recorded. And it’s not enough to just write every once in a while. Write hard, write consistently.

Of course, that’s easier said than done. There are so many distractions and doubts that want to creep in. But you MUST protect your writing time if you ever want it to be your profession. Schedule it, then show up. Hold yourself accountable.

“But wait a second,” you might be thinking. “Didn’t this blog post start out by warning me that writing songs might be HURTING my chances of success? What’s the deal?”

That’s true. While the actual writing is an unconditional part of songwriting success, it’s not the ONLY part of that success. You must also do the other parts of W.R.A.P. Writing is the fun part. (That’s why we got into this thing, right?) But it can also become a hiding place where we avoid the more uncertain, less fun parts of turning pro.

So that’s what I mean. Writing is a very important part of songwriting success, but it’s not the only part of it.

2. Recording

It’s not enough to have scratchy worktapes if you want someone else to cut and release your song. You have to get a good recording of your song- one that presents it in a good light. This could be a guitar/vocal, a full demo, or something in between.

And it’s worth noting that not every song is worth demoing. Some songs only serve to get you to the next song. Be honest with yourself. Will this song really take you closer to your goals? If not, be thankful for it as practice, and move on. Don’t hide in the studio because it’s more comfortable than doing other, more scary or uncomfortable elements of W.R.A.P.

3. Accessing

A great song and demo does you no good if you can’t get it into the hands of someone who can do something with it. Accessing is building relationships and otherwise gaining access to singers, publishers, labels, producers, etc.

If you want cuts, you MUST gain access. This may be through gaining access to a publisher who can take your song further than you can, or it may be building direct pitch relationships. Or both. And don’t leave Accessing to chance. Make a plan to connect with others. Schedule it. Hold yourself accountable.

4. Pitching

Having access doesn’t mean anything if you don’t actually pitch your song. You have to ask for the cut, as simple as that. You have to give publishers, artists, etc. the opportunity to say “yes” to your song. This and Accessing are usually the scariest, most uncomfortable parts of W.R.A.P., but they are vital. Again, you have to hold yourself accountable to pitching your best songs. If you don’t, you know what’ll happen? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And when nothing happens, nothing changes. You’ll stay right where you are now. Do you want that?

Note that each of these are cornerstones – you won’t have a stable, well-functioning career if you neglect one or more of them. I’m not saying you should spend equal hours on each of these areas, but you should give them the proper amount of time based on your particular situation.

W.R.A.P. is good for helping you focus on what’s important. If an opportunity comes up, compare it to W.R.A.P. If that activity doesn’t fall into one of those categories, it might not be a wise use of your time. Perhaps you should replace that activity with W.R.A.P.

If it’s not W.R.A.P., maybe you should scrap it.

Hey, if you’re ready to work on Accessing, I have a great opportunity coming up.

Songwriting Pro’s next “Play For A Publisher” event is accepting songs NOW, and our guest is Joe Dan Cornett, Creative Director of Daywind Music Publishing & Billy Blue Publishing! Joe Dan works in the Country, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass and CCM/Worship markets. If YOU have the songs, HE knows what to do with them! Play for a publisher. Get his professional feedback. Make a connection. Overcome your fear.

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

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, a #1 Single of the Year in Canada & a top 10 in Texas… so far. He also co-hosts a 5-star podcast, “The C.L.I.M.B.” on iTunes, Stitcher & HERE.

The C.L.I.M.B.

The C.L.I.M.B. Social Media Challenge #2: Jordan Cook

May 24, 2019 Brent Baxter Leave a comment

Get valuable insider access to Johnny’s marketing mind as he positively critiques an artist’s social media strategy in a brand new C.L.I.M.B. Show mini-series called Social Media Challenge.

Every other week, Johnny will record a meeting with a listener and critique the artist’s social media. All the good stuff and the stuff they need to improve on. This will be incredible information you can use to tighten up YOUR efforts.

If you’d like challenge Johnny with YOUR social media, email him at Johnny@daredevilproduction… and then buckle up!

If you’re a singer, songwriter or indie artist who wants to grow your career, THIS is the podcast for you!

The C.L.I.M.B. Podcast is proud to partner with Disc Makers- who have been supporting indie musicians before indie music was even a thing.

When you’re ready to make CDs, DVDs, vinyl- or distribute your music and videos with customized USBs- www.discmakers.com is the only place you need to go.

And while you’re there, click the “Guides and Resources” tab and download some of their excellent free guides. They’ve just revised and expanded their Home Studio Handbook, which has got a ton of great advice and information for newbies and studio veterans.

Find them online at www.discmakers.com or give them a call at 800-468-9353.

If you aren’t on iTunes, you can listen to the show at our website:

If you have an Android phone, you can subscribe to the show on:

Thanks for your time. It means a lot to me, and hopefully it’ll be a lot of help for you!

God Bless and keep C.L.I.M.B.ing,

Brent

Frettie, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #292

May 23, 2019 Brent Baxter 3 Comments

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

Here’s a word or phrase to put in your lyric. Feel free to use it to start off YOUR song. It could be in the first line of your song, or not. You can get serious or silly. Whatever gets you going!

“worry”

I’d love to hear what you come up with, so please share in the comments. Oh, and please keep your posts below an R-rating. It’s a family show, after all!

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT FRETTIE!

God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,

Brent

Do Business Like A Pro, The C.L.I.M.B.

The C.L.I.M.B. #171: Golden Advice From A Platinum Publisher

May 21, 2019 Brent Baxter Leave a comment

Imagine what you could learn if you were a fly on the wall for not one, but 10 meetings with a platinum hit publisher. What value bombs would you pick up? How would that illuminate the current songwriting market for you and get you on your way with a clear purpose?

Get the most valuable takeaways from hit publisher, ole`s John Ozier, from a “Play For Publisher” event last year on this episode.

If you want the world to hear your music, you wanna hear this. The link to listen is above and below.

The C.L.I.M.B. Podcast is proud to partner with Disc Makers- who have been supporting indie musicians before indie music was even a thing.

When you’re ready to make CDs, DVDs, vinyl- or distribute your music and videos with customized USBs- www.discmakers.com is the only place you need to go.

And while you’re there, click the “Guides and Resources” tab and download some of their excellent free guides. They’ve just revised and expanded their Home Studio Handbook, which has got a ton of great advice and information for newbies and studio veterans.

Find them online at www.discmakers.com or give them a call at 800-468-9353.

If you aren’t on iTunes, you can listen to the show at our website:

If you have an Android phone, you can subscribe to the show on: